Teach Me Lord, to Wait

Teach me Lord to wait, down on my knees.

Till in Your good time You will answer my pleas.

Teach me not to rely on what others do.

But to wait in prayer for an answer from You

They that wait upon the Lord,

shall renew their strength.

They shall mount up

with wings like eagles.

They shall run and not be weary.

They shall walk and not faint.

Teach me Lord,

teach me Lord,

to wait.

Teach me Lord to wait, while hearts are aflame.

Let me humble my pride and call on Your name.

Keep my faith renewed, my eyes on Thee.

Let me be on this earth, what You want me to be.

Lord I Pray for Apples

My body was getting thinner and had become bent into a stooped position. I was not able to stretch, and felt paralyzed. All my strength was gone. It was hard to move even one finger, and opening my eyes was not easy. Even conversation got on my nerves.

For obeying God’s Law I had been confined in prison. I had a sudden craving for apples, but I could not get even one and I wondered why. “Those who disobeyed the Lord not only had apples but were able to eat to their heart’s content. But here in prison, I could not even eat the rotten beans and decayed millet they gave us. The smelly and innutritious soup was made of weeds and looked like dirty water used for washing feet.

However, my desire for apples became stronger. “O Jesus, I would like to eat an apple,” I prayed honestly. “You know my body system. You are the only One who can cure this painful desire. Please grant me one whole apple.”

I could not help but think of apples. If I had a fortune, I thought I would be glad to give it up for one whole apple. But if somebody were to bring me a barrelful of delicious apples and say, “Eat them and worship the Shinto gods,” I would have kicked over the barrel and said, “I don’t need them! I don’t need them for the rest of my life!”

“O Jesus, You must be planning something wonderful for my future,” I prayed. “Please give me one whole apple, even if You have to give up the Plan. Maybe it is impossible because of the time and place, but You satisfied 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Now I must really depend upon Your Promise. You said that You would grant every desire which is asked in Your name. Trusting your promise, I am praying.” After praying, the pain that had twisted my nerves began subsiding somehow, and indescribable warmth filled my heart.

One day during the change of shifts I overheard jailers Jue and Kuriyama talking. “At this time of the year, apple rations are being distributed, but all the apples are rotten. Maybe the section chiefs have taken the good ones.”

When I heard this, I jumped up in my excitement. The word “apple” made my mouth wants to water, but no saliva came. I called to Jue immediately. “Mrs. Jue, Is it true that apples rations are being distributed?”

“How many do they give?”

“How many? Why?”

“Mrs. Jue, don’t you see our food? It’s nothing but decayed, smelly things. Rotten apples are much, much better than what we are eating. Can you get those rotten apples?”

“Now I know what you mean.”

”Will you get them for me?”

“Even though they are rotten?”

“I don’t mind, I want to eat those rotten apples.”

“Alright, that is easy to do. I will bring them to you.”


Hearing this, I was so happy I almost danced and jumped for joy. When Kuriyama came for the change of shifts, I asked her to bring me some apples also.

Jailers Kuriyama and Jue went for the rations. Many of the other jailers did not want the rotten apples, so they each received a bagful. As the night advanced, Jue brought the soggy apples and put then through the meal hole. Oh, what an aroma! I was so overwhelmed by the fragrance that I almost fainted. “O Lord, this aroma is sufficient.” I prayed. “How splendid it is! God still lives! God is the God of promise.”

I praised God and worshipped Him with all my heart. As soon as I got hold of an apple, I put it into my mouth. It was like an apple that had been boiled. It was so soft that it melted in my mouth right away. The fruit of Heaven must be like this. I thought. The hard, frozen apple, melted by the warmness of spring, had become juice. A tap on the apple would produce juice. Every prisoner ate at least one. What a wonderful world it was! The prison became a paradise.

Jailer Kuriyama brought us a lot of apples in a sack too. We ate them all. My stomach, shriveled and dehydrated, was filled with the nutritious apple juice, like a soft spring shower poured onto a dry lawn during the night. The ache that had been piercing my body stopped, and my entire body functions recovered. Even my twisted nerves calmed down.

“What a wonderful world God has created!” I exclaimed. “Oh, what a wonderful prison this is! What a lofty road of the Lord! O Lord, You are faithful to Your promise. I will tell this to people in Heaven and in the world.”

My waist straightened. I could use my voice again. I explained to my fellow prisoners why God gave me soggy apples instead of firm, smooth ones. Because my teeth were weak, I wouldn’t have been able to bite into a firm apple. I had to add that God had given me 50 apples instead of just one because my dehydrated body needed many soggy apples rather than one fresh apple which I could not have chewed. The apples were truly tasty, and their sweetness and delicacy were the best I had ever tasted.

