Giving thoughts, giving thanks

This year's Christmas is quite different from the rest. For one, this year's focus is more of outreach than celebratory. Hence, instead of bringing the usual 'is christmas about presents' punchlines, we brought the congregation to look inward and reflect on life and also what it means to live a meaningful life.

I think the recent skit not only prompted others to think but also to act. Through the characters in the skit, we may see a shadow ourselves. Did you identify yourself with any of the characters?
Personally, I have. I saw a shadow of my old self in the mathematician, one who is mostly driven by logic than feelings and adding to his task-oriented personality, you can say he is close to being a cyborg(half robot). And as I observed the optimistic girl, I thought perhaps there are situations where others need more practical help but we end up only saying words like 'don't worry so much'.

This Christmas season called me to take an exercise of faith to stretch it. I felt God asking me to think about what I can give and give. Hence, I ruminated about giving. It brought me to a story called A Giving Tree. A summary of the story goes like this.

The Giving Tree is a tale about a relationship between a young boy and a tree in a forest. The tree always provides the boy with what he wants: branches on which to swing, shade in which to sit, apples to eat, branches with which to build a home. As the boy grows older he requires more and more of the tree. The tree loves the boy very much and gives him anything he asks for. In the ultimate act of self-sacrifice, the tree lets the boy cut her down so the boy can build a boat in which he can sail. The boy leaves the tree, now a stump. Many years later, the boy, now an old man, returns and the tree says, "I have nothing left to give you." The boy replies, " I do not need much now, just a quiet place to sit and rest." The tree then says, "Good! A tree stump is a great place to do just that! Come boy, sit down and be happy." The boy obliged and the tree was happy.

Though this story has got little relation with Christianity, I know Christ also called us to devote our lives to love/serve others.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 john 3:16

As I read John Piper's Sermon about "He Who Sows Bountifully Will Reap Bountifully", God revealed to me that a heart which gives sparingly thinks not about the giving but actually the keeping. When we say 'spare my life', we want to keep it from God. But of course, God would want you to 'spare no effort' (which means hold back no effort) , not getting weary of doing good for His glory.

By God's grace, I actually formulated a concept from John Piper's sermon. It is simply packed into two words called give thanks. This phrase is pretty common isn't it? But when you meditate on the words and see what you get together, it is all pretty fascinating.

We look at the word give and think of God. Do we see God more as a giver or a taker? We know God gives and takes away but do you see him giving you more than He takes? Is loss not considered gain? God is definitely a giver and he blesses us abundantly. If it is a fact which does not change, then it makes Him a giver before and after our giving. This makes one wonder about the multiplier effect when I think about God's giving and how his giving enable us to give to others.

Now with what I have gathered,we look at the word thanks. It is a word of gratitude and I believe it is a godly attitude. When we want to thank God for things, we acknowledge that he gave (or take away) for divinely good purposes. We should thank God that he gave and continues to give us abundantly for every good work. We should thank God for the fact that it is more blessed to give than to recieve. And in the act of giving and thanking God, not only blessings will be multiplied but also that more will give thanks to Him.

And there you have it! I call this concept the give thanks cycle.
Let this post be a prompt to live a life which seeks God for who He is and gives thanks to Him.

A thrill of hope

Some time last week, I read the lyrics of the song O Holy Night. Then I stopped at this line.

"...A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices..."

Thrill: a sudden wave of keen emotion or excitement, sometimes manifested as a tremor or
tingling sensation passing through the body.

Yes. The savior's birth brought this thrill of hope! His presence caused an immediate and sudden change. There is none as influential as Him. And we rejoice today because back then the angels brought great tidings of joy which will be to all people.

But why was the world weary? Let's take a look at Matthew 11:28-29.

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Here Jesus gave an open invitation. To who? To those who are burdened by their spiritual bankruptcy and the weight of trying to save themselves by keeping the law.

Jesus came to fufill the law(Matt 5:17) and promised righteousness to everyone who believes(Romans 10:4). This meant that believing in Christ the Lord and Savior ends the sinner's futile quest for righteousness through his imperfect attempts to save himself by effort's to obey the law.

It is by God's grace, undeserved.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

今天从崇拜中所领悟到的一重点：

主耶稣真的很尊贵。（希1：1-4）

所以的确很难想象，撇下尊贵威严到底是何等一回事。

是超乎人的思考能力范围吧。。。

（我有时连为主撇下我舒服的单人床都不愿意）

What is Glory? What is Majesty?

What's more, What does it mean to put those down? From riches to rags...

嗨，人的弊病就是把宝贵的看为粪土，把粪土看为宝贵的。

提醒自己要时刻反省、咀爵耶稣荣耀的真理，从而更深体会他降卑的奥秘。

The significance of Adventus

Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming") is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus; in other words, the period immediately before Christmas.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure for the second coming of Christ.

