Power of giving

The year-end holidays are here again.  It's the time of the year when malls are lighted up and trees decorated.  Yes, Christmas is around the corner and with it, comes the tradition of gift-giving.

How many of us believe that the more you give, the more you will get in return? Or it is more blessed to give than to receive? (Acts 20:35b)

I was reminded of an incident many years back (in the year 2006).  My wife was touched to bless a person a sum of money, and asked me to pass the love gift to that person.  At that time, our bank balance was running low, but with obedience faith we submit to this prompting.

A few days later, we happen to meet up with my cousin from out-station and she pass me an envelope, saying that the Lord wanted her to bless me with this gift.  The gift was ten times the amount we blessed that person.  God is good and gracious.

Helping others is not only good for them and a good thing to do, it also makes us happier and healthier too.  Giving also connects us to others, creating stronger communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone.  And it is not all about money - we can also give out time, ideas, talents and energy.  So if you want to feel good, do good!

The glory of life is to love, not to be loved; to give, not to get; to serve, not to be served.

Giving offers us a way to express our confidence that God will care for us just as He cares for the sparrow and lily (Matthews 6:25-34)

Xmas gift

1st Xmas Gift-2Dec13
Potato Chip/SpringRoll/FlourCake/LoveLetter

It's Christmas again!  For some it's a time of celebration, for others, it's a time of holidays.

But as for me, I believe it's a time of thanksgiving and gratefulness.

Christmas is the celebration of the coming of Christ and His redemption.

Xmas Gift from Australia
8Dec13

Xmas Gift on 15Dec13

Xmas Gift from Australia
15Dec13

Special Dinner on Bird'Day

Birthday's are normally celebrated by a party with numerous gifts, but this year, it is something different and unique.  It is special because it was well spent with some closed friends over a simple meal of 'ang chow' noodle and XL ham sandwich.  It was a simple, quiet, and meaningful affair. 

'Ang Chow' Noodle

Ham Sandwich

Birthdays are a good reminder of what God has given us and a time to count the blessing God showered upon one's life.  

Jack fruits and rock melons were our desserts for the night.

Jack fruits

Rock Melon

Rice Crunch

"Kum Chien Kor'

Look at the fruit below.  Before this I had never seen a fruit like it.  I was told it is being sold at the market for RM9.00 a kilo and its name in Cantonese was Kum Chien Kor or Golden Fruit or Cash Fruit.

A church sister blessed us with this fruit from her brother's orchard in Air Itam, Penang.

 

'Koay Kak' dinner with Chuah SC on 26-11-13

Nobody is happy all of the time, but some people are definitely more fulfilled than others. Happiness is not material goods or high achievement, but it boils down to our outlook in life and the quality of our relationships with the people around us.

We were blessed as we were invited to a dinner of "Char Koay Kak'.  It was special because it was specially fried by Mr Chuah, a retired hawker, previously selling fried 'Koay Kak' at Cecil Street Wet Market .

God is good and we have a wonderful time of sharing and fellowshipping.

Mission to Kunming-Lijiang, China [October-November 2013]

All glory to Jesus for the successful trip to Kunming-Lijiang from 30 October to 20 November 2013.

The team of 5 left Penang for Kunming for 10 days before continuing to Lijiang after a member left for Penang due to work commitment.

The faithfulness of God and His love has allowed the team to be there for 22 days.

The team taught in two Bible Schools and visited a mental hospital beside providing numerous counselling sessions to the young Christians in Kunming and Lijiang towns.

They also visited a shelter home for former prostitutes and single mothers to encourage and taught them the foundational truth of Christian living.

Thanking God and the Holy Spirit for the graces and anointing to accomplish His work in China.

Mental Hospital

Village gathering

Affliction as trees need winter

Paul reminds us that despite all the sufferings a believer will face, God has a divine purpose for it, and the ultimate design for suffering is that the one who suffers would find hope in God.  In God's plan, suffering is not wasted, because it leads to perseverance, which develops character, and character brings about hope.
Of all the things we could say about afflictions or trials - that they are disappointing, discouraging, humiliating, uncomfortable, painful, and disheartening - God see them, among other reasons, as tests that reveal our true selves.  Affliction will also reveals our growth process in terms of our conformity to the image and character of Christ.  God uses life's pressure to bring out the sweetness of Christlike character in us.

Romans  5:3-5  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope:  And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.


Pain makes us Think,  Thinking makes us Wise,  Wisdom makes Life Profitable.

We need affliction as trees need winter - that we may collect sap and nourishment for future blossom and fruits.

