Hope.

Psalms 33:16-18

No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

I've never seen this verse before in Psalms and when I chanced upon it at a posting, I did a double take.

History will provide sufficient evidence to prove that nothing can ever guarantee success or deliverance. Neither numbers of Assyrian warriors , strength of Samson or that of Absolom's steed would save one's life.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Saviour as "one that saves from danger or destruction". 

In today's world, we aren't faced with sieges, war or battles at our door-step. But we do face a different form of battle. A struggle to find God's will mapped over our life's current impossible situation. This is where we really need to understand that God alone gives us hope because we cannot rely on anything else.

Over the past weeks, I encounter many who have graduated from Poly and University. Not everyone of them have the benefit of having the next step of a new job or higher education mapped out for them. Many seem to  pondering the next steps, the choices ahead seem rather limited and every plausible option seems to be mired in obstacles.


I've faced a similar personal experience when I graduated amidst the recession of 99. It seemed clear that I would have a job that would fit the multiple criteria of mine. Waiting up to three months was ok, but it started getting tough after four month with no answer in sight. By then, doubts started to creep in and every good-intentioned query from friends or parents made my faith waver. It was only after one year of doing odd roles and waiting aimlessly that I got a job which was meant for me. Through it I've learned that in the face of the impossibilities it's never God's will for me to run from it and settle for a compromised solution. Because God wants to teach me that He is sufficient in every situation and the only available hope for all my life's moments.

Likewise, I pray that through the unsettling moments encountered by the new graduates will teach each individual to recognise that deliverance will come as we stay focused on God's mighty hands.  God alone is our hope and our salvation. 

M.

Count the cost

Luke 14:28 
"But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?"

My email daily devotion came in and there was this interesting angle to how we need to count the cost before we leap into doing anything for God. The parallel analogy is hilarious and I think I should use this every time, especially during Chinese new year, when the Christian folks bug me.

"Yet some people who set out to follow Christ haven't counted the cost, like couples who rush into marriage. Once you have made a marriage commitment, it is a lifelong commitment. And if you are not willing to make it, then do everyone a favor and stay single. Count the cost."

hahaha....

M.

Reminder : I'm Heaven-bound

Revelations 21:1-4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Ever since I returned from Japan on 22 April, my days at work are often filled with loneliness because my co-worker who is also my SE colleague is on maternity leave. My closest colleagues are workaholics contented to eat the awful food of the canteen. The rest of the folks, I'll never want to eat lunch with. So lunchtime can get really depressing as I venture out alone.

Eating alone occasionally is fine and sometimes fun, because I get to venture to town, eat nonsense instead of the typical standard meal. However, when it's for a continuous number of days, it really gets depressing. More so when the weather is crummy or days with work blues. 

Funny thing is, I have been feeling rather chirpy and positive the past week since I was busy trying to lookout for someone who's facing the blues and also teach my assigned RR leaders course on Sunday. Sure there are a couple of stuff which I'm contemplating about, some work issues and christian living tasks which I've been putting off. But nothing that warrant myself being low. However today just before lunch time,  as the reality of lunch alone plus Monday physical exhaustion blues hit, the emotions dipped.

I ate a boring, veggie rice with lotsa veggies and no gravy, since that reduces the oil, fat and whatever that could make it unhealthy and provoke more self-torment. Then I went to the supermarket to get myself the healthiest, lowest sugar tea with highest amount of tea poly-phenols, and at the cheapest offer price. (amazing how in the lowness of my feelings, my mind rationalises for my own benefit). 

Then I ambled to the library to find some air-conditioned solace. There wasn't any of the latest comics and I picked up a children's book "the girl who loved wild horses". Clearly unsatisfied after 4 minutes, I walked about to find some puppetry books since I wanted to get a bit more resources for my forthcoming ER teaching lessons. Nothing fruitful materialised and it was really getting depressing. As I did my rounds, I went to the standard fiction section to check out any latest books from Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. 

I'm really glad that my body got my there as I decided to pick up the last of the left behind series book "Kingdom come". Out of boredom, I told myself that I had nothing else to read, thus I might as well reread the last section of the book. At the description of Heaven and the fictional description of living in beautiful heaven and for eternity, something awoke in me and the shackles of my self-pity-party fell.

I am reminded that someday, if I continue to be faithful and always fix my eyes on Jesus, I'll make it to Heaven. That is really a goal worth going after and I simply cannot afford to fall on the wayside and allow myself to be sidetracked by my feelings or my secular aspirations. 

God did not promise a life that is smooth sailing, but He did promise a safe passage and importantly, a reward of eternity that is priceless. 

May we live as Heaven-bound individuals. 

blessings,

M.

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)

All you have

Mark 12:41-44

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Coming to God when we are feeling spiffy and joyful is easy. Trying to self-encourage ourselves when we are down is such a painful task. I dread those days where I go into church attempting to fit in as everyone claps, moves and sings while I do it without a joyful heart because of the horrible circumstances around me. More so as we are  wrecked by the emotions that render us feeling miserable in the house of God and guilty of coming in with an imperfect condition.

