In Him abiding

It's the last day of the year and I am in a reflective mood - pondering on the word 'abide.' One of the key phrases in John's writings is found in Jesus' words 'to abide' These words become a special feature in chapter 15 - the theme 'abide in me and I in you.' The expression 'to abide' is used here to describe the relationship between Jesus and His disciples. By the picture of the vine, the growing branches and fruitful plant, Jesus conveys to us the idea of that living and abiding fellowship. The promises the kind of faith we are able to have through Him.

The word 'abide' has several emphases - each of which may add to our understanding and spiritual awareness.

First, an abiding friendship, a phrase that stands for a relationship of true and lasting loyalty. Everyday we meet people; many we pass by briefly in any one day, especially in the crowded life of our city. Some we get to know and after a while lose touch with. Of the people we meet, we are grateful for those whom there can be a lasting and abiding friendship. that gives continuity to our experience over the years. They are precious, they are there when we need them. We keep in touch in different ways. We live for each other, there is mutual trust and sharing.

Jesus said to His disciples. 'Abide in Me.' He also told them, 'I have called you friends.' To Jesus, discipleship means more than belonging to a group, a team, a cell or a church. It is a deeper relationship with and loyalty to Him. 'In Him abiding, my all confiding' says one of our old choruses.

Second, I think of an abiding treasure. It stands for the worth and value we place on something important and precious. In the world, there are many fashions and styles of culture and art that quickly come and go. Not all are abiding, but there are those that abide. We have the music of Beethoven and Handel, the literature of Shakespeare and paintings of Constable and Turner for example. Such works have stood the test of time. We call them classics. They are treasures of history and civilisation and have abiding value. In this sense, the message of Jesus is treasured as abiding gift to us.

Third, I think of His abiding presence. This is the last day of 2010. In a matter of hours it will be gone and we begin a new year. But I'm glad I have Jesus and His presence goes with me into the new year.

One of my favourite hymns is 'Abide with me fast falls the even tide.' The darkness that enfolds us causes us to fear and we need this abiding presence. David the psalmist sings about going through the valley of the shadow of death and his confidence in this abiding presence of the Lord - "Thou art with me." Yes, in life's journey, we need the presence of God to be with us as we move into the new year.

'Abide in me and I in you.' His presence surrounds us; much more, He dwells within us if we let Him. What a lovely relationship - His abiding friendship and presence comforts, strengthens, inspires and challenges us. That has been my experience thus far and His promise for the future.

In Jesus' call to abide in Him, He has given us a wonderful, simple yet profound assurance that helps us to look within to our own experience and to become aware of life's possibilities, more able to grow in faith and trust, more ready to look to God in openness to what He is able to do and to be for us.

From my own experience, in moments when faith is low or weak, when life is tired and lonely, when the shallowness of the world is all too evident, I turn to Him whose presence surrounds me. I hear again the injunction - 'Abide in me.' In Him I find an abiding friendship, an abiding treasure and an abiding presence to take me into the future.

I'm in the midst of writing my next chapter of my autobiography. It's about my involvement in the Salvation Army musicals. I recall playing the part of Peter and I sang this as a solo. With this I end this last message of the old year.

"For the far future I cannot see,
Promise your presence, travel with me;
Sunshine or shadow? I cannot tell;
You know I love you, all will be well. (John Gowans SASB 294

God has His reasons

The year is fast coming to an end and soon we'll begin another year 2011. What a lot has happened during the last twelve months. To us, these months have passed extremely fast.

We've been retired thirteen and a half years. We lived the first five years at Hillview Park, then eight years in a rented unit at Praisehaven, a Salvation Army complex.

We have now moved to a new unit facing the Trinity Theologial College. Here we hope we shall remain till we make the next move to the place the Lord has gone to prepare for us. There we shall live in the mansions above with our Lord for eternity.

We live in a world of change, but we serve the Lord who never changes. He is the same yesterday, to-day and forever. Let me share a lovely poem written by Mona Westergaard entitled "God has His reasons." And He does not always reveal His reasons. We trust Him and take one step at a time.


God has His reasons
For times and seasons,
For the changes in pattern and line;
The good and the bad,
The joyful, the sad,
Find a place in His ordered design.

God has His seasons
For times and reasons,
And His love in His purpose is shown;
He gives and He takes,
He makes no mistakes,
Give or take, He enriches His own.

