"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
Not until February this year was I made fully aware of the impact my prayers, of more than 5 years ago, had on the life of a friend.
This friend and I had met over 12 years ago. He worked as a Bell Man at the hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where I stayed every year. My friend spoke English very well but could not write what he wanted to share with me from his heart. We saw each other again in February this year when I was in Chiang Mai. He insisted on coming to see me, even though it was a long drive over the mountains in the north of the country, because he had prayed so much that he could meet me again. He wanted to share with me how his life took on new meaning after he had asked me to pray for him.
Listening to my friend tell me how much good came into his life was one of the most moving and humbling of moments that lasted some time! He went on to tell me how he had stopped drinking and gambling. I knew nothing of this at the time! The depth of his gratitude was obvious to feel and he just kept thanking me so much. "You showed me the way to God, you helped me to know God. Now I know God and I love you, I love you so much."
Gradually many things began to flood my thought. The times we had spent together on his days off and what I had shared with him about God and the deep discussions that followed. I recall clearly when he once told me, "You have given me so much from your mind." Of course I knew it was divine Mind he was speaking of. I had helped this dear young man financially as well, mostly {with his childrens' education}. I offered to pay for the petrol and our meals when we met a few weeks ago but he would not let me do it because he again told me that God had been so good to him and he could pay his own way now. So instead he showered me with gifts and paid for a meal we all had together.
This friend had left Chiang Mai and returned to his family who all lived in a remote part of north Thailand. His brother started a Church there and is the Pastor. My friend would often tell me of the healings people from the Church had after his brother had prayed for them. "Healings by the power of God alone" was what the brother had said! And I heard of other healings when he and I spent precious time together recently. I was in total awe of what he was sharing.
I had given him a copy of Science and Health and a subscription to the Sentinel. I well remember his step-daughter embracing Jesus' teachings wholeheartedly. She started going to a Sunday School. I gave her a Bible and she just couldn't get enough - reading it every spare moment she had. Not only was my friend's life transformed but hers was as well!
The young man was able to bring me up-to-date! He is now an Elder in the church and he has experienced God's protection on many occasions. His first wife also became a Christian and so did their son. He married again and they have a son of 2 years. It shouldn't be remarkable but the fact that this friend and his family are from an ethnic minority group from China called the Yao tribe is amazing. It is absolutely impossible to express in words how incredibly moving this, and many other experiences I have had, have been. Each one is so inspiring. What cause for gratitude and rejoicing!
To God alone be All the Glory, Amen.