It is a reminder to stop.
And remember that throughout life we are waiting for something big; something that requires our attention and preparation: the second coming of Christ.

May the Lord give us grace today for whatever that comes tomorrow.

等待……

忘了是谁曾经对我说：“等待是最美丽的浪费。”


想象当年
黑暗世界在哀哭与呻吟中等待救世主的出现
将罪污洗涤

活在今时
忠心子民在希望与应许中期盼主基督的再来
将万有归于
一


忘了是谁曾经对我说：“等待是最美丽的浪费。”


那天
我在他人手所筑的坑里呆了一阵子
发现
一块世人都瞧不起的木头

那天
祂在人手所筑的刑具上挂了一阵子
成就
一个超乎世人所能想象的奇迹
一条出路

这天
他已在坑里呆上好些日子
等待
一个我们都得付上的代价


忘了是谁曾经对我说：“等待是最美丽的浪费。”

Only Grace.

"Only grace from God can bear the weight of life."
- Peter Chao




We fight with grace, in the battle of living.

My Song is Love Unknown

I prefer its Chinese translation.

Words: Samuel Crossman (1664)
Music: Unknown

歌颂无比大爱
深奧奇妙难猜
加於冷酷之人
铁石心肠为开
主竟为我道成肉身
捐躯舍生苦杯独饮

主曾舍弃宝座
成全救恩为我
人不认识天父
竟将主恩错过
基督是我最好朋友
舍弃生命赎我愆尤!

有人以衣铺路
对主热烈拥护
前簇後拥高唱
和散拿归基督
竟又大声叫釘死衪
要把衪高悬在十架

人们如此恨主
究竟是何緣故
衪使跛者行走
又使盲者复睹
但这些人妬忌愤慨
同施毒計将衪谋害

我愿永远歌颂
主爱何等高崇
从无如此大爱
从无如此苦痛
因衪是我天朋良友
我愿歌唱赞美不休

"Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be."
My song is Love Unknown,
My life is Christ enthroned!

Above the canopy of stars surely a loving Father dwells

Two nights ago, I saw a whole sky full of stars. That's something I've never seen in Singapore. I believe Beethoven had seen it too.

Do you sense the Creator, world?
See Him above the canopy of stars!
Brothers! Brothers!
Above the canopy of stars surely a loving Father dwells.

-- Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D-Minor, Opus 125, "Choral"

I was reminded that it took a miracle from none other than the loving Heavenly Father, the Great Conductor of the celestial chimes, to put the stars in place.

He gave us direction and written a part for us to play. He gave us a reason to make music in the grand symphony of life that he has orchestrated. Let the Lord make beautiful music in and through our lives. =)

Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD. (Psalms 4:5)

Close Call

It’s kinda nice staying near church. As one of the Queens townfolk used to say, if the church needs extra hands, you’re just a few minutes away. Well, it was weird to be sitting in front of the terminal at home on a Wednesday night, though I was really looking forward to a quiet evening of work and a Sunday service where I could participate in corporate worship without a care.

Recently, I found singing in the worship ministry a tremendous means of grace, through which God draws me nearer to Him, shows and reminds me who He is, comforts and strengthens me. I have a persistent Martha problem, I think most of you already know – my hands are so busy, my mind is preoccupied and my heart prone to wander. Imagine my delight when I realized that the quietest moments of last week came during the weekend through serving in song, both in Shao Tuan and Hua2. So I didn’t hesitate when the ‘call of duty’ came last night.

Yes, I said DUTY.

Duty, not in the “I don’t want to, but if I must, I will do it” attitude but more like answering the compelling call within, to fulfill the purpose for which you were made. Both are obligations in some way, but their effects are profoundly different. Taken in the first sense, there is an element of dread and grudge because you are bound by only by commitment, in turn only our promises are honoured. Taken in the second sense, there is JOY in duty – when God’s will is revealed to you, when the Spirit moves you to respond to this revelation in appropriate ways!

Wait, what ‘revelation’???

No, I’m not talking abstract here, but I’m also taking this in two senses.

God’s will is revealed to us in Scripture – what pleases God, what He is concerned about, what He wants His children to be, His desires…These we can know, by His grace, through God-given wisdom. And if we are truly passionate about God and His glory, I pray that we will be ignited and inspired within to answer these calls.

The other kind of ‘revelation’ is more specific and it differs from person to person. For me, I know that I’ll be in the worship ministry for a long time. This is the area of service I’ve been called to take up many years back. It was a strong, resounding call and I know deep within that this is where God has put me in His family. It’s my duty lovingly assigned by Him, to work, to play and to serve right here.

Knowledge always has its implications and this is probably why I answered ‘the call’ last night. I wasn’t going beyond the call of duty. I was merely fulfilling it, with joy.

If I may borrow the words from When I Look Into Your Holiness:
When we find the joy of reaching His heart, when our wills become enthralled in His love, our only appropriate response is WORSHIP.

"你爱我比更深吗?"

This post came pretty late but I just wanted to point out something.

When we look at John 21:15-17, it seems as if Jesus and Peter have been repeating the same phrases three times.

Three times the same question was asked. But for the first two times Jesus asked if Peter love(agape) Him and Peter answered, that he love(philia) Him. On the third time, Jesus asked if Peter love(philia) Him and that was when Peter grieved, as Jesus revealed to him that he was, perhaps, reluctant to make a claim of supreme devotion to God because in the past, his life did not support such a claim.

Agape meant total devotion, to hold high regard of, to be contented at or with a thing.
Philia meant brotherly love, friendship and affection.

(I may not grasp the complete meaning for these two words but philia is nothing like agape.)

As we search our hearts for answers, it is my hope that you will bring this knowledge with you, as you consider your area of service next year.

On Desires

O THOU THAT HEAREST PRAYER,
Teach me to pray.

I confess that in religious excercises
___the language of my lips and the feelings of my heart have not always agreed,
___that I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue
______a name never pronounced above without reverence and humility,
___that I have often desired things which would have injured me,
___that I have depreciated some of my chief mercies,
___that I have erred both on the side of my hopes and also of my fears,
___that I am unfit to choose for myself,

______for it is not in me to direct my steps.

Let thy Spirit help my infirmities,
___for I know not what to pray for as I ought.
Let him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask the right things,
___then I shall know thou hearest me.

May I never be importunate for temporal blessings,
___but always refer them to thy fatherly goodness,
___for thou knowest what I need before I ask;
May I never think I prosper unless my soul propers,
______or that I am rich unless rich towards thee,
______or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.

May I seek first thy kingdom and its righteousness.
May I value things in relation to eternity.
May my spiritual welfare be my chief solicitude.
May I be poor, afflicted, despised and have thy blessing,
___rather than be successful in enterprise,
______or have more than my heart can wish,
___or be admired by my fellow-men,
______if thereby these things make me forget thee.
May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexation of spirit,
______and desire to depart from it.
And may I seek my happiness in thy favour, image, presence, service.

__

a leaf from

The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan prayers and devotions

A savour of death unto death itself, and life unto life to others.

Excellent video, Beat. And yes, Sermon Index is truly a wonderful resource.

My short response:

"The glory of the gospel is that when the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first. That is how revival comes. That must also be true of us as individuals. It should not be our ambition to be as much like everybody else as we can, though we happen to be Christian, but rather to be as different from everybody who is not a Christian as we can possibly be. Our ambition should be to be like Christ, the more like Him the better, and the more like Him we become, the more we shall be unlike everybody who is not a Christian."

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Introduction to the Beatitudes

In preparation for this week's anthem, I think this will shed some light for our reflection.

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/myvideo/photo.php?lid=1412

"The denial of self in any form is suffering". -Katz

Do we allow ourselves too many comforts?


This is an awesome site by the way. They actuallly have audio sermons by Tozer! @_@
And some more amazing videos and sermons...

No fear.

Children are really the most innocent.

As I was teaching my 6 year old niece and 8 year old nephew, their conversation left a deep impression on me.

B: Mei, are you very honest? (while doing his maths homework)
G: What does honest mean? (colouring her rabbits)
B: Honest means like you like to tell the truth la…
G: (Silence and still colouring attentively)
B: Why are you so honest ah… Why you so honest…
G: I don’t know… (still colouring her rabbits)
M: So, are you honest?
B: No, I am not. I always lie.
M: (Silence)
B: Ya, I always tell lies so I’m not honest. (doing his work)
M: Then why do you always tell lies?
B: Because I fear punishment.
M: (Silence)

His response stunned me.
I knew I couldn’t reply then, taken aback at the innocent forthrightness.

Fear is a human condition.

Punishment is a human response to the human condition of fear. Punishment can only give birth to fear.

Fear eats away our ability to Love, to Embrace, to Encourage.

Our world is crazy-filled with fear of all sorts and sizes. The concept of Mutually Assured Destruction, basically hinges on the opponent’s fear. See what it spells?

Yep, MAD.

That is how perverse our minds can get when we grow up under the atmosphere of fear; when fear surpasses love, we are under pressure to stick to the rules or be ready to receive punishment. So, when fear loses its grip, hell breaks loose. This is when we do not fear the punishment anymore.

We see it in anarchy, where there is no government rule; no laws to control, people just do whatever they want because their actions are unpunished.

