November 28, 2021

The Shepherd's Corner

Esther attended the Bible school where I was a part of, years ago.  She later married a pastor, and both served faithfully.  Many years ago, her husband suffered a stroke that rendered him unable to continue ministry.  Consequently, she had to step up to the plate to support the family by teaching in a university and a seminary.  A few years ago, she suffered a stroke.  For a long while her body was half-paralyzed but by the grace of God she recovered and went back to work.  Two days ago, she fell in the bathroom and died.  She was 55.

There is so much I do not understand about life.  Some of us can sail through life without having to face a single storm but some have to face multiple storms.  Esther faced multiple storms.  But through all the storms she remained steadfast in her love and faith in Christ and never lost touch of her love for others.  When I visited her after her stroke, she made it her project to prepare me noodle because she knew it was my favorite.  With one hand dangling helplessly and one foot standing unsteadily, she happily cooked my favorite meal.

The last few years of her life Amy Carmichael, God’s missionary to India, suffered from severe neuralgia, which caused her so much pain.  However, in her diary this is what she wrote, “Not relief from pain, not relief from the weariness that follows, not anything of that sort at all, is my chief need.  Thou, O Lord my God, art my need—Thy courage, Thy patience, Thy fortitude.  And very much I need a quickened gratitude for the countless helps given every day.” 

We, who have faced multiple storms but remained standing, know that storms will come.  But we know that He, who controls the storms, are with us and will supply us with courage, patience, and fortitude.  So, our prayer will only be one: Give us gratitude, O God.

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - January 19, 2025
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER I don’t know if you have been following the news about the fire or not, but I have.  Firstly, I’d like to thank God for holding the wind down last Tuesday and Wednesday.  Instead of 40 to 50 miles/hour the wind blew at a much slower speed.  Consequently, th...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - January 31, 2016
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER God does not leave any stones unturned. Even when we come to Him for help, He still uses the occasion to make us see more clearly—sometimes to see Him more clearly, sometimes to see us more clearly. That was what Jesus Our Lord did to Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, as recorded...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - May 03, 2015
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER May 2 and May 4 have always had a special meaning for me. May 2 was the day I left Indonesia and May 4 was the day I set foot on American soil for the first time. The year was 1978. It was the beginning of the second chapter of my life—the […]...
Read More