Sunday, November 29, 2009
On holy ground ... at work!
I simply cannot believe the speed of time ... it just zoom past without our conscious knowledge very often. And though I had wanted to make it a point to blog and journal regularly, somehow I still fail ... sigh* ... But here I am again =) ... with a great article which I read in my CG Bible Study Book Life@Work. This article (Pg 93) is written by Henry T. Blackaby and as much as it has been a reminder to me, I hope it will bless you too =)
" "Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths." (Psalm 25:4 NKJV)
The deepest activity of God all the way through the Bible is in the marketplace. God takes up residence in His people and then functions through His people in the world. The difficulty is that the marketplace is not encountering God in the lives of His people as it ought to. We should notice a qualified difference when we meet someone who knows God and His ways compared to when we meet a person who has no relationship with God.
As we function in the workplace and as we find ourselves moving in a very secular world, we need to recognize that God's presence in us makes a sacred difference. Anywhere that God places His presence is sacred. God's presence connects the secular to the sacred.
We should not separate secular and sacred in our minds. Once we become a disciple of Jesus, everything is sacred. God is always present where we, and thus there is not a place where we stand that is not holy ground. We do not enter the secular world when we go to work and then enter the sacred world when we go to church. We always are in the sacred world, because He always is present. His presence through us makes a place different.
People ought to encounter God every time they meet a follower of Jesus.
We may own our own business. We may be in the legislature. We may be in a position of leadership in a firm or a company.
Regardless, God never puts us in a position of responsibility without giving us all that we need to function in that place. We don't have to call Him in to help. We don't have to ask Him for guidance. God's guidance accompanies the assignment.
Moses was given the assignment to lead the children of Israel. The common people saw the activity of God, but Moses knew the ways of God. What happens if we don't know the ways of God? We self-destruct.
The children of Israel didn't know the ways of God, so they rebelled against Him, thinking they were right. When some of the other leaders came to Moses and were rebelling against his leadership, Moses did not argue with them. He ran straight into the presence of God and interceded for them! Moses knew that no one could rebel against the ways of God and get away with it.
If God gives us insight into the weakness of others, it isn't for criticism - it's for intercession! Could Moses have lambasted the children of Israel? He could have, but he didn't. When he saw the rebellion of the people, he knew that was the way of death. That set the agenda for his decision. He ran to the presence of God and interceded for the people. Had it not been for the intercession of Moses, none of the people would have survived.
How important is it to know the ways of God? It is our life!
For leaders, especially in the workplace, an insight into the ways of God always accompanies our position of leadership given by God. If we know the ways of God, then we can be the ones who bring stability, health, and life to those who work with us. If we do not know the ways of God, we are in trouble - as are those who work with us.
God makes no exceptions and plays no favourites. He always works according to His ways."
Need I say anymore?? The article is such a good reminder of what we should be as we profess to be children of God ... Christians ... testimonies of the One who called us ... May our lives always be a fragrance wherever we may be - working adults, students, home-makers, or retired personnels, etc.
1:54 PM
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The burdens of leadership
Was reading Numbers 11:1-15 and am reminded about the burdens we all face as leaders of God's flock.
The account in Numbers recorded how the Israelites were filled with complaints at all the hardships they felt they had to go through when they escaped from Egypt on the way to the Promised Land. They had complained about the journey ... they had complained about water ... they had complained about food ... they had complained about their leadership ... they had complained about practically anything and everything. Now before we point all our fingers at them and labelled them as ingrates, in a similar manner, many of us are like that too - we look at them and were filled with anger at how they can react in such ways to a patient, loving God - we are very often like them too!
In this narrative, Moses was feeling the strain of leadership and the burdens he felt he had to carry as the leader of this mass of people. It came to a point where he felt "enough is enough!" and he just wanted so much to end all the agony he had felt while dealing with the constant nonsense created by the masses. Numbers 11:15 tells us that Moses had come to a point where he was just seconds away from throwing the towel in.
As I read about how Moses had felt, it began to dawn on me that sometimes as leaders, we felt the strain and burden which hit Moses too - well, perhaps not that intense because there's no way we can fully identify with what Moses had went through as the leader of a massive people. Yet in similar manner, we had felt that we are carrying the burdens of leadership on our own ... we are handling the people's business on our own ... we are dealing with the demands and requests of people on our own ...
I guess we often forget that we are merely the human instruments God had appointed, so that He can work through us - and instead of being reminded that we are instruments, we subtly creep into the commander role, which is God's place alone. As such, we find ourselves attending to all things, everything, and when everything just rise over our neck and heads, we feel really strained, burdened, weak, weary, tired, discouraged ... and the list goes on.
If we can only remember that we are God's instruments, and the one carrying the burdens of these responsibilities is God Himself, who will equip us with strength and all that we need to deal with what He has given to us. Very often, we fail to allow God to take over as well, and "suppress" or "bypass" the commander and carry everything ourselves.
Moses felt the strain ... and as leaders, we often felt the strain of leadership too. We need to look back, look to, look up - to the One who's carrying the burdens and ask Him to use us as instruments, to steer us in the way He would ... and not steering our own directions and using our own strengths.
10:14 AM
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Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Respond ... not react
Gosh ... just realized I have not updated my blog for almost a month or so =P
Was at staff devotion today and PIC shared from Psalm 63, reminding us about how David trusted the Lord even when he was in the toughest / difficult moments in his life. Those of us who know the story of David well will know that his life lies beyond his defeat of Goliath ... to how he patiently waited for the Lord to lead him to the throne that he was anointed to take over ... to how he defeated his enemies and secure the peace during his kingship, etc. Not too sure if many of us read beyond all these accounts into how he was persecuted by his own son who plotted to usurp the throne, the pain he has to bore about losing his son to vengeful schemes within his own family, etc. In any case, David trusted the Lord wholeheartedly throughout all these times.
PIC used Psalm 63 to remind us that to emulate the example of David - who RESPOND, instead of reacting when problems surfaced. It is indeed our natural tendency to react whenever problems surfaced, things happen, when we find that we are just over the neck, etc. But the man after God's very own heart indeed show us a good example of how we ought to handle and manage life.
The devotion also ended with a challenge for us to "expect signs and wonders", but don't sigh and wonder (or wander).
I'm reminded and challenged indeed. How about you? =)
10:22 AM
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009
This is scary!!!
My colleague was speaking to one of the schoolgirl who came in to talk to her. Since we were sharing the same office, and the talk wasn't something confidential, I could somehow hear the contents of the conversation - nope, I don't mean to eavesdrop but the girl was talking rather loudly ...
After she left, I expressed my shock to my colleague, who shared similar thoughts as me, about what the girl shared. It was scary ... just "listen" to some of them ...
- I'm too fat, and I want to lose weight, because when I'm thin, guys will be attracted to me.
- I will fast because I don't want to eat and put on weight.
- Do you think guys will like me? Will they want to have sex with me?
- I want boys to like me, do you think they will like me?
- Is it illegal to have sex?
and the conversation revolves around such sentiments, which under scrutiny, reveals the lack of confidence in the person, and how much the media has been successful in bombarding these perfect figure/beauty thoughts in the lives of our young ones.
"This is scary!!" I told my colleague. It is scary because of the kind of negative influences they are constantly being bombarded and hearing ... it is scary because the powerful means which media has had been used in distorting ways so that advertisers can sell their products, so that viewership can soar sky high ... it is scary because even though the Word of God rings loud and clear every morning during devotion and every week during chapel, the still small voice is so easily clouded out by the loudness of the world ... it is scary because people are looking for acceptance through physical appearance and successes, rather than the confidence which God wants them to have - as His beloved creation and child.
