My dear readers,

(Excerpts from Building Firm Foundations / Daily Remembrancer, Dr SH Tow)

1. Children for Christ

Theodore Roosevelt said: "If you are ever going to do anything permanent for the average man, you must begin before he is a man. The chance of success lies in working with the boy – not with the man. That applies peculiarly to those boys who tend to drift off into courses which mean that unless they are checked they will be formidable additions to the criminal population when they grow older."

How true. The child is father of the man! Fathers, how are you handling your young man? Parents, how are your children doing? Those who bring children into this world should realise that it is a very hard and hostile world, both materially and spiritually. What are we doing to equip our children for the day when they must stand on their own – or fall?

Parents should plan for their children. Most do. Plan and provide for their physical and material needs, for their education and recreation. Some plan far ahead even into the distant future of higher education and career prospects. In all these areas, they have a good eye on the future.

But our concern is our children's eternal security which, sad to say, many Christian parents treat with little real concern or interest. This is to a large extent a reflection of their own spiritual lukewarmness and complacency. To assume that making the routine trip to Church each Sunday will suffice for the family's spiritual nourishment is certainly the height of folly. We are facing issues and challenges so massive and over powering that a casual encounter with "religion" on a weekly basis is the surest way to failure.

Heed our Lord's words: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt 18:6). Your little ones are most precious in God's sight, not just in your sight alone!

We who have children must take heed: the effect of sending them 10-12 hours daily 5-6 days a week into the unbelieving world to be soaked in society's filth and anti-Christian philosophy CANNOT BE NEUTRALISED AND CLEANSED BYAN HOUR IN CHURCH. We need to do more!

What are you doing about your child's salvation? Every believing child needs to grow, not by feeding on trash but on God's Word.

Make me a faithful servant for Thee, O Lord.

2. "Without me ye can do nothing" Jn 15:5

(Daily Remembrancer, April 5 MORNING)

NEVER FORGET THE LORD, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND STRENGTH. We are not sufficient to think rightly of ourselves, but through Him we can do all things. Never attempt anything without looking to Jesus for power. Let a knowledge and constant sense of weakness keep you near Him, sensibly depending on Him, and ascribing all good unto Him. You cannot, He can. You have destroyed yourself, in Him is your help found. It is only by union to Him, and receiving from Him, that you can glorify God, adorn your profession, enjoy your privileges, and obey the holy precepts of the gospel. Never presume, but come up out of the wilderness leaning on Him, your beloved. Live as one deeply sensible of your dependence upon, and obligation to, the Lord Jesus. He is the strength of the poor, the strength of the needy in his distress, and your strength too. Beloved, Jesus is your life-giving Head, the Fountain from which you are to draw all your supplies, and the Friend to whom you are to carry all your cares. He will work in you to will and to do of His own good pleasure. Say with the apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Jesus, immutably the same,

Thou true and living vine!

Around Thy all supporting stem

My feeble arms entwine;

Thou art my strength, my life, my hope,

Nor can I sink with such a prop.

3. "He is faithful that promised" Heb 10:23

(Daily Remembrancer, August 20 EVENING)

THE PROMISES OF GOD WERE FREELY MADE. Being freely made, they will be freely fulfilled, for our God is faithful. He has promised us eternal life, the pardon of sin, purity of heart, peace of mind, growth in grace, perseverance in adversity, support under all trials, supplies for all our wants and that all things shall work together for our good. These promises in Christ are yea and amen, and we may trust the Lord to make them good. He is faithful to His promises: this is clear from the infinite perfection of His nature, the stability of His everlasting covenant, His solemn oath, the mediation of His beloved Son, and the operation of the Spirit. All these tell us that God’s promises are sure to all His children. Let us therefore remember, that, "faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." Believe that "the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from all evil." And let us commit the keeping of our souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. We cannot place too much confidence in His word, nor too steadfastly expect its fulfilment. Heaven and earth may pass away, but His words shall not pass away. Our Lord is called Faithful and True.

True to His word, God gave His Son

To die for crimes which men had done:

Blest pledge! He never will revoke

A single promise which He spoke.

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor