grace and mercy found me

There are so many reasons why Christmas is such a wonderful season to me. It is the whole package that comes with it - family friends, presents, food, holidays =)... all the good stuff in one significant period of the year. It is the beautiful memories that have accumulated thoughout the years that makes Christmas better every year. While all these things can be good, I have learned to appreciate Christmas in a much more simpler manner.

I find the "Christmas feeling"starts at the beginning of December where everyone starts to decorate their homes and work places with Christmas tree and lights, people going around shopping for the perfect present, mothers thinking about what to cook for family and friends. It is all busy and overwhelming. I sometimes wonder how much of all that commercialized concept of Christmas has managed to keep the true story of Christmas hidden inside a dusty bible at the corner of the bookshelf somewhere in somebody's home. I find it somewhat disturbing when we can put so much emphasis on something, and yet miss the whole point of doing it. Why is Christmas so important, when at the end of the day it is just another day of the year passed with much negligence?

I am thankful that Christmas isn't just another day for celebration. I am thankful that it is an event that means so much more that after more than 2000 years, it still gives hope to everyone who chooses to believe its story. For me the best Christmas goes way back in time when the only decoration was a manger full of haystack, the only presents given were gifts of gold, incense and myrrh, the only music played was the voices of angels singing: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!", the only company was wise men and shepherds, and the only reason for celebration was the birth of a baby that blessed night.

I am reminded of two things every Christmas - Grace and Mercy. Mercy, that I am no longer condemned to hell, but redeemed and forgiven. Grace, that I so unworthily recieved the gift of salvation and eternal life with the one who created me. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote in his song 'Heaven in the Real World' - "...It happened one night with a tiny baby's birth. God heard creation crying and He sent heaven to earth". Heaven does not start at the end of life's journey, it began when Christ was born, the day grace and mercy found me.

seasons

Every Season
Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death,
You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

-Nichole Nordeman

I have always wondered how seasons change and how it will be like to be part of it, and as I see the tree beside my room window begin to show signs of leaves withering, I realise it is a very special experience. It is as though God's creation is telling me that winter is just around the corner, another season has come and gone. Somehow the transition tells me that things are changing, but through the changing process, one thing remains constant, which is the creator Himself. I believe that no matter how life's season may change, God will never change. The God who gave the promises in the bible, still promises to those who will receive; the God who delivered His people then, still delivers those who humbly come to him.

Dr. Kent Hovind mentioned this in one of his seminars:" We should turn off the television once in a while and go out to enjoy God's creation, because creation itself is a testimony to the creator. So parents, don't stop your child when they spend most of their time gazing upon God's creation, it a good thing (of course unless they have homework to do =p). So the next time you come across a plant or a flower, try stopping for a while, and maybe if you are quiet enough , you might just hear God's creation trying to teach you truths about our creator.

home for christmas

Winter time isn't particularly my favourite season. Although I do like snow and a bit of cool breeze (that is actually an understatement, because winter is freezing cold!), it is the whole moody feeling that you get when the day gets dark early, and even in the afternoon you rarely get a good dose of sunshine. It gets even worse when you think of the Christmas season, which is an irony really, because I love Christmas. However, it is thinking about Christmas in a cold winter's night that make you feel lonely for just that moment.

These thoughts suddenly occured to me while I was walking back from work and I was listening to Steven Curtis Chapman's song - 'Going Home For Christmas'. The chorus first caught my attention and I was overwhelmed by the thought that I would really like to spend Christmas back home with my family once again. I knew I had to share this song in my blog, becuase it is such a beautiful thought that we can look forward to each Christmas day to remember our beloved savior's birth and share the moments with our loved ones. But as I continue to listen to the story of the song, I realized that there is another home which all of us can look forward to, a home that is far better than anything we can ever imagine. And if being home for Christmas in this world can be such a wonderful experience, I can only imagine of what Christmas will be like when we are home in heaven seeing the face of the one whose birth we remember year after year. How wonderful will that be? I don't know, but I know I will never miss that Christmas for anything at all.

Going Home For Christmas
Her house was where the family gather every Christmas eve
A feast was on the table and gifts were placed beneath the tree
Everything was picture perfect, Grandpa would laugh and say
That woman spends the whole year getting ready for this day

One year the leaves began to fall and her health began to fade
We moved her to a place were they could watch her night and day
but she kept making place for Christmas from her little room
She told everyone, I'll miss you, but I'll be leaving soon

I'm going home for Christmas, and I'm going home to stay
I'm going home for Christmas and nothing's gonna keep me away
I'll be with the ones I love to celebrate the Savior's birth
This gift will be worth more to me than anything on earth
I'm going home, home for Christmas

All the leaves outside have fallen to be covered by the snow
The family comes with food and gifts, and Grandpa comes alone
There's a sadness in our silence as the Christmas story's read
And with tears, Grandpa reminds us of the words that Grandma said

I'm going home for Christmas, and I'm going home to stay
I'm going home for Christmas and nothing's gonna keep me away
I'll be with the ones I love to celebrate the Savior's birth
This gift will be worth more to me than anything on earth
I'm going home, home for Christmas

As we sing ‘Joy to the World’ I can't help thinking
Of the joy that's shining in her eyes right now
And though our hearts still ache, we know that as we celebrate
She's singing with the herald angels and heaven's glowing on her face

And now she's home for Christmas, and now she's home to stay
She's home for Christmas and nothing could've kept her away
She'll be face to face with Jesus, as we celebrate
His birthAnd this gift will be worth more to her than anything on earth
She's home, she's home for Christmas
She is home
She's home for Christmas

not home yet

It is interesting how the theme of "what is to come in the future" seem to be evident these days. I guess with all the frequent reports of natural disasters destroying homes in the news, it acts as a wake up call for many people to seriously think about what the future holds for them or more appropriately WHO holds their future. As for myself, there were two seemingly paradoxical and yet perfectly complementary aspects that came to mind.

Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret?There are better things ahead then any we leave behind. - C.S. Lewis. Indeed that as believers, we should be very careful as to not be too comfortable in this world that we no longer look forward to the place that Christ has prepared for us. And for those who feel tired and need hope to carry on, be comforted by the assurance that we have a home in heaven to look forward to. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote in his song "Not Home Yet": I know there'll be a moment, I know there'll be a place. Where we will see our Savior, and fall in His embrace. So let us not grow weary, or too content to stay. 'Cause we are not home yet...So let us journey on.

Having said that, it is also important to know that while we look forward to the prospect that we have, we also have a responsibility at the present to reach out to those who are in need. Amy Carmichael puts it this way: We have all eternity to celebrate our victories, but only a few short years to win them. It is clear we have to seize every opportunity we have in life for God. Even the group Mercyme recognized that life is too short to not live for something bigger when they wrote in their song "In The Blink Of An Eye": ...How can I further Your kingdom, when I am so wrapped up in mine...Time will fly, but until then, I'll embrace every moment i'm given, there's a reason I'm alive for a blink of an eye.

Finally, two verses and thoughts from Uplook magazine which should serve as a reminder to us always:
~We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out - 1 Tim 6:7
~I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus - Phil 3:14
Let us then pray for discernment, that we would know what we should leave behind and what we should take with us as we carry on with our journey that leads us back to our heavenly home.

accountability

Not to long ago I have been thinking much about the aspect of accountability in a christian's life. Although it is not something new, but its fundamental truths has such a big influence in a christian's walk with God that I have struggled to find an appropriate manner to share these thoughts.

Being accountable is not something foreign to many of us. However I have been moved to think about how much exactly am I accountable in my walk as a christian? Will I pass the test if others would examine my life thoroughly? I think I would fail miserably, let alone being held accountable in the eyes of God. I find that the lack of accountability can seriously cripple the growth of a child of God. It is so easy to fall into the trap of complacency just because we are not accountable for what we do. On the other hand, being accountable to others gives us the initiative to get on our feet and constantly remind ourselves that we have a responsibility in glorifying God in all that we do, which in return also paves the way to being closer to the Lord.

As I dwell upon these thoughts I cannot help but think of the perfect example of accountability that the Lord Jesus has potrayed in his life and ministry. When we consider He who has no sin, we have one who is accountable not only to men, but one who is accountable to God the Father as well. No one has ever pleased the Father as did the Son when He presented Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the cross. He was an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.(Eph 5:2) He is the altogether lovely one. With His full accountability until the point where He gave up his final breath on the cross, He is now ever so close to the Father, seated at the right hand of God where He rightfully deserves. Isn't that a wonderful thought? Shouldn't it spur us even more to follow the blessed footsteps of our Savior and Lord? Yes indeed, it should!