Pray, pray, pray - that was what I felt God prompting me to do, and that we all need to do. Many had succumbed to the voices of the world and living broken, unsatisfied lives. They do not deserve such treatment when the Almighty God wants them to know that they are all LOVED AND ACCEPTED BY HIM!
If you read this post, I invite you to pray along for our young generation of today, will you?
11:01 PM
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Sunday, September 13, 2009
Who we really are ...
JH preached at the youth service today and it was such a great message of reminder of who we are as masterpieces of God.
He began by sharing about his life and family - something which I believed a great number of us do not know although we knew him for many years. To a lot of us, we see JH as someone who is so comical and quick-witted, and indeed he is. However, JH shared that one of the reasons for his wits and comic talent came partly as a security he found in the midst of the painful situations he went through in his earlier childhood days. It was a front he tried to put up to hide the pains, which slowly grew into something somewhat natural.
What JH has shared about his life led him to share the most important aspects that I hope everyone can get to hear and read (summary, and a little of my own thoughts and addition):-
- God wants to give us LIFE, an abundant one, and each one given only a chance to live
- Yet, we chose to live our lives by listening to LIfE (ie. LIE) that the devil plant into our lives and began to be deceived by him constantly and doubting God's goodness and His plans for us
- Furthermore, we allowed the lIFe (ie. "IFs" and "IF only") in life to plagued us with constant fear instead of confidence. We live in fear, we live with regrets - something which God do not intend at all!
- Then, to protect ourselves, we allow lIfe (ie the big I) to take center-stage at all times, pushing away people, trampling others under our feet, mocking and insulting others to make ourselves feel good.
The reason we allow all these to come into our lives and sometime cloud out God's voice is because we do not, or have not, really known who we really are. We see ourselves in the light of what and who the world tells us we are (ie. media, people, advertisements, etc) ... we based our successes in life on the temporal achievements and glories we can gain ... we look to people around us to affirm us and tell us who we are and hence feel rejected, unworthy and unloved when they fail us. Yet all we need is to look to God, who is our Potter, who are crafting each one of us into masterpieces, unique and special. Of course there are problems and difficulties in life, but when we allow God's Word, His voice of love, His assurance of acceptance to flow in us and overwhelm us, then we can look all these in the face boldly and yet still stand firm, living the real abundant live which Jesus came to give to us.
10:43 PM
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Monday, September 07, 2009
Insecurity and pride??
Finally get down to blogging again =P
I have to admit that maintaining a blog and writing regularly does require strict discipline, constantly taking time off to observe and reflect, processing lessons learnt in life, etc. And I guess the many months of not writing for assignments had somehow stagnate the flow of thoughts and inspiration ... LOL. Well, not to forget another reason which is the "pressure" I somehow feel when I know there are more and more (former lecturers, pastors, ministry staff from other churches and organizations) who come to know of my blog =P ... The reason this blog exist needs no further elaboration (read the side panels) and hence I guess when I wanted to write, I have to make sure that I don't pen down sentiments that might result in complains, whining and so on.
After so many years of absence from the Young Methodist Leaders' Retreat (YMLC), I finally had the chance to attend it again this year. It was a good conference which reminded me of many things, and the most important of which I believe most participants brought back were the exhortation about how we should be supportive leaders to the authority and leadership over us.
Over the few day's session which our TRAC President addressed us, he continually highlight and remind us of the need to be good #2 leaders as we support our #1 that directs and leads the ministry/organization/committee, etc. The 3 key points covered during the 3 sessions include the need to (1) learn what Subordination means - accepting God's timing in and for our ministries and not to touch the Lord's anointed by taking matters into our own hands, (2) being leaders with Substance so as to contribute effectively to the ministries we've been placed in, (3) seeking Satisfaction in the Lord even though we are not #1.
As I reflected on these points and the lessons learnt, I can safely conclude that usually when there's a power-play and infighting amidst leaders, the underlying problem can be credited to insecurity and pride in people.
Feelings of insecurity creep in when insecurity well up within us - when we begin to compare our effectiveness with that of others ... when we fail to have kingdom mentality and mindset ... when we long for more acceptance and recognition from men than God.
Pride is the other culprit, for pride rings constantly in our ears (especially through the praises of others) how good we are ... how effective we have been ... how well-liked we are by those we lead ...
If only everyone can learn to be content with their lot as God leads them in the different phases of life - but alas, the fall in Eden has spoilt it all. Yet insecurity and pride will not always have its glorious moments ... God's Word wins over all if we allow it to constantly remind us who we are, and whose we are, in Him and Him alone!
10:16 PM
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Complain or give thanks??
Well, I had written much about the very bad flu that hit me in the last two entries. At the same time, I had thought that I had fully recovered too - well, at least there's no more MC (aka no more rest days =P ), no more fever, no more irritating cough.
Interestingly however, I received a call from the hospital this very morning - telling me that they need me to visit the specialist clinic the very afternoon itself. The lady who called me said that something was actually spotted in my x-ray, as opposed to the all-clear given by the A&E doctor. Obediently, I went - well, at least for the sake of my health, for the sake of my family, and for the sake of hearing an alternative diagnosis from the specialist.
It turned out that it was the respiratory clinic that had called me to visit them, and the doctor in this clinic mentioned that there was actually traces of infection in my lungs in my last week's x-ray. He had me do another x-ray on the spot and compared the one taken today with the one that was taken last week. The lungs was much clearer by now, although there was still a tinge of infection shown. He sent me back with more anti-biotics and asked me to be back in 6 weeks time for another review.
I was particularly baffled at why I was given an all-clear and sent back when I visited the A&E last week, so I asked the doctor in the specialist clinic. Well, he didn't give a very satisfactory explanation, but I accepted it nonetheless and decide not to pursue anything any further. He merely said, "The infection is fairly hard to be spotted by someone who's not a specialist."
In this whole episode, I was asking myself if I would or could shoot a complaint about the "mis-disgnosis" that was given to me. However, on hind side, I thought instead of complaining, I should be giving thanks to God. Well, it was certainly not the most accurate disgnosis that was given to me, but what I was thankful for is that someone (a specialist) somehow came across my x-ray and noticed the trace of infection, and had me called back for further checks, and more medication, so as to ensure that the entire infection can be rid off. I wouldn't dare to imagine the consequence of how this infection can lead to something bigger in the future, if it is not treated on time now. And all I had instead of complains was really, really, from the bottom of my heart - thanksgiving to my Almighty and Healer God who knew what I needed, right at the very moment.
11:02 PM
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009
An unpleasant experience - part 2
Well, I thought what I had written previously signalled the end of my "H1N1" experience, until I had more "torturous" moments and battles with this stubborn virus.
Most of the time, we should be fine after seeing the GP for once, if not twice. This stubborn virus somehow simply refuse to let go and get out of my body. When my flu symptom and cough had shown improvement, I was plagued with fever the following 2 nights when I slept. I didn't exactly measure myself with the thermometer, but I knew the fever was fairly high - to the extent that I had to apply a towel onto my forehead.
Twin advised me to get a check-up at the hospital when I messaged her about my condition - she said from the looks of the symptoms, it could be bacteria pneumonia. WOW, this would be serious and bad - and can really become life-threatening if not treated on time.
Morning came and as a safety precaution, I called for an ambulance to send me to the hospital. I was prepared to be warded already but after an x-ray which shows my lungs clear of infection, the doctor sent me back home with more medication and MCs.