So, can you imagine living under a fear of something tangible or intangible, every minute of your life?

If you list down all your fears and compare it, we are all the same actually.

Death
Failure
Acceptance
Rejection
Forgiveness
Loss
Judgment
Life, after death.

“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. “ -1John 4: 16-19(ESV)

How revolutionary this message is to our fear-filled world!

Thanks and glory be to God, our dear Father, thanks be to Jesus Christ, our messiah and embodiment of love, our atonement. Thus we no longer live under the rule of fear if we abide in God. What else do you fear that Christ has not bore for you?

Love for Him ought to motivate our every breathing, every living, and every dying.

So, no(t) fear.

Ah, I love those little children.

How are you responding to God today?

With pride?
Pride says: I know better.

With fear of losing out in something?
Fear says: I know my needs better.

Or with faith?
Faith says: You know better.

Prayer

does not change God but changes him who prays.
-- Soren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (1813 - 1855)

若是没有神的启示......

今天与搞笑党去看「死海古卷」的展览。

约了下午3点多见面，走到新加坡艺术馆却被一群不在场的“白衣人”给拦在门外。几经波折，（间中滑稽事件不断发生）终于在傍晚7点多钟得以入场。

其实，古卷的发现所带给学术界的冲击与振奋，我们局外人是无法完全体会与了解的。看着零碎的古卷与许多旧版的圣经并没有使我的思维与情绪起太大的波动。但得知那些翻译先锋、文士、神学学者、传道等为了让普世能读到神的话语所附上的精力与代价的时候，我不得不感谢上帝 － 他大能的手推动着人类的历史，人文文化的遗产都得见他的足迹！

若不是上帝兴起他的仆人，我们要如何开始去解读上帝的话语？
若印刷机没有被发明，如今我们都能拥有圣经吗？

若是没有神的启示......

Going Home

Last Sunday morning, I was in a mad rush to make it for prayer meeting.
Thank God for cabs, I thought to myself.

Me: Uncle, Commonwealth MRT station hor.
U: 好, Commonwealth 啊...

We both fell silent. Like always, I don't like to talk to strangers.
Then at a major junction…

U: 你去教堂啊?
Me: Uncle 你怎么知道?
U: 星期天这么早出门，不是去庙里拜拜就是去教堂 lor.
Me: 哦，是这样...
U: 以前我也有去教会的，小时候在那里长大。
Me: 那你为什么现在没有去了？
U: 哎呀，都一样啦，人不就是要在死后上天堂 lor. 你们 Christian 说上天堂，我们佛教就说去极乐世界，还不是一样?...

I don’t think Nirvana is a place that Buddhists believe they go to after they die.
We were around Queenstown at this point. Anyway, the uncle went on.

U: …你们讲信耶稣就上天堂嘛， 我们做好事就可以去极乐世界。
Me: 那么Uncle，你有把握去极乐世界吗？
U: 极乐世界 ah…很难到的 leh…
Me: 所以你没有把握啊？
U: 只可以尽力做啦...

The cab pulled into the taxi stand outside church.

Me: Uncle, 我很肯定地知道我以后会到哪里去。如果你想知道为什么我那么肯定 hor，我的教堂就在前面，你可以来。
U: Okay, okay 谢谢你 ah…

There's something cheerfully comforting when He turned my weakness (lateness) into an opportunity.

“无言的赞颂”

在香港的时候，参加了朋有教会的崇拜，认识了这首诗歌。

旋律很简单，伴奏亦很简单。歌词取自于诗篇19，述说着上帝造化的荣耀。


歌曲详情可查阅此：http://www.christianstudy.com/data/hymns/text/c0223.html


今天查经的时候问了一个自己感到相当惊讶的问题。

“什么是上帝的荣耀？”

带领的人之前提出了出埃及记33：18-19 来解释什么是认识上帝以及祂的荣耀。

惊讶是因为自以为已经想过了这个课题，但其实我还是似懂非懂却还常挂嘴边。。。


看了经文过后还是有一点儿觉得“上帝的荣耀”很abstract.　(Maybe its my problem)

最后得到的回答是，“上帝的荣耀”是祂的主权（sovereignty)。

我目前接受这个答案因为我知道我这一生都无法完全理清关于荣耀的实情，直到我见主面。


最后就想到这首诗歌，“无言无语，也无声音可听

　　　　　　　　　　　神的大能却在世上知晓。”

就先让自己欣赏诸天所述说关于神的荣耀并且使心灵受到极大的震撼与敬畏。因为当静心聚神地观察宇宙时，人的渺小、卑微将凸显于上帝荣耀及主权之下。



For the video:　http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3STpaNLtUI

UP and AWAY...