1Thessalonians 2:12

After an hour of very interesting outline on "Christ in the 4 gospels" by Jim Flanigan on audio cd. I have been blessed to learn more of how the 4 gospels intricately paint the perfect being the Lord Jesus Christ. However the the highlight of whole lesson did not come from the message. I personally enjoyed a reminder that a brother shared just after the message. He told the group of how most prominent figures of today's saints come from backgrounds that are very different from whom they are today. He goes on to pointing out that in some ways we are more fortunate than them because most of us come from a fairly good background with a good education. They had to change from one end of the spectrum to the other end, which required much more discipline to devote themselves to studying the word of God. The emphasis of his story comes clear as he points out that we being even more blessed should be thankful of what we have and give more of our time and effort into the things of God.

I find it so true that the thought of it makes me ashamed to be called a christian. Somehow I have this weird way of thinking that maybe because my life has not experienced such extreme changes that i fail to appreciate the immensity of God's salvation. However, the spirit seems to tell me that no matter where you start from the spectrum of life, there is only one end point that all of us should strive to achieve - that is complete obedience to the life that God has called us into. We may not deserve anything God offers, but no matter what, He will always deserve everything that we can possibly offer. Just as how William Macdonald so aptly puts it: "The immensity if our redemption leads to only one reasonable response, namely - total commitment; let us remember that anything short of that is only polished sin. "

mine to share

It has been quite some time since i posted anything on my blog, and the time taken off to think of what to write has also led me into thinking again of the purpose of this blog. I remember my friend telling me that he read my blog, and he "complained" that my blog seemed like I was trying to tell others what to do instead of writing about myself.

On the apparent level, my blog indeed does seem far from what a personal blog should or would have been. However for those who has willingly taken the time to read my blog, I think I owe you all a brief explanation. At the start of my blog, what i hoped for was to have a space where I can share some part of my life and how I see its relevance to God's purpose for believers. Although some of my posts may seem instructive instead of introvertive, and that I seem to be telling what should be done instead of what I have done, the posts actually serves as a mirror to remind me of how God would want me to live. So while in essence the posts serves as a reminder to me and how i see the Lord working through life, it is also a public mirror opened to anyone who sees themselves in the picture.

God willing, and that if this blog continues to exist, my prayer is that in some small ways it will provide something that others can relate to as it has to me.

live the life

I was having a conversation with my friend one day over dinner. He pointed out how he found some Christians that he had met very offensive. The whole message about death and hell didn't seem like a very pleasant subject. Being a christian myself, I felt the need to explain to my friend that even if some Christians may come on too strong, it was essential that we preach the gospel. However, I refrained from doing so because I knew no matter how much I may try to explain, it still requires the Holy Spirit to help him understand the true message of the gospel. He went on to say that he would prefer Christians who focused on how they lived their life rather than preaching all the time.

A few days later I was going through some of Michael w. Smith’s songs and I came across the song “live the life”, which was basically a song about being true to walking the christian life just as the Lord Jesus Christ did. I recalled the conversation that I had with my friend and I came to realize that even though I don’t agree that just because the gospel is offensive to some, we shouldn’t preach the truth, but many times, I find words are often easier spoken than lived. In some ways my friend seem to be teaching me that if you want to preach, first show me through your life. Clichéd as this subject has been, but it keeps us (or me for that matter) reminded that how often the mouth should stop talking and let silence bring us to a state of self evaluation and let life speak its story.

only getting started

I just attended one of the ministry meetings that my church have after conferences, and it was a really good meeting. One of the brothers sharing was sharing on the priesthood of every believer in the church. He had some very strong and strict points on how a believer should take his/her priesthood seriously. The points that he brought up made me re-evaluate my own priesthood in church. Somehow being mostly surrounded by people who are not of the same belief have diluted my own standard of how a believer should carry out their priestly responsibilities.

One of the points that the brother shared was that if we still hold on to worldy things, it will directly blunt our sensitivity towards God's things. I thought to myself that after more than ten years of being saved, how much have I really applied that truth in my life. The more i review my life the more i see myself as one who is unable to let go of many things that still holds me down from growing in the Lord. What may seem to others as a religious or staunch christian is not what it seems, becuase we all measure with our own standard which is way below what God has intended believers to be.

When i think of what God would think when he sees me being complacent with the state I am in, I am almost sure he would shake His head and say to me:" My child, do not think of yourself more highly then you are, I am only getting started in the process of changing you to the man I want you to be, so get on your feet and follow me." I guess no matter how long or how far you are in this pilgrimage on earth, you can never be satisfied, for there is so much more to the life God has for us, then what it seems.

peace of a bond servant

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

Doulos - (Bond servant) From deo, "to bind," "a slave," originally the lowest term in the scale of servitude, came also to mean "one who gives himself up to the will of another"

Slaves mentioned in the bible were not slaves for eternity, but by every 7th year, they would be set free. However the slave would have a choice to either leave as a free man, or he could choose to stay and continue to be a slave to his master. And if he would choose the latter, he would be a "doulos (bond servant)" of that master, and he would have to serve his master for life.

