#115a 338(7nov06)

‘Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith’
Hebrews 10:22

Last Sunday’s newspaper had an interesting article about these great carnival like atmosphere in one of our suburban food centers, as many desirous of striking it rich, came to pay obeisance to a recently generous deity, to get a lucky number for the local lottery.

My wife and I recently had our own coincidental number. The very prosperous sounding ‘338’ appeared twice in our recent purchase billings, and if that is not good enough reason to put it to the local lottery, what is??

338 just took on a new meaning for me yesterday as the entire family camped out at the Gleneagles Hospital The first 2 digts, ie 3 and 3, represented both my kids who were down with the same ongoing popular cough and cold virus.(The only truly lucky guy was the doctor)
Less from the last digit 8, the 5 teeth(ie 4 wisdom and 1 winsome) that my wife extracted in a day operation yesterday, the remaining 3 is ‘moi’ as the French will say. I was also down with the same virus.

‘Man that is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble’
Job 14:1

A good little yarn about family solidarity, but has the virus caused one to go over the line in my ludicrous interpretation of the significance of numbers??

Maybe, but what about some of us, who do enjoy turning to the Horoscope pages, looking for what ails our stars. It always bemused me as to how star-crossed we can be and how either we can be starry eyed with a good reading or wearily wary for the day with a poor one.

Dear Abby is a very famous columnist in the States. Now her daughter has carried on the column, to which millions of Americans have written to, seeking advice, solace and comfort, reassurances or whatever.

What about dear Abner??

‘And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land? Saying also, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee’
2 Samuel 3:12

Abner was not just a man of great prominence in King Saul’s kingdom but an aspiring king-maker. He switch allegiance to King David from King Saul because of a perceived wrong. He did not fulfill his aspiration, for he was killed by the connivance of another.

Man is a self-deceitful creature. For who knows the heart of a man except the Lord our God.

‘Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit’
Jeremiah 7:8

Profit, power, pride are what often drives many to subscribe to the machinations and wiles of the devil and its underlings. For Dr Faustus did sell his soul, for a moment of greatness.

‘Thus saith the Lord, Let no the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches…..’
Jeremiah 9:23

In the world that we lived in, Who do you know, can help one in the drive towards the glories of our temporal world. But it is our Maker whom we must know.

‘But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindess, judgement and righteousness, in the earth….’
Jeremiah 9:24

Troubles are unlike the old Russian roubles. The latter was literally worth nothing, but often only with troubles in the their midst, will many take the trouble to try to learn to look unto the Lord our God, the source of all grace and blessings.

‘Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says, “See I will refine and test them for what else can I do because of the sin of My people?’
Jeremiah 9:7

Instead of making petitions to man, let us turn to God our Father.

‘Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He will save us….’
1 Samuel 7:8

His Spirit will heal a repentant soul.

‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord’
Acts 3:19


So the next time you find yourselves a prisoner of your fears, doubts, anger, pride or whatever grips you, turn not to writing a letter to the fallible man, but instead look unto God and He will not just heal you, but He will use you mightily and wonderfully

You yourselves are our letters, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that your are a letter from Christ…..’
2 Corinthians 3:2-3


God Blesses

Eng Hieang