Sunday, April 24, 2011

EASTER IN THE GULF OF THAILAND

Exodus 33:14

"My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

This is a promise God made to Moses. Moses then said to God, vs. 15,

"If your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here."

I would not have made the decision to come to Southeast Asia if I hadn't been sure that God's Presence was with me 100% of the time. Actually, I don't even like to go to the grocery store without Him!

Here I am cruising in the Gulf of Thailand toward the South China Sea on this Easter Sunday. What an adventure being on board the Diamond Princess along with some 2700 other passengers and large crew - a floating city! I've met people from all over the world, this is a real international experience.

I attended a Bible study this morning, and guess what! The lovely young women teaching the study lives about 20 miles from my home near San Diego, CA. Her husband is an officer on the ship and she sails with him a good part of the year. She has been called by God to share His Word to those who board and want to hear God's story.

I learned that from its inception, the Lord has blessed this ship. The first Cruise Director of Activities was a Christian and put 'Bible Study' on the ship's schedule for the days at sea. Subsequently, cruise directors to follow kept the study on the schedule.

It gets better! A large number of the crew who come from all over the world have an active, thriving Christian fellowship and gather together every Sunday and Wednesday nights. They pray for the ship's safety and the passengers - ready to book a cruise on the Diamond Princess?

Easter - where shall we begin? At the cross? At the tomb? Maybe at Christ's birth in Bethlehem? Or the story of 'Passover' when the blood of a lamb painted over the doorway saved the children of Israel? We could even go back to the Garden of Eden when God killed an animal, shed blood, and clothed Adam and Eve to cover their sin.

The story of Easter - God shedding His blood to atone for our sin so we can be in God's Presence and live eternally with Him - began before the creation of the world....'the Lamb slain from the creation of the world'....Revelation 13:8. God always had a plan in place.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life" John 3:16. Eternal means 'forever'. This life will pass away, but just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we too will be raised to new life. That's what Easter is all about.

Thank you Lord for this wonderful adventure. Thank you for Diane who obediently has followed your call and is sharing your Word on this beautiful cruise ship with others from all over the world. Encourage her, and the wonderful staff who love you, uphold them, and allow them to feel your Presence in their life everyday as they look to you as their Almighty God, the Messiah, King Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Google came up with my blog in Chinese, think I got it right and this will appear in English. If not, I have many in China who read the blog, so guess that would be O.K.

Happy Easter to all of you.