Being a bond servant is to give oneself to slavery by choice, it was ones own decision. And when that servant chooses his slavery, it is not with pain or sorrow, but with joy and peace. It was a clear testimoney to his master. So it is when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are set free from the chains of sin, but are we bond servants of Christ, willingly choosing the pathway that he has thread for us. Can we like Moses, the meekest man known, and rightly mentioned last in Revelations as a bond servant, live a life of serventhood to the Lord? The path of slavery may not be attractive in any sense, but when you know that the Master is able to give you peace that "passeth all understanding", would you not choose to be a "doulos" for Christ. For only God and God alone can render to us that peace that is within every believer.

Hallelujah

I just realise that the word "Hallelujah" which simply means 'Praise ye Jehovah or Praise ye the LORD' is such a versatile word. At any moment of any situation, just put the word into that situation and everything seems to be better. If you are singing a song or hymn, try singing the word hallelujah after each verse and it sounds great! Talking to someone about a certain topic? Mention the word hallelujah, and you have a fruitful conversation. Going through a tough time? Shout to the Lord, Hallelujah, and everything seems fine.

Of course I don't mean to dilute the meaning of the word by simply putting it into different situations even when it may be inappropriate. But it seems that the picture painted here is one that portrays a life that is full of thanksgiving and praises. Imagine whenever you feel like singing, you sing with joy to praise the Lord. Whenever you talk to someone, you praise God because things that happen in both your lives reflect something that is praise worthy. Most importantly, whenever we go through hard times, and when doubts and questions seem to come up easily, we still have the courage and faith to say "Hallelujah", for we know that God in His abundant grace and mercy, have nothing but the best installed for us.

God deserves much more that what we can ever offer to him, so praise Him.....Hallelujah!

He built the bridge

photo taken from www.familychristian.com

I suppose all of us believers would have had the experience of being overwhelmed by the story of the cross at any one point of our christian walk.

As I was scrolling through the family christian website, I came across this t-shirt and I cannot help but be reminded once again of the immensity of our redemption. If you can see the picture clearly, it reads: " Son, I need you to build a bridge, here are all the tools you will need, See you soon-Love, Dad". I never fail to to be moved to tears each time I am reminded of what Christ has done on the cross just to save me. Both the thought of Christ suffering on the cross and the joy of knowing that what he has done brings salvation to all of us still humbles me time and time again.

Quoting from the hymn "When i survey the wondrous cross":

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 an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

embrace the cross

Recently I have been coming across alot of things regarding the cross of Christ. I was listening to Steve Green's song "Embrace the cross" one morning and the words seem to be exceptionally meaningful to me that it got stuck in my head for quite some time. If I remember correctly, it will be the second song about the cross of Christ to reach my "chart list for favourite songs" after "When I survey the wondrous cross".

I hope to share this song to those who have gone through tough times as a christian, and find that the cost of discipleship seem too heavy a burden to carry. Let us find comfort at the feet of the cross, and never give up, because we know everything that we lose in the process cannot be compared to what we will gain for eternity. So let us keep the faith, and ... embrace the cross!

Embrace The Cross

Embrace the cross where Jesus suffered
though it will cost all you claim as yours
your sacrifice will seem small beside the treasure
eternity can measure what Jesus holds in store

Embrace the love the cross requires
cling to the one whose heart knew every pain.
receive from Jesus fountains of compassion,
only he can fashion your heart to move as His

O wondrous cross our desires rest in you
O Lord Jesus make us bolder
to face with courage the shame and disgrace
You bore upon Your shoulder

Embrace the life that comes from dying
come trace the steps the savior walked for you
an empty tomb concludes Golgotha's sorrow
endure then till tomorrow your cross of suffering

Embrace the cross
Embrace the cross
the cross of Jesus

ever so thankful

" The cross we carry is never so heavy as the chains from which we were once freed "

These were the exact words that i saw written on a poster when i was having dinner at one of my church member's house. Those words just speak so clearly of how we should see things the way God see things. I find that I often fail to see things from God's perspective, and always have myself thinking : ' if only i had seen it the way God saw it' .

