Yes, I am now 63—officially!  And in the past a couple of days I have gained a few pounds—surely!  Thank you for your love to my wife and me by sending us a lot of food.  And thank you for sending us notes of birthday wishes. These spoke volume of how much you care for us.  May the Good Lord bless you and keep you always!

Last week I shared with you about Hari Arbianto from our band, Not Young Anymore, and asked for your prayer. He is now already home with the Lord.  Perhaps it’s too soon for us, but not to Our Heavenly Father; it’s His good and perfect time. He always brings us to the world and takes us out of the world at the right time—at His time.

Thomas A. Dorsey was an accomplished blues musician before his spiritual awakening.  Since his conversion, he wrote a lot of Gospel songs.  One of them that has become a favorite of many is Precious Lord, Take My Hand.  It was written after he lost his wife and infant son during childbirth.  As you can hear, the lyrics reveal a wounded soul, “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand.  I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.  Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light.  Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”  The death of his wife and infant son tore him apart but to God he went for solace and strength.  The untimely became timely.

It is human to say, “Untimely, Lord.”  He is not angry at us for saying that; He understands.  He knows that we can only see partially, not the whole picture.  But one day we shall understand because we will be able to see the whole picture.  And that will be the time we shall say, “It’s timely, Lord.”  Everything that happened turned out to be timely—at the right time and at the right place.  Nothing was out of place.  That will be the time we bow down and give thanks to Him.

Pastor Paul