What Men Live By

Marriage

2011-03-02T13:28:00.003+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you. -Philippians 1:3

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.

She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outsidethe door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.

My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

My Family Photos

2009-08-23T21:35:00.006+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you. -Philippians 1:3

This blog is almost dead. Will revamp it soon...

Uploaded some photos taken during Mom's and my birthday celebration. For viewing pleasure. :)

They are my beloved family!

(Front row: My sister Eliza, me, Mom

Back row: My brother Alexander, Dad

Missing in the picture: Youngest brother Abraham-- he's the photographer)

(4 children of the Au family- the youngest to the eldest)

My darling sister and me

(I'm going to miss her so much!)

That's all for now~ Till the next time I update my blog... God bless you!

An Unreserved Love 爱是不保留

2009-02-15T03:47:00.006+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

A Valentine's Day Special Song Dedication for my Lord, my Lover, my Prince

Sung by : 关心妍

The original version is sung in Cantonese though, this is the English version. I really like this song, hope you will enjoy listening to it and be blessed too!

好好恋爱

2009-01-17T00:24:00.003+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Sung by: 彭家丽，王祖蓝

(女)我的天父，可否讓我好好地談戀愛，
不再流淚，不再傷痛，不再聚合又要分開。
我的天父，我只想要安穩地找個人來愛，
請讓我知道那個人在不在。

(男)我的孩子，難道你忘記了我就是愛，
學懂愛我，學懂愛你自己，你就懂好好戀愛。
我的孩子，何不嘗試安靜地慢慢去等待，
你就會知道那個人在不在。

(男)你是否願意相信，每時每刻都在我手裏，
(女)願意相信，　　

(合)沒有事情是太早或是太遲。

(男)願意相信，
(女)愛我的主，我願意相信，萬事萬物都在祢手裏，

(男)我教你順服，我的旨意。
(女)請教我順服，祢的旨意。

God is love, and to be in love I must first learn to love Him and myself, to know what is to be in love and truely love. If I believe in Him, everything is in His hands, nothing is too early or too late, all i have to do is to follow and obey His will for me.

Prayer of St. Francis

2008-12-08T16:36:00.007+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, Joy.

O Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled As to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

During this Christmas season, a season of love and giving, once again I really pray that God will make me an instrument of His Peace and Love.

Tomorrow Will Be Better (English Version)

2008-11-13T23:32:00.003+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

明天会更好英文版(English Version)
Tomorrow will be Better - -Stars

明天会更好 Tomorrow Will Be Better

2008-11-13T11:31:00.003+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Sung by Timi Zhuo 卓依婷

轻轻敲醒沉睡的心灵　
慢慢张开你的眼睛　
看看忙碌的世界
是否依然孤独的转个不停　
春风不解风情　
吹动少年的心　
让昨日脸上的泪痕　
随记忆风干了　　
　　
抬头寻找天空的翅膀　
候鸟出现它的影迹　
带来远处的饥荒
无情的战火依然存在的消息
玉山白雪飘零　
燃烧少年的心　　
使真情溶化成音符　
倾诉遥远的祝福　
　　
唱出你的热情　
伸出你的双手　　
让我拥抱着你的梦　
让我拥有你真心的面孔
让我们的笑容　
充满着青春的骄傲　
为明天献出虔诚的祈祷
　　　　　　
谁能不顾自己的家园　
抛开记忆中的童年　
谁能忍心看那昨日的忧愁
带走我们的笑容
青春不解红尘　
胭脂沾染了灰　
让久违不见的泪水　
滋润了你的面容
　　　
唱出你的热情　
伸出你的双手
让我拥抱着你的梦　
让我拥有你真心的面孔
让我们的笑容　
充满着青春的骄傲
为明天献出虔诚的祈祷　
　　　　　　　　
轻轻敲醒沉睡的心灵　
慢慢张开你的眼睛　
看看忙碌的世界
是否依然孤独的转个不停　
日出唤醒清晨　
大地光彩重生　　
让和风拂出的音响　
谱成生命的乐章　　
　
唱出你的热情　
伸出你的双手　
让我拥抱着你的梦　
让我拥有你真心的面孔
让我们的笑容　
充满着青春的骄傲　
让我们期待着明天会更好

Very nice song, child-like. Yes, tomorrow will be better, I believe so, nothing is impossible in God.

Long-Lasting Relationship

2008-11-08T09:23:00.004+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

- By Christine Tan

A picture of perfect love is a loving couple committed to one another despite the circumstances. However, in the world today, break-ups and divorces are prevalent, and circumstances often determine a couple's commitment rather than vice-versa. Many couples change partners casually and often too frequently. The trend perceived is that the wisest (and perhaps "coolest") thing to do is to have many partners, so as to find the "right" one for your life. Apart from our grandparent's generation of matchmaking, it is rare to find a couple whose first love becomes their eventual life partner.

Q: Lasting relationships are rare in today's culture. Why do you think someone should stay committed in a relationship and not jump from one person to another?

Our hearts are valuable. We should not settle for the second best. A lot of people jump into relationships because they need affection and love to fill the emptiness of their hearts. If we commit ourselves loosely in a relationship, we will inevitably end up being hurt again and again. As a result, we will carry our scars and burdens from one relationship to another.

Does perfect love exist? Yes, I believe it does. When we are loved by the Perfect Lover, Jesus Christ, can we truly know how to love each other.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." --1 John 4:7-10

Is Premarital Sex a Sin?

2008-09-16T18:11:00.006+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

I'm pretty disturbed by the ways many young people are living nowadays, from the conversations I had with some people I happened to know randomly. If you think I must be some not open-minded elderly person, then you're wrong. For your info, I'm only 22 this year!

Here are some questions asked concerning premarital sex:

"Is it okay to have sex if you're totally in love with each other, and you're totally certain that you're going to marry each other and spend the rest of your lives together (especially if you're engaged to be married)? What if you're over 30 (or 40), or what if you had previously been married before? Is premarital sex okay at that point?"

Notice that after you are married, then sex is appropriate between you and your spouse. But before you are married it is still premarital sex (fornication). So if premarital sex is a sin, then it is a sin up until the moment you are married. The New Testament never says that if you're totally in love with each other and you're committed to each other and you're certain that you will get married and spend the rest of your lives together, then premarital sex is okay. The New Testament also never says that premarital sex is okay if you're over a certain age limit, or if you had previously been married before, or anything like that. Sorry, but there are no "loopholes"!

Also, consider that there are many people who were engaged to be married, and who expected to spend the rest of their lives together, but then they broke up. Some of them gave their virginity to each other because they were certain that they were going to get married, and they ended up regretting that they gave up their virginity to the wrong person. Life is full of uncertainties, and you're not married until you're married!

"Is oral sex okay? Is "petting" okay? Is it okay to see each other naked?"

It is human nature to want to know how far we can go without "crossing the line," but remember what the New Testament says:
1 Corinthians 6:18: "Flee from sexual immorality."
In the above passage we are told to run away from sexual immorality. Therefore, the best thing to do is not to get anywhere near "crossing the line." Our analytical minds want to know if it is safe for us to fondle and touch each other sexually (even fully clothed), or to have oral sex instead of intercourse, or to see each other naked, etc., but notice that those are not the attitudes that the Bible describes. All of those things will increase our desire and temptation to have sex, but the Bible says to run away from those temptations. Therefore, it's best to avoid any situations which will cause sexual temptation, such as touching each other sexually, being naked (or near naked) with each other, or sometimes even just being alone together. This can sometimes be difficult to do when our emotions (and hormones) are flying high for that special person, but try to keep in mind that when we follow God's plan then everything always works out for the best, in amazing ways!

Examine your ways!

2008-08-29T11:13:00.003+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

~Bishop E. Earl Jenkins~

"Let us examine our ways." Lamentations 3:40 NIV

A guy rushed into a service station one day and asked the manager if he'd a pay phone. The manager nodded, "Sure, over there." The guy inserted a couple of coins, dialed and waited for an answer. Finally someone came on the line. "Uh, sir," he said in a deep voice, "could you use an honest, hard-working young man?" The station manager couldn't help overhearing the question. After a moment or two the guy said, "Oh, you already have an honest, hard-working young man? Well, okay. Thanks all the same." A broad smile stretched across his face. He hung up the phone and started back to his car, obviously elated. "Hey, just a minute," the station manager said, "I couldn't help but hear your conversation. Why are you so happy? I thought the man said he already had someone and didn't need you?" The guy smiled. "Well, you see, I am that honest, hard-working young man. I was just checking up on myself!"

If you're serious about walking with God, examine yourself regularly. Are you praying, reading God's Word and renewing your mind daily? How about your attitudes? Are they slipping? Your attitudes send a signal before you've said a word. They're like traffic lights. Sometimes they flash red, which means 'stop, don't get in my way, I'm too busy to love, help, or care.' Sometimes they flash yellow, which means 'I'm touchy and out-of-sorts, I could go either way.' Sometimes they flash green, which means, 'Let's go, I'm with you, you can count on me.' The Bible says, "Let us examine our ways...and...return to the Lord."

What needs to be examined regularly? "Our ways!"

A Carrot, An Egg and A Cup of Coffee

2008-08-19T12:47:00.003+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee (we all fall into one of these categories)

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water.

Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

May we all be COFFEE

挥着翅膀的女孩

2008-07-22T12:22:00.005+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

-- Lyrics by: 紀私亭　Music: 光榮　Sung by: 容祖兒--

当我还是一个懵懂的女孩
遇到爱不懂爱
从过去到现在
直到他也离开
留我在云海徘徊
明白没人能取代他曾给我的信赖

See Me Fly I'm Proud To Fly Up High
不能一直依赖别人给我拥戴
Believe Me I Can Fly I Am Singing In The Sky
就算风雨覆盖我也不怕重来

我已不是那个懵懂的女孩
遇到爱用力爱
人心真爱
风雨来不避开
谦虚把头低下来
像沙鸥来去填密
只为寻一个奇迹

See Me Fly
I'm Proud To Fly Up High
生命已经打开我要你总精彩
Believe Me I Can Fly
I Am Singing In The Sky
你曾经对我说
做勇敢的女孩

我盼有一天能和你相见
骄傲的对着天空说
世界乘你兜风 Let Me Fly
我不会孤单因为你都在

This is how I feel now.. I want to be brave and fly again. And I can fly as high as I think I can, with Jesus as the wind beneath my wings.

I realise...

2008-06-09T15:43:00.002+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

I realise...

1. In order to survive in this world, you must know who to please.

2. Sometimes no matter how good your performance is, if someone doesn't like you, you're out! Nobody is indispensable.

3. Even if you don't feel like pleasing that someone, you just have to put on your masquerade.

4. This is a world where only the fittest survive, absolutely no compassion towards those who are "weak".

5. One grave mistake and you have to bear the consequences forever (as long as you don't get out of that place).

6. Nothing is predictable.

7. Don't be too smart. Sometimes it's good to just act stupid.

---

I'm glad my God is a God of love, not a God of prejudice and favoritism.

Father, I'm so tired of this world... Grant me a heart of love and teach me how to see things through Your eyes.

A TEENAGER'S VIEW OF HEAVEN

2008-03-31T14:14:00.004+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Thought provoking story my friend emailed me. Read it till the end.

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. 'I wowed 'em,' he later told his father, Bruce. 'It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote..' It also was the last.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.

The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. 'I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it,' Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. 'I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.'

Brian's Essay: The Room...

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read 'Girls I have liked.' I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.' The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird 'Books I Have Read,' 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed at .' Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things I've yelled at my brothers.' Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I Have Done in My Anger', 'Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.' I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Shows I have watched', I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.

I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!' In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it.. The title bore 'People I Have Shared the Gospel With.' The handle was brighter than those around it,seemed newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was 'No, no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'-Phil. 4:13 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' If you feel the same way forward it so the love of Jesus will touch their lives also My 'People I shared the gospel with' file just got bigger, how about yours?

Easter

2008-03-26T15:49:00.002+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Without EASTER,

CHRISTMAS will have no meaning,

and

GOOD FRIDAY has no purpose.

How's Your Form?

2008-03-12T08:48:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

God said, I will form man in my image.

The world says, We must conform man to our image.

The Devil says, I will deform man by sin.

Education says, I will inform man by knowledge.

Society says, We will reform man by culture.

Jesus Christ says, I will transform man by love.

Raw Fish Salad toss – a biblical approach

2008-02-15T14:28:00.006+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

One of my friends shared this with me, I think this is interesting (This has never crossed my mind before)! An approach in Christian aspect...

Vegetables (carrots) & fruits (pomelo)
Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

Ezekiel 47:12
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.