‘UP' is not for the hard-hearted.

Within 15 minutes it just pounds on your heart like trying a make a piece of meat tender and soft, ready to absorb the juices during marination (there’s no such word). And before you know it, the hackneyed love story of growing old together once again succeeds in awakening the innate human desire for eternity. For eternal, enduring love. As you watch you secretly hope that Carl and Ellie will last and helplessly grief the passing away of a beloved wife to a faithful husband. At the moment, it made me wonder how anyone could possibly bring themselves to marriage if they could foresee such loss.

Just as you are still struggling with Carl to get by the days without Ellie, before you know it, the scene when you have to watch Carl watch his house fly away and disappear through the clouds… Those 10 seconds left me defenseless and swallowing my saliva, thinking “Is that me there?” I was expecting a, go in, giggle, laugh, tear maybe and that’s it. But the writers knew just what most people struggle with…

To Carl, the house encompassed all the golden dreams and fancies that he ever had. It was his solace from the cold world outside and he just had to go everywhere with it. So for him to watch his house fly away is asking him to put down all his emotional baggage from the past and all the unfulfilled regrets that he often looked back upon and giving all those UP.

Did that scene strike a chord in your heart?

How many of us carry our houses with us (till death do us part) that we find it strenuous to move onto new pastures in life?

I was lectured by Lloyd-Jones on foolish people harbouring on their vain regrets, who refuse to see that regrets are time-consuming and many times irrational. Yet they occupy such a large part of the burden we carry in life. When things fail, we run back to them and sob and lament that good times are gone for good. Then we get stuck in this state of spiritual depression.

Are we willing and ready to give up our past burdens and regrets, thus embracing that our Lord’s mercies are new every morning, helping us to hope for the better future?

我爱传扬主福音

我爱传扬主福音__述说天上事情
讲说耶稣的妙爱__讲说他的生平事迹
我爱传扬主福音__因知道它真实
世上一切不能及__福音满足我灵

---我爱传扬主福音__日后在天也不停
---歌唱旧日的福音__称颂耶稣慈爱

我爱传扬主福音__常讲耶稣圣道
每当从头说一回__感觉加倍甘甜美好
我爱传扬主福音__因多人未听到
天父奇妙的救恩__圣经有福真道

我爱传扬主福音__因它历久常新
许多人虽已熟悉__仍喜欢与他人同听
将来眼见主光荣__我必欢唱新歌
新歌依旧是当初__我心所爱福音

————————————————————————————————————————

我非常喜欢这篇译词。每当唱到最后一节的时候，都会有一股暖流涌上心头。

福音本是神的大能，给人活泼的盼望。
回想，当初若不是有人向我们传讲这好消息，恐怕至今仍是死在罪中。
愿圣灵挑起我们心中的火，帮助我们每日不停歌唱，传扬这历久常新的福音！

Loving God with Our Minds

Not so long ago

A: …so I was telling the youths that they must read, study, interpret, excavate the Word, dig for nuggets of wisdom. Because they can.

B: What do you mean by ‘because they can’?

A: I mean, they have been given the intellectual ability to do so, so they should put it to use.

B: Just because I can paint, doesn’t mean I HAVE TO. Why the obligation?

A: …
______________________________________________________

That day, I was dumbstruck, taken aback by the rebuttal. I didn’t expect anyone to go against (what I thought to be) axioms. Axioms need no explanation; they are just taken to be true. I couldn’t justify why I thought what I said was right.

Thank God, days later, I was at the library and I chanced upon Habits of the Mind by James W. Sire. A familiar verse struck at my numbed mind. I had found my answer.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Mark 12:30

In essence, we’re called to love Him with our minds.

In English, the word “mind” can refer to “consciousness and thought”, “intellect or memory” and “attention or will”. In the mini-tussle with my friend, I had unwittingly made reference to the “intellect” or the ability to think, question, reason and understand.

We’re called, not just to use our mind to love God, but to use ALL of it, to the best of our ability. Stretch it. Challenge it.

But how does exercising the intellect (this particular aspect of “mind”) relate to loving God?

I guess the most obvious way is to study (not just read) His Word, to discover what God has revealed about Himself through the Scriptures, to make links across Scripture, to grapple with the Truth, to see the big picture, to grasp the incredible nature of grace…to allow His Word to shape our thoughts and desires...

“Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.”

1 Corinthians 14:20

我要因他...(arppegiation)...背起十架

The act of taking up your cross demonstrates your willingness to suffer and even die for His sake.

The act of taking up your cross implies your readiness for the victimhood of scorning and mockery.

The act of taking up your cross en route to the place of execution shows your submission to the authority against which you had previously rebelled.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

2 Tim 4:7-8

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me."

