Stand Firmly in God

Tuzing Bawipa thawhthan zing ah lomhnak daihnak a kan pe tu kan Pathian a min thiang kan thangthat. Tuzing ah PCCF dawtnak he thawngtha bia an kan chimtu Sayamah Grace May D Oo (Mi Mi) cungah lunglomhnak tampi kan ngei. A mah hi PTS (Presbyterian Theological Seminary) ah M.Div a kai lio mi asi. A sianginn kainak ah Pathian nih lamhruai sehlaw hlawhtlinnak a hmuh khawhnak hnga PCCF nih thla za kan cam piak.

Stand Firmly in God

First of all, I would like to share about my journey to Philippines. In 2010 September 26 Sunday morning around 9:00 am, I was on my way to Bangkok, and transfer Bangkok to Philippine by TG flight. The first time I saw the airplane outside, ride and travel to abroad. While waiting for the flight I met a man who sat beside me. I thought he is a foreigner but he spoke Burmese for he is half Australian and Myanmar. The flight started to run and suddenly stopped, all the passengers were requested to go back to departure for the wheel was flat. We all waited for the new wheel to replace from Bangkok. I tried to call and tell my father, and he comforted me through prayer on phone. Around 3 O’clock, we departed Myanmar, for those whom will transfer to Philippine, TG flight agency prepared for the new ticket, but Philippine Airline. My father told me that after I reached Bangkok ask and follow the crowd those transfer to Philippine but that time, I was really in trouble, because what my father told me was totally different from what I faced in airport. Unexpectedly, the man who I met was so pity on me and said he will help me along the way. Even though I did not know him well, I trusted him for I have no other help. Finally, we arrived Bangkok Airport. He helped to buy new ticket and did every necessary thing, I just followed wherever he went, ate, bought etc. for I have to wait the flight around 4 hours. Finally, he sees me off until the nearest entrance gate to the flight. I arrived Philippine in the morning around 4 O’clock. Again, I could not find my uncle Rev. Zabiak Ling and his friend around the airport. One Pilipino passenger and security guard helped me again to call them on phone. Actually, they waited me in TG. Finally, I safely arrived Philippine, where I am studying right now.

When I look back my life, I got amaze for how God guided me in different trials. Through reminding God’s hands in the past, encouraged me again that He is always there and the best way for me. He works through His people, some are we never know before, and some people are those we thought may be bad, fool one. Yes, I can say that God lets me to experience this kind of situation to know that He is everywhere and working to everyone for His children. Whenever I face some problems and hardship in my study and needs here in Philippines, I recalled my difficult experience in the airport, and I believe and trust that God will deal with all my needs and solve the problems for He has been showing His care since the beginning of my first day journey to Philippines.

God is the shining Light in the darkest (John1:9). Without darkness we cannot realize the goodness of the light.  We can experience God’s greatest providence in the midst of the hardest troubles, the painful sufferings. God does not move the trial, but give us enough strength to face, overcome, and to stand on them. God wants us to victory the world as His Son Jesus did.

        Through facing each of trial or difficulties, we come to know our reality image and we become more mature. Difficulties and trials help us to see the presence of God and to see His plans or will in our life. When I was child, I prayed and believed that God would never allow me to be hungry and give me the things that I ask, but now I come to know though I feel hungry or lack to thank Him, for new strength to stand firm when I am weak and to see God more in each trials. I do not mean that I can always give thanks, but I ask God to show me his will in the midst of trials.

We, God’s children do not mean that we would never fail, though we failed to stand in Him again and gain the victory through Christ. However we failed many times we need to rise up again in Christ and let us keep in firm more. We have been failed, so that we more understand God’s love and forgiveness than other does (Luke 7: 47). That will also our great testimony to the sinners like us to see His love, to bring them to Jesus (2Cor1:4). We can see in the life of King David, he was the man who has most praised to God for he has failed and received the great love. Therefore, it does not wander that why Psalm is so touching and blessing to sinners like us. And Jesus’ disciple Peter’s story as well.   

Who can judge us, our past, for our Father, Who is sitting on the heaven’s throne is loving (Rom8:35), forgiving, accepting, providing and serving us through Christ blood (Psalm 30:5; 32:5; 51:17). Let us not forget the day, the first day when we see Christ’s love, our commitments, the feeling that when our sins were washed away in His blood (1John1:7). (Rom 6:23) The thing that broke and opened our heart to accept Christ in our life is God’s great calling to us, God will use us in that way.

As foreign students in this country, we all have our own difficulties no one is less than yours and mine. Being far from family, friends, love one and mother church made us weak and failed physically, mentally and spiritually. Let us always remind ourselves the first day we started our life in Jesus deeply in our hearts. Especially when we are in doubt, weak, failed (Psalm 51:10). Let us keep every story that how God provided in our life through painful sufferings or great happiness to encourage another (2Cor1:4). After all, we will have beautiful stories to glorify Him. These entire things are God’s plans, for Him, in Him (Rom 11:36).

God is using all kinds of people (1Cor1:27-28). God lifts up who loves Him (Psalm91:14). God is always faithful to His people (Heb 13:8). Since we were sinners, He loved us with unfailing love, unconditional love. Let us patient in His time (Heb10:36) and never doubt and forget what He has said in the first day we accepted Him in our life.

However, we might face hardships in life,

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”           (Psalm 37: 4)

“The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” (Psalm147:11)

“Our God is in heaven and He does whatever pleases to Him.” (Psalm 115:3)

He sees and pleases on a heart that did his/her best. Yes, as human beings, we try our best, but we cannot afford to please Him by our own deeds. God pleases in us sinners not because of what we pleased alone, but He Himself is delightful and pleasing in us. God so loves you and me.

May God delight on you and bless you all to glorify Him,

In Christ,

Sister Grace May D Oo (Mi Mi)

January 27, 2013 (On Sunday)