I don't understand why boys like playing battle. Maybe it's in them that one day they'll grow to be strong men to protect the weaker ones. However, my son has found the wrong partner - his sister to play with him. I couldn't stop laughing when I hear my daughter said, "Mama, see! Nana (Hannah) die already," while she lay on the floor.

It occurred to me that, one day, what if God is to take her away? Have I loved her enough to let her go without feeling guilty? No, I have not. Though I have been a full time mother for years, I have been too busy working and constantly looking for freelance writing jobs or jobs I can do from home. I could have done better but I didn't. It also reminded me of my own faith. What if The Lord is to take me away? Am I ready to go?

Our lord Jesus said, "No one knows about that day or hour,...Be on guard! Be alert!" Mark 13: 32.

More often than not, we are lost in the busyness of daily routines or to work harder for more money. Hence, putting away what God really wants us to do - to minister to His people. And as for me, to minister the children under my care. As the late pastor Adrian Rogers put it, we don't have to be a pastor to minister or preach. We are ministering God's people when we testify Christ in our family, our job, our society, etc.

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5: 16

I have the best mother in the world. I was born with a congenital heart defect that required 5 surgeries and countless doctors visits all several hours away from our home. I never woke up in the hospital that she wasn't there beside me. Even when I complained about her snoring when she fell asleep. I never really understood her sacrifice until I was working in a hospital er and watched as a mother stood by and watched as her helpless child was being evaluated. The emotion on her face was what I imagined must have been on my mother's face all those years ago and what had to have been on Mary's face as she watched her son's torment. I thank GOD for giving us mothers. An for giving us his son to take the ultimate torment from us. As most mothers sacrifice for their children His was the ultimate sacrifice.

Thank You GOD for my Mother and especially for your SON!

Lisa Allen

THRU LIGHT

I was born and raised In Indonesia as a Muslim. Since 1994 I’ve been “running away” from my family. I keep a distance from them so that I can practice my Christian faith. Until now, I haven’t told my family member that I am Christian. When I started elementary school, my parent hired private teacher specifically for learning and reading Qur’an. I prayed five times a day and fasting during month of Ramadhan. Everyday in my childhood, I followed five pillars of Islam. In addition, all the education I could get in Indonesia was imbued with Islam teachings. From Elementary thru High School you have to take Islam subject in the class which was requirement. I can read and write Qur’an, but I couldn’t find the peace and joy that I had been looking.

In short, after graduated from high school and technical college. I applied for a job in electronic company which was located outside Jakarta and got accepted. In April 1994 I move to Sumatra and started working in American Microchip Company under QA/QC Department for over five years. At first, it was very tough one, since I had to endure loneness apart from my family and surrounded by stranger. However, that was the first place that I found Christian faith. During that time, I got much help to learn about Christianity from my Christian coworkers. I felt peaceful and joy when I had gathering with them. Thus, I felt interested to learn more about becoming a follower of Jesus. So, I asked one of my Christian coworkers if I could come to the Thursday Night Fellowship. She said yes, I could come to the Bible study and I was happy. On the first night of fellowship, we took turn to read a bible verse and they asked me to read. It was my first time to hold and read a Bible. I remember asked them that I wasn’t “clean” (for women Muslim won’t allow to touch and read Qur’an when you have monthly cycle. It’s consider haram) and they responded to me: It’s okay that I could hold the Bible. The first verse that I read was: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”.

I was amazed to see a group of my age were praying, singing hymns, study the Bible and sharing knowledge together. From then, I came to Thursday Night Fellowship regularly which helped me to learned more about Christianity and I got to know many other Christian friends as well. On the other hand, my Muslim coworkers stopped talking and hanging out with me. They gave me a dirty look and said that I was going to hell for being Christian. Nevertheless, with my Christian friends surround me and prayers of loving deeds and kind help brought a lot of warmth to me, and I was much touched by the love they lived out which I knew had to come from their Christian faith. The peace and joy from their lives were so real and it again caused me to desire to learn more about Christian faith. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Still I didn’t feel complete without getting baptized. I referring to Jesus said on Matthew 28:19-20: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”. In early 1997 I called one of my sisters and asked if her husband could help me to get baptized. One of My brother-in law was born and raised in Christian faith, however he had to “convert” to Muslim so that he would be able to marry my sister. My brother-in law reached his pastor and set up the date and time for me to get baptized. I flew to Java province to visit my sister and her husband for a week (I kept a secret from my parent and my other family members). On Wednesday May 14, 1997 we were gathering on the river for my baptized that included my sister and my brother-in law families’ who came on that special day. I ,Dhaniel Christine Natalie Wijaya received baptism in the name of Father, The Son and Holy Spirit.