1 Cor 15:10

Thanks GCMC, for the wonderful opportunity.

And as usual, we get the joy, God gets the glory.

Pray my child, pray...

Teach ___________, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And he/she shall observe it to the end.
Give ___________ understanding, that he/she may observe Your law
And keep it with all his/her heart.
Make ___________ walk in the path of Your commandments,
For he/she delights in it.
Incline ___________’s heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain.
Turn away ___________’s eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive him/her in Your ways.
Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You.
Turn away their reproach which they dread,
For Your ordinances are good.
Behold, ___________ longs for Your precepts;
Revive him/her through Your righteousness.

Adapted from Psalm 119:33-40 (NASB)


When we start to sway,
driven off path by life's big waves.
remember my child,
to pray, to pray.

Pray for someone today.

Depth of Mercy

by Charles Wesley (1740)

Depth of mercy! Can there be
mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God his wrath forbear,
me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood his grace,
long provoked him to his face,
would not hearken to his calls,
grieved him by a thousand falls.

I my Master have denied,
I afresh have crucified,
oft profaned his hallowed name,
put him to an open shame.

There for me the Savior stands,
shows his wounds and spreads his hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps and loves me still.

Now incline me to repent,
let me now my sins lament,
now my foul revolt deplore,
weep, believe, and sin no more.
_________________________________________

I'm acutely aware that I haven't been posting original writings on the blog recently. That's partly because I'm amazed at how these words written some three centuries ago still ring true today, that the "I" in the songs applies to each believer in this incredibly wide span of time, each of us so undeserving of this redeeming grace that helped us escape the wrath of God.

I hope the poems/songs help you to meditate during this Holy Week, and perhaps help you to start grasping how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ!

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

by Isaac Watts (1707)

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
_________________________________________

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him..." (Philippians 3: 7-9)

Thought for the day...

"I am personally convinced that there are two major areas of defeat for most Christians. The first is the unprofitable reliving of the past, nursing either wrongs committed against us or regrets for sins we have committed. The second is unwarranted preoccupation with the future."

I am personally convinced too I think.

And a third one to add to the list- failure to pray.

Thought for the day...

Sublime.

Hey! It's me again :)

I just want to share my heart's thoughts before they slip away amidst other things...

Recently, I have been so blessed to witness so much of nature's beauty. You know, those that make you kind of melt... Sublime, yes. ("Sublime" happens to also be the name of a Spanish song which I'm currently listening to)

Just not long ago, a sister was asking me about Romans 1:19-20 and what it meant.
I was thinking it shouldn't be difficult to explain. But you know, its just not the same explaining creation in words and witnessing it in action for yourself. And finally I got the chance to...

Courtesy of Sandy Chan

Isn't it AWEsome?

We were on the bus that was driving towards Jalisco, Guadalajara. It was around 7.00 in the morning. The bus was very quiet except for some soft snores because everyone was sleeping. For some reason I felt very awake and decided to just enjoy the scenery along the way. On my side of the bus (right), I couldn't see the sunrise, it was more of grassland and mountains. But then when the sun started rising, it reflected on the pane of my window and I turned around immediately to the awesome sight! Haha words wanted to explode out of my mouth. But then I decided to leave a moment for myself to just worship in silence before disrupting the serenity of the sunrise.

After that, I ran to tap on my friend's shoulder very gently so that she would not wake up startled but rather respond gently. I was just trying to preserve it for as long as I could...

"Sandy, sandy wake up... Look outside, the sun is rising..."

Haha her immediate reaction was "Wah..." then whipped out her camera next to capture that shot above. Thank God she did cos my camera died just when I pressed the shutter. Urgh.

Thereafter, we just stood there observing the silence and wishing the bus would drive slower.

Instinctively, I felt that there had to be music to express our heart's thoughts. So, I took out my mp3 and played "Alas and did my Saviour Bleed" (revised version with uber Cello), I gave one side of the earpiece to her. Then, I told her while keeping my eyes glued to the sun, " This is what I meant by Romans 1:19-20."

"in the things that have been made", we know God; his eternal power and divine nature.
Hence, we are "without excuse" to not know that a Creator exists. We do not give glory to creation but rather, to the Creator. However, our sick hearts have worshipped nature's beauty.

Along the way and before, I saw many other manifestations of God's ingeniousity in creation that never fails to make my heart leap with joy and sing with praise. Indeed, Mi corazon te canta. My heart will sing in witness to God's beauty even if my lips don't sing. I think each time we do this, our hearts get refined and very rejuvenated. 是一种心灵美化. We can look at magnificent man-made creations but do you realise they never rejuvenate us?

So, friends and siblings, I hope we can spend more time with nature (while we truly can) and appreciating it in all its glory (reflected from God). And then spend time to praise and worship Him, who is above all. Let your heart sing.

