Yesterday was Good neighbour's day. A group of students and me went to a block of flats next to our school to distribute some pretty nice post cards. Two girls happen to visit a 93 year old lady. Being helpful and nice (well done, girls!), the girls volunteered to bring some newspapers the next day to the old lady. So today, I accompanied the two girls to see the old granny. (I will like to take this opportunity to applaud these caring hearts that our students have. Keep on caring and encouraging!)
When we visit her flat, the granny greeted us warmly, and offered us drinks and nice tarts. At conversation, she mentioned how blessed we are compared to those of her generation, who had undergone both world wars. She was hard of hearing, so we use written words to communicate with her, though she is proficient in English and could still speak well.
However her passion came as she talked to us about Christianity and Jesus Christ. In fact, she has told us for more than half hour about the importance of Jesus in someone’s life, and even asked us to help distribute some photostated (but the original was painstakingly hand-written) flyers that she has written to our friends. In fact, she has around 100 flyers. I ask her to keep for herself, but she lamented that she hardly have any visitors these days, yet there was so much so much what she wanted to tell people. Of course I reluctantly took 2-3 flyers, but to help her spread her message to people, I will write the words of the flyers in this blog.
It is the message of Christmas, the message of love and hope. Below is what the flyers said:
Mark 14:38 – Matt 26:41 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
One of the saddest elements in the Gethsemane experience was the disappointment of Jesus in His disciples. He asked the three most loved of them to be near Him in His great agony. He craved the help of their sympathy. But when He came back to them, hoping to be strengthened by their love, he found them asleep. Peter, James and John.
Of these years of my Christian faith I was wondering why every Christmas card has the robin red breast. A legend of the Britain peasants tells how the robin got its red breast. As Jesus was led out to Calvary, a bird, pitying Him, flew down and plucked on thorn from the crown of thorns he wore. The blood spurted from the wound and splashed the bird’s breast. Ever since, the peasant say, the robin has had a spot of red on its breast in remembrance of its pity for the Master that day. The disciples had it in their power that night, not to pluck thorns from their Master’s brow, but to strengthen Him by their sympathy. They had missed their opportunity, however, and only made Gethsemane harder for Him.
Blessings on all who revere and trust the Lord – on all who obey Him! Their reward shall be prosperity and happiness. Your wife shall be contented in your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around the dinner table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is God’s reward to those who revere and trust Him. May the Lord continually bless you with heaven’s blessings as well as with human joys. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren! And may God bless your home with warmth and many true friends. (Psalm 128)
We owe our true friends’ fingers, touches, delicate and beautiful on the canvas of our souls, there will be a silver thread every life-web woven into the fabric by pure friendships.
Heartprints. Each person’s fingerprints are unique. We each have a unique heart print that can touch another. We pray about encouraging others. “O God, wherever I go today, help me leave heartprints! Heartprints of compassion, understanding, and love. Heartprints of kindness and genuine concern. May my heart touch a lonely neighbour or runaway daughter of an anxious mother or an aged grandfather. Send me out today to leave heartprints. And if someone should say, “I felt your touch.” May the one sense Your love touching through me.
A homeless man was standing outside a fast-food restaurant asking for money. A customer went in and bought an extra hamburger for him. Before the customer settle to eat He looked out the glass window and saw the homeless man started to unwrap the hamburger to a homeless woman with a child who were sitting on the sidewalk.
A Christian lady volunteer who took an old man to an annual Christmas party for elderly people. This old man mentioned that he could not control his bladder, and that he might wet her expensive car seat. The volunteer lady replied spontaneously. Don’t worry I can clean it up. What is important is that I get you to the Christmas party. This lady openly displayed her love for people and not things. Jesus saith, we should not treasure possession for they won’t last into eternity.
As I grow older I’m learning to lean more on God and His faithfulness over the years. He held me by my right hand when I fell twice it was not utterly cast down. (Ps 37:24) As age has its trouble-failing hearing, dim eyesight, forgetful many things, aching backs, rheumatoid arthritis toes and fingers and soft knees, aging and weakness focus our thoughts on God, we learn to fix our eyes on Him and on unseen realities. We learn to distinguish between permanent and what is passing away. I still need friends to warm my winter years?
With love from Sylvea
THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS 25/12
When they saw the Star they rejoiced with exceedingly joy (Matt 2:10) In everything give thanks to the Lord Jesus for His precious gift laid on the altar of the world for the redemption of sinners (Eph 5:20)
CHRISTMAS IS THE OIL OF JOY
Doors creak, our lives also creak and grate and needs to be lubricated with oil of joy which is
(1) Oil of gentleness
(2) Oil of thoughtfulness
(3) Oil of helpfulness
(4) Oil of Cheerfulness.
Give of your talents and money generously. Your gifts will return to you later.
Take the tinsel and the glitter and the Santas all away,
For God’s love is far, far greater than this man-made grand display.
The Christmas Tree reminds of Christ being hung on a wooden cross when He was crucified and now “An Evergreen Tree” which means “Eternal Life!”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel! Born is the King of Israel!
CHRISTMAS IS LOVE
Christmas is a time of meditation on the wonders of the love of God who gave His only Son, as a ransom for us. Christmas ought to be a time of worship and of fellowship around God’s word, when we hear again the story of His birth. It should not be a day of festivities, when families and friends exchange gifts. But a day to commemorate the gift laid on the altar of the world for the redemption of sinners. It is the most appropriate time to consecrate a portion from both abounding riches and scanty poverty to send forth the good tidings of great joy into all the world. To see the needs of your fellowmen behind their faces and hearts that are hungering for real joy, the joy that only can be gained by knowing the true meaning of life…
Life upon this world is just an episode. A journey… we only pass through this way once. Sow seeds of encouragement, to remember the weakness and loneliness of those who are growing old.
As you celebrate Christmas do you think what it means to you? Do you rejoice because Christ the Savior was born and died on the cross for our sins? When you see a Christmas tree are you not reminded about the wooden cross upon which He was crucified? Why must this tree be an “Evergreen”? Does it not symbolize the Eternal life which is ours through Christ? (Jn 10:27-28) My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, they follow me. I give them Eternal Life and they shall never perish, no man can snatch them from my hands. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen.
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