The kingdom of heaven with all its blessings in the way of security, holy carefreeness, love and happiness belongs to children. However, being a child of God must be practised through humility in everyday life. God’s children ask people for forgiveness where they have been wrong. They humble themselves before others. They are willing to take the last place. They accept correction from others like a little child. Those who do so experience the truth of the promise that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children (Matthew 19:14). Here and now they have a foretaste of heaven.

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

You are familiar with the practice of bookkeeping in the business world. But now that another year is ending, have you ever thought of balancing the accounts of your personal life? That is, have you straightened out your relationship with God and your fellow beings? One day you will have to account for your whole life.
 
But let us not forget the loving purposes of God. Scripture says, ‘The Lord… is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’ Today you can still balance the accounts of your life and actions. You can turn from bad ways. You can confess before God and man that which was wrong. You can make amends as far as this is possible. You can show a willingness, even as a forgiven sinner, to accept the consequences of your wrongdoing. You can call upon Jesus to cover the deficits of your life. What an opportunity God is giving you! In His love He cannot bear to see anyone lost. So do not postpone this settlement of accounts. Tomorrow may be too late. (Galatians 6:7-8; 2 Peter 3:9)
 

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

Do you think that you are abandoned to the misery you have brought upon yourself by your sinning? If that were so, God would no longer be alive — God, who out of love gave His Son as an atoning sacrifice for sin, so that we might be saved. He provides a way out of all such distress: repentance. Repentance can even turn our sin into gain. God in His goodness gives penitent sinners many additional gifts: thanksgiving for His forgiveness; love for our Saviour Jesus; humility; hatred of sin; faith in the blood of Jesus, which cleanses from all unrighteousness. Who can comprehend God’s merciful love towards sinners? So let us walk in the way of repentance.
 

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

“You have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember your sins no more.” Isaiah 43, 24-25

No-one has ever been so grieved and offended by sin as God. Yet no human being has ever uttered such words of infinite mercy to the offenders as God has done.
 
In response to His compassion towards us sinful beings, God is expecting of us that we are also merciful to one another. Be merciful to your neighbour if he hurts you, so that God’s mercy towards you will not turn to wrath, as in the parable of the unforgiving servant (see Matthew 18:21-34).

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

At that time we did not know any Aboriginal people and had no idea where we could meet them. But we prayed and God opened one door after another. One answer to prayer was Diane Buchanan, a Bible translator at Elcho Island. She visited us from time to time and then shared with the Aboriginals about Canaan. She invited Sister Simone to come to Elcho. So it was that in 1984 Sister Simone made a trip to the far north of Australia, visiting many Aboriginal and Tones Strait Islander communities. On behalf of us white people, she asked their forgiveness.

At that time a special bond of friendship was formed with the Elcho Islanders. A longing arose in their hearts to come down and visit us. One day Diane rang to say that ten ladies would like to come. The next phone call, “Sisters, 40 of them want to come. Is that all right?” We were excited and in faith we said yes – although we had no idea where we would house them or how we would feed such a big group.

The excitement spread to our friends. A group of 40 tribal indigenous people in Theresa Park! Many lent us mattresses; others lent us blankets. Our print shop was being extended, and the machinery had not yet been moved in. If they didn’t mind sleeping on the floor, perhaps some could stay there. Others slept in tents that neighbours had lent us.

When our doctor heard about our special visitors, he gave us $100 for food for them. A kitchen Sister took the $100 to the fruit barn to get some fresh fruit and vegetables. But when the owner heard that this was for a group of indigenous people coming all the way from the Northern Territory, she donated the fruit and vegies. We still had the $100, so we asked a factory if we could purchase a large number of meat pies. When they heard who the meat pies were for, they gave us 50% off. Other friends prepared meals for them. We had a small donation for fish. So off we went to the fish market. We looked for the cheapest fish, so we could get a larger quantity. When the fish shop owner heard of it, he threw in many more and had them filleted by his staff. He too wanted to do something good for our indigenous visitors. When we shared this with our friends from Elcho, they were touched by the love of so many — people who didn’t even know them.

On the first night we had a campfire and barbecue. We invited friends and neighbours, for we knew that they would all want to meet our special guests. Even though some of the neighbours had earlier been a bit hesitant to visit a group of Sisters, their curiosity got the better of them, and they came to the cookout to meet our indigenous guests. One of our friends, whose ancestors had come out on the First Fleet, asked if she could say a word. It was so much on her heart to say sorry to our indigenous friends. What a special moment this was!