Now, please enjoy the following :)

Chipinque Nature Reserve in Monterrey

Leaf that looks like a butterfly

Spider's web

Purple, my favourite :)

Flowers in all colours, shapes and sizes

Dandelions

And more sunrise... Melt away...

And then finally, the sun sets...

Courtesy of Jessica Tso

(If I hadn't turned back to glance while walking, I would have missed this mesmerizing sunset)

Have a good day!

In pursuit of…?

This came in my e-mail a couple of days ago, a sobering reminder from a fellow Christian:

Recently, if you have read the news, the stabbing cum suicide incident that took place in the place I am currently serving in (NTU). It came as such a shocking and surreal piece of news to the whole staff team. But what struck me most was not only the tragedy of the whole incident – it was the response that people have towards this incident that took me by grief and pain: the boy who committed suicide simply became the talk of the school and the focus of many bad jokes. Suddenly, it seems that the boy's life was only worth the amount of headlines it has made; the value, anguish and pain of a human life tarnished by sin seemed to have been completely ignored. Indeed, it was such a stunning indicator of the indifference towards LIFE among the city-dwellers.

My heart was heavy after reading this short paragraph.
A reflection later in the week brought more questions to light.

What do we use to measure a person’s worth these days?
The answer to these question is apparent when we examine what we pursue today: academic excellence, brilliant CCA record, loads of money, friends’/bosses’ approval, money, cars, property etc. When we become obsessed in our pursuits, we become so absorbed in it, we see our life as just consisting of these. Consequently, we measure other people’s worth based on what we think as important. In doing so, we have (unknowingly?) debased and devalued life.

There are really 2 issues here: What satisfies us today? What do take other people for?

What satisfies us today?
We’re made for eternity (Ecc 3:11), so the things of time cannot fully and permanently satisfy. The world’s satisfactions are too small for us. There’s gotta be something more!! And we know it through the Word!

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst…”

John 10:10
“…I came so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

What do we take others for?
In this ego-centred city-world we built for ourselves to live in, in the blind relentless pursuit of impermanent things to stuff in the God-shaped hole in us, we often see others as means to our own ends, others as instrumental to attaining our goals. In doing so, we forget that beyond the walking flesh and blood lies a soul that God deeply loves. Do we see others as aimless wandering souls in our midst?

What can I do?
There could be another guy (just like the NTU student) around you, who don’t speak openly of his anguish and pain, of his desperation to find something worth living for. If you aren’t going to reach out to him, who will? While we have this imperishable hope in Christ, immense satisfaction in knowing God himself, do we desire that others partake in the same grace?

1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

I earnestly pray that we:
will be free from spiritual myopia and not be hardened and oblivious to the needs of others
have the wisdom to know the things that truly matter in life
have the desire to pursue them
have the conviction to help others to pursue them

We Are The Body

This post is a patchwork of sharings from my dearest siblings-in-Christ of 1 Corinthians Chapter 12. I’m moved to share them with you all here because we are the body of Christ and today, being Valentine’s Day, it is fitting to reflect on the nature of Christ’s love – AGAPE.

1 Corinthians Chapter 12 is a very familiar passage. I think some of us even know it by heart. Yes, the parts make up the body and each part has its own function in the body of Christ.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

If We Are The Body
by Casting Crowns

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances
Are better out on the road

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the Body of Christ

But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
Jesus is the way

The song hit me hard the first time I heard it, especially the bridge. Jesus paid the price not just for those who are already part of this body. Sometimes we are so comfortable in our space we forget that we all are the same in God’s eyes, fallen and helpless. We forget and we pick and choose who we want to love, who we want to accept, who we want to be in this family. We forget that this body has to grow. Growth is a sure sign of life. (Non-living things don’t grow, they slowly disintegrate.)

Sometimes, it is not through active alienation that we shut out other people. More often than not, it is a lack of action. I thought about how some adults said how certain youth groups in our church were ‘exclusive’ and suggested that perhaps that was why others find it hard to join in.

When we reach the end of 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, Paul takes a surprising turn before going on in Chapter 13.

31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

And the most excellent way is…(*drum roll*)…LOVE!

I was just pondering over this when my eyes swept across my study table and my gaze landed on an issue of Campus Crusade’s publication Ignite. On the back cover was an excerpt of an article on another very familiar passage in John 21:

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 The third time he said to him,
"Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?"
He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

It’s very interesting how Jesus translated this feeling of affection (love) into something that required action (feeding and taking care of His sheep).

I pray that God help us to grow His body so that many more will be drawn towards Christ and His name be glorified.