Spices (Cinnamon, pepper)
Songs of Songs 4:13-16
Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.
You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon. Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden that its fragrance may spread abroad.

Oil
Psalms 45:6-7
Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

Plum Sauce (Honey)
Leviticus 20:24
Bit I said to you, “ You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations”.

Sesame seeds, Peanuts
Is 61:11
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Cracker (flour)
1 Kings 17:14-16
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food for every day.

Raw Fish (Prosperity)
Mark 6:41-43
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them al. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

Love & Life

2008-01-17T09:08:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

This story tells us something about.....

LOVE & LIFE.

My husband is an engineer by profession. I love him for his steady nature and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.

Two years of courtship and now, five years into marriage, I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness.

I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship and my feelings. I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy.

My husband is my complete opposite; his lack of sensitivity, and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about LOVE.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce.

"Why?" he asked, shocked.

"I am tired. There are no reasons for everything in the world!" I answered.

He kept silent the whole night, seemingly in deep thought. My feeling of disappointment only increased.

Here was a man who was not able to even express his predicament, so what else could I expect from him?

And finally he asked me: "What can I do to change your mind?"

Somebody said it right... It's hard to change a person's personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.

Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered: "Here is the question.... If you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind."

Let's say; I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death. Will you do it for me?"

He said: "I will give you your answer tomorrow...."

My hopes just sank by listening to his response.

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes....

My dear,
"I would not pick that flower for you, but .... please allow me to explain the reasons further....."

This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading.

"When you use the computer you always mess up the Software programs, and you cry in front of the screen. I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you.

You love travelling but always lose your way in a new city. I have to save my eyes to show you the way.

You always have the cramps whenever your "good friend" approaches every month. I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.

You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom.

You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails and help to remove those annoying white hairs.

So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand...and tell you the colour of flowers, just like the colour of the glow on your young face...

Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do... I could not pick that flower yet, and die ... "

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting ... and as I continue reading... "Now, that you have finished reading my answer, and if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favourite bread and fresh milk..."

I rushed to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread....

Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone...

That's LIFE, and LOVE.

When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and dullness.

Love shows up in all forms; even in very small and cheeky forms. It has never been a model. It could be the dullest and most boring form ...

Flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship. Under all this, the pillar of true love stands ... AND THAT'S LIFE

The happiest people in the world... are not those who have no problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.

LOVE is not just between two lovers, husband and wife--it also encompasses mother, father and siblings, sisters and brothers, friends and neighbours!

--author unknown

A very "inspiring" story and a reminder for us who are always lost in our "sentimental self" that we neglect the "small unnoticable deeds" that "touch" us in our daily life through our loved ones. Hence taking them for granted and "misunderstood" their concern and care.

Vulnerability of Life

2007-08-28T08:14:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Lately, I have been thinking much about the vulnerability of life.

My lower secondary school best friend's mom has just passed away. When my brother broke the news to me, I was surprised, but never had it dawn on me that she passed away because she met with an accident. My friend's mom was a cancer patient. She had to take many years of sick leave before returning to school to teach again. She looked extremely thin when I last saw her. I thought she passed away due to her illness. I definitely could not believe my eyes when I read my mom's sms about her death. Pn. Chin passed away after meeting with an accident while crossing the road on Thursday night (23 August 2007). It must have been shocking for YR when she heard the news. Her mom will never be able to witness her graduate.

This is not the first fatal news I received. My own aunt was knocked down by a car while waiting for bus at the bus stop and she died after being sent to the general hospital. There may be some inside stories whether this is a mere accident or a deliberate murder. My little cousin (only in nursery then) who was beside her was badly injured, but his life was spared because his body was cushioned by his mother's body when they were hit. This incident left me deep impact.

I have been taking things for granted. God has been protecting me and my family all along. For this year only, so many a time, we escaped death merely by a few seconds. I ran across roads hastily to board the bus without waiting for the traffic lights to turn green. My mom and sister was knocked down by a motorcyclist just a few months ago. Robbers tried to rob and kill my parents early this year. That was not all. God has put me into plights, tested my patience etc but yet, He has never once left me. He showed me love through nature, family, friends, and even strangers! I should be more grateful...

James 4:13~

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that."

Indeed, how true is the Words in the Bible...

God's Grace Once More...

2007-08-10T17:28:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Every story has an ending,
but in life, every ending is a new beginning.

I was in a dilemma.
I was scared.

This is a harsh world.
Life is definitely, not a bed of roses.
Even if it’s a bed of roses,
do remember that roses have thorns too.

That was when I learned to grow up.

God did not promise me life to be a bed of roses. He did not answer my prayers in the time that I felt He should. In fact He was trying to show me something even greater than I could ever imagine, see, hear or think about.

On 27 October 2006, my mom underwent a major eye operation. I prayed so hard that night when my sister told me the news, overpowered by fear of losing my mom during the operation. I reminiscence the times my mom showered me with love in her special way. She never hesitated in disciplining me when I was naughty but always apologised and comforted me with soothing words of wisdom after that. When I was bullied in school, she would step in to shelter and protect me. When I needed help, she would go all out to look for solutions. When I was sick, she stayed up throughout the night to restore me back to health. When I was having exams, she stayed up studying with me and praying for me. When I got good results, she never failed to compliment me and celebrate with me. When I am in Singapore, she doesn’t stop thinking and praying for me. Every time when I come home, she would ask me if I am fine, living well, not starving myself, coping well with my course, having enough money to spend etc. In tears and trust, I beseeched and pleaded God to help her pull through the operation.

Ever since the operation took place, my family’s life took a big turnover. My sister was in the midst of sitting for her SPM examination. I was doing my internship. My mom was physically unable to take care of our needs. We, not only have to be more responsible to take care of ourselves, but also to take care of mom’s every need. Mom was to rest at home on bed for at least a month or even more. If her eye condition were to worsen during this critical period, she would be blind for the rest of her life.

Upon hearing this, my mom was extremely frightened and mentally unstable. She was afraid of not being able to see her children and all her loved ones anymore. She was worried if she did not get well, she would not be able to take care of us in future. She had insomnia every night thinking about her illness, eventually she fell into the pit of depression. Life was certainly not easy for us.

Just when I thought life was bad enough for my family, my sister sent me a brief email on 11 January 2007. I became numb and nauseated. The more I read, the more I fought with tears, frustration, disappointments, and anguish.

It read, “Jie, don’t phone or sms into mom’s hp because she and dad were robbed on Monday on their way home after her hospital appointment. Very terrible and shocking experience for them, especially mom…2 Indians armed with 5 feet long parang knives broke all the windows of our car. One of them slashed mom on the left arm and snatched away her handbag and dad’s small bag. For the rest of the story will tell you when you come back. It was really God’s miracle…”

I dreamt to see my mom happy and well again. But nothing is for certain in life. It feels like someone has lowered the curtain to the theatre of my dreams. I cried the night, stumbled, crumbled, and at last, sinking to my knees.

I cried out in despair, questioning God why He allows tragedies to happen to my family, why didn’t He answer my prayers, but adding more salt on our scrapped, still bleeding wounds instead. Somehow His Words didn’t make sense in my head. His promise that He will never forsake me seemed so vague and unauthentic. I wondered how long would this consuming darkness last till my family get to the light.

There was just too much that time could not erase as I raged in His silence
I wondered, is He actually there, or does He really care?

I did not understand what God was showing me. I only knew how badly I wanted to see a miracle happen, how badly I wanted God to remind me again how much He loves me, and rekindle my first love for Him.

My sister’s mere mention in her email that “It was really God’s miracle” pulled me back to thank Him for sparing my parents’ life. He knew that it would be hard for me to manage my family if He were to take both my parents away during the robbery. My siblings are still in school. The responsibility of taking care of them would naturally fall on my shoulders since I am the eldest.

Thinking that that was what my sister meant when she said “It was really God’s miracle”, I was still wondering why God had to even allow such traumatic experience to happen to mom when she was already antagonised by the news that she would be blind. Little did I know that God had already performed a big miracle for my family, something that nobody could ever imagine, which was “the rest of the story” my sister did not mention in her email.

The live “James Bond” movie went like this. My parents were on their way back from the general hospital after my mom’s medical appointment with the doctor. On their way home, they dropped by my grandpa’s house, hoping to bring him out for lunch. However, my grandpa was not at home. Just when my dad was about to make a move from the house, 3 cars approached and prevented my parents from driving away- one in front, one behind and one by the side of our car. 2 huge, hooded Indians came out from one of the cars and without a word, began smashing our car windows with their 5-feet long parang knives. Then they went to my mom’s side and tried to snatch away her handbag. Frightened, my mom screamed for help. Perhaps fearing for their own lives, nobody from the neighbourhood came out to help. Hearing my mom’s screams, the brutal robbers slashed my mom’s left arm with their parang and immediately blood gushed out from the wound. The robbers managed to grab my mom’s handbag and sped away.
Within a few minutes later, the robbers came back to the scene of the robbery, shamelessly. This time, they took the car keys and my dad’s clutched bag and did a thorough check in our car to ensure they have taken everything before going away. My mom lost her handphone, doctor’s letters, personal documents and money. My dad lost his Bible, church bulletins, church keys and some other personal documents.

After that, my mom was sent to get her badly wounded arm treated, while my dad went to the police station to lodge a police report. Still in a shock and very uncertain about the next step, my dad broke down and prayed,

“Lord Jesus, I do not know what to do now, I’m totally helpless. Please prove to me that You are a living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I do not know how You are going to do it, but please bring our important documents back to us. I cry out in Jesus Christ’s most precious name, Amen.”

Knowing that the robbers are usually only interested in the money and valuable items, my dad was hoping some “good Samaritans” who found the lost items by the roadside will send the important documents to the police station or inform my parents to collect it somewhere. The moment my dad’s finished praying, something really amazing that we could never expect or imagine happened.

My mom phoned back home, only to find out that someone has dropped her handbag and dad’s clutched bag at our house. Before knowing what happened to my parents, my sister noticed a car stopped in front of our house. Thinking that the car belongs to our neighbour or their friends, my sister ignored it. It stopped there for quite some time, before driving to the side of my house and threw something into our house compound. Irritated by the behaviour of some inconsiderate people who like to throw their rubbish into other people’s house, my sister was annoyed when she saw the “rubbish”. Surprised, she told my mom about her findings when mom phoned.

It was like express post. The person found out our home address and sent back my parent’s lost documents and bags to our house in less than an hours’ time after the robbery, even before the victims reached home! It was considered extremely fast, because my grandpa’s house was half an hour’s drive away from our house.

Although my mom’s handphone and money were still missing on that day, my family was thankful that all the important documents and everything in dad’s clutched bag were returned untouched. God answered my dad’s prayer exactly and instantly!

As my family thought that was the finale of this “action movie” episode, God was not done with His miraculous plans. The next morning after the robbery, just when my dad was leaving the house to go to the mechanic to check on our damaged car, he found a small plastic bag right in front at our door step. Curious what was inside the bag, my dad opened it. Lo and behold, inside were my mom’s handphone wrapped nicely with sponge and a bag of paper notes and coins amounting to 3 hundred over dollars! My mom got all her belongings back safely, except for her handphone SIM card, which the robbers might have lost it along the way. Can anyone imagine those unruly robbers who would readily kill anyone who gets in their way, would bother to take the trouble and risk to come to our house twice just to return everything to us?

I am so amazed and touched by how God works. He actually cares, and He loves us. God's promises are true, but His timing is not the same as ours. God always wants greater glory than what we might be willing to give Him. God puts obstacles and adversity into our lives in order to build perseverance and faith. Why has God put the mountain in my life? I now fully understand it was to demonstrate His power through my life and to show His glory.

He cradled me. He understands me and embraces my fragility and in His arms I find the strength to get up with my life once more.

That was not the first or the last miracle God has done for our family. That was also not the first or the last prayer God has answered in my life. God certainly honours the prayers of parents and His servants. He answered my parents’ prayers. God closed almost all the doors for Eliza to study medicine after SPM. Just when we thought Eliza has no chance for medical scholarship, again He amazed us by granting her the most-difficult-to-get scholarship in Malaysia, JPA to study medicine overseas. Eliza’s and my dream to go for missions can be realised after all. After what has happened to our mom and a few people around us, God showed us the fragility of life, He gave us different talents to serve Him in every aspect and Eliza’s purpose is to serve Him in the medical field.

That is one of the most wonderful blessings He has given our family, one that has changed our lives altogether. All we had to do was simply ask, trusting for His answer.