After the meal our friends from Elcho started to sing beautiful songs of worship and do movements to them. The neighbours were delighted and asked many questions. Then they said, “What lovely people they are! What beautiful singing! They’re only staying one week? What a pity!” Our Elcho friends had won their hearts.

One of our neighbours shared with an elder from Elcho that he had to have a heart operation soon, and he found that prospect quite frightening. The elder asked him to come back, and he got the whole group together to pray for him. Our neighbour immediately felt such a difference to his health and strength. After his doctor’s appointment he came back overjoyed. “I saw the heart specialist, and he could find nothing wrong with my heart! He couldn’t understand the sudden improvement, and he couldn’t find any evidence that I had ever had a heart attack. The doctor told me to keep doing whatever brought about the change!” We praised God for His wonderful intervention.

After a wonderful week of fellowship together, it was time for them to leave. One eight-year-old Aboriginal girl went home and said to her friends, “If you don’t believe that Jesus is real, come to Canaan with me.” So for one year these youngsters saved up their pocket money (and whatever else they could get from their relatives), and they came down for a children’s retreat. There were 13 children, ranging in age from eight to twelve.

We wanted to do nice things for them, since their people had suffered so much at the hands of white people. So we took them on picnics; we took them swimming, and one day we took them to the zoo. (The zoo let them all in for free!) Since they had never been on a train before, we went by train and ferry to the zoo. The children sang songs in their own language. One lady, as she was getting off, gave us a $20 bill and said, “Buy them all an ice block today.” The people in the carriage were delighted to experience them. They were such a good witness!

In between the “special events” a Sister told children’s Bible stories. Later we heard from one of the grownups that when the children went back to Elcho, they didn’t tell their friends about the swimming, the picnics or the zoo. They told them all that they had learned about Jesus.

The post Aboriginals in Australia appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

Do you think that you are abandoned to the misery you have brought upon yourself by your sinning? If that were so, God would no longer be alive — God, who out of love gave His Son as an atoning sacrifice for sin, so that we might be saved. He provides a way out of all such distress: repentance. Repentance can even turn our sin into gain. God in His goodness gives penitent sinners many additional gifts: thanksgiving for His forgiveness; love for our Saviour Jesus; humility; hatred of sin; faith in the blood of Jesus, which cleanses from all unrighteousness. Who can comprehend God’s merciful love towards sinners? So let us walk in the way of repentance.
 

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

“You have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember your sins no more.” Isaiah 43, 24-25

No-one has ever been so grieved and offended by sin as God. Yet no human being has ever uttered such words of infinite mercy to the offenders as God has done.
 
In response to His compassion towards us sinful beings, God is expecting of us that we are also merciful to one another. Be merciful to your neighbour if he hurts you, so that God’s mercy towards you will not turn to wrath, as in the parable of the unforgiving servant (see Matthew 18:21-34).

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

You ask why God does not answer your prayers. Could it be that there is some obstacle? For instance, if we misuse the gift of His forgiveness by not forgiving others, we block the way for further gifts of God. When God does not answer, ask God to show you what you might have done wrong. Ask Him to give you a truly repentant heart. Make every effort to put things right again. Then the way will be clear and your prayers can rise up to God.

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

You are familiar with the practice of bookkeeping in the business world. But now that another year is ending, have you ever thought of balancing the accounts of your personal life? That is, have you straightened out your relationship with God and your fellow beings? One day you will have to account for your whole life.
 
But let us not forget the loving purposes of God. Scripture says, ‘The Lord… is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’ Today you can still balance the accounts of your life and actions. You can turn from bad ways. You can confess before God and man that which was wrong. You can make amends as far as this is possible. You can show a willingness, even as a forgiven sinner, to accept the consequences of your wrongdoing. You can call upon Jesus to cover the deficits of your life. What an opportunity God is giving you! In His love He cannot bear to see anyone lost. So do not postpone this settlement of accounts. Tomorrow may be too late. (Galatians 6:7-8; 2 Peter 3:9)
 

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.

“You have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember your sins no more.” Isaiah 43, 24-25

No-one has ever been so grieved and offended by sin as God. Yet no human being has ever uttered such words of infinite mercy to the offenders as God has done.
 
In response to His compassion towards us sinful beings, God is expecting of us that we are also merciful to one another. Be merciful to your neighbour if he hurts you, so that God’s mercy towards you will not turn to wrath, as in the parable of the unforgiving servant (see Matthew 18:21-34).

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink

The post Kanaan Message for Today appeared first on Evangelical<br />
Sisterhood of Mary.