Avocado - the 'A' fruit

The avocado is a tree native to Mexico and Central America.  Avocado or alligator pear, is botanically a large berry that contains a single seed.  They have green skinned, fleshy body that may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical. [from Wikipedia]

Avocados are rich in B-complex vitamins and essential oils and anti inflammatory.  They soothe skin that is red, irritated or blotchy. They are also helpful for lowering levels of cholesterol, which lowers the risk of heart disease.  Beside containing oleic acid, a monosaturated fatty acid that plays a role in lowering cholesterol , it also contain high levels of vitamin E which acts as a powerful antioxidant and vitamin K.

Are You Happy ?

Are you happy?  Everybody wants to be happy but how many of us are truly happy?

Happiness is a natural occurring feeling, yet we relate to happiness as something special and rare.  Some of us are afraid to show our happiness for fear of being though of as arrogant, selfish or juvenile.  We fear that too much happiness will defile our professional status or ruin our chance of being promoted at work.  We think that being overly happy will upset others, draw envy or invite rejection.

Real happiness is overcoming our negativity and beginning to count our blessings so we can experience the mysterious beauty of life.  It is about learning to surrender, release the need to control and allow our lives to unfold in its own unique and organic way.  It is about becoming fully human.

There is no fear, no doubt and no anxiety where there's true happiness.

Happiness is a choice, we can alter our life by altering our attitude.

Martin Seligman, one of the leading researchers in positive psychology and author of Authentic Happiness, describes happiness as having three parts: pleasure, engagement, and meaning. It involves both daily positive emotions and a global sense that life is worthwhile.

Unequally yoked !

Some things in the world about us just do not mix.  For example, oil and water - their unique and individual molecular structures and properties are such that they simply do not combine naturally into one.
This is also true for other vital relationships in life.

The Scripture in  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 recorded  "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Many will be shocked to learn that this verses is not mainly referring to "marriage" but it can also mean which church one attends; of which clubs one is a member; which establishments one goes to for entertainment; which TV shows become a regular habit; with whom one becomes business partners; Etc.

The word "yoke" means a coupling as when two oxen are coupled or yoked together by a pulling beam to do work such as plowing a field or pulling a wagon.

So Paul is really telling the Corinthians congregation  that they should not be "unequally" yoked with those that practiced paganism or any works of darkness.  They were to avoid: "unbelievers, unrighteousness, darkness, Belial [an epithet of Satan], infidels, and idols."

The principle might be expressed thus : "Do not form any relationship, whether temporary or permanent, with unbelievers that would lead to a compromise of Christian standards or jeopardize consistency of Christian withness" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 10, p.359)

Our Apple Tree

Touching Story - "Our Apple Tree"

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree.  A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday.  He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow.  He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.  Time went by, the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.

"Come and play with me", the tree asked the boy.

"I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more" the boy replied.  "I want toys.  I need money to buy them."

"Sorry, but I do not have money, but you can pick all my apples and sell them.  So you will have money."

The boy was so excited.  He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily.  The boy never came back after he picked the apples.  The tree was sad.


One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited.

"Come and play with me" the tree said.

"I do not have time to play.  I have to work for my family.  We need a house for shelter.  Can you help me?"

"Sorry, but I do not have any house.  But you can chop off my branches to build your house." 

So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.  The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then.  The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted.

"Come and play with me!" the tree said.

"I am getting old, I want to go sailing to relax myself.  Can you give me a boat?" said the man

"Use my trunk to build your boat.  You can sail far away and be happy."

So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat.  He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after many years.  "Sorry, my boy.  But I do not have anything for you anymore.  No more apples for you" the tree said.  "No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite" the man replied.

"No more trunk for you to climb on."  "I am too old for that now" the man said.  "I really cannot give you anything, the only thing left is my dying roots," the tree said with tears.

"I do not need much now, just a place to rest.  I am tired after all these years," the man replied.

"Good!  Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, come sit down with me and rest."  The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.

This is a story of everyone.  The tree is like our parents.  When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum and Dad.  When we grow up, we leave them; only come to them when we needed something or when we are in trouble.  No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just to make you happy.

You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents.  We take them for granted; we don't appreciate all they do for us, until it's too late.



~ Moral:
Treat your parents with loving care .... For you will know their value, when you see their empty chair ... We never know the love of our parents for us; till we have become parents.

The Gift of Tongues

The gift of tongues manifests itself in three different ways.  First, it appears as a private prayer language (1 Corinthians 14:14-18).  Second, it appears as a missionary gift (e.g., Pentecost. See Acts 2:1-21).  Third, it appears as a revealatory gift when someone in the church receives a word from God in an unknown language, thus requiring the complementary gift of interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14: 1-19).  Doubtless, tongues are occassionally abused, but it must also be said that there are godly people who practice these gifts according to Paul's directives (i.e. biblically), and when done so, they are indeed a blessing.   - [Living Life July 2013]

Who brought you up?

Each child born into this world has potential for godliness and even greatness.  The traits today's children need to guide a future society do not come by accident, but through diligent, godly parenting.  They do not learn to love and obey God only by what we say but also by watching what we do. 