Jesus, I know You are standing by my side. When I think back on these times, when I look back on these days, I'll be glad because I was blessed to get to have you in my life. I'll look and see Your face, You were right there for me. This is a long, long journey and I need to be close to You.

Isaiah 23:19
“God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not fulfil it?”

Thought of the Day

2007-07-22T17:22:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Sacrifice developes Perseverance.

I Want to Live...For God

2007-06-13T23:32:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Everytime after ministering to people, I feel drained. It is as if someone has taken something away from your body.

It feels good to be able to stand in the gap, listening and praying for them, but I know the evil one is not happy. I don't know how to describe that feeling. Mental malfunction? Emotional fatigue? Spiritual attack?

I told God I want to be an angel to everyone around me, if not, as many people as possible.

He answered my prayers by sending me difficult people, unlovable people, people with problems or depression etc. at different periods of my life. Sometimes it's really hard to soothe or even calm them especially when they start crying. Sometimes when the conversations become tense, I would have to receive scoldings too.

I'm not sure why. Old and young, guys and girls, tend to pour out their hearts to me, sometimes I have to put my work aside just to pay attention to them. I guess it's my willingness and availability to listen/attend to people that God sees in me that allowed Him to bring people to me.

However, I dread what comes next everytime. I gained friends who would trust me more than ever after that, but I also lost a friend through this kind of experience. I almost lose all my confidence, myself during that period of time. Sometimes when imaginations or nightmares that something bad will happen to him/her comes, I would wake up from my sleep or work and pray. And that can be just so physically tiring.

Just be glad Angela.. Be glad that you have someone and something to pray for every night before bed and every morning when you wake up. It's a blessing to be able to pray for someone else apart from yourself. =) After all, that's what you wanted to do right? Yup, I will not give up caring.

ok, shall count this as a blessing, instead of being so melancholy... =P

Students Lose Diplomas Over Cheers

2007-06-03T00:01:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

News Article: Galesburg High Students Lose Diplomas Over Cheers

omg... can you imagine this to happen in Singapore Polytechnic?

Almost all the Diploma in Media and Communication students can forget about their diploma certs if the "no-cheering" law were to be enforced, looking at the way DMC students cheered for their fellow graduants on Graduation Day...

Well, I guess we're just so blessed here. =P

There You'll Be

2007-05-23T00:02:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

By Faith Hill

When I think back on these times
And the dreams we left behind
I'll be glad 'cause I was blessed
To get to have you in my life
When I look back on these days
I'll look and see your face
You were right there for me

~ * ~ * ~

In my dreams...
I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart...
There'll always be a place for you
For all my life...
I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am, there you'll be
And everywhere I am, there you'll be

~ * ~ * ~

Well you showed me how to feel
To feel the sky was in my reach
And I always will remember
All the strength you gave to me
Your love made me make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me

~ * ~ * ~

In my dreams...
I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart...
There'll always be a place for you
For all my life...
I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am, there you'll be

~ * ~ * ~

'Cause I always saw in you
My light, my strength
And I want to thank you now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
For always...

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

God, thanks for being there for me always! =)

I want to dedicate this song to thank my God, although it may not be a Christian one. Who cares anyway, if the lyrics speak of what my heart wants to convey.

A Childhood Friend whom I Envied

2007-05-02T15:33:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

She is everything I wanted to be.

She's outspoken, confident, quick-thinker, attractive (cute), witty, talented...

She was always a leader, since primary school days.
She was the President for every club she joined.
We joined the prefectorial board together, she became the assistant head prefect in no time.
Almost nobody can be champion/ best speaker in debates and speaking competitions if she's there.
She topped the school for SPM (O-Levels) and shocked everyone.

She knows how to please teachers.

She became the Principal's "best friend" when all the students and teachers in the school hate and were scare of the Principal.

Her parents dote on her.
Guys fly to her at the snap of her fingers.
Girls envy and get jealous of her.

I have lost touch with her since I left secondary school.
We took different paths and pursue our dreams.

Life is ironic.
When I thought she has everything I could ever wish for,
Mom broke out to me the news of her father's demise.
Mom told me her spoken English has improved, and that she sounded still as confident as ever.
The Principal was the first person she contacted.
She made all the decisions regarding her father's burial since she was the only child.

I was awed by her courage and calmness,
but somehow I'm not sure if she's just putting up a brave front,
and feeling an emptiness deep down in her.
She may have everything I wished to have in this world,
but I have one thing she doesn't have-

the Salvation of Jesus Christ.

She knows a little about the Bible, because she had a Christian babysitter.
She could even memorise the Lord's prayer better than me when we were in primary school!
However, somehow the gospel seed that was planted was taken away.
I pray that God will give me the heart of compassion,
for someone I used to envy so much,
but is merely a mortal like me.

The Graduate-Level Test: Self-Defense

2007-04-16T16:49:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. - Psalm 37:6

As a believer grows in trusting obedience and love, God often brings a test that seems uncharacteristically cruel. The test: being wrongfully judged by those close to you. It is not for the reactionary. It cannot be passed over by simply gutting it out. Supernatural grace is the only means of passing this one. It is one of those tests the Savior had to experience Himself when being tried by the court of public opinion, the religious community, and the government of His day. His response to the government was silence. His response to the religious establishment was silence at the final judgment. To the rest of His accusers He remained quiet and left vindication to the Father. He lived the commandment He gave to the disciples:

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:35).

How do you react when you are accused or mistreated for no reason? Do you listen quietly, or do you justify each and every action? Most of us take pride in doing what is right and expect the same from others, especially our brothers and sisters in the faith. Jesus knew that if you were to be a true follower of His, you would enter this test eventually. It is part of the program. The workplace gives ample opportunity to be wronged, misunderstood, and maligned. When God brings a measured assault against one of His children, it is to find out if he truly believes in the cross. The cross is where each of us is given the opportunity to die to our pride, our reputations, and our ego. When He allows a measured assault upon us, it is to find out if the cross is sufficient. He wants to see if we will seek to rescue ourselves. Jesus said if we die with Him, we will be raised with Him. When God allows satan to bring the measured assault, ask God for the grace to cling to the cross. Let the pride and arrogance that Jesus wants to remove from our lives be crucified. Thank God for the opportunity to be crucified with Christ. Then your righteousness will shine like the noonday sun and the justice of your cause will be in His hands.

The Smell of Rain

2007-03-16T16:17:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery. Her husband, David, held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news. That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency Cesarean to deliver couple's new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing. At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature.

Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs. "I don't think she's going to make it,"he said, as kindly as he could. "There's only a 10-percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one" Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Dana would likely face if she survived. She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation, and on and on.

"No! No!" was all Diana could say. She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away. But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Dana's underdeveloped nervous system was essentially 'raw', the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love. All they could do, as Dana struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl.

There was never a moment when Dana suddenly grew stronger. But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there. At last, when Dana turned two months old. her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time. And two months later, though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero, Dana went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.

Five years later, when Dana was a petite but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life. She showed no signs whatsoever of any mental or physical impairment. Simply, she was everything a little girl can be and more. But that happy ending is far from the end of her story. One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Dana was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was practicing.

As always, Dana was chattering nonstop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent . Hugging her arms across her chest, little Dana asked, "Do you smell that?"

Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, "Yes, it smells like rain." Dana closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?" Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet. It smells like rain."

Still caught in the moment, Dana shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced,"No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."

Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Dana happily hopped down to play with the other children. Before the rain came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along. During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

This morning when the Lord opened a window to Heaven, He saw me, and He asked: "My child, what is your greatest wish for today?" I responded: "Lord please, take care of the person who is reading this message, their family and their special friends. They deserve it and I love them very much" The love of God is like the ocean, you can see its beginning, but not its end.

A Bird's Eye View

2007-03-16T16:12:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Mom got up early Sunday morning and got the kids ready for church. Dad sat in the living room, reading his newspaper and looking out at the snow.

They'd had the conversation before, but nothing had changed. "Why don't you go with us this week?" she asked. He didn't look up from his paper.

"You know why," he said out loud and then in his own mind finished the answer with "A truly great God wouldn't care about puny humans anyway."

The man replayed the argument in his mind: "If God is so perfect and great, why would he care about helping us? If God is so powerful, why would he make his son become a human being? Why would he stoop so low to help us.... if God is really so great."

The house was silent except for the sound of the logs crackling in the fireplace. From the other end of the house came a strange thump.

The man put down his paper and walked down the hall. Outside the window huddled a group of birds. In confusion and fear, they had flown into the window pane and fallen to the ground. They huddled together in the snow trying to figure out what to do next. The man felt sorry for the birds. He thought to himself, "The birds could go in our barn and they'd be warm there." So he went outside and opened the door to the barn. Then he waited in the cold. The birds didn't move.

"I know, I'll shoe them over to the barn door," the man thought. But as he tried to herd the birds to the barn they simply scattered. Only after he left them alone did they come back to their spot in the snow.

The man had one last plan. He went back in the house and got a loaf of bread. Carefully, he tore off pieces of bread and made a path to the barn door. But the birds just huddled closer together, ignoring the gift of life which the man was offering.

Stumped, the man stood looking at the birds, wondering just what it would take to get them to safety. He thought to himself, "If only I could become a bird and lead them to safety, then they wouldn't have to die."

He stopped and thought about it again. And he finally understood.

-- Author Unknown

Laughter Day

2007-03-15T15:14:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

My reason for posting this poster is not because I'm promoting the event. I'm just amused by the fact that 1 April is Laughter Day! I always thought 1 April is only April's Fool. That's interesting!

Benefits of Laughter

2007-03-04T21:53:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

I was browsing through a magazine on my long bus ride back home. Then I came across an article on laughing. I found out that Joel and a few other friends did not joke about laughter clubs. There are actually 5,000 laughter clubs in 40 countries, which includes Singapore. However, I'm not the leader of this club. haha... Dr Madan Kataria, an Indian doctor began this worldwide laughter movement.

This gives me more reason to laugh often. hahaha... Let me, the "laughing queen", "principal" (literally translated from chinese words- laughing leader), "hyena" or "cartoon", see how true is this to me.

BOOST IMMUNITY. Studies have found that when you laugh, it cranks up your immunity. Laughter makes your natural killer cells more active, making your body more resistant to viruses as well as cancer. Levels of disease-fighting antibodies are raised. (Erm... My dad always nags at me for having weak body resistance =P boost immunity? )

REFRESHES YOUR BODY. When you laugh, your lungs take in more oxygen and this improves circulation to your main organs, such as your kidneys. (haha… my lungs sure take in more oxygen, I can hardly breath if I laugh too much and having flu at the same time)

LOWERS LEVEL OF STRESS HORMONES. Laughter suppresses stress hormones. Stress is linked to more than 70 per cent of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and gastric problems. (Haha… how can you be stressed when you are laughing?)

RELEASES FEEL-GOOD HORMONES. Endorphins are natural painkillers which create a sense of well-being. (Erm… I feel my body aching when I laugh too much, muscle ache, especially on the cheeks and stomach =P)

FIGHTS DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. When you laugh, serotonin, a natural anti-depressant, is activated. (Guess this is true, how can you be worried about something and feeling depressed and at the same time LAUGHING?)

DEFUSES ANGER AND TENSION. Try being angry with someone who’s making you laugh. (hahaha… I tried, being angry, but I failed! I ended up rolling over the place laughing to tears. Thesis proven true. )

ATTRACTS THE OPPOSITE SEX. Women find men who make them laugh very appealing. (???!!! *stunned, disbelieving) Is it? Haha… *shakes head* =P)

BRINGS YOU JOY. Joy, which is different from happiness, is the sensation of enjoyment even in the presence of life’s problems. (Laughing doesn’t bring me joy… Jesus brings me joy! I laugh because I’m happy or amused. *singlish* Aiyo!)

-- Findings brought by SimplyHer January 07

Plastic World

2007-02-28T20:24:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

It's nice to be important,
but it's important to be nice.

How true is this line to you and me when it comes to the "real" world?

The "real" world is so scary. You will know how scary it is when you really come out and work. Everyone around seemed to be putting up a masquerade. Turn around, you will see another masquerade right behind you =P

I remember my last Discipleship Group (DG) lesson with my DG leader Shu Shyan, and my mates Lydia, Esther and June. The topic was on faith. Shu Shyan made us remember that faith is to be really practised in all situation, under every circumstances. In the working world, if one doesnt practise faith, it's very very easy to fall into the world's trap.

This is a dogs eat dogs world... Am I being pusillanimous?

Vanities, all are vanities.

We are His Sheep, He is our Shepherd

2007-02-23T15:18:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

You were in His heart.