只要祢看为美好

求主塑造
Molded Your Way by Don Schlosser
Translated by So Heng

我若禁不住骄傲__令我谦卑
我若忍不住炫耀__将我破碎
我若要经历黑暗__才知道光明可贵
求主让日月沉睡

我若缺一些耐心__教我静候
我若需更多勇气__使我不低头
无论任何煎熬__只要祢看为美好
求主今把我塑造

主啊我属祢因祢曾呼唤
对我说深爱着我
让我用信心翅膀高飞
飞向祢施恩宝座

以祢大恩典如今洁净我
使我愿奉献自己
叫我灵苏醒使盼望坚定
能顺服恩主旨意

And again I thought, "Wow, how nice! It matches quite nicely with 炼我愈精1990 !!"

I was just pondering about our obsession with psychology in the present age - the complex analyses and studies of our being, our emotions and more - I really wonder: how much of ourselves can we really know? Who knows you best? Yourself?

David gave a definitive answer and a very moving account of his relationship with his Creator in Psalms 139:

1 O LORD, you have searched me
__and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
__you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
__you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
__you know it completely, O LORD.

13 For you created my inmost being;
__you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
__your works are wonderful,
__I know that full well.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
__test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
__and lead me in the way everlasting.

God knew David through and through - his movements, his thoughts, his habits, even his pre-uttered speech - by virtue of being David’s loving, wonderful Creator. He knows you best. He knows things about you that you might not even know yourself.

While some people might find this stalker-like phenomenon frightful, I find great comfort in it, especially in times of trials and sufferings. Because I know He’s in control, He loves me, He knows me - He tailor-makes life’s lessons for me!

无论任何煎熬__只要祢看为美好
求主今把我塑造

Name above every name

Jesus
Beautiful Saviour
God of all Majesty
Risen King
Lamb of God
Holy and Righteous
Blessed Redeemer
Bright morning star

All the heavens shout your praise
All creation bows to worship You

How wonderful, how beautiful
Name above every name
Exalted high
How wonderful, how beautiful
Jesus Your name
Name above every name
Jesus

I saw this song on a friend's blog and it made me think of how often I praise the name that is above all names.
Over here where religion is very visible and when I'm in the car looking out to the dark night sky, I see crosses being lighted up all across the city.
But all these is ironic.
Not once nor twice but countless times have I heard people here misusing the name of our Lord, any one of His names.

After a sentence, "Oh XXX!" or just inserting it as an exclamation.
A few of my professors say it all the time during class too.
All these reminds me of the clear commandement that:

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your
God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." - Exodus
20: 6-8

But on the other hand, I do not want to judge so quickly and fail to see the plank in my own eye.
Even if I do not misuse His name, do I praise it often?

"Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day." - Psalm 96:2

Sing while we still can, exalt while we still can, shout while we still can, sing while we still can...

How wonderful, how beautiful
Name above every name
Exalted high

Shaped for His Purpose

我真惭愧因我知道, 总是保留自己.
虽然也曾受你铸造, 我却反抗又悖逆.
如今全心求你喜悦, 不惜任何代价.
你若欢喜并得荣耀, 我愿背负十字架.

I was just thinking of the lyrics of the Janurary anthem bridge and somehow I thought maybe we are like iron ores.

To produce iron, they slowly burned iron ore with wood in a clay-lined oven. The iron separated from the surrounding rock but never quite melted. Instead, it formed a crusty slag which was removed by hammering. This repeated heating and hammering process mixed oxygen with the iron oxide to produce iron, and removed the carbon from the metal. The result was nearly pure iron, easily shaped with hammers and tongs but too soft to take and keep a good edge. Because the metal was shaped, or wrought, by hammering, it came to be called wrought iron.

Some part of your life is hammered off and you are heated up so that you will be refined and become pure after the process. It is a repeated process, so it will go on and on. So will the suffering and pain. Our hearts soften, becoming more attuned and aligned to Him. Only then do we realize: we are being shaped - shaped for the purpose of glorifying His name.

Here I am, Lord

The dedication ceremony was over in a matter of minutes but I pray earnestly that we will remember our collective promise to God and our responsibility and accountability towards our siblings-in-Christ.

For some among us who may be feeling that the task that you have been called for is too daunting, too huge, or that you are too weak, too inadequate in keeping what you have been entrusted with, or this journey too lonely, too far - this song is for you.

May we find our hope, joy and strength in Christ alone!

O Jesus, I Have Promised
Lyrics by John E. Bode
Music by Arthur H. Mann

O Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
Be thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend:
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my guide.

O let me feel thee near me:
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, thou hast promised
To all who follow thee,
That where thou art in glory
There shall thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end:
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my friend.

O let me see thy foot-marks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in thy strength alone:
O guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in heaven receive me,
My Saviour and my friend.