PEOPLE NEED THE LORD

Fun on the Island

I had a wonderful time relaxing on Samal Island near Davao with Wakki. For the first time in my life, I was able to swim along with the topical fishes. The fishes are so colourful under the sea. It was like a dream come true for me to swim with topical fishes. I always wanted to see the topical fishes in their natural habitat. I did it in Davao, Philippines! God has many good surprises for His servants.

Here are some photos of Samal Island.

[A day trip on Paradise Island in the Philipines (above) ]

[Catching a boat to Paradise Island (above)]

[A ride to the Paradise Island costs 15 peso (above)]

[Taking photo with new Filipino friends on Paradise Island (above)]

[I am standing in front of the boat (above)]

[I am standing on the jetty (above)]

[Feeding topical fishes on the beach (above)]

People Need the Lord.

As I travel around the world, seeing multitudes of people living aimlessly without Christ, my heart feel burden for the lost souls. Whether a person is rich or poor, educated or uneducated, they need the Lord. Jesus is the only one that can feel the empty hole in a person's heart. I love the story of Matthew the tax collector (Matthew 9:9-13).

This story demonstrated the Father heart of God in three ways:


1) Jesus reaching out to Matthew

9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

God loves all people including a tax collector like Matthew. Jesus cared enough to reach out to Matthew, a person who the Jews hated. God's love extends to all people no matter what they have done. Every person is precious to God because He created them in His image.

2) Jesus fellowship with sinners

10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

Matthew was full of gratitude toward God's love and invited friends to meet with Jesus over dinner. Jesus spent time with people that were not popular in society due to their background or past.

3) Jesus came to die for sinners

12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus made His purpose clear to the religious leaders that He came to save the sinners. He came to transform lives, leading them away from sin to righteousness through relationship with God.

How do we see people? We need to see people the way Jesus sees people; lost without God. Let us help restore people to God the way Jesus reached out to Matthew and his friends. Share with someone today.