This Day in History - Remembrance Day 2011

The Armistice Carriage 

Today is Remembrance Day or Armistice Day. On this day in 1918 the Armistice treaty  was signed, thus ending the First World War - one of the bloodiest in history. This day is always commemorated on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour. Added to this, this year we've got another 11 (2011)!! 

This is a very special day to remember the sacrifice our soldiers have paid to guarantee us freedom and peace. I have deep respect and admiration for those who put their lives willingly at risk to defend us. May God bless them and protect them. It is a great blessing to live in a free country. It's more precious to me especially when I look at other countries who do not have this blessing, who have their own armies against their own people (Remember Tiananmen Square in China or more recently, the Copts in Egypt). 

So, today let's thank God for all these blessings and pray for our soldiers who are giving so much for us. 

They shall not grow old, 

as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, 

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning 

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM!

~ From For The Fallen (1914) by 

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Peace and Freedom are very precious things and are never cheap. It also reminds me of our own spiritual journey to heaven, as portrayed so beautifully in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. It is a journey full of dangers and snares - a narrow way - as we fight our own flesh and Satan's attacks and snares. But if we persevere we shall overcome and gain the crown of life. (see James 1:12, Revelation 2:10) 

Here is a lovely song - 'He That Overcomes' by Jimmy and Carol Owens:

The trailer of the movie the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the  King (2009), said something very true, touching, and profound: 

There can be 

No triumph without loss.

No victory without suffering. 

No freedom without a sacrifice.  

This is what our Saviour has done to purchase our freedom form sin and to defeat Satan. This is our journey, too. We are to follow in His steps. May the Lord grant us the grace to endure and persevere to the end. We must not give up. 

~God bless

IDOP 2011 - International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Well, dear friends, it's true. I've been away from blogging for a while. I've been pretty busy with university assignments and exam preparations....whew! quite hectic! But the Lord is always good and very faithful. His mercies endure forever. Praise the Lord! Well, I hope to get back to it as soon as possible. I'm still thinking about what to share next:)

However, tonight I'd just like to encourage you all to join in this year's IDOP (from 6th - 13th of November). Whether in Church, or with family and friends, or just alone in our time with the Lord. Let's remember our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering persecution and hardship. Pray that the Lord would be with them and strengthen them in their tribulations and deliver them from evil. Pray that those who are in prisons would be released. Pray that the Lord would provide all their needs. Pray that they would be given courage to witness to the Lord in these very hostile places. Pray that the Lord would provide them with His precious Word. 

Prayer Changes Things! 

'Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.'  Hebrews 13:3