December 21, 2014

The Shepherd's Corner

It is not every year that we can come and celebrate Christmas—the birth of Our Loving Savior.  This year Oom Djaja and Oom Ping Tiauw will have to miss it.  Oom Djaja had a fall a few days ago and fractured his left wrist.  He is fine now but he can’t go anywhere.  So, he will have to celebrate Christmas at home with his family.It is not every year that we can come and celebrate Christmas—the birth of Our Loving Savior.  This year Oom Djaja and Oom Ping Tiauw will have to miss it.  Oom Djaja had a fall a few days ago and fractured his left wrist.  He is fine now but he can’t go anywhere.  So, he will have to celebrate Christmas at home with his family.Oom Ping Tiauw has been in the hospital for the past few weeks, receiving treatment.  Tante Ansy and his two daughters have always been at his bed side, attending to his needs.  This year he, too, will have to miss celebrating Christmas with us, his church family.

God guides all His children; Psalm 23 clearly states that.  There are moments He guides us through green pastures and quiet waters.  These are good times—no particularly big problems and plenty of reasons to be happy.  But, there are periods where God guides us through the dark valley.  Climbing the hills gives us much to cheer about, but going downhill and walking, not only in the darkness of uncertainty but also in the shadow of danger, this gives us chill.

But, as David the Psalmist wrote, “I will fear no evil for You are with me.”  David could attest to the abiding and reassuring presence of God especially in times of trouble.  Please keep in mind, God does not promise instant solution to our problem but He promises He will be with us.  When He says that, it does not mean that He will just be with us—and do nothing.  No, when He says He will be with us it means He will help us and that He is in control.

We don’t know how He will help but He will.  At the end of the day somehow God will “prepare a table before me.”  Yes, at the end of the day we will sit back and enjoy the Lord’s blessings again.

Pastor Paul
Oom Ping Tiauw has been in the hospital for the past few weeks, receiving treatment.  Tante Ansy and his two daughters have always been at his bed side, attending to his needs.  This year he, too, will have to miss celebrating Christmas with us, his church family.

God guides all His children; Psalm 23 clearly states that.  There are moments He guides us through green pastures and quiet waters.  These are good times—no particularly big problems and plenty of reasons to be happy.  But, there are periods where God guides us through the dark valley.  Climbing the hills gives us much to cheer about, but going downhill and walking, not only in the darkness of uncertainty but also in the shadow of danger, this gives us chill.

But, as David the Psalmist wrote, “I will fear no evil for You are with me.”  David could attest to the abiding and reassuring presence of God especially in times of trouble.  Please keep in mind, God does not promise instant solution to our problem but He promises He will be with us.  When He says that, it does not mean that He will just be with us—and do nothing.  No, when He says He will be with us it means He will help us and that He is in control.

We don’t know how He will help but He will.  At the end of the day somehow God will “prepare a table before me.”  Yes, at the end of the day we will sit back and enjoy the Lord’s blessings again.

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - November 01, 2015
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER I hope you all could come and join us in our Thanksgiving retreat. But, I know for some of you physically it will be almost impossible to go. I understand but I will miss you there. Your absence serves as a reminder that we cannot continue doing the things we used to [&hellip...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - February 25, 2024
God uses men and women alike. Years ago, when I visited a small town in Java, I was told by the pastor of the church that they had a ministry up in a mountain outside of town. But the ministry was not started by him or the church that he pastored; it was started by […]...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - December 26, 2021
Perhaps most of you have never heard of a town called Parachute.  It is a small town up in the Colorado’s Rocky.  Its population is only 1100.  I, too, had never heard of that town until my car broke down in Parachute about 40 years ago. I remember that I had to spend the night [&he...
Read More