In 1999, I’ve received scholarship and resigned from my job and moved to Singapore. Before my farewell party, one of my coworker asked me what I wanted for a gift, and I told her that I want a Bible and she gave me a Bible during the farewell party (I still have and keep at home my first Bible).

In Singapore, I stayed for awhile with my aunt who is Muslim. After six months, I moved and stay on my own place. Since I live by myself, I felt free and I could go to church every Sunday without feeling fear or guilty for lying to my aunt. While living by myself in Singapore, I didn’t feel alone because I know that God’s always watching over me. Furthermore, during my free time, I like to read collection books by Mother Teresa (Come Be My Light, In My Own Words, No Greater Love, etc.) which I admire her works particularly personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. After I graduated from college in Singapore, in late 2000, I received another scholarship and move to the United State. Since then I reside in the United State and feel no fear to practice what I believe.
Peace and Hope that I found by choosing Christian faith as wrote in the scripture Romans 5:1-5
"1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

I’ve been so blessed by God throughout the years, although it has not been without difficulties and storms in my life. I have experienced the peace and joy that transcend the surroundings and the more abundant life that Christ gives me. I believe that serving Christ requires perseverance. I may encounter obstacles of illness, troubled in relationship with family and relatives, temptation or any difficult circumstances. But, with God’s strength and as a Jesus Christ follower it helps me to be faithful. His word is thru guidance, as wrote on the Bible Psalm 119:105 “Your word is lamp for my feet, and a light for my path” I thank God for the strength He provides to help me persevere through suffering. In the light of God’s love, grace, and truth, I can find courage to help and strength to live for Him.

Even if we are all on the same path, each journey is different which they way that tell individual story. I am sharing with you this story is to thank God and His providence in leading me in my journey as a follower of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to thank as well those whom God has used in helping me grow in the faith. As I grow in my understanding of the Word of God I also desire to be more obedient and devoted to the Lord, living a holy life out of gratitude to His undeserved grace to me in His beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I implore the enabling grace of the Holy Spirit as I embark on this lifetime pursuit of knowing God, glorifying and enjoying Him forever. ♥God bless you all♥

In my 64 years, I am amazed at how many people I meet who have low self-esteem and suffer from feelings of worthlessness. I include myself in that group, unfortunately. My father was a good provider of the physical needs of his family, but, although he claimed to be a Christian, he failed to show us the love that only comes through the Holy Spirit.

I made a profession of faith at age 13, but I only did it to get my father "off my back." I did not understand what a profession of faith was, and the two well-meaning men at the youth rally fired scripture verses at me like a machine gun. I just didn't get it. I got no encouragement from my dad or mother, and my sister and I suffered from dad's "church-hopping."

In my college years, I ditched anything that smacked of "religion" and didn't go to church at all. Fortunately, God sent a strong Christian young lady to me whom I married, and she is still my sweetheart after 41 years! Our son became a Christian at age 8 and he really understood what it was all about. I still did not.

In 2009, I was due to go to Tennessee to teach a college course on World War Two, a hobby of mine. Three days before the trip, I developed a bad case of "nerves", I couldn't sleep, and I felt that there was something somewhere in my life that needed attention before I took this trip. This feeling grew in intensity until I became convinced that, if I made the Tennessee trip without resolving this "unknown" issue, I would not return alive.

In tears and in a panic, I called my pastor and begged him to see me right away. We talked for an hour, and he prayed the prayer of salvation with me. I left his office that day 100% surrendered to Christ for the first time. My self-esteem soared, and I have no more feelings of worthlessness. My trip was a success, and I returned home without incident.

My pastor said something that day that I will never forget. He said, "Tony, you've been running from God for a lot of years. Today, He caught you!"

In 46 years of work, I've had the privilege to work for 13 years in government, 21 years in business, and 12 years in education. This has been a blessing because, even as someone who doubted his own salvation, I was still able to reach people for Christ. I'm living proof that God can indeed use anyone to further His kingdom and bring glory to Himself.

Now that I'm retired, I'm interested in finding new ways to serve Him. People with problems have always seemed to gravitate to me and, with God's grace and guidance, I can help them. I want to develop this gift and get involved in counseling new believers as well as encouraging the unsaved to make the best decision of their lives . . . coming to know Jesus as their Savior.

Please pray for me that God will open doors in these areas that I'm convinced God wants me involved in. Many thanks!

Tony Chappell