When He left His home in heaven, He saw you;
when He became a man on earth, He was seeking you;
when He stretched out His hands upon the cross, He was reaching out to you;
when He returned to His Father, He was preparing a place for you.

You are the sheep He has come to shepherd,
to guide, to feed, to protect, to shelter and to carry.

You are the one He calls His own.

-Roy Lessin, Co-founder Dayspring

Chinese New Year

2007-02-23T14:25:00.000+08:00

Learn about The Chinese Calendar

"Three of the most prominent are the Jewish, Muslim, and Chinese. Both the Jewish and
Chinese calendars are lunisolar: The years are reckoned according to the sun but the
months according to the moon.

"The Chinese calendar is basically lunar, or based on the moon, consisting of 12 months of
alternately 29 and 30 days. This lunar year totals 354 days. To keep this calendar in step
with the solar year of about 365 days, intercalary months are periodically inserted in much
the same way they are in the Jewish calendar. One interesting feature of the Chinese
calendar is the naming of the years. Twelve animal names from ancient times have been
attached to years. These names, in order of their occurrence, are: rat, ox, tiger, hare,
dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, fowl, dog, and pig. This cycle of years is frequently
used for astrological purposes, much the same way the 12 signs of the zodiac are used in
the West to describe personality traits and to tell fortunes."
~From Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia~

In conjunction with Chinese New Year, it's good to know a little more about the chinese beliefs. I find this site (annie's homepage) very interesting, and I like it very much. Very informative.

A Story of Two Brothers

2007-02-16T14:42:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict.

It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart.

It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's tool box. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said." Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother, "I do have a job for you.

Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbour, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better.

See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence; an eight foot fence so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore." The carpenter said," I think I understand the situation". Show me the nails and the post hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you." The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one
side of the creek to the other!

A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done.

"The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. 'No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."

REMEMBER THIS:

God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

God won't ask what your highest salary was, but He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to, but He'll ask you were you ashamed to pass it on to your friends.

Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you through it !

Author Unknown

Standing in the Gap

2007-01-19T10:45:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Standing in the Gap
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. - Ezekiel 22:30

The people of Israel fell into sin when they worshiped the golden calf. It would not be the last time God's people would fall into idol worship. They had forgotten the great things God had done for them. This angered God so much that He was going to destroy the whole nation. Only one thing changed God's mind in the matter-Moses. Psalm 106:23 says, "...had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him to keep His wrath from destroying them." Moses was a man willing to stand in the gap, sacrificially, for those who were not deserving of such sacrifice. This sacrificial love by Moses is called for among His people today.

The prophet Ezekiel described another situation in which God's people fell into sin. God was ready to destroy the nation when He spoke to Ezekiel, asking him if there is a man willing to stand in the gap so that God would not have to destroy His people.

Judah was a man who stood in the gap on behalf of his younger brother Benjamin. Joseph held his brother Simeon hostage as insurance that the other brothers would bring Benjamin to Egypt. Judah had a long history of a me-focused life, but in this instance he came forward to stand in the gap for his younger brother. He responded to the anguish of his father, Jacob, by personally guaranteeing the safe return of both Simeon and Benjamin. Judah's sacrifice was rewarded (see Gen. 42-43).

Just as Christ did, we are to be those who will stand in the gap on behalf of others who are not aware of their own vulnerable condition. It is a proactive sacrificial position. Who is God calling you to stand in the gap for? Perhaps it is a mate; perhaps it is a coworker who has not come to know the Savior; perhaps it is a wayward child. Are you willing to become the sacrificial offering to God to change His plans of judgment because of your willingness to stand in their place? This is a hard teaching. This is what Jesus did for each of us. When we stand in the place of another, God moves because of our willingness to stand on their behalf. If we don't, His plans will go forward because He is a righteous and holy God who will honor His own word, even if it means destruction. Are you willing to stand in the breach of the wall for someone today? Perhaps you are the only person who will stand on someone's behalf.

Why JESUS is better than santa?

2006-12-12T09:28:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Why Jesus is better than santa?

*Santa lives at the North Pole ...
JESUS is everywhere. *

Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...
JESUS supplies all your needs.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa doesn't know your name,all he can say is "Hi little one, what's your name?" ...
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our history & future,and He even knows our hearts & how many hairs are on our heads.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...
JESUS says "Cast your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa may make you chuckle but ...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...
JESUS became our gift by dying on the cross for you & I.

*It's obvious there is really no comparison. *

*We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. *

*We need to put CHRIST back in Christmas.*

**No Christ; no Christmas**
*Know Christ; know Christmas!*

*JESUS is STILL the REASON for CHRISTMAS.*

Two Babies in a Manger

2006-12-05T13:53:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Christmas is around the corner once again! I am excited! Really very excited! Christmas is one of my favourite festival. What makes me sad is how people remember Christmas... They remember Santa Clause, they remember CHristmas trees, cards, gifts, candies, etc. Everything except Jesus Christ!

Don't they know that Christmas will never exist if Jesus was not born on earth more than 2000 years ago? Don't they know that CHristmas will never exist if God choose not come down to earth for man's sake?

I want to have a pure heart for Jesus, a loving heart for the world He cares so much for.

THis testimony touched me tremendously. I was thinking, perhaps only when people suffer, then they will be more receptive towards God. Jesus is willing to be anything just for us. To the little boy in the story, Jesus is someone special to him, who would stay close by him always, when he has no one else. I admire his simple faith, simple yet true love for Jesus.

*****

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls, who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.

They relate the following story in their own words: It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.

Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.

Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No coloured paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel [cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia], were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help.

All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6-years-old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.

Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately -- until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib.....

He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give Him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift. "So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me.'"

"So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him -- for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him -- for always!"

And the others? They had learned the lesson they had come there to teach -- that it is not what you have in your life, but WHO you have in your life that really counts. We all should give thanks for the people that "keep us warm" in life; and for all of God's many blessings to us: freedom from want, life, love, togetherness, and for the enduring love of Jesus Christ, the one person who keeps us warm and safe for always.

May God Bless you greatly this Christmas.

-- Author Unknown

My Prayer on 23 November 2006

2006-11-23T09:38:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Dearest God, I may be the only "Bible" someone ever reads. Please help me be a living testament that is worth reading. Please work through me and help me be a light and a shelter for my non-believing friends, classmates, neighbours, coworkers. I am sitting here today, yielded to your will, and asking you to use me open the eyes of someone who has been blind his or her whole life. What an incredible blessing it would be to know I am the instrument you used to bring a person into the Kingdom of God. Lord, I want to hide your Word in my heart so that the Holy Spirit can bring it to remembrance at all the right times, that the words that come forth from my mouth would honor you and point other people to you. May you be lifted high and exalted, praised, and worshipped above all. In Jesus' name. Amen.

~Isaiah 32:3~
Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.

Crack and Flaws

2006-11-16T09:24:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of pole which she carried across her neck.One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day.

The old woman smiled, " Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them .... For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

LESSON : Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

I've learnt that I just got to take each person, every single one of them for what they are and look for the good in them. Remember that we are sinners, and we have our weaknesses too.

How evil?

2006-11-14T12:29:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

You Are 6% Evil

You are good. So good, that you make evil people squirm.

Just remember, you may need to turn to the dark side to get what you want!

How Evil Are You?

haha... I did this survey just for fun. This is funny... 6% evil is still evil right? All have fallen short of God's glory. THat's why we need salvation!

God Said...

2006-08-16T03:51:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Don't look to the bigness of your need
Look to the bigness of your God !
Your circumstances are hindrances to seeing MY ABILITIES.......

If you keep your eyes on your circumstances,
The devil will your circumstances to defeat you and accuse the word of God......
The written and the living Word.

Your Victory Is in keeping your eyes on
the bigness of your God and His ability

He has Promised to take you step by step
not all at once

But step by step and......

Each step will be a Miracle !

For my lovely disciples,
Areko, Hui Yee, Joy, Junnie, Kimberly, Vanessa

Don't give up! Trust God! He will stand by you, throughout your exams, don't be afraid k? Cast all your anxieties to Him. I'll be praying for you too =)

Few Things That Help You To Survive

2006-08-16T03:43:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

If you feel tired dan hopeless
GOD knows how hard you try

When you already cry for a long time and your heart is still hurted
GOD has counted your tear drops

If you think that your life is still waiting for something and the time seems just come and pass by...
GOD is still accompanying you

When you feel alone and your friends are too busy to make a phone call
GOD is always with you

When you think that you have tried everything and don't know what to do anymore
GOD has the answers

When everything makes no sense to you and you feel stressed...
GOD is your comfort

When you see "a bit" of hope...
GOD is whispering to you

When everything works so clear and you want to praise HIM
GOD has put his blessing unto you

When you feel beautiful things is happening and you are fullfilled with wonders
GOD has smiled to you

When you have aims and dreams to reach
GOD has opened your eyes and call your name

Remember, Where ever you are and where ever you will be
GOD KNOWS

--author unknown

Who You Are Makes A Difference

2006-08-16T02:40:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

For my friend, Hui Jun

A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high school by telling them the difference they each made.

Using a process developed by Helice Bridges of Del Mar, California, she called each student to the front of the class, one at a time.

First she told them how the student made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."

Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community.

She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony.

Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt.

Then he gave him two extra ribbons, and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened."

Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said,"Well, sure."

The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said,

"Would you do me a favor? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."

That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm a creative genius."

Then he put this blue ribbon that says "Who I Am Makes A Difference" on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor.

As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought about you. I want to honor you.

"My days are really hectic and when I come home I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess, but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me.

Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!"

The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook.

He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn't think you loved me. Now I don't need to."

Dear Hui Jun, I just want you to know, your presence, who you are, has made a difference in my life. And I really thank God for you. I learnt a lot from you; your wisdom, your caring heart for people, your heart for God etc has greatly impacted me. You matter to me. I still pray for you and your family everyday. More importantly, you and your family matter a lot a lot to God and He cares.

I do not know what is going on in your life, i may not be able to understand, but I know God cares and He loves you. As long as He is there, I never need to worry for you. I dont know how to love you personally, it was really hard, but i learn to love you with God's love. I hope to receive that kind of love from you too, that's my wish this year.

Anyway, here is a smile to tell you that you are special and this, an encouragement to you to press on. =) Seek God everyday, He's waiting for you every moment.

Love

The Pearl Necklace

2006-08-16T02:31:00.002+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.

On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess--the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."

"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver,she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.

So like our heavenly Father.

What are you hanging on to?

--author unknown

The LORD is my light and my salvation

2006-08-16T00:08:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies,
they stumbled and fell.

Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.

One thing I have asked from the LORD,
that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.

Psalm 27:1-4

Be Strong and Take Heart and Wait Upon the Lord

2006-08-13T21:51:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me,
I will come forth as gold.

- Job 23:10

Inspirations for the things on my blog

2006-08-06T00:25:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Hi beloved people,

do you know how much God loves you? I know God loves me, more than anyone else could ever love me. I've dedicated this blog to God, and I hope He will speak to you when you read this blog. God loves you too! =)

The articles i put up on this blog, are articles that express my feelings and thoughts at the time i log in. Whenever i feel down or happy, i would find articles that encourage and comfort me... so you can visualize how i felt at a certain time, without needing me to pour out using my own language to express myself.

Those articles and stories blessed me a lot, i hope you too, will be blessed and comforted like me when you read them.

God loves and cares for you enough to lead you to this blog. I thank God everytime i remember you. =)

Installing Love

2006-08-06T00:20:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Tech Support: Yes, Ma'am.... how can I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process?

Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart, ma'am?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running, ma'am?

Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off, ma'am?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support : With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components ." What should I do?

Tech Support: Don't worry, ma'am. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non- technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copyingthemselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer: Thank you, God.

-- Author Unknown

A Different Type of Prayer

2006-08-02T22:43:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Heavenly Father,

Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night could be a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly could be a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job), could be a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slowly through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive and patience and empathetic and loving.

Amen

Visiting Hours

2006-07-28T09:57:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

He was looking forward to this moment all day long, after 6 days of labor and it finally arrived--Visiting Day!

The man with the keys arrived to swing open the large, heavy doors. The cold gray hall springs to life in the warm glow of light. He could hardly control his emotions. The families began to arrive. He peers from the corner of the room, longing for the first glimpse of his loved one. He lives for the weekends. He lives for these visits. As the cars arrive, he watches intently.

Then, finally, she arrives--his bride, for whom he would do anything. They embrace, eat a light lunch and reminisce how things used to be. At one point, they break into singing, with interruptions of laughter and applause.

But all too soon it is over. A tear comes to his eyes as his bride departs. Then the man with the keys closes the heavy doors. He hears the key turn in the lock marking the end of a special day. There he stands, alone again. He knows that most of his visitors will not contact him again until next week.