God has His reasons
For times and seasons,
Though so much we may not comprehend;
But this we know,
However things go,
All will work for our good in the end.

God has His reasons
For times and seasons,
So why question His will and His way?
He knows what is best,
Acceptance brings rest,
He'll explain at the end of the day. - Mona Westergaard

The spirit of Christmas

Christmas Eve we joined the folk to sing carols at two homes. We visited the Lutz family at Theresaville. Mary has been very sick so it was good we were able to visit her, Bill and Shirley to sing carols to them. From there we made our way to the Wan family at Hillview.

This year we did not take on any speaking engagements, so we spent our time at our own church. On Christmas Day itself we had a great time. After the morning service we adjourned to the social hall where we had the Corps Family Lunch. Our Major and the ladies worked extremely hard to prepare the meal.

On Sunday Boxing Day, we went to worship with the Central Corps folk. After that we joined our relatives at Casafina for Family Gathering. The is the annual get together organised by Elaine and her siblings.

Christmas is a special time of 'peace on earth, goodwill to men' as the angels proclaimed. This special gift of goodwill does not come wrapped in tinsel. It cannot be bought with money, nor expressed by a hoped for gift. No, it is really none of these things. It is the heartfelt Spirit of Christmas!

It matters not where one may be - the cold lands glittering with snow, or like us here in the hot humid climate of the tropics where there is plenty of sunshine and warmth. Christmas is the same all over the world. It is the spirit that makes all the world kin and kind, always and everywhere.

When the bells stop ringing, let us continue with this same spirit of goodwill. Let's not wait till December, but practise it all the year round.

"Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth goodwill to men."

Christmas - what do we find?

"The simple shepherds heard the voice of the angel and found their Lamb; the wise men saw the light of a star and found their Wisdom." Bishop Fulton Sheen.

Thrown away

In moving house, it has been necessary to give or throw away lots of things. Some things we give to others, some to Red Shield Services downstairs, some into the rubbish bin.

In my note book, (not thrown away yet) is this quotation I recorded and here I share with you.

THROW AWAY
Any old woes to throw away,
Any old grudges, any old hates,
Any old nurseries or sad old dates,
Any old sorrows, any old spites,
Any old fuses or any old tears,
Any old wishing for yesteryears,
Any old quarrels or any old frets,
Any old fears or old regrets
You

Christmas activities

Christmas is always a busy time for everyone and for us there was this additional task of moving house. Anyway we have moved and now in the midst of sorting out our things and throwing out or giving away things we don't need. This time my wife and I have made the decision to be drastic. A lot of my books will go to SFOT or to friends whom I know will make good use of them.

To add to our woes, our computer broke down. So we have ordered a new one which will be delivered in due course. This means my wife cannot print her greeting cards and one of our grandchildren have come to the rescue. Cheryl is doing that for us so that those friends who are not IT savvy will receive the hard copy of traditional Christmas card. We have a number of friends who do not believe in computers!

I am using my lap top. My wife finds it difficult as she has poor eyesight. She needs a desk top with a big screen and large fonts.

Anyway I should not be complaining. There are many blessings in life. Now we enjoy a good night's sleep away from the machines that roar 23 hours in a day! Thank God for the blessing of sleep.

And we have been enjoying the Christmas celebrations at the different centres. Life is great and God is great, is good and gracious to us. To Him we give praise and glory.

Moving House

After living for eight years in the same unit - 04-06, we now have moved to another unit in the same building in fact just across the passage way No. 04-04. The new unit is slightly smaller, but is away from the noise. In the old place we looked out from our balcony to Dairy Farm Road, but now from our balcony we look into the compound of Trinity Theological College. It is much quieter. And the good thing we can enjoy a night of peaceful sleep.

Moving house is very stressful, in fact we have never felt so stressed as during this last week. This unit became available and the Territorial Commander Colonel Gillian Downer very kindly suggested that to move. It was very thoughtful and kind of her to make that suggestion and we are indeed grateful.

We moved in haste, so things are just dumped into the rooms. Now we have to sort them out. We are giving a lot to RSI, or throw them away.

A new train station, Hillview Station will be built next to The Salvation Army Praisehaven Building. Construction is in progress and there is a lot of road works and digging all around us day and night. The station will be ready in 2015. So anyone coming to see us or to attend the William Booth Corps, just need to take the train to Hillview Station. In the meantime we have to put up with the inconvenience and noise.

By the way, friends please note our new telephone number - 63495355 (the old number plus 2)