In the Palm of God’s Hand

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

'Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.' Isaiah 64:8

We have seen those pictures by trick photography where the subject would stick out his palm and a miniature image of himself or others would be standing on the palm. That image does not impress me. It connotes control or lording over the other person. It makes the person standing on the palm look so small.

Instead there is an old Irish Blessing that goes like this: 

"May the roads rise to meet you,

May the wind be ever at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rain fall soft upon your fields,

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand".

I was particularly struck by the last phrase, 'May God hold you in the palm of His hand.' It is an endearing, refreshing feeling that God will care for us in such a way that he holds us in the palm of His hand.

There is also another imagery of God's hands upon us and that is the interaction of the Lord as the potter and we, the clay. The potter painstakingly moulds the clay into shape. The clay is at first nondescript without form or definition. Yet the potter already visualises the final product; using his hands moulds and defines the clay, smoothening and embellishing it; giving the clay shape and character.

For permanence and glaze, the product is not finished until it is fired inside a kiln. The Bible speaks often about a test of fire, wherein anything without value, will be eventually burnt. That which is intended to last for eternity will come out of the fire a finished product, brilliant and unique.

Once, I attended the Ministry of Education’s investiture for new school principals. The theme of the appointment ceremony was “Through Your Hands Passes The Future Of Our Nation”. This slogan encapsulates the vocational calling of teachers and educators. 

The first paragraph of the letter of appointment to these principals read, "In your charge are many lives in the making, each one different, every one important, all with hopes and dreams for the future. They depend on you to guide, mould and nurture them to become better individuals and useful citizens."

The hand of God shaping, guiding and comforting us is often spoken of in the Bible:

'You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.' Psalm 16:11

'My times are in Your hands;' Psalm 31:15a

'The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hands.' Psalm 37:23-24

'Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depth you are there....even there Your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.' Psalm139:7,8 and 10

'So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10

'Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..' Isaiah 49:16a

'I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.' John 10:28

'Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,' 1 Peter 5:6

In 2008, Pat and I were at Li Jiang, Yunnan Province, China. All around the countryside, there is the surrounding presence of the beautiful, majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountains with its ice-capped peak. The scenery is magnificent and the mountains make me recall the commanding presence of the Lord and Psalms 121. 

'I lift up mine eyes to the hills and I wonder from where comes my help? My help, it comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let you stumble, He will not let you fall, the Lord is your keeper. The sun will not strike you by day nor the moon by night, the Lord will keep your life.' Psalm 121:1-2 and 6-7

The Irish Blessing wishes the best for us, everywhere we go, anywhere we wander, that God will keep a constant watch over us. 

And so may I wish that you will ever be found 'In the palm of God's hand.' 

Lionel

Updated 1st published 31 Dec 2008

From Fear to Faith

St Sava Church, Belgrade 'Christus Pantokrator' Χριστὸς Παντοκράτωρ

'Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.' Habakkuk 3:17-18

Pat and I have just completed a river cruise down the Danube from Hungary to Romania. We visited the poorer towns and villages of the former Eastern European Bloc, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Serbia. 

Bullet riddled Water Tower, Vukovar

These countries survived the harsh conditions of Communism, some under punishing dictatorships. Tourist guides told stories of their difficult past lives but never fought shy of expressing the hope for a better age for them. They told of massacres during the civil wars in the former Yugoslavia states, neighbours killing each other. 

At Vukovar, Croatia, we visited a massacre and memorial site on a remote farm. Around 400 patients and hideaways from Vukovar's hospital were captured. About 200 of these captives were taken to that farm at Ovcara and massacred.

Today, the same thing is happening in the war in Ukraine. The world awaits a global recession precipitated by both the unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic and that war in Ukraine. These are difficult times for most people. Many question Why?

Such times were also recorded in the Bible. Around 600 B.C. the prophet Habakkuk surveyed the prospects of the Kingdom of Judah, looked at the dismal conditions and was both perplexed and fearful. He cried out "How long, Lord, must I cry for help, but you do not listen?" (Habakkuk 1:2a) He saw

• Violence. 'Or I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?' (Habakkuk 1:2b)

• Injustice. 'Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?' (Habakkuk 1:3a)

• Destruction. 'Destruction and violence are before me?' (Habakkuk 1:3b)

• Conflicts. 'There is strife and violence are before me.' (Habakkuk 1:3c)

At such times it is natural to be fearful. Believers have the tendency to ask God these heartfelt questions, expecting answers. (Ref 1).

From the pages of history, we learnt that these troublesome times will pass. We move from fear to faith, which was the experience of the Eastern European countries we travelled in. We noticed that these villages and townships kept the flame of their Orthodox Christianity. Small churches in various villages such as Arbanassi survived despite the atheistic communist regimes. How did these Christians keep their faith in spite of living in fear under draconian regimes?