As the last car pulls away from the parking lot, Jesus retreats into loneliness as He waits until next Sunday -- Visiting Day.

Is the time that we spend with Jesus an everyday thing, or do we just visit Him on Sunday????

A Letter From Jesus

2006-07-28T09:54:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Dear Friend,

I just had to write to tell you how much I love you and care for you. Yesterday, I saw you walking and laughing with your friends; I hoped that soon you'd want Me to walk along with you, too. So, I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you. I waited; you never called. I just kept on loving you.

As I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so much to touch you. I spilled moonlight onto your face trickling down your cheeks as so many tears have. You didn't even think of me; I wanted so much to comfort you.

The next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into a glorious morning for you. But you woke up late and rushed off to work-you didn't evennotice. My sky became cloudy and My tears were the rain. I love you! Oh, if you'd only listen. I really love you!

I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadow and in the blue sky. The wind whispers My love throughout the treetops and spills it into the vibrant colors of the flowers. I shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and composed love songs for birds to sing for you. I warm you with the clothing of My sunshine and perfume the air with nature's sweet scent. My love for you is deeper than the ocean and greaterthan any need in your heart.

If you'd only realize how I care. I died just for you. My Dad sends His love. I want you to meet Him. He cares, too. Fathers are just that way. So please call Me soon. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait because I love you.

Your Friend, Jesus

A Letter To You From Satan

2006-07-28T09:51:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn't even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful. I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living. Fool! You are mine.

Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay him back. You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me and I'm going to make your life a living hell. That way we'll be together twice. THIS WILL REALLY HURT GOD! Thanks to you. I'm really showing Him who's boss in your life.

With all of the good times we've had..... We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, partying, stealing, lying, hypocriting, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults and those in leadership position, NO respect for the church, bad attitudes: SURELY you don't want to give all this up! COME ON, Fool, let's burn together forever.

I've got some plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I'd like to say "THANKS" for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible. I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in. HA HA HA You make me sick! Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older. I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and listen to and dance to the top 10 jams. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.

Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I'll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. IF YOU WERE SMART, you would run somewhere, CONFESS YOUR SINS, LIVE FOR GOD with what little bit of life that you have left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I still hate you......

IT'S JUST THAT YOU'D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST.

P.S. - And if you really love me, you won't share this letter with anyone.

Second Chances

2006-07-24T16:42:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

..."I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." - Jonah 4:2

Have you ever gone through a time of disobedience with God? Jonah was a prophet of God who decided he didn't want to prophesy for the Lord. God wanted him to deliver a message to Nineveh to warn them against impending destruction if they didn't turn from their ways. Jonah had developed a hardened heart toward the people of Nineveh. He didn't really care if they repented or not; so rather than travel to Nineveh and deliver the message, he hopped a boat in the opposite direction. You probably know the rest of the story. He was eaten by a fish and spent a few days thinking about his decision.

There is a place where we all will obey. What circumstances must take place for us to become obedient? For some of us, it requires a good shakeup. For Jonah, it required a big shakeup because he was God's man to save 120,000 people. He was chosen by God to be used by God, and God didn't give up on him.

God understands our disobedient heart. He sees what we really are; yet He gives second chances. God gave Jonah a second chance. He gave the people of Nineveh a second chance. It is a lesson of love from a heavenly Father who specializes in second chances. Have you blown it? Have you disappointed someone close to you? God is the God of second chances. All we have to do is acknowledge our waywardness. He will restore. He will give grace. Ask Him.

Some Questions to ponder on

2006-07-06T18:31:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

What will be written on your epitaph?

How do you want people to remember you?

What type of legacy will your life leave behind?

These are some questions i really want to ask myself everytime, before carrying on in my race on earth... How can i love my Lord and my God more each day? You can ask yourself the same questions too, it will make you want to ask God what is your purpose on earth.

He Pardons all our sins...

2006-07-03T00:03:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

He Pardons all our sins... Oh! What a wonderful God we serve! =)

Men Ought Always To Pray - We need revival, saints. As the household of God first, we are called to repentance; judgement begins with us.

God puts our sins in the deepest part of the ocean... and then puts up a "No Fishing!" sign.

He Doesn't Remember

2006-06-23T10:59:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

haha... I've decided that this blog will still be a blessing blog to people, instead of an online journal for me to utter nonsense. Hope you will enjoy reading and be blessed by the articles. =)

A much loved-minister of God once carried a secret burden of long-past sin deep in his heart. He had committed the sin many years before, during his Bible school training. No one knew what he had done, but they did know he had repented. Even so, he had suffered years of remorse over the incident without any sense of God's forgiveness.

A woman in his church deeply loved God and claimed to have visions in which Jesus Christ spoke to her. The minister, sceptical of her claims, asked her, "The next time you speak to the Lord, would you please ask Him what sin your minister committed while he was in Bible school." The woman kindly agreed.

When she came to the church a few days later the minister asked, "Did He visit you?" She said, "Yes."

"And did you ask Him what sin I committed?"

"Yes, I asked Him," she replied

"Well, what did He say?"

"He said, 'I don't remember.'"

Author Unknown

Maybe you are having a problem with forgiving yourself of some past mistake or sin. I want you to know that once you confess it to God and ask His forgiveness; God has forgiven you and will not remember nor remind you of your sins. He is forgiving even to the worst sinner and once you come to Him in repentance, God will in no way cast you out, but will welcome you in with open arms. (Isaiah 43:25) (John 6:37-40)

The forgiveness we received in Christ is complete. As far as God is concerned, our sin is over with and forgotten. We must learn to rest in His forgiveness and release the guilt and shame of our past sin, so that we may walk in God's rest and peace.

We encourage you to not dwell on the past, but look to the future with a new outlook and believe God for great things. If He has power to forgive you and make you a new creation in Christ, then God also has the power to give you big dreams and aspirations and the wisdom to achieve them all.

-- Taken a leaf from my church website

2006-06-07T01:28:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Laugh and the world laugh with you, cry and you cry alone.

-- now i finally understand what it means...

Fulfulling Our Duty to God: By Repentance from Dead Works

2006-05-26T21:49:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.

Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone", declares the Sovereign LORD. "Repent and live!"

Ezekiel 18:30-32 NIV

Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence;
and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12 KJV

What Success Means

2006-05-21T20:26:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Success means something different to each one of us,

but it comes to those who are willing to work hard

and who continue to be dedicated

to making their dreams come true.

Success means setting goals and focusing yourself

in the right direction in order to reach them.

It means believing in yourself

and constantly reminding yourself that

you are capable of achieving your desires.

But most of all,

success is being who you are,

and feeling proud of yourself

for every task and challenge that you face and conquer along the way.

A Good Point

2006-05-16T06:15:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?" The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...I know my Master is there and that is enough."

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. "I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."

- Author Unknown

A Friendship Page

2006-02-25T01:37:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

If you understand Chinese, this is the page for you. =)

A friendship page for all the friends i love dearly.

http://www.mtv139.com/mp3/love_qing/friend.htm

We share our joys and sorrows with one another, we laugh and cry together.
At times, we may have conflicts with one another, but you know, I still care for you.
Words just simply cannot describe how i feel towards each one of you.

May God bless our friendship forever.

Just for Laugh... haha...

2006-02-24T01:12:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Advertising...

2006-02-24T00:43:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

"Advertising is an instrument in the hands of the people that use it.

If evil men use advertising for base purposes, then evil can result.

If honest men use advertising to sell an honest product with honest enthusiasm, then positive good for our kind of capitalistic society can result."

-anonymous

--Extract from my lecture notes--

Description of a Virtous Woman (comments)

2006-02-24T00:41:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Every one ought to desire this honour that cometh from God; and according to this standard we all ought to regulate our judgments. This description of my previous post let all women daily study, who desire to be truly beloved and respected, useful and honourable.

This passage is to be applied to individuals, but may it not also be applied to the church of God, which is described as a virtuous spouse? God by His grace has formed from among sinful men a church of true believers, to possess all the excellences here described.

Description of a Virtous Woman

2006-02-23T23:04:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Who can find a virtuous woman?

for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,

so that he shall have no need of spoil.

She will do him good
and not evil all the days of her life.

She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ships;
she bringeth her food from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night,

and giveth meat to her household,

and a portion to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it:

with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength,
and strengtheneth her arms.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;

yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household:

for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;

her clothing is silk and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates,

when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;

and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing;

and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household,

and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praiseth her.

"Many daughters have done virtuously,

but thou excellest them all. "

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:

but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands;

and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (King James Version)

My dream is to be a woman like this, to be a girl after God's own heart! =)

stand for something or be neutral??

2006-02-23T22:31:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

If you stand for something, you'll have some people for you and some people against you.

If you don't stand for anything, you'll have nobody for you and nobody against you.

--taken a leaf from my Advertising Management lecture notes. =P

I Trust in You

2006-02-17T12:17:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

My head is high, GOD, held high;
I'm looking to you, GOD;
No hangdog skulking for me.

I've thrown in my lot with you;
You won't embarrass me, will you?
Or let my enemies get the best of me?
Don't embarrass any of us
Who went out on a limb for you.
It's the traitors who should be humiliated.

Show me how you work, GOD;
School me in your ways.
Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren't you?
Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, GOD;
Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

Forget that I sowed wild oats;
Mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, GOD!

Psalm 25:1-7

Anguish

2006-02-16T00:16:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Pain knocked upon my door and said
That she had come to stay

And though I would not welcome her
But bade her go away,
She entered in,
Like my own shade.

She followed after me,
And from her stabbing, stinging sword
No moment was I free.

And then one day another knocked
Most gently on my door

I cried, “No, pain is living here,
There is no room for more.”

And then I heard His tender voice,
“Tis I, be not afraid.”

And from the day He entered in,

The difference is made!

As you feel the stinging thorns of your pain, take comfort in God’s grace and abundant love. Beyond this, let us leave a message here. For this, it is different for us to find in scripture or in history, a strong-willed individual whom God used greatly until He allowed him to be deeply hurt.

Found this poem as i tried to clear up the mess on my writing table. Think i copied it from an old uncle in Chinatown some time ago. He's a wonderful poet and writer i should say, he used a pseudo name when he writes: Andre W. Keye, can't recall his real chinese name... =P

It was some time ago, I went to Chinatown for my Feature Writing Module assignment, then I happened to walk in a "Museum". Talked to the uncle, it seems that he has high qualifications, and status in the society (if i'm not wrong). His Dad, the late mr Yip Cheong-Fun, won endless awards for his photography.

I was very much amazed by him. He told me the reason he uses a pseudo name is because the Westerners won't read his books if they're known to be written by a Chinese writer (they assume that Chinese can't write good English). I guess this is the society that forms the world, into what it is today. Prejudice.

older generation of Singaporeans like to say Singaporeans don't like to read. that's what the uncle said: SIngaporens dont read. Mr Andrew Ang (my lecturer) said the same thing too. erm... quite true, but still, we cannot generalize. there are SIngaporeans who love to read too. Different people have different personalities.

anyway... just few comments. i'll leave as it is. the debate is always on. man loves debates i think. =P

name design

2006-02-15T01:26:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

see those 2 pictures? Did for my China friend using Macromedia Fireworks. sort of revision for my year 1 module since my brain really cannot take in anything for the time being. Nice? i wonder why the doggie pic doesnt blink...

hey.. my first few images on this blog. just figured out how to upload images. haha... i'm kind of a slow learner =P

i've made a few for some of my friends (so sorry couldn't do for all, due to my busy schedule, though i would like to).. if you happen to like such things, can feel free to ask me to do for you. I'll be very happy to do so. =)

oh ya.. all the best for our exams!! ;)

May God bless all who are reading this blog =)

2006-02-15T01:09:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

i like this pic very much.. haha...

How's Your Form?

2006-02-13T15:39:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

God said, I will form man in my image.
The world says, We must conform man to our image.
The Devil says, I will deform man by sin.
Education says, I will inform man by knowledge.
Society says, We will reform man by culture.
Christ Jesus says, I will transform man by love.

just another sweet, simple post =)

2006-02-03T23:15:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

looking forward to seeing someone to teach me how to change my blog skin and link links on my blog.. =P anyone's free?

A Trick

2006-02-02T19:29:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking a walk with a professor, who was commonly called the students' friend, from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions.

As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work.

The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them."

"My young friend," answered the professor, "we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him."

The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by.

The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin.

Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it round, and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.

His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing.

The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. "Now," said the professor, "are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"

The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

- Author Unknown

Acts 20:35 "I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."'

Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

I've been a treasurer for Singapore Polytechnic Campus Crusade for Christ for the past one year (2005/06). Will miss this role as a servant of God soon. Most of the time, I'll be cracking my brains thinking of how to encourage the crusaders to pledge and give. God always works in His miraculous ways. He didnt need me to come out with something to amuse people, or attract people, to lead them to give. However, I did my best to serve in this area. sorry guys... if i sounded like some "loan sharks"... =P I merely wanted to hold you accountable to what you promised God.

Anyway, thanks for taking the faith to pledge. =)

Remember: God doesnt want your money, time, or any of your possessions, He wants your heart. It's more blessed to give than to receive. God loves you.

Comments?

2005-12-12T15:28:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

ha... articles after articles... what do you think of those articles? Those articles have touched and blessed me, do you experience the same? if you so happened come to read my blog, leave a comment ya? I'm not very good in maintaining a blog, but I really want this blog to be different from other blogs, to be a blessing to everyone who reads. Will try to improve on the skin when I'm free.

Christmas is around the corner again!! I'm so excited! Know why? not because of presents, not because of CHristmas trees and decorations, not because of Santa, not because of... haha... ya, because it's Jesus' birthday! The very person who loves me very much! He loves you too! Would you like to accept Him into your heart on His birthday? =)

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

2005-12-12T15:20:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

In todays day and time,
it's easy to lose sight,
of the true meaning of Christmas
and one special night.

When we go shopping,
We say "How much will it cost?"
Then the true meaning of Christmas,
Somehow becomes lost.

Amidst the tinsel, glitter
And ribbons of gold,
We forget about the child,
born on a night so cold.

The children look for Santa
In his big, red sleigh
Never thinking of the baby
Whose bed was made of hay.

In reality when we look into the night sky,
We don't see a sleigh
But a star, burning bright and high.

A faithful reminder,
Of that night so long ago,
And of the child we call Jesus,
Whose love, the world would know.

Brian K. Walters

Professor of Philosophy

2005-10-04T03:17:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

There was a professor of philosophy who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic.

For twenty years, he had taught this class and no one ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really gone against him because of his reputation.

At the end of every semester on the last day, he would say to his class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!" In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He is God, and yet He can't do it." And every year, he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter into a hundred pieces.

All of the students would do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students thought that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years, they had been too afraid to stand up.

Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about his professor. He was required to take the class for his major, and he was afraid. But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said, or what the class thought. Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped.

Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stoodup at the back of the classroom. The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!! If God existed, he would keep this piece of chalk from breaking, when it hit the ground!"

He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken.

The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man, and then ran out of the lecture hall.

The young man who had stood, proceeded to walk to the front of the room and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Author Unknown

He Doesn't Remember

2005-09-21T02:08:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

A much loved-minister of God once carried a secret burden of long-past sin deep in his heart. He had committed the sin many years before, during his Bible school training. No one knew what he had done, but they did know he had repented. Even so, he had suffered years of remorse over the incident without any sense of God's forgiveness.

A woman in his church deeply loved God and claimed to have visions in which Jesus Christ spoke to her. The minister, sceptical of her claims, asked her, "The next time you speak to the Lord, would you please ask Him what sin your minister committed while he was in Bible school." The woman kindly agreed.

When she came to the church a few days later the minister asked, "Did He visit you?" She said, "Yes."

"And did you ask Him what sin I committed?"

"Yes, I asked Him," she replied

"Well, what did He say?"

"He said, 'I don't remember.'"

Author Unknown

Maybe you are having a problem with forgiving yourself of some past mistake or sin. I want you to know that once you confess it to God and ask His forgiveness; God has forgiven you and will not remember nor remind you of your sins. He is forgiving even to the worst sinner and once you come to Him in repentance, God will in no way cast you out, but will welcome you in with open arms. (Isaiah 43:25) (John 6:37-40) The forgiveness we received in Christ is complete. As far as God is concerned, our sin is over with and forgotten. We must learn to rest in His forgiveness and release the guilt and shame of our past sin, so that we may walk in God's rest and peace.

KINDNESS Pays!!

2005-09-01T19:53:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness." He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught; her attention
on the side as She read these words.....

"Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You,
GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."

"U don’t know in which way you may get your return for good deed"

~This article may not be a Christian one, but there's something we can really learn from this story. Enjoy reading! God bless! =)

Have you Tasted Jesus?

2005-08-19T23:49:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year they have what is called "Baptist Day". It is a day when all the Baptists in the area are invited to the school because they want the Baptist dollars to keep coming in. On this day each one is to bring a lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every "Baptist Day" the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center. One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich.

Dr. Tillich spoke for two and one-half hours proving that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection the religious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked if there were any questions.

After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium. "Docta Tillich, I got one question," he said as all eyes turned toward him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. "Docta Tillich ..." CRUNCH, MUNCH ... "

My question is a simple question,"CRUNCH, MUNCH ..."Now I ain't never read them books you read ... " CRUNCH, MUNCH ... "and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek..." CRUNCH, MUNCH ... "I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and Heidegger..." CRUNCH, MUNCH ... He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate -- was it bitter or sweet?"

Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple." The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus."

The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.

Have you tasted Jesus? In Psalms 34:8 we read: Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. If you have, rejoice in the hope of the resurrection that your faith in Him brings.

PLEASE don't comment on anything about Jesus if you don't know my Jesus well! Show me your evidence before condemning my Precious! ~Lovely lamb

On a Clear Day- Watch and Listen

2005-08-19T23:42:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang.
But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me" And, the thunder rolled across the sky.
But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not notice.

And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle" And, a life was born.
But, the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here" Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

Strong to the FinishYour life's race requires help from above

2005-07-26T06:33:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

By Craig Brian Larson

When I was in college, I ran cross-country. Our competitions were held on area golf courses. Race officials placed flags on the course to mark the way for runners. A certain color indicated "left turn," another meant "right turn," a third meant "straight ahead."

If the runners wanted a medal, they had to follow the proper course. A runner couldn't decide, "This is a six-mile race, but I've only got four miles in me this morning. I'm going to take a shortcut. I hope nobody minds."

It's true for Christians, too. We have to run the race God intended us to run, not somebody else's race or the race of our own choosing. Yet it's easy to compare ourselves with others. When the race seems tough, it's easy to look at someone else and say, "If I had his race to run, no problem. If I had his paycheck, if I had a spouse, if I had his good health, I could run with perseverance."

We're tempted to quit because our course is harder than someone else's, but God says, "I want you to run this race. Don't think about others. Just look at me."
Hitting the wallAt the beginning of a marathon, runners feel strong and energetic. For years, they've followed a regimen prescribing what to eat, how much to train, and how much to rest.

They're ready.

Then the gun sounds, and they take off. Sixteen miles into that marathon, though, they no longer feel energetic, do they?

Blisters begin to rub raw; it feels like a knife has lodged in their side. Legs turn to mush, and muscles scream in pain.

It happens in life, too. We get down the road, and there's pain involved. We say, "This hurts, so it must not be God's will."

But pain doesn't mean it's no longer God's will. Sometimes the race God calls us to run is filled with pain. Remember that God didn't call you just to begin a noble task or relationship. He wants us to keep running and be great finishers.

World-class runners have a "kick." A "kick" is a runner's term that means when they get to that last one hundred yards, they can still sprint to the finish line and win the race. God wants us to have a "kick." No matter what the circumstance, God wants us to finish strong.

Never stay downThe 1981 movie Chariots of Fire portrays the true story of Eric Liddell, a man who competed for Great Britain in the 1924 Olympics before becoming a missionary.

One memorable scene that appeared to be Hollywood fiction, actually happened. A year before the Olympic showdown, Liddell ran in a meet between England, Ireland, and Scotland. In the 440-yard event, moments after the gun sounded, Liddell tangled feet with J.J. Gillies of England and tumbled to the track. Dazed, Liddell sat there, not knowing whether he could get up, when the official screamed, "Get up and run!"

He jumped to his feet and pursued the pack, now a full twenty yards ahead of him.
With forty yards to go, he pulled into third place, then second. Right at the tape he passed Gillies, stuck his chest out, won the race, collapsing in total exhaustion.

The next day The Scotsman newspaper reported, "The circumstances in which Liddell won the race made it a performance bordering on the miraculous." Some described it as "the greatest track performance they had ever seen."

Some of you have been knocked down by foolish decisions, by a person, or even Satan himself. When we're down on the track, we're ashamed and depressed. The only real shame is to stay down. God's word compels you, "Get up and run!" Forget what lies behind and run for the prize God has waiting for you.

Philippians 1:6 doesn't say, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day you fail and flop on the track." It says, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."

An unexpected embraceIt was Monday night, August 3, at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. About 100 meters into the 400-meter semifinals, Britain's Derek Redmond crumpled to the track with a torn right hamstring.

Medics rushed out to assist him, but as they approached Redmond, he waved them off, struggled to his feet, and crawled and hopped in a desperate effort to finish the race.
Up in the stands, a man wearing a T-shirt, tennis shoes, and a Nike cap with Just Do It written across the front, barreled out of the stands, hurled aside a security guard, ran to Derek Redmond's side, and embraced him. He was Jim Redmond, Derek's father.
Arm around his son's waist, Derek's arm around his father's thick shoulders and neck, they continued down the track.

Derek's mom and sister were watching back home on television. His sister, who was pregnant, went into false labor. His mom wept. At the stadium, the crowd rose to their feet and cheered. Finally, arm in arm, the father and son crossed the finish line.
If that's the way an earthly father responds to his son who is determined to finish the race, how much more does our Heavenly Father support his son or daughter who says, "I'm finishing, no matter how much it hurts."

God makes his compassion clear in Isaiah 46:34, where he says he has carried us from birth to old age. As he carries you, as you wrap your arms around him, God whispers in your ear: "Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58).

One day, like the apostle Paul, I pray I will be able to say, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." May that victory be yours as well.

The Devil and the Duck

2005-06-25T00:21:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it.

He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen."

Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said," Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"

So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed the he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day thereafter: Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done -- and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, debt, fear, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc.) whatever it is, you need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing, He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets - It is by God's Grace and Mercy that we are saved.

Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today. Share this with a friend and always remember ... God is at the window!............

Forgiveness

2005-06-25T00:06:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

A letter written to a man on death row by the Father of the man whom the man on death row had killed:

You are probably surprised that I, of all people, am writing a letter to you, but I ask you to read it in its entirety and consider its request seriously. As the Father of the man whom you took part in murdering, I have something very important to say to you.

I forgive you. With all my heart, I forgive you. I realize it may be hard for you to believe, but I really do. At your trial, when you confessed to your part in the events that cost my Son his life and asked for my forgiveness, I immediately granted you that forgiving love from my heart. I can only hope you believe me and will accept my forgiveness.

But this is not all I have to say to you. I want to make you an offer -- I want you to become my adopted child. You see, my Son who died was my only child, and I now want to share my life with you and leave my riches to you. This may not make sense to you or anyone else, but I believe you are worth the offer. I have arranged matters so that if you will receive my offer of forgiveness, not only will you be pardoned for your crime, but you also will be set free from your imprisonment, and your sentence of death will be dismissed. At that point, you will become my adopted child and heir to all my riches.

I realize this is a risky offer for me to make to you -- you might be tempted to reject my offer completely -- but I make it to you without reservation.

Also, I realize it may seem foolish to make such an offer to one who cost my Son his life, but I now have a great love and an unchangeable forgiveness in my heart for you.

Finally, you may be concerned that once you accept my offer you may do something to cause you to be denied your rights as an heir to my wealth. Nothing could be further from the truth. If I can forgive you for your part in my Son's death, I can forgive you for anything. I know you never will be perfect, but you do not have to be perfect to receive my offer. Besides, I believe that once you have accepted my offer and begin to experience the riches that will come to you from me, that your primary (though not always) response will be gratitude and loyalty.

Some would call me foolish for my offer to you, but I wish for you to call me your Father.

Sincerely,
The Father of Jesus

I Love You Anyway

2005-06-07T11:08:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

The fear of rejection may be one of the most basic fears of the human experience. Dr. Joe Harding tells a heart-warming story of a man who finally decided to ask his boss for a raise in salary. It was Friday. He told his wife that morning what he was about to do, All day the man felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon he summoned the courage to approach his employer. To his delight, the boss agreed to a raise.

The man arrived home to a beautiful table set with their best china. Candles were lighted. His wife had prepared a festive meal. Immediately he figured that someone from the office had tipped her off! Finding his wife in the kitchen, he told her the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to a wonderful meal. Next to his plate the man found a beautiful lettered note. It read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."

