Welcoming Sukkot with Song of Songs, possessing land and people

After the Song of Songs preaching series, we are now in Sukkot 5783. The theme this year is “Welcoming Sukkot with Song of Songs”. The Mercy Seat lounge is decorated like the Garden of the Bride to illustrate that we are God’s beloved and warrior brides. God delights to dwell among us.

In the wilderness God commanded His people, “You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 23:42-43) These verses were beyond my comprehension before. But as we entered into the Song of Songs messages, I have come to know that observing Sukkot is to dwell, live and rest in God’s presence. In the busy world today, when we find rest in God, God delights to dwell among us and bless us.

Year 2022 is a year of God’s salvation. It has been full of difficulties and turbulence, yet God has blessed our church greatly and given us property and people. Right before Sukkot God has given us a three-storey block in Cheung Chau, which is good in location, size and price. It is suitable for various camps and retreats and can be shared with branch churches in Hong Kong. God’s provision is truly abundant.

Moreover, our disciples Joash and Crystal have had their second baby born. The delivery was not easy at all, but was filled with miracles. Their domestic helper had been confirmed with COVID-19 just before the baby was born. Immediately after that Crystal was infected too. Right on that day the baby was born. And it was the Feast of Trumpets that day. Crystal had to fight the disease alone and got no pain relief for her delivery. In that critical moment she received God’s word that the Lord’s Arm had never been shortened. Finally she triumphed by God. Almost simultaneously C-Mo and I cried out to God with Joash. We also received the same scripture. Then together we welcomed the arrival of their daughter.

Two weeks later at the Baby Dedication Ceremony, they testified at the Mercy Seat that God is real. Their elder son was infected and stayed positive for quite some time. Then their baby daughter couldn’t go home until 14 days later. But right on that day they could make it to the Baby Dedication Ceremony. God is truly faithful! After this C-Mo and I received Song of Songs 8:14, “Make haste, my Beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.” C-Mo had got the word “gazelle” while I got “heaven”, meaning “please make haste, God”. So we gave the baby girl the name “Tin Ling (heaven, gazelle)”, in remembrance of God’s work.

Dear brothers and sisters, “Welcoming Sukkot with Song of Songs” is indeed a great gift from God. We have truly experienced God’s leading again and again. Planting Trees of Life Everywhere has reached the fourth generation and God longs for us to be more intimate with Him!■【2022.10.16】