Kasih Tuhan selalu menyertai kita

I did send an Indonesian language Bible to the maid I befriended at the inn in Cameron Highlands. And she has replied with a letter that truly warmed my heart. When we give to God what is God's we begin to experience his reality in our lives. What more can I say except to share here her psalm prayer - an affirmation that indeed God is our loving and constant companion.

As we experience our beloved Lord, our companion on this journey we call our lives, we will along the way meet others who are also searching, who are yearning for touches of his love. "It is in giving that we receive" (St. Francis of Assisi)

*SYALOM*

"Saya mengucap syukur kepada Tuhan yang maha kuasa kerana aku di pertemukan dengan orang yang penuh suka cita di dalam nama Tuhan Yesus. Aku merasakan pancaran kasih Yesus dari orang tersebut - kasih Yesus yang telah lama aku tinggalkan, kasih Yesus yang telah lama tak ku rasakan. Kini aku telah di ingatkan akan kasih Yesus melalui hambanya, Lilian. Walaupun aku baru mengenalnya, tapi seolah-olah aku sudah lama mengenalnya. Tutur bahasanya, senyum ramahnya telah memancarkan suatu bias kasih yang dalam dari Tuhan. Mudah-mudahan dengan pertemuan itu, aku kembali dengan kasih Yesus. Aku ingin memuliakan nama-NYA sampai selama-lamanya. Terpujilah Engkau Yesus, Nama yang kudus, suaraMu yang Agung. Hanya kepada -MU kami memohon atas segala dosa-dosa kami."

Haleluya - Haleluya........!!!

* Amin *

The Resurrection

Mark 12: 18 - 27

"He is not the God of the dead, but of the living"

I wonder how often we think of the 'resurrection'. It depends on how often we really consider the fact that we will all die one day. A morbid thought to some, while for those who know and love the Lord it should not be a frightening prospect. In our life on this earth we are always surrounded by God "in whom we live and move and have our being". But God remains invisible to us and it is by faith that we perceive his presence in our lives. Can we trust that death is like birth? While in the womb, the child is surrounded by a warm and safe environment, drawing life and being nourished by his mother. But he does not see his mother. When the time for birth comes, the child leaves the place he knows well and enters into a totally new environment. But only then is the child able to see his mother and be held in her loving embrace. Perhaps death will be like that for us. We are removed from the environment we know so well.... into somewhere we can hardly imagine for now. But then we will see the God who gave us life and gives us life again.

I wonder if our image of the resurrection is that it is a continuation of life on earth, of course without all the problems that mar it now. One big joyful reunion with family and friends! But Jesus tells the Saducees that it will be different. He does not give us a clear description of the afterlife except that "there is no marriage or giving in marriage". Perhaps this reminds us that only one relationship will carry over into our resurrection life: our relationship with God that continues beyond death. I wonder how that strikes us. I have to ask myself whether the idea of meeting God is an inviting one. Perhaps I will meet someone whom I have not got to know during my earthly life. That is something important to consider. For if one does not have a relationship with God in this life, one can hardly expect to begin one in the next. We must nurture our relationship with the Lord with great care. Not that our earthly relationships are unimportant. They are. But each and every other relationship derives its significance because of the one very special love that is shared between us and our God.