While on his way to the kitchen to get dessert he noticed that a second card had fallen from her pocket. Picking it off the floor, he read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."

Total acceptance! Total love. Her love for him was not contingent upon his success at work. In fact, just the opposite. If he were to fail there, if he were to be rejected by his boss he'd be all the more accepted at home. She stood behind him no matter what; softening the blows, healing the wounds, believing in him, loving him. We can be rejected by almost anyone if we're loved by one.
That's the way families can be with each other. And I like to think that's the way God is with us, too! "We love because he first loved us."

Author Unknown

HOW DOES GOD FEEL ABOUT ME?

2005-05-03T08:02:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

-------- by Max Lucado

A few years back, we had a banner year at our house. Our third daughter learned how to swim.

That meant that three could walk. Three could swim. And two out of the three had the training wheels off their bikes. With each achievement they have delightedly pointed out, "Look, Dad, I can do it on my own."

My wife, Denalyn, and I have applauded and celebrated each accomplishment our daughters have made. Their maturity and mobility is good and necessary, but I hope they never get to the point where they are too grown up to call their daddy. God feels the same way about us. Other times we don't feel independent; we feel insignificant. We think, "Sure, Mary can take her problems to Jesus. She's his mother. He doesn't want to hear my problems. I don't want to trouble him with my messes."

If that is your thought, may I share with you a favorite verse of mine? I like it so much Iwrote it on the first page of my Bible.

"Because he delights in me, he saved me." (Ps. 18:19)

And you thought he saved you because of your decency. You thought he saved you because of your good works or good attitude or good looks. Sorry. If that were the case, your salvation would be lost when your voice went south or your works got weak.

There are many reasons God savesyou: to bring glory to himself, to appease his justice, to demonstrate his sovereignty. But one of the sweetest reasons God saved you is because he is fond of you. He likes having you around. He thinks you are the best thing to come down the pike in quite awhile.

"As a man rejoices over his new wife, soyour God will rejoice over you." (Isaiah. 62:5)

If God had a refrigerator,your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it.He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart. And the Christmas gift he sent you in Bethlehem? Face it,friend. He's crazy about you.

Do You Believe In Easter?

2005-03-28T12:00:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favourite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.

Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"

Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room."

After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?" Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"

Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you." Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work. I'm not interested."

Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day."

Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, 'Do you believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me." Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked..."

Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?" Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday." Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face.

When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, " And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!" Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

- Author Unknown

God is Real!!!

2005-03-09T11:24:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

God is really very good all the time! He is simply indescribable AMAZING!! This is something real I experienced and testified for a week exactly.

Hmm… how should I put it? Thanks to Ronald who asked me to write about this for the SPCCC website, which encouraged me to do so now. In fact, no words can describe how great and awesome our God is. But in order to let everyone know what our wonderful Father did, I'm trying my best now to put it into words. It all began on 27th Feb 2005, the eve of the last day of February in the year 2005…

I came back to Singapore from my home in Malaysia around 8plus at night on that significant day. I don’t know why, something prompted me to switch on my hand phone to check for any messages I missed during the weekends (there is no reception in Malaysia where I live) before I reached the custom. I usually switch on my hand phone to check when I reach the Malaysia checkpoint custom. The moment I switched on my hand phone, a stunning message popped out in front of my eyes, which nearly frightened the daylight out of me.

It read, “Blenheim, my best friend in critical condition in the hospital now. He might not survive. Please MUST pray for him NOW!”

It was from my friend cum classmate, Sky. It was unusual because usually Sky will message me either to ask me to help him to inform the lecturer about something or help in his coursework or even ask me to help him to cover up by marking him present on the attendance sheet when he has to skip lesson (I’m the assistant class rep. But please don’t betray me to my lecturer…I’m only trying to help a friend in need…=P).

I was confused and didn’t know what to do at that time. The message was sent to me at 5plus in the evening on the same day, Sunday. That was 3 hours ago! I could not do anything at that time but followed what the message screamed out to me: PRAY.

I was trembling as I prayed. I didn’t know who the person was. All I know was he was in hospital lying on the bed at that time, and he is Sky’s best friend.

Around 10pm after I prayed, while waiting for the irritating bus, that refused to come to my rescue as fast as possible, without knowing how heavy my luggage was, I replied Sky’s message. He messaged me after that to tell me that his friend was stable, thanking me for praying. Phew… I was relieved when I received that message. I thanked God for saving his life.

But, that was not end of the story…

The next day, during break time for News Writing tutorial class, Sky quietly asked the few of us, who are Christians to go out of the classroom for a while. Just as I was wondering what happened, Sky told us that the doctor scanned through Blenheim’s brain and found a blood clog in his brain. Blenheim would not survive if he did not undergo an operation to remove the blood clog. He asked us to pray for his friend there and then. The operation took 7 hours. While we were praying, he was undergoing the operation. I was sad and stunned to hear that piece of news but felt relieved to see Sky, at this point of time, was willing to trust God to save his best friend.

My class mate, Serene told me, “Angela, I know you are a strong Christian. You really got to help Sky’s friend now.” But I told her, “Serene, I can’t save Sky’s friend. Only God can.” Then she said, “Ya, only God can save him, but we need you to pray for him.”

I didn’t know how to react. It’s true that Blenheim needs prayers, but talking to God is not only limited to “strong” Christians only. Anyone of us can just speak to God whenever we want to. Even non-Christians can speak to God. Jesus enabled us to talk to God freely.

At first, Serene and Adelene were unsure how to pray. But in the end they decided to pick up the courage to pray together with Lydia and me. God wants to listen to us, He does not want to listen to prayers that are wonderful, with full of expressions, but rather He looks at our hearts. He only wants sincerely prayers from the deepest core of our hearts.

Through this tragedy, I can see that God has brought my classmates closer to Him, especially Sky, Adelene and Serene. At least, Adelene and Serene learnt to talk to God with courage when they were at first afraid to do so and Sky really trusts God to save his friend.

At night, I messaged Sky to find out how was Blenheim. I did not get a positive answer. It reads, “He failed the operation. He will be going for another one soon. If he were to fail the next and also last operation, we will lose him forever.”

I began messaging SP crusaders to be prayer warriors. I prayed for him all night, thinking that he was undergoing his operation. But the next day when I messaged Sky asking him how was his friend's condition, he called to tell me that Blenheim needs lots of blood. Whoever wants to donate his or her blood, regardless of any blood group, can donate to him. Soon, I was busy messaging people around me asking them to pass the message around. I wanted to go and donate if I could, to save a life, but I did not know how, for fear they don't allow a foreigner to do so. So all I can do was to pray, and pray, and pray...

In the afternoon, my team went to the SP main library to film for our project. I could see Adelene, fervently prayed for Blenheim. She skipped lesson that morning to go to donate her blood and managed to see and talk to him. He was in a coma but he could hear what Adelene told him and was able to tear. He was supposed to go for his last operation the coming Monday because he just underwent one on Sunday, he could not afford to lose blood anymore. Although Adelene did not know him, she has a heart for him. She literally cried while she prayed.

Just when we were praying for a miracle to happen, I received Sky's message. He messaged me, “Please pray for my friend NOW. Doctor said he is left with only 10% of chance to live.”

I was heartbroken. Blenheim was only 18 years old, just like me. He would still have a long way to go in life, but a mere accident was taking him away soon. I don't think anyone expected this to happen, not even himself. On Sunday he complained to his mother that he was feeling dizzy. His mother applied medicated ailment on his head, thinking that it was just a common headache. But the pain became worse, so he was sent to the general hospital. And he was diagnosed having blood clog in his brain.

I kept pondering, what I will do if tomorrow is my last day on earth. I will never be able to know when that day will come. If that day were to come, what is the last thing I will do for God? Am I willing to give up everything to serve God, to accomplish His purpose for me in life? I knew for sure at the end of the day, all I want is to see Jesus smiling at me, hugging me, telling me that He is so proud of me.

During Campus Life Meeting, Zhen Yang led everyone in prayer for Blenheim and Jess's friend's friend, whom I later on realised, the person is Blenheim too. We are praying for the same person! I was grateful for that. I believed prayers work wonders. During Prayer Xperience (PXP), I shared this with all who were there, challenging them to think about the meaning and purpose of their life, about what they will do when they come to the end of their pilgrimage on earth.

On Friday, while I went filming again in the library, I received Sky's call. Pregnant pause. When he finally spoke, he asked me for a favour. I told him whatever I can do, I will try my best to help him. He asked me to pray for Blenheim. Blenheim's heartbeat had stopped and doctor was trying to save him. I told him to trust God and call us (me or Adelene) later. We prayed, Adelene prayed and cried. We tried messaging and calling Sky after that but he did not answer us. Not long after that, he called back, weeping. He said the doctor has given up hope in saving Blenheim's life. Adelene comforted him. He then asked to speak to me. Then he cried and cried. I was paralysed. His cries tore my heart into pieces. I did not know what to do to comfort him. I decided that only God can do the job. So I prayed with him over the phone. In my heart, I kept asking God what He wanted to show us and why this has to happen.

Later my team decided to stop filming and took a cab down to NUH to at least do our best in helping, perhaps to give Sky moral support and comfort. When we reached there, there were many people crying. But Blenheim was still alive, breathing painfully while the nurses sucked out the blood clogged in his brain. I could not see clearly since I was short. There were many people, his family, friends and relatives around his bed. I felt a little relieved. At least he still had hope for survival.

After expressing our concern to Sky, we made our way back. I had rushed back for Enrolment Meeting and to comfort Roger, who was upset for his “badly done" exam paper. Around 9plus at night, I messaged Sky to find out Blenheim's condition. I was hoping for a miracle to happen. Instead, all I got was tragedic news: Blenheim is gone!

I was shocked! I cried out to God, asking Him why all this happen. Why did He take Blenheim away and not performing a miracle? Why did He not listen to our prayers? What were His plans or purpose in doing this? All these questions flashed in my mind. All my hopes to see my prayers answered and to witness a miracle to happen were shattered into smithereens. I could do nothing but to pray. I prayed that God will comfort Sky, Blenheim's family, friends and relatives.

I remembered this verse:
“Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.”-Colossians 1:16

Despite the fact that Blenheim was dead, I still prayed that God will perform miracles. I could be pretty firm and stubborn sometimes. I still placed 10% of hope to see a miracle to happen in God. After all, nothing is impossible for God. I thought unless I have seen Blenheim lying dead (pardon me if I said something inappropriate), I will not give up hope for miracles.

“You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in You.”-Isaiah 26:3

The next day, which is a Saturday, I went to school to cover an event for the School of Business Yearbook. After that I went to Roger's house, thinking perhaps I could help Joseph in his project too since I did not have to rush back to Malaysia so early.

Suddenly, my hand phone rang. I thought it was my beloved mummy calling me to find out what time I was going home. She will miss me if I stay a little longer away from her. But usually she will message me because she does not want me to waste my phone bills as her call will be considered as overseas calls. If not my mummy, then who else will call me at that point of time?

My curiosity was answered in a jiffy. It was Sky calling! I was unsure what to expect. Will I hear sad news again? I prayed that nothing really bad will happen this time. With trembling hands, I answered the call.

Sky sounded excited! I was wondering what on earth is happening. Blenheim just went back to the Lord and here I had Sky sounding so excited. I did not have to wait long for the answer to his excitement. Blenheim is alive!

It was a miracle! Blenheim’s brain is not dead. He does not have to live on Life Support machine any longer. He is much stable now. Thanks for all the prayers. God indeed is good! He listens to all our prayers. Let us continue to pray for more miracles to happen. Blenheim will be going for another operation in a few weeks time when he is more stable.

So my brothers and sisters, let us be prayer warriors. Place all our trust and faith in our Father in heaven. He will take care of all our worries and concerns.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.”-John 15:7

Satan trembles at the sight of a kneeling child of God. May all glory be to our God forever and ever. =)

On Friday morning, 11 March 2005, I received Sky’s message saying he will not go to school. His friend, Blenheim has passed away. I was sad to hear that, and so happen that was also the day of the funeral of our beloved brother, Timothy’s dad, the atmosphere around me was pretty bleak. But in my heart, I know that God loves all of us very dearly, including Tim’s dad and Blenheim.

Though Blenheim has gone to be with the Lord last Friday, I still thank God that at least He has let him live for another week to testify His miracle. God loves him a lot. Blenheim is in a much better place now. God has His plans and purpose in all that He has done. I trust and know that God’s thoughts are always better than ours. We can still meet those have to gone in heaven next time. We are blessed to have this hope and this promise will stand forever because this is what our Father Jesus has promised us. I look forward to meeting them once again in heaven.

