Monday 13 May 2013

"It's alright, everything will be okay."


When I was a little girl, I remember always running to Mom every time I needed something or whenever I felt scared or troubled.  It's amazing how just one kiss from her can make a boo-boo suddenly feel better; and soothing words like, "It's alright, everything will be okay" can make the monsters go away and the world a brighter place to be.  Moms have a way of comforting children that makes us look up to them in admiration and say, "She's the best!  She's the bravest!  When I grow up, I want to be just like her!"

When I became a mom however, I realized soon enough the other side of the story. Moms aren't always brave.  In fact we worry all the time!  We worry about the littlest things, like our toddlers scraping their knees or our grade-schoolers not finishing their packed lunches.  I'm pretty sure when my sons become teenagers, I will be worrying a lot more about different sorts of things.

This "worry" nevertheless stems from our love--and ironically, the same love that knows no fear and enables us to brave the monstrous of storms.  It is the kind that would be willing to cross the farthest seas and climb the highest mountain for our children's sake.  No matter how old they get, we will forever be thinking of them because "we will be loving them forever, liking them for always, and as long as we're living, our babies they'll be."  I guess moms were created with hearts bigger than our bodies so as to hold as much love that will fuel us to care and nourish 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  You see, moms were not only programmed to preach (from her kitchen table/pulpit, at least), but also to protect.  It is in our nature to nurture.  However, it is when our love is powered by our own strength that we begin to worry and fall short because we know our limits. On the contrary, when we draw the love we give away from the wellspring of God's love, then we are able to walk on water because "perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18).


a page from the book, "Love You Forever" written by Robert Munsch,
illustrated by Shiela McGraw & published by Firefly Books

"I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."

--Robert Munsch 


I have thus to understand the fact that there will soon be times and places where I can no longer go with my kids to hold their hands or simply just be there for them.  There will be circumstances they'll eventually have to face all by themselves.  Some things are just beyond my control.  And I'll just have to keep learning to let go and let God.  As much as I'd like to attempt the impossible for my kids, I know I'd be able to do a better job by entrusting them into the Father's loving hands and giving Him His turn to quiet my soul with the words, "It's alright, everything will be okay."


"It's Alright" by Brandon Heath, from the album, "Leaving Eden" 
(released Jan. 18, 2011)
YouTube video posted by Jake SD19


"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; 
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

(Isaiah 66:13, NIV)

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Who Do You Believe?




We were recently asked in our church Evangelism class to think of a good illustration describing "faith"--the saving kind, and not mere head knowledge.  And just last night, I saw this picture on facebook, thanks to SermonQuotes along with these wise words from Hudson Taylor, and thought "this is perfect!"

Can you trust this bridge to get you across the other side?  Christ, our Savior may be likened to this bridge.  Will you entrust your life to Him as the One & Only Way to the Father (John 14:6)?  To salvation from eternal damnation (Acts 4:12)?  To heaven (Luke 23:39-43)?

Committing our lives to the Lord for salvation however, is only the beginning.  Our everyday walk with God as Christians and our endeavors as a church also require faith.  As faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:11), we will surely be confronted with risks to take just as Abraham had when he followed God's call to leave his home to embark onto the great unknown; or when Noah, after being warned by God of things he has never seen, built an ark despite the criticism and opposition of so many.  What we put at stake, be it our time, money, skill, body, our love and devotion or our very lives as we heed God's call reflect our faith.

The good truth on the other hand, is that it doesn't really matter much though our faith be the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20).  We can always ask God to help us in our unbelief (Mark 9:23-24).  Rather, it is the object of our faith that counts!  What or better yet, "Who" do you believe?  Our duty is to simply trust and obey.  Our God is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17)!  It is His job to move the mountain.  It is He who can feed five thousand out of two fish and five loaves of bread.  His grace will always be greater than our sin (Romans 5:20).  It will always suffice for our every need & weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

What is God asking you to trust Him with today?  What is He calling you to do?  Are you willing to take that step of faith?  Do you dare leap?


"Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

--John Sammis, 1887