Looking back at the last 10 days, I really see the hand of God moving and protecting me from developing into a more serious and unthinkable condition. I saw the prayers from lots of friends and loved ones that had also been a shield around me. It was an unpleasant experience to begin with, but yet a "good" experience for me to be reminded of who my God is, and also to help me better identify with people and understand what they are going through when they are battling with agonizing ailments in their bodies.
I'm well and whole by the grace of God, and back to work afresh and anew!! Hallelujah! =)
1:52 PM
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Tuesday, August 04, 2009
An unpleasant experience =(
There has been a lot of talk about H1N1 and how it first infected many beginning from Mexico in April this year, and how it has slowly infiltrate the Asia region. Since June, little red dot has seen increasing number of cases, and had also issued out quarantine orders and stringent checks upon entry into hospitals.
When it has gone beyond tracing and records, all that we were asked to do is to act in a socially responsible manner in the consideration of other people's interest. Up till now, there had been 6 cases of death (5 cases are those with medical problems complicated further by this potent virus) and many more unrecorded cases that has recovered.
I wouldn't have known the potency of the virus if I haven't come into contact with one!
Last Friday, I woke up with a terrible sore throat and somewhat feverish feeling (to think that I was perfectly fine the day before). Interestingly, instead of self-medicating this time round, I decided to go to the doctor - partly also because I needed proper medication and medical certificate of absence. I was given some anti-biotics, cough mixture, panadol, flu tablets, etc. The doctor told me if I wasn't well in the next 24 or 48 hours, I have to come back and see her again, and she gave me 3 days MC, from Friday to Sunday.
To a certain extent, I was well on Saturday and part of Sunday, until I feel the cough (no cough before that) coming on around Sunday evening. The cough was so persistent that it kept me awake the entire night, even though I was physically really tired and needed the rest. I couldn't lie down because the phlegms would keep coming up and I would need to go to the washroom to spit it out - and it was almost immediate each time I lie down - until I lost count of the number of times I actually lie down and stood up ... The persistent cough made me really breathless and gasping for breathe - I couldn't sit and sleep because it was difficult to breath. Neither could I stand because it was equally uncomfortable. I didn't know how I got through the night but it was really God's grace that I made it through. I had the thought of calling an ambulance and sending myself to the hospital (sis is out of town and I have been keeping a distance from mum and my helper ever since Friday) but yet didn't want to alarm and shock my dear mother.
Morning came, and the first thing I did was quickly took one dosage of the medication and get a bit of sleep before going to the doctor. When I went into the consultation room, my doctor immediately commented that I really look bad - with all the coughing and wheezing in my respiratory system. She put me on Nebuliser to help me with my breathing. On top of that, she prescribed Tamiflu capsules for me. Well, I wasn't put through any test to determine whether I was H1N1 positive, but according to my doctor and from judging the potency of the virus, she said 99% chance that it was H1N1.
Well, the news didn't exactly shocked me, as I kind of suspected that this is not the normal kind of flu that attacked me - usually I would recover within 3 days, but this one lasted more than 3 days and got worse than before. I really thank God for my colleagues and friends who had been praying for me and God who had been watching over me, but this unpleasant experience made me feel so "distant" from my loved ones because I had to, for their sake and benefit. Mum kept saying there's no need for such moves, but I insisted because she falls under the "high-risk" category, I cannot take any risk for her sake. And with this virus infecting me, I had to be extremely alert that I disinfect every area I've been to, or anything I've used. I was also complaining to mum about the cost of the Tamiflu capsules - $56 for 10 pieces - but she reminded me that if it helped to cure me, I shouldn't be so bothered by the cost.
Sigh* isn't an experience I would want to go through but thank God for watching over me. I'm not exactly well yet, though I definitely felt better than yesterday. I know God is my Healer who would bring me to recovery and restoration!
9:45 PM
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Who gets the credit?
Every Tuesday is staff devotion day and today we had the privilege of having Dr Kofi from PI to share God's Word with us.
Dr Kofi highlighted 2 persons in the Bible who were contented with quietly working in the background, but who faithfully carry out the work of the Lord, and allowed Him to use them for His glory.
The first person is Shamgar - I guess very few, or perhaps none of us, have any clue about who this guy is. Precisely! Shamgar (Judges 3:31) is one of the judge mentioned in the book of Judges, and only 1 verse was written about him and what he did. We seemed to honor and highlight prominent judges like Gideon (with 3 chapters in the book of Judges written about him) or Samson (with 4 chapters), but those judges that are not so prominent are not highlighted at all. After all, they too share a part in delivering Israel from the hands of their enemies!!
Shamgar's name ironically means "stranger" and he did seem to be a stranger to all of us, and perhaps his own people after all he had done. He was a farmer working in Israel and all he had then was an oxgoad - which was something that was used to control oxen when they stray. With what he had in his hand, he killed 600 Philistines - one by one, one at a time.
The second person is Andrew, the brother of the apostle Peter. John 1:40-42 describes how Andrew introduced Jesus to Peter. In fact, without this incident, there won't be the existence of the apostle Peter. Although Andrew and Peter were siblings, but their personality were almost total opposites! Andrew was solid, prudent and steady whereas Peter was impulsive and reactive. The mention of Andrew occurs 13x in the NT, and on 3 occasions when it was mentioned, Andrew was always doing something - bringing people to Jesus. He was the first to believe in Jesus, the first to begin mission and evangelism from where he was (ie. bringing Peter to Christ). The second occasion records how Andrew brought the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fishes (John 6:1-13) and the third was when Andrew brought some Greeks to Jesus (John 12:22).
Interestingly, in John 12:22, Philip was the one who brought the Greeks to Andrew, who in turn introduced them to Jesus. Why did Philip not bring the Greeks to Peter? Perhaps Philip knew that Peter's response would perhaps be to brush aside the importance of these Greeks, and the place that Gentiles have in the kingdom of God. Not so with Andrew - whether he knew how God regarded the Gentiles or not, he did what he felt he needed to - simply bringing them to Jesus as they had requested. Andrew does have the art of quietly bringing people to Jesus' feet, doesn't he?
Notice also that whenever Andrew was mentioned, it was usually in connection to "Simon Peter's brother". While Peter was in the inner circle of Christ, Andrew wasn't; and whenever his name was mentioned, it was in reference to his brother. Yet all this matters not to Andrew, who faithfully labor and gets the job done. For him, as long as the job gets done, it matters not who gets the credit! Indeed, Andrew labored privately so that Peter can preach publicly!
From the lives of these 2 persons, we can safely conclude how God delights in using ordinary people with ordinary things for His own glory and purpose. We may forget the contributions of these insignificant persons but God remembers and God honors them!! Praise be to God!
9:44 PM
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Monday, July 13, 2009
In the face of adversity
One person I held with great respect is Dr William Tan, a medical doctor, charity fund-raiser and wheelchair marathoner (Refer ST's interview with him dated 12 July, 2009). Nope, I don't know this man personally, but reading about his determination in overcoming all obstacles that came his way and his passion in fund raising for those more unfortunate than him just makes me respect him from the bottom of my heart.
In his interview with ST, he related honestly how he wrestled with denial when being told that he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. When he finally knew that there was no escape in confronting the truth, he embraced it bravely. And I quote the words he said during the interview, "I told myself, it's perfectly okay to have cancer. Others do too. I will be a stronger person, a better doctor, because I have crossed the bridge. When I help my patients, I can tell them I've been there before."
I'm not sure if he is a believer, but his outlook of life despite his handicap just encourages and amazes me. Not many people can stand these kind of tests of life in such a positive manner and with such strength.