The next day, one of the prisoners looked at me seriously and wiped away her tears. I asked her why she was crying. “I have always eaten good food, but never acknowledged it by thanking God as you have, even for rotten apples.” Then she wept even more, and I cried with her for joy.

Lessons that I have learnt:

1. Sometimes God just didn't give us what we prayed for. This is because He looks deeper than what we asked for. He knows what’s best for us.
   
2. Psalms 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Same Side of the Moon

I'm looking out the window
Where we sat to watch the stars
There's a chill within the air
It makes my heart long for your touch
You may be miles away
But as I kneel to pray

I see the same side of the moon
That we'll be looking on when the world turns blue
And know that time and space can't come between me and you
We share the same side of the moon
And though you'll never see all the tears shine through
I know I can't be that far from you
If we're both looking on the same side of the moon

I picture you across the ocean
In your corner of the world
I pray the wind will blow my voice
And gently whisper in your ear
Your night may be my day
And though the seasons change

It's still the same side of the moon
That we'll be looking on when the world turns blue
And know that time and space can't come between me and you
We share the same side of the moon
And though you'll never see all the tears shine through
I know I can't be that far from you
If we're both looking on the same side of the moon
I know I can't be that far from you
If we're both looking on the same side of the moon

Only He Can

Sometimes I really wonder what would God say to me on the day that I see Him. Would I hear a "Good job, son!" or "Please get away, I do not know you!" No matter what I think or expect, He is still coming back. If I were to continue leading a purposeless life, He is coming back. If I were to live in ignorance of His Second Coming, He is still coming back. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is coming back, are we ready to stand firm on that day?

Sometimes I really look back into the past. I remembered the days that I really lived in ignorance of my relationship with God. Everything that I have done then, I did them all unto myself, my own benefits. I knew nothing about guarding my relationship with God, I never thought of loving God - not to mention Worshipping Him.

He came across my mind only once in a while. I proclaimed "Thank God" when experiencing smooth times (though I did not mean anything at all) and I failed to realise His Sovereignty (that He is in control) during bad times. It was a scary truth that I was not a Christian at all, no matter how much I claimed to be.

I talked about God once in a while. Giving Him my total submission is impossible. I had never allowed Him to be my Lord. I fought for my own freedom. I fought for my rights and control over my own life. Whenever God tried to intervene, I would stopped Him from doing so.

I merely followed the patterns of this world without recognising the Love of the Father up there. To make matter worse, I actually lived in deception. I thought that I was a Christian but I was not. I thought that God is pleased with me but He was not. I thought that my life was the so-called "Christian life", but it wasn't.

I got tried of being a Christian. I felt pressurised by the many "rules and regulations" of a Christian lifestyle. I wanted to give up and return to my old self.

But hey! God will never forsake His children. He will not give up on anyone. He tried all ways to speak to me and He even used the people around me to convey the "Good News" to me once again.

Through His Love, I was won over. Forever. And Ever.

I Surrender All

I have wrestled in the darkness of this lonely pilgrim land
Raising strong and mighty fortresses, that I alone command
But the castles I've constructed, by the strength of my own hand
Are just temporary kingdoms on foundations made of sand
In the middle of the battle, I believe I've finally found
I'll never know the thrill of victory, 'till I'm willin' to lay down
All my weapons of defense, and earthly strategies of war
So I'm layin' down my arms and runnin' helplessly to Yours

I surrender all, my silent hopes and fears
Though the price to follow, costs me everything
I surrender all, my human soul desires
If sacrifice requires
That all my kingdoms fall
I surrender all

If the source of my ambition, is the treasure I obtain
If I measure successes, on scale of earthly gain
If the focus of my vision is the status I attain
My accomplishments are worthless and my efforts are in vain
So I lay aside these trophies, to pursue a higher crown
And should you choose somehow to use the life I willingly lay down
I surrender all the triumhs, for it's only by Your grace
I relinquish all the glory, I surrender all the praise

Everything I am, all I've done and all I've known
Now belongs to you the life I live is not my own
Just as Abraham laid Isaac, on the sacrificial fire
If all I have, is all that You desire
I surrender all

I surrender all, my silent hopes and fears
Though the price to follow, costs me everything
I surrender all, my human soul desires
If sacrifice requires
That all my kingdoms fall
Let all my kingdoms fall
I surrender all

O Rejoice in the Lord

God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and moulding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

O rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Saviour instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

O rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.