The MV Gloriosa Lily is in port today. A brand new ship with a beautiful name! According to the dictionary, the name stands for, any plant in the bulbous tropical African genus Gloriosa, also called Glory Lily. When I entered the mess room, the first person I met was the bosun. A Philippino with gray hair! I don't see that too often.
I always wonder when a seafarer asks me that question, " Do you have......" What if I cann't answer him in the affirmative? What if I am only the ' nice guy ' who comes to the ship and invites the seafarers to the Mission but can't offer them a Bible? How sad this would be.
There is a reason for my musings. Since it's very beginning the Ministry to Seafarers has always stressed that the written word of God - in any language be available for seafarers that come to the Port of Vancouver. So far we have always been able to purchase enough Christian Literature for those who requested it. Praise God that we still can! However, ' the well ' is running empty. During the last years, we have received very few collections from churches. For this reasonwe have sent letters to the supporting churches hoping and praying that ' the well' will be filled again!
The word gloriosa is a Latin word which simply means glorious which can have different meanings such as delightful, completely enjoyable , brilliantly beautiful or splendid! It can also mean, 'full of glory,'
which reminds me of the sermon the apostle Peter once preached when he addressed the believers;
" And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and FULL OF GLORY! " 1 Peter 1 : 8
( New American Standard Bible )