During the course of my Christian life, I've heard many who were strong believers in the Lord, and some were even fervent ministers of His, falling away and backsliding. Such news always sadden my heart, more so if I knew the person and had seen his or her vibrancy resonate in the lives of those they had touched.
Very often, I asked myself the question, "How can such a fervent believer and minister of the Lord fall away?? ... What caused it?? How did all these happen??" ... I guess perhaps one of the reason, besides the human pride found in each one of us, is the disappointment we chose to wallow in when misunderstood or let down by fellow believers. As a result, we turn these disappointments to God also, and began to doubt His goodness about why He allowed some of these painful experiences to happen in our life. Human disappointment transformed into anger towards God, and by and by, we felt that the God whom we professed to experience and believed in seemed to also be a heartless one.
Comparatively, believers of the Lord seemed to be so much more "fragile" as compared to many non-believers who stood the test of life and who fought with determination to overcome their problems. Why have we become so frail when we are actually called to be strong, for even in our times of weakness, God is our strength.
What has gone wrong? During our times of adversity, how can we be sure that we can still stand with strong faith in God and stood through the difficult and painful experiences unscathed? I wonder ... I ponder ... and I continue to pray ...
2:50 PM
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Sunday, July 12, 2009
Great is Thy faithfulness!
My Church celebrates its 77th anniversary today, and instead "Great is Thy faithfulness" resound loud and clear!
I know there are many churches who are older than my church, but still these past 77 years was truly a gift and opportunity given by the Lord to my church to stand as a witness and testimony for Him.
With my limited knowledge from the time I attended this church till now, I've truly seen the hand of God at hand - both within and without.
In the year 1996, we relocated to the school for our Sunday services while the church was being rebuilt, in part to give way to the MRT line/flyer that would cut through part of the land the church owned. During the time when the church leadership negotiated with the government, God's hand was there with us and He blessed us with reasonable "compensation" from the government for the land they acquired from us. Even during a time when finances were tight, pledges streamed in and when we dedicated our new church building 2 years or so later, all the loans were paid for and we were debt free!
God has already blessed my church with very good pastors - those who preached well ... those who shepherd well ... those who counseled well ... those who just have the heart for Him and His people - servants who are truly after His very own heartbeat.
It was also the vision and passion of the pastors that the church began to be more outward looking, inward of being just so occupied and full of ourselves. We began outreach programs - to the residents in our neighbourhood, as well as blessing the nations with finances and personnel whose heart beat with the Lord's in His concern for the lost.
I guess if I want to continue to write on, there will be more, but 77 years isn't a short time, although it's not considered a long one too. But one lesson rings loud and clear is the faithfulness and testimony of God's love and faithfulness. Have you experienced this faithfulness of my God? I pray that you will ...
2:33 PM
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Monday, July 06, 2009
Are you a wise or foolish builder?
Preached my 2nd sermon at the youth service today (the first was during my field education attachment during my final semester =) ... Well, the feedback received has been positive and encouraging - thanks all =) ... One of the feedback received, however, was that I had been a bit too fast during the delivery - in the aspects of moving on from slides to slides =P ... As a result, many of the youths who were trying to copy down notes from the slides could not jot down everything in time. Hence, I thought what I'll do is to summarize the notes here in this blog so that anyone who's keen may access it at any point in time =)
Firstly, the video clip that was shown with the tune quite stucked in many heads after the sermon ... lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJ0L6DftGg&feature=related
A summary of the points covered during sermon (Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49):-
The similarity between the houses and the builders
- Externally there are no apparent difference between the houses
- The function of both would not have been significantly different from each other under normal circumstances
- On the surface, both sets of builders also appear similar
- Both are persons who pursue religious things
- Both sets of builders heard the same things taught by the Teacher
- Both sets of builders did something – both built houses
- The only difference was that one was willing to sweat it out more and take the harder route, and as a result grew deeper and stronger … whereas the other one was contended with merely skimming the superficial – as long as something is done.
So what was the difference that made the DIFFERENCE?
- The foolish builders planned only for the present, and for fair weather.
- He neglected the need and the importance of a safe and secure foundation.
- There was perhaps complacency and pride in their attitude, thinking that the little efforts put in would be enough to help counter the effects that trials bring
- ATTITUDE makes a great deal of difference, and decides for us whether we will become the wise builder or the foolish builder.
Why build on rocks? How does building on rocks benefit us?
- Jesus encouraged his audience to be wise builders – building on rocks than on sand.
- Rocks are hard, firm and solid.
- Sand, on the other hand, appears to be firm and solid during fair weather, but is actually fragile and undependable during times of storms and floods. Try recalling the times when you see sea water gushes in and the effects the water has on seemingly magnificient and sturdy sand castles
4 benefits of building on rocks
Helps us to:-
- be Rich, spiritually (we not only have resources, we will even have reserves!!)
- Orientate our life clearly and properly (because we know who we are and whose we are)
- Counter Satan’s attacks successfully (he knows God's Word too so shouldn't we all the more?)
- to Keep our faith when troubles comes (we know testing comes not because God loves us any lesser)
On the other hand, buildings on sand will sink make us when turbulent times come …
On SAND, we will become:-
- easily Suspicious about God and His goodness
- begin to find Alternatives and believe in our feelings rather than God
- become cultivators of Negative feelings
- and as a result, we become Disillusioned with who God is and His goodness
While the foundation you lay your house on is important, the material that is put in plays an equally important role. Houses that are built on rocks will also need quality material so that there can be a good complement between the foundation laid and the material used, and the house can function for the right purpose of protection.
How then should we build?
Luke 6:47-49 tells us we need to DUG DEEP (meaning, be willing to spend time with God, digging His Word, uncovering the treasures - use EZRA as an example =) ... and we also need to lay your foundation on the right material – Jesus Christ! And this means (1) having a knowledge of Jesus Christ’s character, person, offices, and work, (2) means rejecting all other things as a basis for hope, (3) depending solely on Jesus for pardon, acceptance and eternal life.
When we build our lives on Christ the Rock, it means that we have to actively believe, confirm and obey His authority – not simply hearing what He says but DOING what He desires.
To build on the rock takes time, and it requires hard work – are you willing to invest this time that will prove more lasting than shoddy pieces of work?
Your choice, your decision – wise or foolish?
What kind of builders do you want to be? The wise one who builds on the rock, or the foolish ones who builds on the sand?
When Jesus used the words, “wise man” and “foolish man” (in Matthew), He was not referring to wisdom that is measured by the world’s standards (straight "A"s ... successful career ... wise investment plans, etc). That would be “intelligence”, rather than wisdom.
Matthew identifies the hearer who acts upon what he hears as "wise" (phronimos in Greek) – and this is someone with practical skill or a cautious character. Wisdom therefore, does not come from simply knowing and understanding the Bible, but by acting upon that knowledge in everyday life.
The wise man HEARS, PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE, and hence he is able to stand the rains that came down (false lies that attack our minds) … streams that rose (stresses of life) … and winds that blew and beat against the house (loud voices from the world that keeps bombarding us). To claim to believe and yet continue to act as before is foolishness; and the fool’s house - his or her very life – will be utterly destroyed in the storms and floods of life.
Jesus ended His Sermon on the Mount by challenging His audience to be wise builders – how about us – me and you? Are we going to be the ones that call, “Lord, Lord” and yet people whom Jesus knew not, or are we going to be people who truly act on the Living Word of God (James 1:22-25)?
