T-shirts and thoughts

“Look here — I think these kids are twins.” I looked at the photo my sister had snapped of two children. They did look alike. They were eating plums (before their mother had finished paying for them, obviously), and they were wearing similar clothes — the “I love Nepal” t-shirts that have come into fashion this summer.

It seems that people love wearing those shirts. When we are traveling, my sister and I can count “countless” people wearing those kind of shirts. In addition to “I love Nepal,” we’ve seen “I love Katmandu”, “I love Nawalparasi” (a district), and even an “I love China” — though why a Nepali would want to wear that, I do not know.

Those t-shirts are catchy — they stand out. Not because they are so strange as in the new message they are promoting in our country. If people had worn them during the civil war 10 years ago, it might have passed for sarcasm. Today, it is all the range to wear them.

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What does it mean to love your country? Is it to wear a t-shirt that says so? Or is it something more? Something more, everyone would agree. If one loves something, it is valuable to him. It means something to him. It is in his priority list.

“I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”

Everyone knows that Nathan Hale loved his country — enough to give his life for its sake. How could he? Because his country topped his priority list.

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Leaving patriotism aside, I want to ask, what is it that you love — your country, your family, your friends, your work, your church, your God? True, God has richly given us all things to enjoy, but He has said:

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”

— Luke 14:26

We are to love Him so that all our other loves are not to be compared to it — if compared, they could be seen as hate. Even our very own lives are we not to deem more precious as to keep it back from Him.

 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

— Matthew 16:24

Then, are we today wearing the clothes to show that we love Him — the robe of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of the preparation of the gospel? Wearing them does not mean that you automatically begin to love Him (or even that you love Him at all), but it is a good indication that you do.

Have others seen you in them? The message we have of showing we are His is not popular or fashionable in this world. It stands out — in a way that people don’t want to stand out. But if we love Him, if He is our priority, if He is our treasure and inheritance, shall we not be His witnesses?

O that our hearts were ever united that we may love Him first and foremost always!

Psalm 86:11 — Musings

Copyright: Smailhodzic

“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name” (Psalm 86:11).

I chose this verse because I want my whole life to be for Him Who loved me and gave Himself for me — and for Him only. He is the only one worthy to be Master and King of my life.

However, would it not be truthful to say that our hearts are almost always divided? There are so many things we are involved in: home and family, friends, church activities, ministry, school, music, traveling, hobbies, volunteering — the list goes on and on. It is so easy to lose sight of our priorities and idolize trivialities.

We know that God gave us responsibilities we should fulfill, talents we should invest, and opportunities we should use to the fullest. Yet, though we should know better, we soon forget the Giver and submerge ourselves only in the gifts. We fail to remember that without Him, we can have no joy and pleasure — for He is our life.

God has been and is continually teaching me the importance of placing Him first and foremost. For a true child of God, there can be no peace when an idol — however small and innocent it may seem — has been given a place in the heart. Because our Father knows our weaknesses, He has said, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). I love this poem:

Is there a thing beneath the sun
That strives with Thee my heart to share?
O tear it thence and reign alone,
The Lord of every motion there;
Then shall my heart from earth be free,
When it hath found its all in Thee.

Lord, draw my heart from earth away
And make it only know Thy call;
Speak to my inmost soul and say,
“I am thy love, thy God, thine all!”
To feel Thy power, to hear Thy voice,
To taste Thy love, be all my choice.

— Gerhard Tersteegen

Though I have often grieved my Lord, it is my prayer that I should walk before Him in all truth and sincerity to please Him as long as He should give me the time.

“Let my heart be fixed for God, and firm and faithful to him, and fervent in serving him; that is a united heart.” — Matthew Henry

May 25-31: Children's Program

That was a busy week!

Sunday through Wednesday, I was preparing for the Children’s Program of planned for Thursday and Friday.

Most of the time, I was translating and preparing for my missionary story Ringu of India. In between, there were games, activities, crafts, memory verses, tests, coloring pictures, print-outs and a lot of other things to plan out. It was challenging, but God helped me.

Since I had a coaching call on Wednesday night, I had a chance to talk it over with my coach. Together, we made a motto for the upcoming event: “Top priority: God first.” We wanted to keep it short and simple so that at any time, I could pull it out in a second without going through all the logistics. My goal was to go through this program keeping Him —and only Him first — in each and every work or activity.

Then the program itself! God does prove Himself faithful every time! When we trust in Him, He never lets us down. I think the root problem of most of our problems is that we just don’t trust and rest.

There were lessons to learn . . .

verses to memorize — on one foot . . .

little ones to comfort . . .

 lunch to eat . . . 

games to play . . .

crafts to make . . .

and all too soon — the last group photos. . .

Was it worth it?

How can I say it wasn’t?! It was a pleasure, a joy, a blessing, a challenge  . . .  a victory!

I was working with the some of the girls and one of them asked me when the next program would be.

“Next year,” another girl answered for me.

“Oh . . . we have our program only once a year — but we have Bible Trainings 3-4 times!” she complained.

I couldn’t help smiling. It is my fervent prayer that each of them will come to know the Lord personally and love Him and serve Him.

Did I stick to my goal always?

Always — no. I remember at least one time when I didn’t keep God first — I was too excited with my lesson. And, yes, it was the worst one. But I learned. And I’m glad.

On Saturday, they presented the two verses they learned and one of the songs in the worship service. They did well!

 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  — 1 Jn 3:23

. . . for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7b

GOD IS GOOD!