Yet, somehow I don't seem to recall that we are commanded to come to God's house with a perfect condition, ready to excitedly praise. As long as we come with the intention to honour Him with what we have, however beaten down we are, God doesn't mind.

As I reflect at how Christ viewed the poor widow, I really wondered how she must have felt as she gave him all she had. In her impoverished state, she steps into the house of God and still chooses to give what she had when she could have just bypassed the offering and kept it for any scrap of food. For that I'm really amazed at her devotion to honour God.

What about you and me when we are still able but not feeling good? Throw up our hands in surrender and walk away until we feel like it? No, we don't give up. Similiar to the widow, we may shuffle our feet and feel lesser than those who around us. But we must still trust, open our hearts and bare it to a God who sees and cares. We must choose to believe because our life in God is not hollow. We emulate the widow and arise to elect to give all we have. He has shown that he observes and looks out for the poor who give all they have.

Why? Because God is faithful even when we are not up to the mark. That's what makes God, God. Because God is love. 


blessings,
M.

 "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.  Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful."(Jeremiah 31:3-4)

Who's in-charge of your life?

1 Samuel 28-7, 8 & 20

Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her." 

"There is one in Endor," they said.

So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name.".....................

Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel's words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.

I rarely am so free or motivated to post twice in a day, but this incident which I had with my colleague brought out key spiritual truths to me.

She's Belgian, sits beside me and we're neighbours who greet each other every morning. She's could not take the messy work environment and along with a host of other work-boss issues, she chose to resign from her job. Tomorrow's her last day and yesterday she decided to go with her boyfriend to see an astrologer who was recommended by a friend. As usual stories would go about, it all goes to say that her friend was initially skeptical, but after that very 'accurate' session, she now a rather firm believer and had thus done that recommendation.

I was informed of it yesterday and had warned her that they'll likely tell her negative stuff and was trying to tell her not to take it seriously. She had assured me that her skeptical boyfriend would be there to balance her. We agreed that she'll come back the next day (today) to update me of her exciting experience.

Today, she told me that the Astrologer told her that the planets of her life were all in bad shape and everything from job, money, love life were rotten and without hope. Then she confessed that even though she tried to show a very positive appearance, once the news of doom and jinxed life hit her, she broke into tears because it was so real to her. when I probed further, I was glad that she didn't go the extra extent to buy the required talismans to make things better. But she was nonetheless very dejected and you could see in her a depressed countenance.

As we stood on our own desk space, parted by our partition, I went into a long 15 minutes counseling session and was grateful to be able to bring across the message of who is in charge of your life and what defines your life's outlook. I also took the time to give her the "i-told-you-so" speech, because I told her she'll just hear about bad news simply because how many of these 'spiritual' mystics will give good news and hope?

This situation really parallels with king Saul's encounter with the witch of Endor. When things are so depressing and it just seems like we're living in endless seasons of bad luck, who can we turn to?

Sure, life is no bed of roses. Especially when we compare with the 'luckier' people around us. Let's face it, the comparison to find someone better off than us will never end. Even if we were the richest person in the world, we'll probably lament that we are not the most intelligent or handsome. There will be something that makes us sigh and lament.

I ended the talk with her on an encouraging good note, but as I sit down to reflect I really see the need to build in our lives the answer of who is in charge of our lives in terrible, bad seasons. Is it us who is defining our vision of where we are going? Or can we recognise that it is God who holds us in His hands and will guide us through the thick and thin of life.

Jesus Christ, Saviour of my soul. May He also be yours and reveal to you His keen interest to be in charge of your destiny, your plans, and every single step you will make in this life.

blessings,
M.

"My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past;the rains are over and gone. "(Song of Solomon 2:10-11)

God is my shelter

Philippians 4:6-7 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Gosh, yesterday's business meeting with my big boss was one-of-a-kind in my entire 10 years of working.  

Over a little matter such as getting my colleague who was calling overseas to stop talking, he ended up loosing his composure. Something was wrong with the teleconference line and so my colleague could not hear his instructions to 'stop'. What resulted was a sheer nightmare as the big boss starting shouting into the telephone unit. From a loud tone to a frustrated crescendo, he got so frustrated that he yelled non stop my colleague's name and then slammed the phone. That resulted in everyone in the room stunned and tensed. 

It really seems like a bad dream, as I relive that moment. I sat there, frozen and stunned and all I did was to instinctively say a pray "God, protect me". For the rest of the surreal 45 minutes, I presented the business presentation calmly and somehow had enough wisdom to answer what was needed.

I have always read testimonies, but never really understood what it would have felt like to instinctively call upon God and have God providing the indescribable peace to victims of the holacaust, or during those dreadful life-death moments. Yesterday, I finally understood as I reflect back at His protection upon my mind and emotions at such a crazed moment.


M.   

"My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent men you save me." (2 Samuel 22:3)