Lord, give us all a heart that seek after You - not merely contented with head knowledge, but knowledge that transforms into living testimonies that glorify Your Name, allowing others to see You IN AND THROUGH us. Amen.
10:49 AM
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Saturday, July 04, 2009
Move on and learn what's needed
Well, for those who read the Chinese papers, it won't be a surprise for you to know that something has happened to a student of this school that the church has affiliation with (Note: for those who are not familiar with the rules of this blog - I try my best not to quote names whether it be friends, organizations, etc, if I think that by quoting them will not be helpful to situations or what I'm writing =).
A few students came by during their breaks days after the incident happened and was talking about it. From what they said, I understood that there seemed to be 4 different versions concerning what happened. Whichever version anyone of us subscribe to, I told the girls that the most important thing now is NOT to be a detective to find out what actually happened (that's the job of the police), but to ask ourselves what we can learn from this lesson, and how we can move on from here.
Two lessons I would like to encourage the girls to learn:-
1) Cherish your friends around you - be nice and gracious to each one of them, even if they appear "different" or clash with your character and personality in your dealings with them.
2) Cherish your life because there's only one life.
Regrets are inevitable in our lives, let's learn to live our life to the fullest that we won;t find ourselves always, or often, consumed by regrets.
10:28 PM
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Friday, July 03, 2009
Back to work!!
July finally came, and the break much needed finally ended =) It's back to work on 1st July, with the church youth ministry department. Our office is based in the school so it's kind of dejavu (like what twin says) going back. Met many ex-colleagues which now becomes my colleagues again, haha =)
Well, just 3 days of work and there's already much to do - of course, clearing my table to ensure I have a proper work station was first and foremost when I stepped into the office. Then I was assigned to one of the class during the regular Wed. session that they had, since large scale assemblies was discouraged by the MOE. And of course, the next thing I began to work on was this coming Sunday's sermon, an assignment I received on this very first day itself =)
Had been working on my sermon since and had completed, with wisdom from the Lord. My only prayer is that He will use what has been prepared and use me as His mouthpiece to speak for His glory!
Just 3 days and I'm feeling the joy of ministry again - I guess sometimes we just need to get away from the familiar to appreciate the familiar, isn't it? The break away to study was good, and it does make me learn new things and refresh me once again to serve the Lord in His ministry.
May my life continue to be used mightily by Him for His glory and honor alone! Amen.
9:51 PM
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Things "accomplished" during this break
Woohoo!! Time again fly past without us really realizing the speed of it!! The last I blog was 31st May, haha. Time to clear the cobwebs a bit I guess ...
Well, many people have been asking me what I have been doing since graduation - since I have a month and a half before I officially begin work. Thought I might as well blog it down so that (1) you can read about it, (2) it can jolt my memory now and then about the things I've "accomplished" during this break, or in other words, when I was just slacking around ... lol
(1) I had a great time catching up with people I've not met for a while, or have not caught up for a while. I walked the Ridges twice with twin, visited Museum with Mag, took godsons to movie, had tea with Leng & Winnie, had dinner with pal & Annabel, and a few occasions where I brought mum out for meals (usually we eat at home - more so when hard pressed for time and assignment deadlines ...)
(2) Did a bit of shopping - well, not because of the GSS - but more window shopping than anything. The most important thing I did, I guess, was to make new specs and contact lenses =) ... I remember how I had to strain my eyes to read and focus on some things before the new ones arrived, haha =)
(3) Watched a couple of DVDs - the luxury I've forgotten for a long while - the feeling of just lazing in the couch, clicking the remote, snacking, and watching what's played in front of you =)
(4) Packing and clearing - files, emails, databases in my computers, notes, etc. WOW, never know all these can be so time-consuming.
(5) Attended official meetings in an unofficial capacity ... haha
(6) Miscellaneous - service my car, brought my mum for medical checks, did a bit of reading ... and finally
(7) PLAY!! ... lol, can't be more relaxed than I would want.
So, if you ask me if I had a good break, I would say "YES!!" It was a much needed one, a leisure one, and a "luxurious" one.
9:41 PM
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
A walk ... and the healing ...
I finally got down to walking the 9km Southern Ridges yesterday =)
Ever since the Southern Ridges opened, I've been yearning to find someone that is like-minded and whose company I enjoy to take the leisure walk. After so many months of talking about it, sharing the idea with some friends over coffee, missing one great opportunity during the Graduation Retreat because the weather was so hot ... I FINALLY GET DOWN TO DOING IT!!! =)
Twin and me met early in the morning (well, not exactly early lah, like 8.30am??) and started off our adventure. Well, actually, we kind of "cheated" (haha) coz we met at the end point, parked one car there, and took the other car and drove to the starting point =) This genius plan was to ensure we aren't too tired to walk further to take public transport, and of course, not to stink the entire bus or train that we took after our sweaty walk =)
Although the entire trail was 9km, yet walking with someone whose company you enjoy, the walk did not seemed tiring or long at all. Throughout the walk, twin and me walked, rested, chatted, took pictures here and there. It was a great catching up session with her.
Towards the end of the trail, probably about 1/3 of it left, from Hort Park back to Kent Ridge, my left leg started to feel some pain. I did not know if it's muscle ache or a torn ligament, or a bad strain - all I knew was I was walking with a slight limp because I had to put more weight on my right hand, and literally dragging my left foot along. The one thought that I had at the time was, "Oh gosh, I am scheduled to lead worship for church service the next day ... how am I going to lead with such a limp??"
Despite of the pain, God saw me through the rest of the walk, with the pain and the limp. After a simple lunch, twin and me parted ways as I felt the need to be back home as early as I could to rest. The pain still somewhat persist during the entire evening.
When I woke up the next morning to get ready for church, I was totally surprised that the pain and the ache has gone off!! There wasn't any pain anymore!! I had muscle aches before, and usually they take about 2 days or more to recover and ease - so for this one to just go off in less than 24 hours, I was simply amazed and thankful - of course to the Great Healer and Physician! =) And needless to say, you knew the rest of the story - I went to church, lead worship, as normal as I had felt =)
Praise God for the time to walk and smell the freshness of the air and see His creation ... thank God for the special time He made for me and twin to fellowship in His presence ... and glory be to God for the healing!
3:39 PM
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
Time is like a river
Got this from a friend and was encouraged, reminded and inspired by the words. Posted it on my FB page but in case you did not have a FB account, I hope by visiting this blog, you'll be blessed by the following words too ... =)
The four blessed looks:
- Look back and thank God
- Look forward and trust God
- Look around and serve God
- Look within and find God!
"I asked God, 'How do I get the best out of life?'
God said, 'Face your past without regrets. Handle your present with confidence. And prepare for the future without fear!' "
Without God, our week is:
- Mournday
- Tearsday
- Wasteday
- Thirstday
- Fightday
- Shatterday and
- Sinday
So, allow Him to be with you every day!
Time is like a river. You cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again... Enjoy every moment of life.
Ephesians 5:15-16
"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
11:33 PM
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Saturday, May 23, 2009
In memory of a fighter
An auntie, who's the mother of my former Sunday school student, a lady whom I've known for many years - better than acquaintance but not that well, passed on to glory on 18 May.
She was a really a woman of great strength - she was widowed when her children were still fairly young, yet she grit her teeth and brought them up very well. She was one ardent supporter of the Sunday School - we teachers never fail to feel encouraged whenever she speaks to us. She was just so unlike many parents that we used to encounter - storming up to us in anger when we exceeded a little our dismissal time because we just have to complete what we were teaching.