Parents are exhorted to "bring [children] up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4)  "To bring up" refers to nourishing children by providing resources for their physical, mental, and spiritual needs.  "Training" includes concern about all aspects of a child's development.  And "admonition" speaks of providing direction by well-chosen words uniquely suited to each children.

Children, honoring our parents is more than an obligations.  It's also a privilege.  As children we honor them by obedience; as adult, by frequent calls or visits and self-sacrificing care.

Deut. 5:16  "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (KJV) 

CHILDREN  LET  THEIR  PARENTS  DOWN  IF  THEY  FORGET  WHO  BROUGHT  THEM  UP.

Strength and beauty

I remembered when we are young, we can't wait to grow up, but now that we are old, we look longingly to former years.  How ironic!

God wants us to be joyful in each seasons of our life.  Whatever our age, He asks us to commit our way to Him and accept the struggle He allows along with the strength and grace He provides.

Why does God let us get old and weak then?

J. Robertson McQuilkin, a missionary said "I think God has planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical but the the strength and beauty of old age as spiritual.  We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporary so we will be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty that is forever.  And so we will be eager to leave the temporary, deteriorating part of us and be truly homesick for our eternal home.  If we stay young and strong and beautiful, we might never want to leave.

Just like what is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" (KJV)


AS  LIFE'S  SHADOWS  LENGTHEN,  THOUGHTS  OF  GOD  SHOULD  DEEPEN

Parents

A Chinese law requiring family members to visit their elderly relatives went into effect to howls of online ridicule, as the country's huge population ages rapidly.  More than 14% of China population, or 194 million people, are aged over 60, according to the most recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The regulation "forces" children to visit their parents, the state-run Global Times newspaper said, with concerns growing over increasing numbers of "empty nest" homes. 

[The Star  2July2013]

The law was enacted amid rising concerns that China's rapid development has challenged its traditional extended family unit and created a spiralling number of 'empty nest' homes.
Reports of eldrly people being neglected or mistreated by their children have shocked the country.

It is indeed heart rending to know that for many ageing parents, their last stage of life passes by in loneliness, disappointment and the pain of being ostracised, while others celebrate with much joy and pleasure.  This scenario is not necessarily any indication of the parents' failure to raise, nurture and teach their children the importance of family values, togetherness and traditionals.

However, as the children grow up, they become more self-centred and materialistic, probably due to influence of today's society. Besides, the fear of losing freedom, privacy and comfort could explain why they choose not to care for their elderly parents at home or even visit them in villages or old folks home, including on special ocassions.

It is also important to remember that we too will grow old one day and what we do to our parents can very well happen to us.

Great emphasis is being placed on living longer and living better. Advances in medical science are making it possible for more and more people. Yet in spite of this, none of us can avoid growing old. One day aging will overtake all of us, and our bodies will shut down.

As we grow older, we can dwell on the failures and hardships of our past, or we can remember God's faithfulness, accept His discipline, and keep looking to the future in faith.

WE CANNOT AVOID GROWING OLD; BUT WE CAN AVOID GROWING COLD.

Laughter

For years, it has been acknowledged that "laughter is the best medicine".  The Bible recorded in Proverbs 15:13 - "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken". (KJV)

Laughter is free and anyone can produce it, anywhere and at anytime.

Cheerful people cope with illness better, said Carsten Niemitz, human biologist from Free University of Berlin.  Eckhart von Hirschhausen, a German comedian pointed out that laughter is a protective mechanism against mental illnesses.  Dr Amit Sood of Mayo Clinic in the US said, studies show all kinds of benefits from laughter - from better immunity and coping skills, lower stress, better relationships to improved digestion".

"When you laugh, you're joyful - you're living in the moment"

True happiness begins deep inside and emerges on our faces. So be happy and laugh !!!

Proverbs 17 : 22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Philippians 4 :4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Anxiety ...

One in 20 people is thought to suffer from some form of anxiety disorder at any time.  Anxiety may not be life-threatening, but long term habit of worrying about almost everything, may limits a person's horizons and complicates life.

Anxiety is an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior, such as pacing back and forth.  Anxiety is not the same as fear.  It is a feeling of fear, worry, and uneasiness, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as menacing.  It is often accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, problems in concentration, and muscular tension. [From Wikipedia]

There are two types of anxiety : positive anxiety and negative anxiety.

A positive anxiety is the kind of anxiety that motivate us or prepare us for things we have to face, and sometimes give us energy to take action when we need to.

An anxiety becomes negative when it interferes with our day-to-day activities and we are not able to make good decisions.

Philippians 4:6-7 said  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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."

1 Peter 5:6-8  "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enermy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

So we need to learn to let go and let God take over our live, for He cares and hold our tomorrow.  

