Reading:  Colossians 3:2

2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

COMMENTARY

A Christian periodical told of a man who was perched high on a wall he was building.  At one point he had to get an urgent message to someone on the ground, but there was so much noise on the street that it was futile to call to the people down below.  So in order to get the attention of a passerby, he dropped a coin in front of him, but the pedestrian picked it up and kept on walking.  He tried again but his second attempt was met with the same response.  Finally he dropped a stone - not a large one, but one heavy enough to achieve the desired result.  It struck a man, hurting him just enough to cause him to look up.  Now the workman had someone's attention, and he could drop a note that contained his message.

Similarly, God sometimes uses painful experiences to cause us to look up to Him.  Often when life is moving along pleasantly and without problems, we become lax, and we neglect our responsibilities to the Lord.  We devote our entire attention to earthly things.  God may see fit to "drop a stone" on us, so to speak.  It may come in the form of financial loss, physical suffering, or some other kind of difficulty, but its purpose is to get us to reevaluate our priorities and to focus our attention again on the Lord.

When suffering or adversity touches our lives, God may be sending us a message.  He may be reminding us to set our affection on things above.  Let's not be like Israel of old. Instead, let's humble ourselves before the Lord and renew our dedication to Him.

THOT  1 Corinthians 10:13

13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

NEWS

(Welcome Song)

We sang in English or Chinese as we felt capable which, for me, meant English. But if I had the time I would transliterate the Chinese so I could sing along. Since we sang this song every time we welcomed a new Staff member, this one was worth the effort.

PRAYERS

Let's  sing the  song  "Family  Prayer"