Long time no blog! Need to keep you up to date with events here at Sefton Village. Last Tuesday night Pastor Jun and I went down to Manila on the overnight bus. Nightmare journey ... smelly bus with bad brakes and broken air con! But that's another story ...
We went down a day early so that we could get all the Christmas gifts for the children in the orphanage and all our staff! A whole day of non-stop shopping. To some, this would be like heaven but to me it's like a nightmare! Thousands of shop assistants shouting "How about this ... or this ... or this .. or that!" Aaagggghhhh.... get me outa here! Anyway, we completed the task at 8:30pm ... over 120 gifts bought! I know what you're thinking ... Christmas? Yup, here in Philippines they start celebrating in September 1 ... and this was the only opportunity I had to get the gifts before Christmas!
Anyway ... the main reason for going to Manila was to pick up my family and bring them North. It was AMAZINGLY GOOD to see them again ... dad, mum, brother Paul, Ashley, Nathan, Aaron and cousin-in-law Monica. Words can't describe how it feels when you meet people you love but who you haven't seen for a long time. They arrived safe and well and we had a night in Manila to give them time to adjust.
They have been here for a week now and I will ask one of them to do a 'Guest Blog' to let you know what they have been up to! Things have been very busy here at Sefton this October and it seems as if there are so many doors opening to us to walk through. More about that next week ...
For now, I want to really challenge us. On Monday I took the family to a beautiful place called Banaue. There are rice terraces there that have literally been hand made in the middle of a very mountainous area. Amazing thing is that this was done over 2000 years ago by people with primitive tools. Pretty unbelievable. Anyway, on the way there we encountered around 20 landslides on the road ... some really big ones.
At one place, tragedy was evident. At 10pm one night last week, a huge chunk of mud slid down the mountain and completely swept away and destroyed two small homes on the roadside. It was so dark and so silent. Tragically, nine people were inside the houses and never stood a chance ... 5 of them little children. So as we drove past the site we saw the newly erected tombs of these none poor people. They were built where their houses stood just a few days before. A few feet away at either side were two other houses that missed tragedy by a few inches. Incredible.
Really got me thinking. Things like that make you stop and take a deep look at yourself. Coming face to face with death and tragedy forces you to self-examine your whole life.
Imagine, one minute sleeping ... next fighting for breath in a sea of mud. No light. No sound. No help. No hope. That's it. It's over. Life is finished in less than a moment.
We always think we have plenty time. Definite opportunities. Limitless years. Undoubtable days. We plan and work out our finances, working options, family plans and goals that will enhance our standing in life. Truth is -and I hate to remind us - that we cannot even guarantee today. We don't know what is around the corner, through the door or on the road.
The MOST important thing right now, as you read this blog, is that at this moment in time:
* You are in right standing with God. You are His. He is yours. No matter what happens ... you know who you are and where you are going and who is Lord of your life. Church attendance, friends, good deeds and a hope that you will make it is not enough. You won't make it. Only your faith in Christ and your relationship with Him will bring you to heaven.
* You are in right standing with your family. No regrets. No tears. Don't leave this world with unresolved issues with those God has put you closest to. Make a phone call today. Arrange a time to talk things through. Swallow your pride, take a deep breath and do what you know in your heart is right.
* You are in right standing with the world around you. Don't leave this world with a bad reputation or with broken friendships. Don't leave with undisclosed debt. Leave with a good name and a good reputation. Don't allow 'things' come between great friendships ... especially church problems. I know so many broken and bitter people who have lost true friends through church mis-understandings. Tragic. How the Lord's heart must break. But now, while you have time, deal with the past to ensure a great future.
I know this blog is a bit strong and a bit challenging. But that is where I am this week. I don't know what will happen tomorrow ... but I know there are times God brings you to a place where we have to take a close look inside out hearts.
You never know ... you may be at the edge of a 'landslide' and don't know it.
I leave you with a poem that was sent to me by a missionary from Cambodia. It is written by a young girl who is terminally ill in a New York hospital. Let it challenge you today ...