The christian life may seem like a tough journey as we walk through it, sometimes we ask ourselves if it is even worthwhile; but if only we could see that the cross we carry as a christian is far better than the chains that bound us, we would know that given a second chance to choose, we would still choose Christ.

That reminds me of two songs by Steven Curtis Chapman:
No better place - I was eight years old when I decided to follow Jesus. I started down that road, somebody told me that this path that leads to heaven will not be the easy way. Well I found that to be true, but I also found, I found out there's no better place on earth than the road that leads to heaven. No other place I'd rather be!

Remember your chains - Remember your chains. Remember the prison that once held you before the love of God broke through. Remember the place you were without grace and when you see where you are now. Remember your chains and remember your chains are gone

So even if our cross feels heavy at any point in time, just remember that the heaviest weight of our cross can only bring us to our knees. And when we are on our knees before God, He will bless us and comfort us; but when the Lord Jesus carried His cross, the weight of it led Him to His death, even so He chose the cross, and we were the reason He did it. Hallelujah, what a savior!

my stronghold

Just before going to church this morning, thought just came into my mind about how I may consider many things in this world a "stronghold", something that i depend on to carry me through life. Whatever it may be, all these things seem to have its own flaws and are bound to fail at some point in time. It is a very depressing feeling to know that what you believed in, or what you hold on to all these years can actually fail you at some point in time, and by then you will have nothing else to reply on, so helpless.

However, the Lord's mercy never fails and has constantly reminded me of the fact that even if everything else fails, He will never fail and He will always be there to catch us when we fall. This will therefore mean that we should no longer hold on to the things that are fleeting, but hold on to the one thing that is trustworthy. It is a step of faith, but one that we all have to take to survive this dying world.

I can still remember the story of this faithful believer who left his village to share his testimony in the city. Despite all the wonderful hospitality and luxury he recieved, he chose to go back to his village. He said " I am very grateful for all that you have done to make this stay of mine a very pleasant one. However my day to day grip on the Lord is slipping away." He knew what mattered most, he knew who his stronghold should be, by God's grace many more will do the same.

George Muller's Museum

A picture of George Muller in the Museum

From a sinner to a faithful servant of God,
From an aspiring missionary to a
father of thousands of orphans,
George Muller - a man of prayer,
proved
to the people in Bristol that God is sovereign and those who put their trust in
Him will be blessed!

For those of you who want to see more pictures, please click on the link:
Museum photos

I haven't got the chance to go visit Ashley Downs yet, but when I do I will post up more pictures!

mistaken identity

"Will you stop calling me the wrong name!!" ... that will probably be my reaction the next time i hear someone miscall my name. I was walking back from buying my dinner when i met a friend, the first thing he said was to call the wrong name. It has been many occasions that i have been called the wrong name and I don't know how they could possibly get my name wrong. I know most of them don't mean it, but please, i don't look like the other guy, neither do i sound like him or act like him, the only similarity I can think of is that we are both of the same height. Don't get me wrong, I am not being sensitive over such matters, it is just that it would be nice to be recognized as who i am, instead of being called the wrong name all the time.

Another point of bringing up the matter is that I keep asking myself how much do i really see of myself before Christ? Do I also have the same need to be recognized as myself or do I see myself as insignificant before Christ. I am ashamed to say that many times I fail to see that the picture God is painting in my life is not me, but Christ. The challenge always is , do others see Christ in us? Just like the song from Joy Williams "...do they see Jesus in me, do they recognize His face...". Can others come up to us and "accidently" mistake us for someone who resembles Christ in character? or do we bear Christ's name in vain?

- I am crucified with Chirst: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me - Gal 2:20a (KJV)
- Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; - Eph 5:1 (KJV)

good news

It has indeed been a good saturday. One of the good news is that I witnessedthe baptism of a brother in Christ who has been through quite alot to come to this point where he has decided to obey the Lord and go through the waters of baptism. It is a wonderful thing to see the face of someone who find joy in obedience to the Lord. It makes you want to praise God all the more for who He is, because you are certain that obedience to the Lord can only bring blessing and nothing less.

Another very good news is that I just found out that my buddy who has been through secondary school with me who is currently in New Zealand actually came to know the Lord. It was certainly a pleasant surprise that has proved once again that God answers prayers. I am really happy for him, and I thank God for His love and mercy that never fails. Praise God for we have this assurance that the God who longs to save His people in the days of Abraham is the same God who loves us and still seeks to redeem us from sin and hell. Hallelujah, what a savior!

