KEEP Me SAFE From ABUSE To SHINE = The BEST!

Naselesele Village Primary School's theme for Blue Ribbon Week -- Fiji's Fight Against Drugs and Child Abuse is:  KEEP Me SAFE From ABUSE To SHINE = The BEST!

To shine the best – one must not conform or compromise to the world’s satanic standards, which are anti-CHRIST – against the infallible wisdom of CHRIST JESUS, the Son of our FatherGOD.

JESUS -- The BEST EXAMPLE!

To keep our children safe from abuse – saturate the home with godliness, enriching their minds with GOD’s Word and exemplifying in our daily lives the utterly powerful meekness and humility of CHRIST.

Teach our children to imitate JESUS, for He is the BEST example of self-emptying obedience, almighty gentleness, supernatural wisdom, incomprehensible love, holy righteousness.

If you would have your children truly succeed – not so much according to the world’s self-glorifying measure of success, but true success in GOD’s eyes – then teach them of the Person of CHRIST, for who else is the superlative Teacher in all the world, for all time?

JESUS is THE ANSWER to ALL problems!

Who, but JESUS only, pleases FatherGOD in all ways, always?  Who but JESUS shines the brightest Light, far eclipsing the blinding sun?  Who but JESUS demonstrated the most tender and most generous outpouring of sacrificial love?  Who but JESUS – sinless and blameless – can teach our children true wisdom to win the fight against drugs and child abuse?

Only JESUS, the Master Teacher, Who personifies incomparable infinite Intelligence, Who knows the all in all – only CHRIST JESUS can empower our children to shine their personal best!

As written in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

BENI -- Naselesele TRAGIC Casualty

When i first met Beni, he was only four years old. He was holding 3-year old Miriama’s hand to help her down G’ma Tuvi’s steps. i knew then that he was a kindhearted child – a gentle man in the making.
At 11 years old, Beni killed himself.

What happened to the child with whom i fell in love? What happened in those seven years? How could a rosary-wearying, church-attending, family-surrounded child come to such a desperate state as to see no way out but to take himself out… WAY OUT – the way out of life… the way out to death.

Beni gave clues of his downward spiral, even to me. When sitting at the treehouse in the village, i asked him to write the numbers 1 – 100. He made mistakes… i thought he was just being careless. When i was the “banker” for the children’s money and Beni decided to also put his monies in aunty Merlin’s bank, i noticed that he had so much more money than the other four kids living in the household, so much that in one week, he had surpassed their combined total. i was told that the money came from selling beer bottles. i didn’t question again how he was able to bank so much money.

Beni hinted about his inner turmoil. He drew macabre pictures of coffins and bloody daggers stabbing body-less heads. He scribbled in his notebooks incessantly instead of doing schoolwork.

In the village, i was told, there are no real orphans, for there is always a g’ma or aunty or uncle to take care of any child whose natural mother has left him or whose father is too busy doing his own thing. Everyone in the village is that child’s substitute mom or dad, for all are related to that child in one way or another. Everyone in the village was Beni’s family… no WAY was he an orphan. He was well cared for as he lived from one relative’s house to another.

Then why did Beni not go to someone – ANY one – for help, to get him out of his predicament? Why did he not go to GOD – his very present HELP in times of trouble – why did he believe that no one, not even GOD, could help him?

How did he learn to do those things which got him into trouble in school… those actions that he knew were bad, which would lead to severe punishment? Who showed him or told him that “it is easy to die”?

Beni’s tragic death tested and strengthened my faith in our utterly compassionate and ALL-Mighty GOD. i wondered how GOD will cause ALL things – even Beni’s death -- to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose. But as in Jazmyn’s seemingly untimely death, i trust in an ALL-Wise GOD, who is in TOTAL CONTROL of ALL things and all circumstances, who gives and takes away according to His sovereign will, whose will is perfect and good all the time – though we, mere human beings, may not like or understand His ways.

Even in Beni’s death, i continue to trust in GOD’s Perfect LOVE and Perfect WISDOM in allowing this tragedy. As Oswald Chambers aptly wrote: It matters not WHAT GOD does – it matters only WHO GOD is!\o/

ROMANS 8:28 -- My Personal REALITY

Lagiloa GODventureZ... Vanua Sautu... then --

And now. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (Mark 3:25)

Even this rLn expression, GOD has blessed to someone else...