We went down a day early so that we could get all the Christmas gifts for the children in the orphanage and all our staff! A whole day of non-stop shopping. To some, this would be like heaven but to me it's like a nightmare! Thousands of shop assistants shouting "How about this ... or this ... or this .. or that!" Aaagggghhhh.... get me outa here! Anyway, we completed the task at 8:30pm ... over 120 gifts bought! I know what you're thinking ... Christmas? Yup, here in Philippines they start celebrating in September 1 ... and this was the only opportunity I had to get the gifts before Christmas!
Anyway ... the main reason for going to Manila was to pick up my family and bring them North. It was AMAZINGLY GOOD to see them again ... dad, mum, brother Paul, Ashley, Nathan, Aaron and cousin-in-law Monica. Words can't describe how it feels when you meet people you love but who you haven't seen for a long time. They arrived safe and well and we had a night in Manila to give them time to adjust.
They have been here for a week now and I will ask one of them to do a 'Guest Blog' to let you know what they have been up to! Things have been very busy here at Sefton this October and it seems as if there are so many doors opening to us to walk through. More about that next week ...
For now, I want to really challenge us. On Monday I took the family to a beautiful place called Banaue. There are rice terraces there that have literally been hand made in the middle of a very mountainous area. Amazing thing is that this was done over 2000 years ago by people with primitive tools. Pretty unbelievable. Anyway, on the way there we encountered around 20 landslides on the road ... some really big ones.
At one place, tragedy was evident. At 10pm one night last week, a huge chunk of mud slid down the mountain and completely swept away and destroyed two small homes on the roadside. It was so dark and so silent. Tragically, nine people were inside the houses and never stood a chance ... 5 of them little children. So as we drove past the site we saw the newly erected tombs of these none poor people. They were built where their houses stood just a few days before. A few feet away at either side were two other houses that missed tragedy by a few inches. Incredible.Really got me thinking. Things like that make you stop and take a deep look at yourself. Coming face to face with death and tragedy forces you to self-examine your whole life.
Imagine, one minute sleeping ... next fighting for breath in a sea of mud. No light. No sound. No help. No hope. That's it. It's over. Life is finished in less than a moment.
We always think we have plenty time. Definite opportunities. Limitless years. Undoubtable days. We plan and work out our finances, working options, family plans and goals that will enhance our standing in life. Truth is -and I hate to remind us - that we cannot even guarantee today. We don't know what is around the corner, through the door or on the road.
The MOST important thing right now, as you read this blog, is that at this moment in time:
* You are in right standing with God. You are His. He is yours. No matter what happens ... you know who you are and where you are going and who is Lord of your life. Church attendance, friends, good deeds and a hope that you will make it is not enough. You won't make it. Only your faith in Christ and your relationship with Him will bring you to heaven.
* You are in right standing with your family. No regrets. No tears. Don't leave this world with unresolved issues with those God has put you closest to. Make a phone call today. Arrange a time to talk things through. Swallow your pride, take a deep breath and do what you know in your heart is right.
* You are in right standing with the world around you. Don't leave this world with a bad reputation or with broken friendships. Don't leave with undisclosed debt. Leave with a good name and a good reputation. Don't allow 'things' come between great friendships ... especially church problems. I know so many broken and bitter people who have lost true friends through church mis-understandings. Tragic. How the Lord's heart must break. But now, while you have time, deal with the past to ensure a great future.
I know this blog is a bit strong and a bit challenging. But that is where I am this week. I don't know what will happen tomorrow ... but I know there are times God brings you to a place where we have to take a close look inside out hearts.
You never know ... you may be at the edge of a 'landslide' and don't know it.
I leave you with a poem that was sent to me by a missionary from Cambodia. It is written by a young girl who is terminally ill in a New York hospital. Let it challenge you today ...
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done!
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
Selah ...Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done!
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
1 comment:
Its great to have you BACK!!! you need to apply to government for preferencial treatment to spanking new reliable Phone lines!!!
Hope you are having a gret time with your nearest and dearest. Thats a beautiful poem very challenging. I think (especially in the western world) the devils greatest ploy is to keep you busy so not to allow you time to think, reflect,and deprive you of time to spend with family friend and above all robs God of His relationship with us. We have to fight to maintain these things. This week our daily reading was hve you encounterd the devil today, If not, you and him are going in the same direction. OK less of that I hope you have a really blessed time with you family Love you all Auntie betty and Uncle billy xxx
Post a Comment