If you are reading this bro, you know it is you that I am talking about! Yes you! and I am glad you are in the family.

living as my savior did

I was reading an email regarding how real disciples should act, and how we are supposed to serve others, including people whom we may dislike or even those who may seemingly harm us. I thought of how true it is since that was what the Lord Jesus Christ encouraged us to do through his example of washing His disciples feet.

To be a real disciple is to follow the footsteps of the master. I sometimes wonder how far I am from following the master. I find myself wandering away from the footsteps that the Lord Jesus Christ has laid just a bit too often. Imagine going back nearly 2000 years in the past and being able to witness first hand how the Lord Jesus Christ lived his life., how he talked, laughed, cried, walked, worked, I am sure it would be awesome.

How can one man(although He was fully God) carry the weight of saving the world and yet is able to be gentle enough to show love to those who need love, strong enough to help those who need help, and compassionate enough to cry for those who are going through pain? I am glad my master could do it.

testing how to post pictures

me in my room in halls

I know it is kind of random putting up a photo of myself, but I wanted to know how to post pictures on the blog. So since it is my blog, I thought why not have my face in it! haha!

Well, half of my face at least...

living in the grey

I usually don't read forwarded mails, but I recieved a forwarded email from my friend with the heading " new rape case tactic", and i thought it should be good to be aware of such things. After reading through, the email mentioned that the newest tactic is to use a child who appears to be lost to trick the victim to find the house for the child, where she will then be made unconcious and raped.

Whether it is true or not, it is still appalling to read about such terrible tactics. What has become of the world that we are in danger even when we try to do good. Nowadays, we don't recieve people who seem to be homeless to our homes, we don't easily give others a ride home even when they seem lost, and now we may even be afraid to help a child, simply because people are less trust worthy these days. The fact is that evil has so seriously corrupted the human soul, even when we try to believe that we live in a more "civilised" world. The irony is that we are not better beings, we are just better "actors" hiding the true hideous nature that we are deteriorating into.

I don't want to know what our world will be like if our sense of doing what is right continues to be deterred by the insecurities of this world. I guess that is why it is harder for people to come to know the Lord these days. Everything seems to be in the grey, you can't really draw a clear line between right and wrong anymore, there is always the excuse that what is bad may be good and what is good may be bad. It is ridiculous and sad, but it is also a clear warning signal to believers that we need to be stronger to stand for what the holy spirit convicts us of right, and let God do the rest!

just like a new baby

I was just thinking about how babies are the most adorable beings in the world. Imagine finding a baby being left alone cold and hungry, you just can't help but to feel sorry for the little child. We sometimes read about people who adopt these poor babies and take care of them. Slowly but surely there is a bond that is being formed between the two. The longer the baby is under the care of that person, the harder it is for both of them to be separated.

So it is with us who are saved, we were once lost in darkness, until one blessed day, our Lord Jesus Christ came to adopt us into His family. The more we spend time with Him, the more we see His perfect being, and all the more we love Him.

I guess one of the most touching moments of having a child is when the child actually calls out to the parent. Just to hear a baby say "papa" or "mama" will make the strongest person's heart melt right before the child. I can't help but to think of what it means to God when we call Him Abba father. Does His heart beat a little faster? Does it make Him cry when we call out to Him in love? It is clear that He loves us very much, therefore I can only imagine how much it means to Him if we would give all we can to love Him back.

more to this life

Quoting from a song from Steven Curtis Chapman - [ ...More to this life, More than these eyes alone can see, And there's more than this Life alone can be...]. I sometimes think how did this world come to this point where it is and still fail to see that "our" way of life is failing, and the only way to live is "HIS" way.

The hectic lifestyle selfish pursuits ultimately brings us to only one result - nothing. Just like what J.B Nicholson Jr. said in one of his sermons, " When we had a choice between God or nothing, we chose nothing!" It is just sad that many of us are ignorant of this fact. The lifestyle that the world promotes may seem glamourous, but if we seriously think about it, it boils down to nothing, it is just temporary masquerade that leads us away from our creator.

I believe there is certainly more to this life that God has given to us. If only we can see beyond the apparent, and let God lead, I am sure we will be amazed at what our creator has meant this life to be. I don't know the what it will be like, but i am quite sure it is much more than what we have anticipated it to be, or anything that we can ever prepare for.

me myself and a whole lot more to life

The reason this blog exists is simply to share some parts of my life and how i see God working in them. I hope by God's grace and will, it may be an encouragement to some. I don't know much on how blogging works, but i will try to keep this blog in good shape, and hopefully improve as time passes.

God bless!