GOD has closed this door... and opened up another.

And i know that GOD causes everything to work together for the good of those who love GOD and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)

The new door GOD has opened -- GODventureZ, unlimited. Our leaky second-hand boat, with Ana tugging it to its new moorings, and Miri hangin' on for a free tow.

Four new lives (Miri, Kani, Jo, Leone) from Naselesele Village to touch with the WORD -- Who is the Bread of Life, the Light of the world, the Way of peace to the Father in Heaven -- the Redeemer of sinners... like me.

GOD knew me even before He created me -- that i would enjoy mangoes as my favorite food... and here i am... watching them ripen! GOD satisfies me with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:5, paraphrased)

The talent GOD has given me is no longer buried in useless inferiority complex, but SPIRIT has provided much opportunities to magnify our LORD's name through the art work that He allows to flow through me. He gives the inspiration, He tempers me with patience to do His work, He opens up the windows and doors of Heaven so that blessings from above rains down wherever He places me. (Matthew 25:14-30, JESUS' parable about the talents)

GOD's timing is allWays perfect. Thirty years later, after the SPIRIT planted the seed of island living in my adventurouZ soul, GOD has wrought the dream into Reality... with much segways and detours along this blessed GODventureZ JESUS had created for me. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. (Psalm 139:16)

JESUS is my Way -- He is the Path of righteousness.
JESUS is my Truth -- He is the Word infallible.
JESUS is my Life -- He is the Fountain ever flowing.
JESUS is my LORD, my Master, my GOD.

He is the Shield who protects from the devil's assaults --The Rock on which true wisdom is built.
He is the King who reigns sovereign --The Shepherd whose tender care is faithful and true.
He is the Judge who sees the inner man --The Refuge during trials to whom we run.
He is the Fortress impregnable --The Avenger of the weak and oppressed.

He is the Creator of all things from no thing --The Deliverer of those who love and obey Him.
He is the Healer of the brokenhearted --The Protector of the humble and the meek.
He is the Provider of our daily bread --The Redeemer of the wretched lost.
He is the Alpha and the Omega --The Author and Finisher of our faith.

He is the Master Potter --The Artist Divine of each masterpiece.
He is the Father who knows best --The One we call Abba, Papa, because we are His own.
JESUS is the Bread of life --The abundant Nourisher of this child.
He is the Light of the world --The perfect Guide to this darkened soul.

JESUS is the Door of the sheepfold --The narrow Gate where this penitent entered.
He is the Good Shepherd --The Owner of this prodigal sheep.
JESUS is the Resurrection and the Life --The Promise Keeper in whom absolutely i trust.
He is the true Vine -- The eternal Source in whom i cling.

JESUS is the Way, the Truth and the Life --
He is my way, my truth and my life --
In all ways, always...
Forever and ever.

TAVEUNI Skies -- GOD's Handiwork

Oh, what a life! Oh, what a peace! The CHRIST who's all within me lives.

With Him i have been crucified; this glorious fact to me He gives.

Now it's no longer i that live, but CHRIST the LORD within me lives.

Oh, what a joy! Oh, what a rest! CHRIST now is being formed in me.

His very nature and life divine -- in my whole being inwrought shall be.

All that i am came to an end, and all of CHRIST is all to me.

Oh, what a thought! Oh, what a boast! CHRIST shall in me be magnified.

In nothing shall i be ashamed, for He in all shall be applied.

In woe or blessing, death or life -- through me shall CHRIST be testified.

Oh, what a prize! Oh, what a gain! CHRIST is the goal toward which i press.

Nothing i treasure, nor aught desire -- but CHRIST of all-inclusiveness.

My hope, my glory, and my crown is CHRIST, the One of peerlessness.

(by Witness Lee, The Holy Word for Morning Revival, page 36 -- Hymns #499)

WHAT IS rln! ART?

rLn! stands for really Love now! Life is short indeed and i want to make a difference! i want to testify for CHRIST, to share Him with others, to put to good use all the talents GOD has given me for His good purpose(s)--to be able to say to GOD when i stand before Him on Judgment Day: "Father...i used up all You've given me!"

i am an artist in CHRIST for GOD. (i am a new creature, a new being, In CHRIST, doing art for His glory.) My Father blessed me with a measure of artistic talent that He is now using in ways i can't see or understand--but i am deeply certain that He is orchestrating abundant blessings for everyone involved in this GODventure.

