August 5, 2018

The Shepherd's Corner

[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

When we were in Malang to attend our son’s wedding, a friend of our daughter came to visit. She came with her parents to re-connect with our daughter whom she had not seen in years. She was just a delightful young woman whose heart was fixed on living for and serving God. The last day before she was headed for her hometown, she visited the Bible school where I usually teach.

While she was taking a self-guided tour of the campus, she met a colleague of mine, the director of the counseling program. So, they talked and out of that conversation she began thinking about entering the counseling program at the Bible school. Afterward she and her parents came to say good bye to us.

While chatting, somehow the topic of the conversation drifted to her calling to full-time Christian service. Santy and I then shared with her our own journey of Christian service. Suddenly she began sobbing as she recounted her personal journey and how she felt God’s calling her to full-time Christian service. At the conclusion, Santy and I encouraged her to consider applying to the Bible school, which she promised she would. A couple of days ago our daughter texted me to tell me that this friend of hers had applied to the Bible school and has been admitted.

When I look back on what transpired, I could only say, “All has been arranged.“ Out of the blue she wanted to visit our daughter; out of the blue she met this professor of counseling while strolling the campus, and out of the blue we talked about God’s calling. Behind the blue God arranges everything perfectly. She came to meet our daughter; she went away meeting God’s wonderful plan. We are just happy to play a small part in a big plan of God.

Pastor Paul[:id]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

When we were in Malang to attend our son’s wedding, a friend of our daughter came to visit. She came with her parents to re-connect with our daughter whom she had not seen in years. She was just a delightful young woman whose heart was fixed on living for and serving God. The last day before she was headed for her hometown, she visited the Bible school where I usually teach.

While she was taking a self-guided tour of the campus, she met a colleague of mine, the director of the counseling program. So, they talked and out of that conversation she began thinking about entering the counseling program at the Bible school. Afterward she and her parents came to say good bye to us.

While chatting, somehow the topic of the conversation drifted to her calling to full-time Christian service. Santy and I then shared with her our own journey of Christian service. Suddenly she began sobbing as she recounted her personal journey and how she felt God’s calling her to full-time Christian service. At the conclusion, Santy and I encouraged her to consider applying to the Bible school, which she promised she would. A couple of days ago our daughter texted me to tell me that this friend of hers had applied to the Bible school and has been admitted.

When I look back on what transpired, I could only say, “All has been arranged.“ Out of the blue she wanted to visit our daughter; out of the blue she met this professor of counseling while strolling the campus, and out of the blue we talked about God’s calling. Behind the blue God arranges everything perfectly. She came to meet our daughter; she went away meeting God’s wonderful plan. We are just happy to play a small part in a big plan of God.

Pastor Paul[:]

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - June 16, 2019
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Years ago, when I was in school, I read a study about how easily we—and our values—changed. The subjects of the study were law students. When they first started law school, when asked what they wished to do with their law degrees, many said they studied law to help and de...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - January 17, 2016
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Character is difficult to change once it is already in place. It is like a Christmas tree—or any tree for that matter. We can hang as many Christmas ornaments as we want and even cover it with snow—real or frocked—to the point that we can barely see its green leaves, bu...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - April 19, 2026
Last Sunday afternoon a dear colleague of mine in the Bible school went home to the with the Lord.  By the grace of God, he lived with Stage 4 metastatic lung cancer for six years and up till days before he passed, he was still teaching!  God kept him alive and productive as long as [&hell...
Read More