Renewing FAITH

Years back a good friend of mine, who is currently a missionary in Israel, gave me a precious etched painting of the Noah's ark and the Lord categorically used the painting to minister to me about building His kingdom on earth. This is why it is interesting to read about Johan Huibers. He is a man from Schagen, Netherlands who has finished building a smaller version of the original Noah's ark.

His reason? To resucitate Holland's dying faith - give 'em somethin' to talk about.

In our times when folks are wary of proclaiming the gospel of Christ, this is quite commendable. You and I can build our own ark by proclaiming Christ and the eternal REFUGE we have in Him when he died on the cross. Like the Ark in the days of Noah, Jesus is our refuge from the storm and a shelter from the rain. If we make Him the captain of our ship, He will bring us to a place of rest and promise. He is our Present Help.

Prayer: Lord, in these last days give me the faith, boldness, courage, and strength of Noah..to stand and proclaim you in the face of a laughing, mocking , and unbelieving crowd. And Lord, touch the laughing, mocking, and unbelieving crowd and turn every heart of stone into hearts of flesh. Give me a compassionate heart to reach and touch and be an extension of your love in all I do and say. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel because it is Your power to save. Lord, make my life a testament of your goodness and love. Help me to fulfil my assignment in you.

Photo: AP

$60 Million raised last night from the Idol Gives Back!

Choir Peforms on Idol Gives Back

According to the African Children Choir website,

Choir Peforms on Idol Gives Back

"The African Children's Choir will perform with Josh Groban as part of "IDOL GIVES BACK" two-night special to benefit children and young people in need in America and Africa.

The special two-hour results show on Wednesday, April 25 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) will be a star-studded evening featuring world-renowned artists and celebrities, including Bono, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban and the African Children's Choir, Pink, Michael Bublé, Annie Lennox, Il Divo and popular Kazakhstan journalist Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen) among many others who will take the AMERICAN IDOL stage.

During the Wednesday event, adding to the corporate contributions, viewers will be able to make their own donations via toll-free lines and the Internet.The money raised by the two shows will equally benefit the U.S. and Africa. In the U.S., the money will be distributed via CPEF to Save the Children and other U.S. organizations working to deliver programs to children living in extreme conditions in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

In Africa, the money will be dedicated to delivering health and education programs and will be distributed via CPEF to a number of organizations, including U.S. Fund for UNICEF, The Global Fund, Save the Children, Nothing but Nets and Malaria No More."

---- African Children Choir website

Hope some of you will make effort to see how you can be a part of these wonderful cause.

Nigeria declares winner in flawed elections - MSNBC

Promise

He will not let your foot slip
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel (you) will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
Lord will keep you from all harm
He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Amen

Psalm 121:3-7

The Virginia Tech massacre has left me restless and troubled since yesterday. What a crazy insane incident. May God grant peace, rest, and comfort to us all especially the families, friends, associates, and community members directly involved.

Father! have mercy.

**Update**

I saw the African Children's Choir in concert with my 4yr old on Saturday, April 14. It was quite an experience! moving, inspiring, entertaining, encouraging, powerful, and reassuring. The concert revived hope for Africa's children and the motherland herself. Given the controversy surrounding the elections in Nigeria, the children's message was a voice from God reassuring me that Africa is neither forgotten nor forsaken. God bless Africa.


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I was basically drawn to tears this afternoon listening to the voices of two members of the African Children's Choir, ages 10? and 11 on my local NPR affliate station -WUNC. I'm aiming towards sseing them in concert on Saturday at a local church I used to attend. It is exhilarating to know that these children are having so much fun and more so that they have a hope to dream. Now I'm very curious about ways to be involved in this wonderful establishment.

Woulda've been a pitiful shabby life

You did not wait for me
to draw near to you
But you clothe yourself in frail humanity
You did not wait for me
to cry out to you
But you let me hear your voice calling me
And I'm forever grateful to you
I'm forever grateful for the cross
I'm forever grateful to you
That You came
to seek and save the lost
--Mark Altrogge, 1985

I had always known about you but I did not come to know the intriguing gist of what you generously did for me until one quiet afternoon in 1988. I had gotten on my sister's nerves as usual and I thought she was going to go on in her usual rant but instead she sat me down and told me about you. She introduced you so convincingly and with so much passion infact it was written all over her face that she knew something that I didn't know. It was clear that she was tired of fighting me and picking unnecessary battles..it seemed so unreal! what has come over my sister? I thought. but the more she talked about you the more my heart opened. I wanted the peace written all over my sister, the calm, the joy, the different person seperate from the wicked witch that always got in my way.

And though I was the most religious fan you ever had, I was suprised to learn that you did not want a fan of me but a friend. Me? your friend? how come? you said it was simple...that it is because you love me. I couldn't resist the power of your love through your words and actions and so I succombed. I said yes to you. Our journey started, the more time I spent with you the harder I fell for you. I longed for you, your company, your encouragement, your embrace, your gentleness, and warmth. You became my essence...my living bread. You showed me what I am and discarded the lies around me. You assured me that I could be all that my heart desires in you, that I could move mountains! YOU BELIEVED IN ME and destroyed the chains of inadequacies and doubt. Before I called you you answered and while I was still speaking you heard me. You are my dearest and best friend. My glory and the lifter up of my head. You chide me when needed and correct me firmly in love. You never shy away from telling me the truth

You are my LIFE, MY LOVE, MY JOY. You brought me out of the miry clay - a sinking hole, a mess, a dangerous path, the lies and pretenses and you planted my feet upon the ROCK. You are my ROCK, my eternal ROCK! You have been there through the thick and thin. You have been closer and more real than my husband, children, father, mother, brother, or sisters. You know me inside out. Your light illuminates my life, your laughter warms my life, your word anchors my boat. You have become my all in all. Some pride in riches and fame, and mark their success by tangible achievements but through the years I have come to glory only in your presence...my desire is that I am walking with you, rising and laying in your path...in this journey of love that continues....thank you for being my world and the reason I journey on the way to my promised land.


Prayer: One thing I ask for that I will seek as long as I live is to dwell in your presence all the days of my life and to be never parted from the beauty of all that you are about.
original writings of SongReach 2007