None Like Jesus

April 4. Monday Morning... Lonely

Cars ran full speed on highway. I looked out my window. Strange images flied away one after another. But my mind empty. My heart was scary, uncertain and lonely.


In a few hours, I would be facing a strange crowd near to 100. I would be sharing Jesus to them. All in a country in which gospel is very much suppressed.

I am not a veteran at this.

But one thing I am certain: Jesus said to me, "I am with you..."


March 31. Thursday Morning... I Sent You


All the busy works, pressure & anxiety of a month accumulated to this climax. In few hours, I would be heading Vancouver airport for this missionary trip. Now in the morning, I had my quiet time with the Lord. I was reading Psalms 56 by myself, while kids and Moms read the same Psalms in sitting room.


God met me powerfully...

Psalms 56 talked about the very unlikely people of faith, like foreigners and eunuchs. God was going to draw them graciously to himself. They would follow him and worship him. Words like "I will gather still others..." really related to what my trip was about - I was set to gather harvest.


If you know that our new ministry is "Home(=House) For All Nations"... If you know that the name is based on what Jesus said in Mark11:17, "my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations... If you know that I'll be flying in a few hours just to fulfill this calling, to preach to All Nations.

Then you will feel my shock as I read on to verse 7 of this Psalms: "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."


You always have little secret or some sorts of sign with God. That when it shows up, you know it is "The Lord!" He caught my attention. Now I knew it was Jesus there. Then I heard his little voice:


"Be strong, take courage, son... It is me who send you out... I will be with you..."


I prayed. I listened. I talked. And my tears fell. Tears warmed my face. He warmed my heart.


So on my way to airport, I asked my kids and my wife to share their insights of Psalms 56. They shared... and I shared mine...


And Aden said, "how come your sharing was so different from us?" I was silly enough to say, "Maybe we have different translations!" That simple?


April 3. Sunday Evening. An Asian City... He Turned Pages

I was staying in my friend's home. I was briefing them what I was going to say in the workshop on the next day. And I told them the wonderful experience I had with God that morning before I left. Then a strange idea suddenly came across my mind...

Ever since I said farewell to my family in Vancouver, I tried to take out the Bible & read again that passage in Psalm 56. I tried on the plane, in train, in Hong Kong... But I could not find it again. I just would not give up. So I looked up Psalm 46 - maybe I made a mistake. It's not there. I tried 66, 76, 86. Again not there. So I began with Psalms 36 and flipped through every psalm to 80 something. "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations" JUST NOT THERE. I couldn't believe it. I almost believed I had some sort of direct revelation or a divine vision.

When these episodes suddenly flashed back, I asked my friends, " Can I borrow your Bible?" While I was briefing with my friends, a strange feeling came to mind, "Will it be Isaiah 56, not Psalms 56?"

Then I turned to Isaiah 56, it said, "MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS." I couldn't believe it.

On that morning, we supposed to read Psalms 56 ( I even confirmed with Aden before I went back to my room). But when I opened my Bible, I turned to Isaiah and read 56. How could my fingers flip so many pages?(Turn from Psalms 56 to Isaiah 56, you'll be amazed)


My Lord is my friend. The Best One. He knows who Marcus is? I am not a bit strong, tough, brilliant... as people think. I have lots of psychic barriers to cross when doing new things, going to new places, meeting new and strange faces. Many sees my calm outlook. Only Jesus sees my waves and winds inside. He knows that I need a strong reason to do this. Even to die for, to be imprisoned for. I need to know without a doubt that He himself sent me, that He will be there with me. This is what I need.

Jesus cares. He cares enough to reveal himself to me. He cares enough to speak to me. Not just spoke to me. But chose to turn pages after pages for me, till he reached that chapter which He knows would speak very powerfully, very personally to me... Isaiah 56. Then He appeared himself... Whatelse could I say about Jesus my Lord? I am speechless, totally surrender myself in awe and in joy to Him. Who is like our God? None.

I hope you appreciate our God is altogether holy, powerful, mighty... but at the same time, he is so altogether gracious, lovely, approachable, beautiful... and very very humorous. He is a God of joy and fun. Just like a lovely father does... he plays with his children, a lot.