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”- Psalm 84:10

Checking In

2005-02-21T09:17:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle. The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in awhile.

His shirt was kinda' shabby and his coat was worn and frayed. The man knelt, he bowed his head, then rose and walked away. In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap. Each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear. He decided to stop the man and ask him, "Whatcha doing' here?" The old man, he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour. Lunch time was his prayer time, for finding strength and power.

"I stay only moments, see, 'cause the factory is so far away. As I kneel here talking' to the Lord, this is kinda' what I say:

"I just came again to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been. Since we found each other's friendship and you took away my sin. I don't know much of how to pray, but I think about you every day. So Jesus, this is Jim checkin' in."

The minister felt foolish. Told Jim, that was fine. He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Jim smiled and said "Thanks." He hurried to the door. The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love, met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer:

"I just came again to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been. Since we found each other's friendship and you took away my sin. I don't know much of how to pray, but I think about you every day. So Jesus, this is me checkin' in."

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come. As more days passed with out Jim, he began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, but he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them, brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious, changed people, his reward. The head nurse couldn't understand why Jim was so glad. When no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed, he voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile; "The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that all the while everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see. He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:

"I just came again to tell you, Jim, how happy I have been. Since we found this friendship and I took away your sin. I always love to hear you pray, I think about you every day. And so Jim, this is Jesus checkin' in."

Answering Machine

2005-01-23T02:08:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Do your friends always complain you are hard to reach? Do you always need an answering machine at home?

How about when God calls you? Does He always receive the message, "I am sorry that I am not available now, but if you leave a message, I will get back to you AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." ? Do you really get back to Him as soon as possible?

Or once in a while, you may hear God leaving different messages on your answering machine:

"Um.. dear child, I thought we were supposed to meet this morning for devotion... I waited till now and still haven't seen you. I wonder if you have forgotten... I will still be there tomorrow.. see you then."

"Dear child, I just call to say hi... since I have not seen you for a while..."

"Dear child, I know that you are going through rough times recently. I am always here for you. Call me back please."

Look at your answering machine. Look at your heart. Are there any messages beeping? Have you returned your calls yet?

Give Lord Jesus a call -- now!

A Story to Make Us Think

2005-01-23T01:51:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his room-mate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view ofthe city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Then unexpectedly, a sinister thought entered his mind. Why should the other man alone experience all the pleasures of seeing everything while he himself never got to see anything? It didn't seem fair.

At first thought the man felt ashamed. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and he found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - that thought, and only that thought, now controlled his life.

Late one night as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running in. In less than five minutes the coughing and choking stopped, along with that the sound of breathing. Now there was only silence-deathly silence.

The following morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take it away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue. . . .

You can interpret the story in any way you like. But one moral stands out: There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy.

-- Author Unknown

Prayer Saves A Nation

2005-01-23T01:48:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

On September 1, 1939, Adolph Hitler launched his attack on Poland. Then, in six short months, his armies rolled practically unopposed through Norway, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, and Belgium. In April 1940, he was ready to invade France. The French believed, along with most military experts, that the German advance would be stopped at the French border. Helping the French were more than a quarter-million British soldiers -- nearly the entire defensive force of England.

The French army was routed. 40 days after the German assault began, the Germans had advanced to within 15 miles of ultimate victory, trapping nearly 500,000 French and British troops in the town of Dunkirk. The British parliament was in a panic. If the force at Dunkirk were lost, as seemed inevitable, Britain would be left defenceless. That was the situation on May 23, 1940. 500,000 troops waited at Dunkirk, expecting to be killed or imprisoned by the Germans. But that day in England, the churches, supported by King George VI, their political leaders, and the nation's newspapers, issued a call for a national day of prayer to be held on Sunday, May 26.

24 hours after the call for prayer went out, Adolph Hitler, to the amazement and dismay of his own generals, ordered his armies to halt. Two days later, on May 26, the people of England met to pray. They poured into the churches to plead with God to spare their husbands, sons and fathers at Dunkirk.

At 7:00 p.m., an order was issued to attempt a desperate evacuation of Dunkirk. Anything that could float was sent across the English Channel to rescue as many men as possible. And while the evacuation took place, Hitler's armies remained in place, allowing 336,000 Allied soldiers to be rescued.

To this day, it baffles the historians. Hitler held victory in the palm of his hand, yet he prevented his troops from finishing the job. Many have speculated on why Hitler held his soldiers at bay, but from a military perspective, none make any sense. But there is, in light of the Word of God, a very plausible explanation. In response to the prayers of a nation, the same God who parted the Red Sea and stopped the mouths of lions halted the armies of Hitler.

Many historians see Dunkirk as the turning point of World War II. Hitler never regained his momentum. And if Dunkirk was the turning point of the war, then the outcome of World War II was not ultimately determined by the entrance of the United States into the war or Hitler's foolish attack on Russia. Hitler's defeat began when thousands of men and women fell to their knees before an Almighty God and asked Him to save their nation.

~unknown~

Power of Prayer

2005-01-23T01:40:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

Here's a message that will bring you chills. Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said, "I'll pray for them later?" Or has anyone ever called you and said, "I need you to pray for me, I have this need."

A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan..... "While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I travelled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies.

This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital.

Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord. I then travelled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident.

Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, 'Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards. At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, 'No sir, I was not the only person to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.

"At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened.

The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story:

"On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?" The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it. Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.

Piano...A Moving Story

2005-01-18T17:02:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years.

Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what I call "musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Bobby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student.

Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavour. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.

Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in.

Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify. He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf . .I've just got to play!" he insisted.

I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right.

The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my "curtain closer."

Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an egg-beater through it. "Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?"

Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo... from allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people of his age.

After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? " Through the microphone Robby explained:"Well Miss Hondorf . . . remember I told you my mom was sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning. And well .. she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special."

There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. No, I've never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy. . of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it is he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know why.

Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995.

Hello people, I'm very touched by this article my friend forwarded to me. I've learnt a number of things from here. Pray that you will learnt something too. Yes, it taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing that you can make it as God made you special in every way. JIA YOU!!! =)

A Train Story

2005-01-17T09:45:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

There was once a bridge that spanned a large river. During most of the day, the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river, parallel with the banks, allowing ships to pass through freely on both sides of the bridge. But at certain times each day, a train would come along and the bridge could be turned sideways across the river, allowing the train to cross it. A switchman sat in a shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed.

Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. "Daddy, where are you?" his four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run! Run!" But the train was too close; the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost left his lever to snatch up his son and carry him to safety. But he realized that he could not get back to the lever in time if he saved his son. Either many people on the train - or his own son - must die. He took but a moment to make his decision. The train sped safely and swiftly on its way, and no one aboard was even aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the onrushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of the sobbing man, still clinging to the locking lever long after the train had passed. They did not see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked; to tell his wife how their son had brutally died.

Now, if you comprehend the emotions that went through this man's heart, you can begin to understand the feelings of Our Father in Heaven when He sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Can there be any wonder that he caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His Son died? How does He feel when we speed along through life without giving a thought to what was done for us through Jesus Christ?

Hello, people! It's another year now! 2005! Have been very busy these days. No time to update my blog. Pray that you and I will keep counting God's blessings and stop grumbling. =P Haha... God loves us very very much. Live our lives to the fullest to fulfill His purpose for us here on earth. We are meant to be created to please God. Yeah! What a priviledge is to become God's children. =)

A New Year is Here!

2005-01-06T20:06:00.000+08:00

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.
-Philemon 1:4

Hello, people! Greetings to you!

It's another year now! 2005! Have been very busy these days. No time to update my blog but thank God that I manage to squeeze out some time from the little free time I have to bless everyone of us through this blog. Pray that you and I will keep counting God's blessings and stop grumbling. =P

God loves us very very much. Let's live our lives to the fullest to fulfill His purpose for us here on earth. We are meant to be created to please God. Yeah! What a priviledge is to become God's children. =)

Haha...I've just changed my verse for the year. Ya, I hope to remember all of you in my prayers and I always thank God for each and everyone of you to add joy into my life. May God bless all of you in this year. Perhaps the world is coming to an end... I don't know when... but look at the disasters happened around us, it almost fit into the descriptions in the book of Revelations. Let us ponder over this, and ask ourselves what would we do if the world is going to an end... what do we wish to hear from Jesus when we see Him?

Well, I hope that Jesus will smile and tell me, "Well done, my beloved child. I'm so proud of you." What do we want Jesus to be proud of us? Hmm... I'm still thinking. I want to be like Mary as well as Martha, to be faithful to His calling. I just love to listen to God's still little voice. I can do nothing to please Him except by being obedient to Him. Life will be meaningless without purpose, and God's purpose for us in life is very important. He deserved all the glory and honour because He created the world. Even the mountains and the seas tremble when God is there. =0

I will continue to update my articles on this blog so that it can be an inspiration and blessing to all of us. God bless! Emmanual! =)

Meaningful Quote for Christmas

2004-12-28T15:41:00.002+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

The birth of Jesus is the sunrise in the Bible.

-- Henry Van Dyke

This quote is very meaningful! It reminded Hui Jun jie jie of my simple philosophy for Christmas. She was touched by my simple philosophy. =P Haha... God really uses ordinary things to do extraordinary things!

The Wallet

2004-12-28T08:36:00.001+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years.

The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.

It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him.

It was signed, Hannah.

It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope.

"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?"

She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you."

I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"

"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked.

"I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter."

She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living.

I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.

This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes, Hannah is staying with us. "

Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her. "Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television."
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah.

She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye.
I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael."

She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said Softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor."

"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You know," she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael..."

I thanked Hannah and said good-bye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to help you?"

I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet."

I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that right red lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times."

"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.

"He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks."

I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."

We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing!"

"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?"

I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward."
"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."

The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter?" "Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is."

He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me," he begged.

"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly.

The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her. "

"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "come with me."

We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her.

"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man?"

She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!"

He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces.

"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will be."

About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!"

It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me their best man.

The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.

A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.

A Homeless Man

2004-12-27T13:40:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked to the church. As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face.

He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet with holes all over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church. We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened. In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down.

People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit he took off his hat and coat.

My heart sank.

There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man." No one said a word.

The preacher took his Bible and laid it on the stand. "Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today." Then he started singing the words to this song. "If I can help somebody as I pass along. If I can cheer somebody with a word or song. If I can show somebody that he's travelling wrong. Then my living shall not be in vain."

"IS YOUR LIVING IN VAIN?"

Value in Losing

2004-12-21T18:57:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

When my son Sean was twelve, he played on a Little League baseball team. A week before the season started, I got an idea about how to show him---and his teammates---acceptance. I bought twelve coupons good for ice cream sundaes at a local restaurant, and took them to his coach.

"Coach, these are for the kids," I said. "Good," the coach said with a big smile. "This is great. I wish more dads took an interest like this. I'll take them for sundaes after our first win."

"No, Coach," I said quickly. "I want you to take them for sundaes after
their first loss."

Sean's coach looked at me strangely. What I was saying wasn't computing with
his concept of winning, losing, and rewards for good play.

This is what I shared with him:

"Coach, I don't know about you, but as I raise my kids I don't want to acknowledge their efforts as much as their being created in the image of God. I believe my son is created in the image of God and that he has infinite value, dignity, and worth which all have nothing to do with playing baseball. If he never played baseball an inning in his life, I would love and accept him just as much."

Sean's coach looked at me for a long moment. Finally, all he could muster was, "Well that's novel."

The season started and Sean's team won their first few games. But they lost their third or fourth game, and the coach was true to his word. He gave each player an ice cream sundae coupon and they all went out to "celebrate" their loss.

Sean must have thanked me at least five times for the sundaes. In addition, over the next two weeks three of the kids on his team came up and thanked me for the special treat. I recall especially a boy named Jessie, who said, "Thanks a lot for the ice cream sundaes, Mr McDowell. Wow!! it doesn't matter to you if we win or not---you love us anyway."

Nothing could have made me happier than to hear that. What I wanted to communicate is that their worth is not based upon their ability to play baseball. It's based upon the fact that they are each created in the image of God with infinite value and infinite dignity.

Is that kind of lesson too difficult for a twelve-year-old to grasp? Obviously not, especially when you use ice cream to prove your point!

Christmas: Jesus's Birthday

2004-12-21T09:26:00.000+08:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honour and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honour. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honour and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" .. as if the party were in his honour!

At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and ... do you know . no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you.

Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party. See you soon .

I Love you!

Jesus

Hey, people! So please don't say Xmas, say Christmas instead, because Christmas will not be meaningful without my heavenly Father, Jesus. You can invite him into your lives too. Just like me! =)