Despite the fact that she was in ill health - lung cancer (umm... if I didn't missed up my facts =P ) that later also affected her liver, she travelled as regularly as she can from the west of the island to the church, which is in the north-east. She didn't have the luxury of being driven, so her only mode of transport was what the public transport system could offer. Even though she was in ill health, yet she never despair, but fought on, struggled to live, trusted in God, and her cheery spirit and optimistic outlook encouraged so many around her. Often we who are in good health complain, grumble and lament, yet whenever we speak to her, she never once does the same. She always say, "God is good!" and she said it with much affirmation and conviction.
Now she has gone home to be with the Lord, but I'm certain that her praises and songs to the Lord continues on as she rests in His presence. She might not be a famous person per se, but her simplicity and life of faith has indeed touched, encouraged and inspired many around her. I thank God for her.
10:41 AM
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
A degree I can finally call my own!!
I seemed to be studying and going for more certificates ever since getting my first Diploma. But every one I went for was dip, dip and more dip. At the interview with my pastors, my PIC commented, "WOW, you had so many diplomas ... diploma in Electronic Engineering, diploma in Quality Management, and diploma in Management Studies". Haha, yup, he's right - I do have many diplomas, but somehow I just couldn't pluck up the courage to go for a degree - in a way, it was some myth that I chose to believe in that getting a degree is not an easy feat, and it's perhaps something my confident level isn't up to as yet.
Because of the need in ministry, pal, A and I had to register with the seminary some 6 years ago. We began as occasional student - taking one module at a time, while working in our ministry with the students in school. A was the first amongst us to decide to convert her occasional student status into full-time studies, while pal and I remain as occasional students and plod on slowly. It was later when pal and I met our classmates (we were part-timers with full-time job then) that we contemplated seriously and prayed about coming on board full-time for the next 2 years - partly also to get our studies over and done with. So when we finally received the conferment of the degree during yesterday's graduation service, we hugged each other for so long and said, "We finally made it!!!" ... and I just couldn't hold back the tears any longer that "Yes, we finally made it, and it wasn't an easy journey. Yet we were thankful to the Lord for giving us each other, to cheer, encourage and support each other in this journey of faith."
Dip, dip, dip ... finally it's dip, dip, dip, degree!! =)
4:52 PM
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Monday, May 04, 2009
Toast to a friendship
Throughout all these years, I've made many many friends, and some became my really close friends and those I share very honest thoughts and feelings with. One person that I became more appreciative of is pal, especially when we began taking courses in seminary together since 2001.
Pal and I met at an interview when we applied to be Christian Ministry Staff in the Methodist school - that was in April 2000. Our interview slots were one after the other, and while waiting for our turns, we began to chat very casually. It didn't occur to me that we will become very good friends then ... =)
Later on, both of us were accepted into the ministry but we worked in different schools, so the only time we met up was during our once a month school ministry meeting. Again, it was just mere acquaintance between us.
I guess our friendship really took off when we decided to enroll for seminary courses together, beginning as an occasional student, taking one module at a time, while still working in the school ministry. We took our day off from school for this purpose, and since the first class, we began to register for the same courses so that we can help one another in our studies and to cheer each other on. Around the same time in the year 2001 or 2002, pal went through very difficult times and was hoping to be able to share her feelings with someone. I remember us sitting together in the plane to Bali, where we had our annual school ministry staff retreat - that was when she began to open up to me and share really honest thoughts with me. Since then, we became friends that can talk about anything, and share about everything.
One reason we appreciated each other so much is that we have a common understanding that besides each other, we have other friends too. So while we want to spend time cultivating our friendships, we know that when we are unable to, it doesn't mean rejection on the part of the other. We've also been able to share honest thoughts and feelings with each other (very often, ungodly and unchristian thoughts) because we know we simply need to ventilate. Yet the most wonderful thing is that we don't perceive each other with judgmental attitudes, asking within ourselves, "how come she's like that? or how can she entertain such thoughts?" ... we know that deep down we still love God dearly and wants to obey Him in every way we can, and our honest sharings are just reflective of our very human emotions and responses.
Pal and I can be so forthright with each other that we can simply tell each other, "I don't like this thing you did to me ... or I don't appreciate this thing or that." We can also call each other in any time of the day simply to ask, "how's your day?" ... and we know that when we can't talk during those moments and tell the other partly so honestly, it didn't mean "I don't like to receive your call" .. or any kind of rejection.
I cherished the times when we went places together, study together, agonize together, talk nonsense together. This is certainly one very very good friendship God has blessed me with, and we both hope that this friendship will not end with our less frequent meeting as our college life comes to a close. Pal is one person I'll definitely make time to talk and meet, despite having other new friends and commitment that will come along my way in the future.
Thank you Lord for blessing me with this wonderful friendship, and a toast to me, my dear friend and pal!
12:33 PM
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Saturday, May 02, 2009
A fine couple and godly example
I attended 4th uncle's 80th birthday celebration and his/4th aunt's 50th wedding anniversary celebration dinner with my mum. It was a simple affair yet I had a great time as I gave thanks for what I've witnessed and saw.
Well, to begin with, my family cannot be considered to be very close to all my relatives - we do keep in touch, and there's visitation to each other once in a while during festive seasons, etc. The knowledge I had of my maternal 4th uncle and aunt is that they are also such a happy couple, and a very gentle pair too, who will always look out for each other and support one another.
From the little I knew, mum told me 4th uncle loved my 4th aunt so much that he wanted to marry her, but because she is a Christian, she stated her condition that she will only agree to the marriage if he converts to Christianity, which he did. And their godly family tale begins ...
The couple has 4 children - 2 boys and 2 girls - and all of them are of very fine character. Even the grandchildren are brought up very well. It was such a touching moment when my uncle/aunt's son-in-law prayed for them before the dinner began. He testified to the godly examples they show to their children and the fine manner they brought up their kids. Later on, the grandchildren also presented song items which echoes how God and love simply is the hallmark that built this family, which later sprout forth subsequent generations, rooted in the faith and love of God.
It was a simple affair, a simple celebration, but that few hours spent at the dinner simply encouraged and lifted my spirit as I gave thanks to the Lord for this fine couple and godly example. Never in my life have I seen my 4th uncle or aunt flare up or react in moments of anger. They simply has that x-factor and charisma that draws people to the Lord, because they are rooted firmly in the Lord and the Lord could blaze and shine through them =) PTL!
12:23 PM
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thanksgiving
Before I enter seminary years ago, I often find myself asking, "How is God going to provide for my finances when I quit my job and be a full-time student? ... How is my life going to be sustained by the minimal support that I'm getting? ... How is God going to see me through the years of studies - physically, mentally, spiritually, socially, etc?"
I've heard of many testimonies about how God provided and supply when one respond in faith and obedience to His call. But it was difficult for me to understand how what they had experienced could be true for me.
Now, at the end of the 2 years from when I quitted from my job and became a full-time student again, I can only stand to testify that all my worries are truly unfounded. God is a God who not only supplies, but a God who provided all that I needed and saw me through these few years of seminary life.
God supplied all my needs - yes, and I echoed a loud "amen" to Philippians 4:19 which reads, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." It's amazing how God supplies and provides - through the church, through friends, through family members. I remember one occasion that a ministry staff passed an envelope to me and said, "someone wanted me to give this to you but the person would like to remain anonymous". I opened the envelope and found some cash, of which I was really thankful for in those moments of need. God did not simply just supply finances, he also watched over my household, such that I can concentrate on my studies and not worry over family members falling ill, etc.
