Sowing in tears

The Psalmist declares in Psalm 126.5-6, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Jesus came to seek and to save sinners. One day as He approached Jerusalem He could foresee the future of the city and it’s inhabitants Luke 19.41, “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.” Yes, He wept for Jerusalem.

It's been a long time since I sang this beautiful song. I am singing it again to remind myself of the mission of Christ my Lord.

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.

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.

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.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Tho’, 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. Knowles Shaw

Higher Ground hymn lyrics

Trapped in a lift.

Eleven of us were waiting for the lift. It arrived and ten of us walked in. One lady decided to wait for the next lift. The lift door closed but then no movement. The group was silent. The someone cried out, “O dear, the lift is not working.” A few nurses were going to Bedok for a party. They all looked at their watches.

A few minutes passed in uncomfortable silence. Everyone was deep in panicked thoughts. Finally, someone said, "How?”. “ Let's just pry it open." “No, just press the alarm”  “Call Madam Low now, quick” She will fix it!

Claustrophobia kicked in. All eyes turned to me the oldest among the lot. They must have either expected me to faint, collapsed on the floor or even passed out. Or rise up and provide the answer to the plight. I don’t know!

After an uncomfortable fifteen minutes, we heard voices outside. “The engineers are coming, they should be here soon. Just keep still and wait.”

One of the nurses said, “O dear we’ll miss the party at Bedok! How?”
Someone else talked on her handphone "I'm trapped in a lift and it could be a while. I'll call you if I can when it's over."

Finally, we heard voices on the other side of the door. Then a voice yelled, "The lift people are here and they are going to get you out now — stand back!" Stand back?! How could we? Yet, people pushed backwards, I felt crushed. The doors smoothly opened. We were released from bondage!

This was the first time I ever got trapped in a lift.

Chorus came to my mind

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground

 

 

 

KIWIS responded to the Macedonian Cry

Our Territory has been blessed by many Kiwis. I don’t mean the birds but the wingless and featherless two legged human beings from New Zealand! We thank God for them and their dedicated service in this part of the world.
With the impending departure of Colonels Lyndon and Bronwyn
Buckingham to the United Kingdom it looks like these human Kiwis are also an endangered species here in Singapore! So let us look after our one and only Kiwi – Major Ruth Pascoe who is still active despite living past retirement age. Reinforcement officers come and go, but Major Ruth Pascoe goes on forever!

Immediately after the war in 1945, our reinforcement officers who had just been released from prison were in need of a rest in their own homeland. Three and a half years of suffering in prison had taken its toll on their health. But they could not be spared immediately to go for homeland furlough. There was much work to be done in the aftermath of the war.
Everywhere were broken buildings and broken lives and these men and women of faith “counted not their own lives dear,” staying on to serve our people despite their own desperate need for rest.

One day one of these officers, Major Frederick Harvey, received a letter from the International Secretary in London, which said, “Delighted to hear of the good work you are doing – you are writing a new chapter to the Acts of the Apostles.” It was intended as a note of encouragement.

Major Harvey responded in his inimitable way, “Thank you. I’d rather be writing a new chapter to Exodus. When can you send someone to relieve me so I can rejoin my loved ones?”

Replacements did arrive to relieve these heroes and heroines of the faith. New Zealand was quick to answer the Macedonian call and five Kiwis were soon on their way. The War Cry of October 1946 had this report under the caption “The New Zealand party” -

“It was a coincidence that Commissioner J. Evan Smith, Territorial Commander for New Zealand called in at Singapore on his way home from the High Council meetings. The Commissioner was travelling by air and landed at Sydney on the final stage of the journey to find the five New Zealand officers who were bound for the then Malaya waiting in Sydney. They travelled by SS Marella from Sydney and were welcomed on arrival at Singapore by Lieut. Colonel and Mrs John Wainwright. (This command was then known as the Malaya Command.) This little ‘red dot’ was one of the three British Straits Settlements in Malaya.

“Their coming was timely and they were referred to by the Officer Commanding in the welcome meeting as the New Zealand party for their healthy Salvationism and ready-for-anything spirit which indeed brought new life and inspiration to us.

“Within a few hours of the arrival the officers joined with local comrades and Salvationist servicemen for a visit to the Singapore Leper Settlement. It was symbolical perhaps that the inmates of this hospital should be amongst the first to extend a welcome to the New Zealand officers. Their outstretched arms, some without fingers or hands, seemed to echo the Macedonian cry for help from a far country.”

One of the five was Captain Agnes Morgan who prior to her arrival with the team to Singapore had received her appointment to China. After a short term of service in Singapore, she proceeded to China and served during the last days of the Kuomingtang. She became very fluent in Mandarin.
When the communists took over China, she returned to Singapore and served many years in different capacities till she was Promoted to Glory following a car accident at Batang Kali, Malaysia. She and two cadets were on their way to visit us in Kuala Lumpur where we were the Corps Officers (pastors.) Upon receipt of the news from the police, I rushed to the hospital and saw her just before she breathed her last breath. I was the last person to see her alive.

This command has never ceased to welcome people from abroad. The Macedonian cry goes out loud and clear “Come over and help us.” The Salvation Army is an international Army and as such knows no boundaries. The word “missionary” used in the past has been changed to “reinforcement” and all our overseas officers are reinforcement officers. As such they work alongside our national officers for glory of God.

“The fields are white unto harvest, but the labourers are few.” No matter what your race or nationality is, God needs you. Respond with “Here am I, my Lord, send me.”

LikeShow More Reactions

Comment

My life in God's hands

The moment I am awake, I give thanks to God for giving us yet another day. Every evening before we sleep, my wife and I have our prayer time together.

We pray for our family - children, grandchildren and spouses and great grand children.

We mention names of our friends and commend them to God. We bring before the Lord those living alone. We think of a number of our friends with their spouses suffering from dementia and now living in Nursing Homes. Separation of happily married couples in their golden years must be painful. The list goes on.

We then commit ourselves to the Lord as we switch off the lights and go to sleep.

Gone are the days when I used to read a book before sleep. My eyesight is not as good so sleep is welcome. Last night in the darkness the song by Anna Waring came to mind. It is. It expresses her humility, and a willingness to fill a small and unheralded place of service, in the will of God.

1) Father, I know that all my life
Is portioned out for me,
And changes that are sure to come
I do not fear to see;
I ask Thee for a present mind
Intent on pleasing Thee.

2) I ask Thee for a thoughtful love,
Through constant watching wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,
And wipe the weeping eyes;
A heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathize.”

3) I would not have the restless will
That hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do
Or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,
And guided where I go.

4) I ask Thee for the daily strength,
To none who ask denied,
A mind to blend with outward life
While keeping at Thy side
Content to fill a little place
If Thou be glorified.