Churches in Arbanassi, 

Quoting Habakkuk, Nicky Gumbel stated that, "Faith involves believing what God has said in spite of the difficulties you face." (Ref 1)

'The righteous will live by their faith' Habakkuk 2:4b

 

What is especially encouraging is that the faith of these Christians came back with a vengeance. The cupola or apse of churches or cathedrals have been restored along with the large mosaics or frescoes of 'Christ Pantokrator' as an emphatic statement of their faith.

The icon of Christ Pantokrator occupies the central dome of the Orthodox churches and cathedrals. It celebrates Christ as God Almighty, the Lord of Hosts. It draws the attention of the congregation to sing 'O Worship the King' 

O worship the King, all glorious above,

O gratefully sing God's power and God's love;

our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,

pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of God's might, O sing of God's grace,

whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,

whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,

and dark is God's path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,

Almighty, thy power hath founded of old;

hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,

and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;

it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,

and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;

thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,

our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

Lionel

Ref 1: Nicky Gumbel YouVersion Bible in One Year Day 300.

Eking out a Living

Ting Ting Stall along Jonkers Street Melaka

'Those go out weeping, carrying seeds to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying their sheaves with them.' Psalm 126:6

7 Jul 2007, Pat and I were walking along Jonker’s Street, Melaka. We chanced upon a family of six. The parents were setting up a stall, which was no more than a simple 3-legged wooden stand supporting a cylindrical container about 30 inches in diameter and 5 inches high. Seated on a stool each, they began selling hardened maltose flakes that we used to call ting-ting sweets. The name is derived from the sound of hammer and chisel the hawker makes as he breaks off bits of hardened maltose in the cylindrical receptacle. The children are about ages 7, 6, 3 with the youngest, an infant. 

I was impressed at how the children were able to fend for themselves. The older daughter probably 6 years old carried her baby brother in her arms so securely and comfortably as any adult would. These children could have been playing computer games or watching cartoons on TV on a Saturday night. Instead they were with their parents at a 'pasar malam' along Jonker's Street in Melaka on a Saturday night. Probably the parents wanted every chance to earn an honest living, even if it is meager and the kids must come along in tow.

'Hawkers' uploaded by simalem

That's life but an honest day's living nonetheless. Many people in Malaysia and Singapore try to make an extra dollar working hard setting up make-shift stalls to sell their wares at night. This is called the Pasar Malam. There is a lesson to be learnt here about honest industry as a means to get out of the poverty cycle. 

People who are born to poor families are often trapped. Poor nutrition, poor education, poor work habits, and poor family relationships can easily condemn an individual to perpetual poverty. But those who make their way out, do so by grit and hard work, seizing every opportunity to earn a living. 

St Paul told the church in Colossae,

'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.' Colossians 3:23 and 24b

He advised the young Timothy, his disciple,

'It is the hard working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops' 2 Timothy 2:6

Working hard was one of the themes of Paul's advice to the early Christians on practical living

'Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so your will not be dependent on anybody.' 1 Thessalonians 4:10b - 12

The apostle spoke strongly against idleness,

'For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor do we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10

The founder of the Methodist church John Wesley took this advice on practical Christian living very seriously. Wesley preached “Gain all you can. Gain all you can by honest industry. Use all possible diligence in your calling. Lose no time. Every business will afford some employment sufficient for every day and every hour. That wherein you are placed, if you follow it in earnest, will leave you no leisure for silly, unprofitable diversions. You have always something better to do, something that will profit you, more or less. And "whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."

Not only were the hawker parents at Jonker Street working hard, but by having their four children accompany them, they are imparting to the children a lesson on honest industry. Perhaps these children will seize the opportunities that come their way, opportunities, the parents never had or missed, e.g. a good education. Then they will be able get a better break, a better start. 

Hard work whether secular or spiritual will be blessed and rewarded by God. There is a song, 'Bringing in the Sheaves', that celebrated this fact.

'Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seeds to sow, will return with songs of joy, bringing sheaves with them.' Psalm 126:5-6

1. Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
   Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
   Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
   We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
   • Refrain:
     Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
     We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
     Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
     We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
2. Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
   Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
   By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
   We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
3. Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
   Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
   When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
   We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

As I sat there watching this family in their current struggle, I knew that the example the parents were setting will help this family. Eventually, they will be set free from their current poverty not by the charity of others but by the industry of their own hands.

