November 21, 2021

The Shepherd's Corner

You might still remember Lyna, the restaurant server who suffered a brain hemorrhage that left her paralyzed. God called her home last year and yesterday her mother, whom I call Aunty Yen, went back to Indonesia for good. When I think of her, I am reminded that we really do not know about tomorrow. We can understand yesterday, and we can face today but we are clueless about tomorrow.

A dozen of years ago she said goodbye to Lyna, wishing her a new and better life in America. Three years ago, she came here to find her daughter in a coma after the massive hemorrhage. For two years everyday she took care of Lyna but last year she had to bid her farewell. And yesterday she went home to Surabaya alone.

Oswald Chambers sums it well, “The path to God is never the same as the path of God. When I am going on with God in His path, I do not understand, but God does; therefore, I understand God, not His path.”  We do not understand the path of God—the path that He has us walk on—but this unknown path will always lead us to God. Along the way we shall know Him better and trust Him and love Him more. This unknown yet blessed path will always lead us to Him.

Aunty Yen told me that whenever she prays, she somehow finds it more at home praying to God in the same way Lyna used to pray—through Jesus Our Lord—than in her previous way. She now knows Jesus Our Lord much better than before, and she is beginning to trust Him more and more. As far as I am concerned, I, too, have been blessed. Whenever we talked, knowing my health challenges, she always assured me that I am in her prayers. But it’s not only her, several Lyna’s friends have become my friends and they, too, pray for me. You see, one of the greatest blessings is to be prayed for.

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - June 30, 2024
There are times when we think how much better and manageable life would be if we had known what was to come.  If we had known that something awful was to happen, we would have at least been more prepared.  But I am not sure that I agree with this logic all the time.  Yes, […]...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - December 27, 2015
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER God is humble. When He does something, He does not usually tell us. He just works behind the scene—quietly. When it is done, then can we see it! I am sure we all can appreciate what we see in our sanctuary and dining hall this Christmas season. These two rooms have been [&h...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - June 26, 2016
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER We don’t know the exact number of copies that have been sold. What we know is that the book has been translated into 200 languages and millions of copies have been sold. It is estimated that next to the Bible, it is the one book that has outsold any other books. And, [&hell...
Read More