Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Hard Words



Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 


This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, 

for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 


Jesus answered him, 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again 

he cannot see the kingdom of God."


Nicodemus said to him, 

“How can a man be born when he is old? 

Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 


Jesus answered, 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, 

unless one is born of water and the Spirit, 

he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” 


John 3:1-5






Tuesday, May 17, 2022

The Nations


Here we are, shoulder to shoulder or far away in distant lands. 

Millions, billions of us, here, there, and everywhere. 

How many of us are there? Here are just a few of the nations. 


Are these population numbers what you would have guessed? 

I was particularly surprised by Japan. It's so small, 

but like a tiny seed man grows and fills God's green Earth.




China   1,412,600,000


India   1,352,642,280


EU   447,007,596


USA   331,893,745


Russia   145,824,556


Japan   125,502,000


Israel   9,506,100




For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. Isaiah 61:11



Sunday, May 15, 2022

Psalm 19:1

 



The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.



Monday, May 9, 2022

Hut Hut Hut

 

Hudson Taylor,


Hudson Taylor,


Hudson Taylor,


Hut Hut Hut!



This is a little song by my youngest son. He'd joyfully sing it 

(while hopping back and forth) when we were studying the 

Christian bible teacher Hudson Taylor.  It was so many years ago 

he doesn't remember it now, but I hold it dear in my heart.


Hudson Taylor went to China in the 1800's. He adopted the culture and 

attire of his new home, which was unusual for a foreigner at that time. 

He was a man who believed in prayer. The book we read about his 

life followed a simple path: need, prayer, answers. 


A few days ago I came across this. I'd never heard it before. 

In 1889 Hudson Taylor had a prophecy about Russia. 


I thought I'd share it here:



“I saw in this vision a great war that encompasses the world. I saw this war recess and then start again, actually being two wars. After this I saw much unrest and revolts that will affect many nations. I saw in some places spiritual awakenings. In Russia I saw there will come a general all-encompassing, national spiritual awakening, so great that there could never be another like it. From Russia, I saw the awakening spread to many European countries. Then I saw an all-out awakening, followed by the second coming of Christ.”



Wow.


I wonder when.