Going back to become a full-time student after so many years also left me worried about the ability to cope with the demands of studies, manage and balance my time, etc. Yet God again proved Himself so faithful as He constantly reminds me of 2 Corinthians 12:9a "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." " What a testimony even as I stand before Him now to give thanks for all that He has done all these years. I often wonder how I can complete the readings ... the assignments ... how I can have creative ideas for presentation ... preaching assignment ... planning for chapel, etc - yet God again proved Himself so faithful in seeing me through all these tasks, providing me with His wisdom and seeing me through stressful moments by His gentle guiding hand and grace.
Well, these 2 lessons aren't the only ones I've learnt. The most important one is the one which I believed echoes the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
I've often thought that the people I'll learn the most from are those who are intelligent, brilliant, smart, knowledgable, etc - but I'm proven wrong!! In fact, the people I've learnt the most from, and humbled by, are those which Paul has written - the foolish things, the weak things, the lowly things (to be used figuratively and metaphorically). Through a couple of my classmates, I've learnt to be humble as I see them plodding on slowly and patiently - they might not be the brightest in the class, but their humbility to learn and to be corrected just puts me to shame - in contrast to my sometimes pride and arrogance in thinking that "I know a lot".
I'm also encouraged by some classmates who are courageous enough to explore, ask the most simplest and innocent questions - well, maybe those are the ones they are struggling with, but in actual fact, it takes a great deal of courage to ask those questions, and sometimes risk appearing like a fool. Yet through their courage I've learnt the simplicity of faith and childlike innocence as we seek the Lord.
Looking back, I'm simply just filled with amazement and thanksgiving. What can I say except to echo the words of the song "my tribute" .... "How can I say thanks, for the things You have done for me." ... and truly to God alone be the glory!! Praise the Lord!!
11:51 AM
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Discoveries
WOW!! Time passes really so quickly ... it's been more than a month since I last blog!!! Haha, the longest silence ever for me since this blog began =)
Well, I guess being in the last lap of college life just leaves me with very little strength, energy and motivation to write for the blog - more so, when my mind seemed to always be cluttered with things I need to read, assignments that are due, papers I need to write, etc, etc. My only destressor during those times were playing with my little pet on Facebook =P
Anyway, since I've handed up my final 2 papers and is light as a feather now, I thought I'll write a little something about what I've discovered about myself during these 3 years (in fact, more, if I want to include those years as occasional student) of student life:-
1) I hate exams and quizzes - they made me study like mad, and squeezed my brain juice until they are all dried. But then, the amazing thing is that I actually fare much better comparatively in exams and quizzes, than in papers ... with a few perfect score records, and those close to perfect =)
2) Studying is actually fun and enjoyable, but I realized I don't enjoy it when I'm doing it under pressure, or for the sake of deadlines and assignments. The readings done these years had opened my mind and equipped me better definitely, but because I'm reading not so much for understanding, but for the purpose of writing, it became a chore, and I quickly forget what I read after what's done is done =(
3) I am still a person who can take pressure or work under pressure, but pressure just makes me cranky, as usual - so I haven't changed in this =P
4) I realized I have the potential of a hermit!!! Imagine the past few years with really minimal TV program - COOL!! I didn't know how I did it!!! Haha ... the only programs that can hook me are good soap operas from TVB, or occasionally the local channels =)
5) I'm a very task person - still am, so when I need to complete some assignments and work, I can practically shut the whole world and everyone else behind me. Not good ... and my family knows it best. This is also one of my greatest regrets in these few years ... =( but I've learnt and will be more careful from now on when pressure and deadlines hit me.
6) I'm amazed at my very own courage to tell the college chaplain, "I would like to try and be the interpreter for sermons ... in Mandarin". Well, I guess the best place to learn is when I'm in college and the best opportunities ever. Thus far, I think I've done about 5 interpretations, and I've benefitted and learnt from all of them. Most thankfully is the very fact that those I work with makes serving in this way a joy =)
7) Extension of deadlines for assignments - as far as I can remember, only once. I'm not someone who would take advantage of extended deadlines, for I believe that time management is one aspects ministers of God need to learn. Hence, the very time I asked for extension was one "agonizing" moment ... =(
8) I've never stayed in hospital or undergone any surgery but during my 2nd year 1st semester, I had a bad fall at home and broke my elbow - had to be warded for 3 days and underwent the very first surgery in my life. Sigh* not a good experience at all, not to mention the ugly scar the operation left me. But throughout the recovery period, I received many gestures of love and care - from family, classmates, friends. And I thank God for them all.
9) My favourite reading spot is not in the college library - in fact, I get very distracted working in the library because of all the movement up and down, here and there. Therefore home is my best working corner, and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's (at Rail Mall) comfy sofa became my favourite reading spot - I could just order a coffee and sit down to read for hours.
So ... it's not just a journey of reading and learning, but also one where I discover more about who I am =)
Will try and write more regularly in the days to come ... need to attune back to the "normal" life =) ... life that is "stress-free", umm... where assignments and readings are concerned that is. Think what I've written can be more coherent and tighter, and I definitely hope to be able to be more observant and reflective like I used to be =)
6:28 PM
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A stray kitten and his mum ...
I haven't had time to write regularly these days as I'm really up to my neck clearing all my readings and assignments =( But something happened today which made me want to pen it down in words, yet I write with a very heavy heart ...
There was a stray kitten with his mum outside my house and we rescued him from near death on 2 occasions - once was during Christmas season last year when him got trapped inside the drain of my neighbor's house. Wonder how he sneaked in and yet failed to escape out. It was raining really heavily then and the poor kitten was soaked to his skin - I guess he was soaked for hours in that big downpour as my neighbour totally ignored his wailing. Somehow, we managed to trace the location of the wailing and sought permission from my neighbour and freed him from further trauma. We took him back home (his mum was also calling out for him in an attempt to search for her little baby) and fed him with some warm milk before releasing him back to his mum.
The second occasion was a similar one to the first. But after 2 attempts to rescue him, he just couldn't seemed to escape his fate of a short-lived life. He was knocked down by a car just metres outside my house today and we happened to spot it lying in the middle of the road though we did not see what actually happened. We quickly ran to the road and checked on him, and also to prevent oncoming cars from crushing over him to prevent further tragedy. As we brought him back home to check on his wounds, thinking that he could have hurt his limbs and we could just stop the bleeding and bring him to the vet, we realized that his injury was worse than we had thought. His limbs seemed to be fine, but blood was oozing out from his ears - and we guessed he had been hit on the head and caused injury to his skull. His body began to lose its warmth as well and we finally decided that he's gone. The decision next is to decide what to do with his body - if we throw it into the bin, the garbage truck that come and pick up our rubbish will just squash him as they did to all the rubbish to create space for all those huge chunks of collection. We decide that we should just bury him in the open field nearby our house and that we did. An animal does have dignity too, doesn't it? And the least we could do is to give him some dignity even as he lay to rest.
What followed was really heart-breaking ... we could hear his mum calling out for him, and it really pains our heart. How would she ever know that her baby would not come back anymore to her? How would she know that the little one that snuggle with her is no more? At that moment, I wished I could speak cat language and communicate the sad news to her ... Sigh*
Even as I thought about the whole incident and how this little kitty's mum searched and called for him, I see a parallel to how God called out for each one of us too ... He patiently seek for us, call for us, and wait for us - all because of His love. Yet very often, we choose to stray away from Him. Our fate could be similar to that little kitty if we choose to stray further and further away from God, and it would definitely create a heart-breaking feeling in God our Father when He sees our lives being destroyed in ways we could have prevented if we seek refuge under His wings.
