So You Would Come

This song is powerful. I'm deeply touched by it. Sure it will bless YOU.

The Best of Times is Here

Charles Dickens wrote a play in the 19th century titled “A tale of two cities.” In the opening line of the play he said: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

Friend, that looks like the time we are in. it all depends on where you are seated. I know the whole world is talking about recession now but something good is also taking place in the midst of this confusion. God is moving. The Spirit of God is active more than ever before on the face of the earth. Friend God is not passive at all. Don’t ask, “God where are you? Why are all these happening?” He is right at work. Something is happening. If you look well you will see.

He said, “Darkness shall cover the earth, and total darkness shall cover the people,” (Isaiah 60:2) but thank God He did not stop there. “But the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you.” Wow. Glory to God!

I believe this is one of those prophecies with double interpretation. It came to the Israelites at the darkest times of their existence, at the dawn of the exile. But i see it also as a prophecy for the end times, for the next chapter talks of the Messiah.

Friend, this is not the time to be discouraged or look down. You may have even lost your job, or stocks or whatever, but thank God you have not lost your life. This is not the time to be depressed at all for God is about to distinguish His own. Light is of no use in the middle of the day when the sun is shining. But when night falls, you appreciate light better. Then you can look up and see the stars shining in their glory.

Oh yes it is dark now, because God is about to confuse this godless world. God is about to show Himself as the Governor among the nations. When all their wisdom fails them, then they will know that there is a God in the Heavens that ruleth in the affairs of men. Praise God!

But I see something else happening in the midst of all these. I see the ground being levelled for the anti-Christ to come in. I see the global financial meltdown as the precursor for the world to adopt a common stand. They may not be able to agree on the fight against terror, but I see the whole world speaking the same language now. I see them gathering in the White House, all of them, friends and foes, speaking with one voice.

Friend, the Lord says when you see all these happening; it is time to do something: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28, KJV).

Can you see that this is not time to look down, but to arise, and lift your hands and shout glory. Why because, our redemption is drawing nearer. Our salvation is drawing nearer. Our breakthrough is drawing nearer. This is our best of times. The whole world has had their fill, it is now our turn to shine. Praise God!

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory (not shame), saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:6-7.

Longdi: Lost among the Bikes

Of course there are cars, but the principal mode of transportation for the Cambodians is the motordups (motorcycles). It’s as if everyone has got one, including school children. Everywhere you turn is a sea of bikes, especially at shopping malls, school parking lots and markets.

So on the eve of my departure from Phnom Penh, I was excited when my new friend, Longdi, offered to take me on his motordup to some places I’ve not visited in the capital, especially the city/central market.

We visited some shops, window-shopping and had a good lunch together. On coming out to pick our two-wheeler, even longdi couldn’t identify ours, not to talk of myself. You could see a look of bewilderment on his face.

More than Bike . . .

But longdi is more than bike. He is actually a man with a good heart. He runs a dormitory with the assistance of a Singaporean church in phnom penh for poor university students from the provinces. And he does this free of charge to those students. But with the rising cost of living he needs more help to continue to render this service.

The church only helps in paying for the monthly rental but the feeding and other utilities are borne by him and the students, and the latter being so poor are seriously limited in their contribution.

According to him, it costs about US $540 to feed the twenty-seven students in a month. Water, gas and electricity take up another $256 every month. These figures are like the mighty Goliath before them. In a country that is being ravaged by the tide of poverty sweeping across the land, the only way for those students to beat this wave is a good education.

Longdi needs help. Those students need our help. I was with them for four nights teaching them the word of God during my last trip. They are hungry for God. Through housing them, he has been able to get all of them converted. And he wants to do more for God.

You can contact him on +855 92 797 289, +855 11 807 004 or by email: longdi04@yahoo.com

By the way, we later found our bike. We had parked at another side of the building. Apparently we didn’t leave through the door we’d entered.

Victory Over the Devil

It was a joy to share with the brethren from the book of Rev. 12:7-11 with emphasis on verse 11. Our victory over the devil is hanged on the blood of Jesus. It was the blood that delivered us from the dominion of the devil and set us free from all his activities.

Hence by lifting up the banner of the blood of Jesus anytime the devil comes calling, we are proclaiming the victory that Jesus gave us over him. It is like saying, "Hey devil, you have no right to do this. I'm no longer your stooge. By the blood of Jesus, I'm free from your dominion"

And you don't even stop at that, you slam him with a proclamation of the truth. The good news Bible says "They won the victory over the devil by the blood of the lamb, and by the truth they proclaim." By proclaiming the truth of the word of God. you put a final end to its move in your life. And you do this standing strong without any fear of death or whatever you think the devil may do. They bible says they had no fear of death.

That is how to secure the victory over the devil. As a christian, you cannot live with a closed mouth. The victory is in your mouth.

Proclaiming life at the Killing Fields

Sure God has a great sense of humor. What the Communist Khmer Rouges killers tried hard to stop is now taking place right on the ground where many lives were brutally terminated; some for their faith.

It was a joy to share Christ with these two Cambodian gentlemen at the Killing Fields of Phnom Penh.

Sitting right beside the monument built in the memory of the lost, they came in to share the shade with us. “Have you heard about Christ?” I asked. And so we share the simple gospel with them. They were so willing to hear about it. But for my language difficulty, I called on my host and interpreter to help out. Due to time constraint, they had to leave in a hurry.

My host promised to follow them up. They willingly offered their addresses and took mine. But they were the ones following me up the next day. Glory to God.

From an Orphan to running an Orphanage

That is the story of Yos Bophal, a 35 year old Cambodia lady that runs Center of Peace, an orphanage in Phnom Penh. This is a case of the broken becoming master at mending.

She lost her father when she was one year old and later her mother at the age of 5. She grew up with her uncle. Although the Uncle loved her but with his many children, it was not a home at all for her. She was still a stranger as far as the other children are concerned. There and then she made up her mind that when she grew up, she would give orphans a better life. And that is what she is doing today. The children undergo schooling at the centre in the day time with the help of volunteer teachers. The Government also sends teachers once or twice a week to teach, which is the only support she gets from the government. Her main support for the day to day running of the centre comes from individuals and missionary groups from Europe, America and Australia.

But right now, her centre, one of so many in Cambodia is in dire need of a better accommodation. The present place has become too small for the over 70 children crowded there. To get a better place, she is considering buying a property on the outskirt of Phnom Penh so as so to save cost. But even there, at a cost of US $30 per square meter, it is a long dream for her to get the 100 square meters she so desired. “With that, I can have separate buildings to accommodate the boys and the girls, and then the school and the offices.”

She is believing God for kind-hearted people like you and I to see her dream come through. She can be reached at bophal4u@yahoo.com

Outside are Dogs

That is what the Lord Jesus said but on this particular day in a Cambodian village called Kampong Phnom in the Kandal province, one of them decided to stay in, to hear the word of God. Well, whether he believes with his heart (if there is any), and confess with his mouth, I don’t know.

It was a joy to share the good news of Christ with these villagers who gathered in the small church. About three of them surrendered to the Lordship of Christ while we ministered healing to almost everyone present. Many of them were instantly healed. We give God all the glory.