Each finished work that comes out of me is SPIRIT-given (for every good thing is from GOD, and i trust that the Holy SPIRIT would do the real work, and i will be but the tool with which He will create). And it is my prayer that He will use each particular work as a seed sown in someone’s life to somehow, someway, magnify CHRIST (i don’t need to know the how of it—i simply trust that He will “Just do it!”) It may be a door of opportunity to witness, to share the Word, to glorify GOD. It is one of the ways my Father provides for my material needs, as well as answering my heart’s desire of helping children (in particular, those of Naselesele Village in Fiji).

The rLn OFF-the-WALL clothing line—t-shirts, pants, sarongs--reflect works that draw attention to GOD, His Son, His Word. Each original design includes a GODly message--be it a Bible verse, or relevant GODly words (love, joy, peace), or symbolic abstract--incorporated in such a way that the message is hidden or camouflaged within the design—an attention getter in the manner of a stealth bomber aircraft…just below the radar of ordinary consciousness until SPIRIT turns on the Light in that person’s awareness.

In Old Testament times, according to Jewish tradition, the chosen people literally wore the Law on their person. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:8-9) Maybe doing this made them feel closer to GOD. It certainly made them more conscious of the Law—as these worked like Post It reminders.

As for me, when i wear one of my Ad-for-GOD rLn t-shirts, i.e., “Those Who Tango, Get Mango!”-- i deliberately put myself in the frame of mind that when i obey the Holy SPIRIT’s leading, i bear fruit! He leads, i follow…and i won’t get kicked in the bum!

The Argentine tango is an exquisite example of two persons completely in sync with each other. One leads, the other follows. Without these very defined roles, there would be no beauty of grace, power or synchronicity. Without complete agreement between leader and follower, pain and clumsy execution result. For it is indeed! a physically dangerous dance with sharp, precision kicks, going every which way, maybe landing in wrongful places…an ouchful kick in the bum or elsewhere!

Those who dance the tango with the Holy SPIRIT bear fruit…get mango (my favorite fruit, by the way). And the more i obey, the more i tango with SPIRIT, so much more will His fruit in me (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) ripen to maturity. When i partner with the SPIRIT of GOD, i am enabled to do whatever it is that GOD, my Father, has called me to do for His glory. Without the SPIRIT’s empowerment, i can do nothing!

Or when i put on the t-shirt that says, ”Look Beyond the Horizon,” someone behind me may be curious enough to ask me what it means. This opens the door for me to share, to explain that Actuality is what i see and experience on this side of the horizon, my life on earth. Beyond the horizon is what i can’t see--GOD’s Reality, His heavenly kingdom. When i aim my sights beyond the horizon, i hope in GOD, i look to JESUS. My faith in Him, His sovereignty, gives me easy childlike assurance that He has everything in control, that He has my best being readied for me, just beyond the horizon where i can’t see His orchestration of every detail. If what i am praying for is aligned with His good purpose, He will allow it to become Actuality here on earth (through the Holy SPIRIT's power).

Anyway, why should i wear a t-shirt with someone else’s advertising (i.e., Got Milk?, Just Do It!, Reebok) and for which i get nothing in return for my being their walking advertisement? Why not wear a t-shirt that really says something meaningful and powerful (Feel the Fear--GO for GOD Anyway!), one that will help me renew my mind, one that will help me meditate on GOD's Word? Why not advertise for GOD instead? Why not put in a good word for Him?

Hence the SPIRIT-purposed Ad-for-GOD rLn art. The Holy SPIRIT of GOD inspires and guides me to create a design, and then He engineers all else so that when i wear His Word on my person, someone (including myself) may be blessed. For it is written: GOD’s word does not come back void.

(P.S. Unique, one-of-a-kind, original rLn t-shirts (joy JESUS truth) may be created tailor-made for you, expressing your taste in colors, your favorite Bible verse or GODly words, your particular t-shirt style and color. To contact me, e-mail me at merlinsazon at yahoo dot com to help me work out the details of your rLn original. If you are a risk-taker at heart, please seriously consider taking a leap of faith with me and join me in this GODventure.)