Lionel

Updated 1st published 20 Jul 2007

Being Holy

Norwegian Skies

 

'Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. For it is written: "Be Holy, because I am Holy.' 1 Peter 1:15-16 

1 Peter 1:13-25 calls for lives of holiness and attention to righteous living. Expounding on this theme of holiness, Rev Peace Choi in a sermon on the 28 Aug 2022 made two comments:

• A Holy Life is a Thoughtful Life. Our mind matters. St Peter urged Christians to stay alert and fully sober. 

'Therefore, with minds that are alert and sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming.' 1 Peter 1:13

St Paul wrote us that as Christians, our minds are renewed

'Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you be able to test and approve God's will - His good and perfect will.' Romans 2:12

We are to be enabled by the Spirit, spurred on by scripture, transformed in our minds. We are to integrate our beliefs with our lives.

• A Holy Life is an Obedient Life.  Our lives matters. Obedience cannot be partial, our obedience will be the test of our genuineness. 

'The proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.' 1 Peter 1:7 

 'Now that that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love each other deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.' 1 Peter 1:22-23

The Hebrew word translated to holiness, qadowsh literally means to cut. That is to say that to be holy means be stand out, to separate and be distinctive.

But how do we live holy lives? Before Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, He ushered the Holy Spirit into our lives. The Holy Spirit will enable us to become holy. 

'And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate (comforter in the KJV) to help you and be with you for ever - the Spirit of Truth' John 14:15

'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' Acts 1:8 

There are serious divergence amongst Christians as to what this power really means. Some understand this to mean the ability to work miracles by which actions many will be led to Christ. Others, countermanded such spectacular displays and prefer to become silent, gentle witness. I believe that this power is the enablement to live holy lives; lives so well respected and uplifting that many will be inspired. This empowerment by the Holy Spirit enables us to become good ambassadors for Christ.

Max Lucado wrote, "I now call the Holy Spirit our heaven-sent helper. He is the ally of the saint. He is our champion, our advocate, our guide. He comforts and directs us. He indwells, transform and sustain."

Empower Me should be the cry of every Christian, not so much to act powerfully but live holy lives as God is holy.

  

Nobody knows how weak I am, better than you;

Nobody sees all of my needs, better than you.

And nobody has the power to change me,

From what I was born to be.

Jesus be strong in my weakness, empower me!

Empower me, like a rushing river flowing to the sea.

 Lord, send your holy spirit flowing now through me.

Till I’m living as your child,

Victorious and free, send the power of your love,

Empower me.

Nobody’s eyes see through my soul,

Better than yours;

Nobody’s love can make me whole,

No one but yours.

And nobody has the power to lift me,

To reach for eternity.

Jesus break through all my defenses, empower me.

Empower me, like a rushing river flowing to the sea.

 Lord, send your holy spirit flowing now through me.

Till I’m living as your child,

Victorious and free, send the power of your love,

Empower me.

O Lord, send Your Holy Spirit flowing now through me!

Lionel

The Good Ruler

'Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them in His presence.' Revelations 7:15

On 8 Sep 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom's longest serving monarch,  died peacefully at the age of 96 years. She was a well-loved queen. There is a continuing outpouring of messages of grief as well as of praise from all over the world. The people of the United Kingdom and many citizens of the world respected her for her strong sense of duty and dedication, an anchor of stability in a world that is marked with  phenomenal changes during the 70 years of her reign.

The success of her reign in the turmoil of politics and power play of the modern world is in no small part due to her belief in God and recognition that there is a higher throne above hers. Throughout her reign and in the many speeches she gave she never fought shy of expressing her faith. She put her trust in God.

"For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, He stretched out His hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ's example has taught me to seek, to respect and value all people, of whatever faith or none." 

"Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive... It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord."

"I have been – and remain – very grateful to you for your prayers and to God for His steadfast love. I have indeed seen His faithfulness."

This great lady now stands before the throne of God alongside her loved ones who have gone before her and the many more men and women of faith.

There is a hymn, popular in the churches of the UK, 'Before the throne of God Above.' It was written by Charitie Lees Smith (1841-1923) and first published in The Praise of Jesus (London: James Nisbet, 1863)

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

A great High Priest, whose name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hands

My name is written on His heart

I know that while in heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look, and see Him there

who made an end to all my sin

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free

For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the Risen Lamb

My perfect spotless righteousness

The great unchangeable I am

The King of glory and of grace!

Like St Paul, Queen Elizabeth was humble enough to recognise in Jesus Christ, a greater king and may we all too.

'This saying is reliable and deserves full acceptance: "Christ came to the world to save all sinners" - and I'm the biggest sinner of all. But this is why I was shown mercy so that Christ Jesus could show His endless patience to me first of all. So I'm an example for all who are going to believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King of all ages, to the immortal and invisible, and only God, may honour nd glory be given Him forever and always! Amen' 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Lionel