God came, God spoke our language, God was there - what are we waiting for?
8:39 PM
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Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's special (2)
Extracted from Feb 13 devotion, in "Experiencing God day-by-day" by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
"Love assumes the best
1 Cor 13:7 "Love ... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Love has no limits. Love never says, "You've gone too far. I can't love you now." "All things" means everything is included. Christlike love leaves no doubt in the mind of another that you will continue to love steadfastly. Do those close to you know that they can fail and do foolish things, yet you will not falter in your love for them? Are others assured that, even when they hurt you, you still love them, holding nothing against them?
Love assumes the best about others. If someone inadvertently offends you, you choose to believe the offense was unintentional. If someone seeks to harm you, you "bear all things", forgiving unconditionally. If a positive light can be shed on a difficult encounter, you grasp it. If someone continually provokes you, you "endure all things." You never lose hope in the ones you love. You practice the same unconditional love toward others that Christ gives to you.
Paul said that he was nothing if he had the faith to move mountains, the tongue of an angel, and the gift of prophecy to understand all mysteries, yet did not have God's love. It is unacceptable to say, "Well, I just can't love people that way!" When God loves people through you, this is the only kind of love He has! Read 1 Corinthians 13 with gratitude that God has already expressed this complete and selfless love to you. Pray and ask Him to express it through you now, to others."
Happy valentine - to all my friends, family and loved ones. If you had not known, valentine is not a time only for couples and lovers - it is a time to establish that ties once again with friends. Love as God loves - it is humanly impossible to do it by ourselves. Seek the Lord's strength that we may learn to show unconditional love to everyone around that He bring us to cross paths with.
6:10 PM
Posted by Giggle
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Valentine's special (1)
Extracted from Feb 14 devotion in "Experiencing God day-by-day" by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
"Hosea 3:1
"Then the Lord said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans".
No human can comprehend God's love for His children! Our limited experience of human love hinders us from understanding God's unconditional love for us. We can see a picture of this life in the life of Hosea.
Hosea was a righteous man, but God told him to marry a sinful woman. Hosea obeyed and took Gomer as his wife. He cherished her and treated her with dignity and respect. Never before had Gomer experienced this kind of love, but she soon grew dissatisfied. She began giving her affections to other men. She became so involved in adulterous pursuits that finally she abandoned Hosea altogether. Other men used her until she had nothing left to give. Then they sold her into slavery. After this, God have Hosea an amazing command: "Go and buy her back." Despite the intense pain and hurt that Gomer had inflicted on him, God told Hosea to forgive her and to pay any price to bring her back into his home.
God's message is clear: when we reject Him and turn our devotion elsewhere, our rejection carries the same pain as an adulterous betrayal. After all God has done for us, it is incomprehensible that we should reject Him. It is even harder to fathom that God could love us even after we have rejected, ignored, and disobeyed Him. Yet God's love is completely different from ours. His love follows us to the depths of our sinfulness until He has reclaimed us. His love is undaunted when we run from Him, and He continues to pursue us. What incredible love He has demonstrated to us!"
I hope that on this valentine day, it will be God's love that you will come to know and enjoy.
6:00 PM
Posted by Giggle
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Sunday, February 01, 2009
Fire-fighting
I've not been updating this blog as regularly as I hope to, especially in recalling and recounting wonderful lessons learnt that I can share here - for the glory of God alone. A lot of the posts were written all at one go and back-dated.
The rat race has caught up with me, or rather I find myself being caught in the rat race ... the race of completing one thing after another ... the race of keeping on track with the others ... There's just so much of fire-fighting to do that it never seemed to be ending. It is times like this that I find myself "lamenting" ... "24 hours is not enough ...", yet it is also times like this that I've reminded myself, "everyone is given the same amount of time - we just need to manage it well", and to do so, we definitely need wisdom from the Lord - when to rest, when to work, when to play, etc.
I don't enjoy all these fire-fighting moments ... neither do I think that this is the kind of life God wants me to live ... being pushed around by demands than managing them. Help me, Lord!
5:55 PM
Posted by Giggle
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Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Critique??
This semester we break into 3 groups for our Homiletics Class. Each group has about 8 persons and we hear each other preach and then comment and critique.
I guess for me, it has always been a challenge to do a critique, especially to be very objective about what I feel as I hear my classmate preach their message. I don't deny that sometimes the human element of biasness and judgement comes into play when one tries to be objective in assessment.
On a few occasions, I questioned myself if I was being objective enough, more so when in my woman's instinct, I felt that some of the comments I made seemed not to be well received by some individuals. I made it a point to check with the rest of my classmates in the group, and they assured me that I was the same in my tone, comments and opinion even when I critique them. They felt that the element of objectively was there - which was what I needed assurance about.
I suppose in the ministry, it will always be a challenge as well - how to be objective when you critique and comment - be it a project, be it an assignment, be it a message. After all, the purpose of doing all these is to offer a perspective that is perhaps a blindspot to the individual, in the hope that whatever that is constructive and useful can be used in the future to enhance the person's ministry or sharing.
Critique objectively - I'm still learning, and each time I need God's help to ensure that I don't rely overly on my human feelings and emotions, but to see what is before me as objectively as possible ...
5:48 PM
Posted by Giggle
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Friday, January 09, 2009
A new semester ... and the final lap
The new semester begins officially with the start of lectures on Monday 5th Jan. As this new semester begins, it also marks the beginning of our final lap here in seminary. I'm doing 5 modules this time round, though I need only 4 to graduate. On paper, the requirements for these 5 modules looks managable, yet coupled with all the other extra commitments (Council duties - can't wait for the handover!!! planning for our graduation dinner, etc) I'm beginning to be worried.
As I ponder about what I'm worrying about, perhaps the pressure was due to my perfectionist characteristic - that I want to do everything in the most perfect and excellent manner ... perhaps the fear was due to wondering if I can meet up with the expectation of myself and others ... Of course I'm well aware that with God by my side, and committing all concerns to Him, He can carry me through as He always did, but still humanly, the tasks ahead seemed daunting ...
11:19 AM
Posted by Giggle
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Monday, January 05, 2009
Ritual or relationship?
An extract from Henry T Blackaby and Richard Blackaby's "Experiencing God day-by-day" - Jan 5 devotion
"Jeremiah 2:6 "Neither did they say, "Where is the Lord, who b rought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness?" "
Christianity is an intimate, growing relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. It is not a set of doctrines to believe, habits to practice, or sins to avoid. Every activity God commands is intended to enhance His love relationship with His people.
God designed worship for us to see Him in His glory and to respond appropriately; for many it has degenerated into "religion", one more meeting to attend out of habit. God established the sacrificial system so that we, His peopl, could expess our love to Him; but we often dimish our gifts to our Lord into futile attempts to appease Him and to pacify our guilty conscience. God gave us prayer so we could have conversation with Him, but we often distort this by "saying prayers" and hurrying off without ever listening to what is on our Father's heart. God instituted His commandments as a protection for those He loves, but the commandments can become a pathway to legalism rather than an avenue for a relationship with our Father in which He protects us from harm.
Religious activity apart from fellowship with God is empty ritual. The people of Jeremiah's day were satisfied to have the ritual without the manifest presence of God. They became so comfortable with their "religion" that they didn't even notice God's absence. Is it possible to pray, to attend a worship service, or to give an offering yet not to experience the presence of God? It certainly is possible! And that has been the sad commentary on many a Christian experience. Don't settle for a religious life that lacks a vital relationship to Jesus Christ. When God is present, the difference will be obvious."
11:12 AM
Posted by Giggle
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