Remember your parents

Jesus replied  "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?  For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'  But you said that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to 'honor his father' with it.  Thus you nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition.  You hypocrites!  Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:  "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teaching are but rules taught by men."  (Matthews 15:3-9 NIV)

With the emerging social ethos, people are becoming less religious and more secular.  The growing personal quest for self-actualisation and worldly success overrides the importance of relationships and family.

The cultural norms and values of yester years are experiencing a paradigm shift, moving away from the rigidity of traditions and conventions towards practicality and expedience.

So we need to remember what is written in  Exodus 20:12  "Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."
 
If you do not honor your parents your worship is in vain.

The Lonely Life

This thing called life is an awfully long journey.  For some, it seems an endless trip, filled with thankless responsibilities and relentless tasks, disappointments and deadlines, and daily demands.

I think the most painful word in the English language is "alone".  How ' ironic ' - statistically speaking, it should be impossible to be lonely on planet earth.  After all, there are more than 7 billion of us roaming around on this earth.

All of us, at one time or another, have tasted the bitterness of being lonely, being all alone in the world without a companion with whom to share a thought or a part of our life.

We often see lonely people in every city; thousands of them trudging the streets all by themselves and tasting the dregs of loneliness. That is their regular way of life.  It doesn't seem right, but it is a fact.

Well, there is only one solution, of course. Make friends. Friends are the only solution to loneliness. Many people are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.
Jesus is our Friend. Just like to song "What a Friend we have in Jesus"....

LONELINESS  COMES  WHEN  WE  FORGET  ABOUT  THE  ONE  WHO  IS  ALWAYS  WITH  US.

God Blessing

God's intention is to bless men  [Genesis. 1:27-28  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.   God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”]

 -  then why are people not bless?

a)  because they do not know (ignorant) about it

b)  because they do not want it (choose not to be bless)

c)  because of their "status" - from being a child of God to a child of the devil.

                                         - from blessing to curse because of man's sin.

Malachi. 2:2

If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings.  Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

Blessing can not be obtained :-

a)  by grabing or snatching

b)  by doing good deeds or earning it through good speech BUT

c)  it is given (or bestowed) by God.

Galatians. 3:13-14  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”  He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Real blessing cannot change and will last. With this blessing there is no worry or stress but peace and joy.  It is given by God - Proverbs. 10:22  The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

Mother

"A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking" - Helen Rice

A mum is the one who believes in you - even when you have trouble believing in yourself.

She's the teacher who, more that anyone else, teaches you how to live.

She's the friend who's there when other friends walk away.

She's the nurse that nursed our pains and cheered our gains.

She's our chef, our maid, our chauffeur, our biggest fan,  and our best friend.

She's struggled for us, cried over us, fought for us, put herself second for us, hoped the best for us and has driven herself insane with worry for us but never has she asked for anything in return because she loves us and did it all on love alone!

Most of us take our Mums for granted but there are people who have lost or have never even seen theirs.  If you have a loving Mother who did all of this for you, you are very lucky, never devalue her worth because one day, you'll wish you hadn't!

A CHRISTLIKE EXAMPLE IS THE GREATEST GIFT PARENTS CAN GIVE THEIR CHILDREN

Prayer

Prayer is simply opening our lives to God, acknowledging our total dependence on Him. Prayer is not limited to a segment of our lives or to a scheduled event in our days.  It is an attitude of receptivity and openness which permeates our lives and to which God responds eagerly.  It is living in the presence of God, always in the process of being reshaped and re-created by Him.

The purpose of prayer is not to change God, but to allow Him to change us.  It is to discover and do God's will, not to obligate Him to do ours.  The purpose of prayer is that God's splendor will be displayed on earth as it is in heaven.

[Extracted from "The Praying Life" by Jennifer K.Dean]

The numbers of prayer rally taking place recently due to the coming GE13 is a good sign of Christians unity in Malaysia.  Groups of individual and churches have been holding prayers for peace and righteousness to prevail in our beloved country never seen before.  This is a good sign of better things to come.  Christians are now more aware of their moral responsibilities .

The Bible says a lot about believers' duties as citizens.  We are citizens of two kingdoms: one temporal and earthly, the other eternal and heavenly.  We are called to participate in both the culture and politics of The City of Man, as this world was called, while primarily focusing on the Kingdom of God.   "When Moses commanded the Israelites to appoint God-fearing leaders, he wasn't just talking to a handful of citizens who felt like getting involved ...  And modern Christians are under the same obligation to choose leaders who love justice ...  Today, in our modern democracy, free citizens act as God's agent for choosing leaders, and we do it by voting.

Prayer is not the believer moving the heart of God, but God moving our heart.  When our prayers are full of worship, they are like sweet smelling incense before God.

Worship is not limited to singing praise songs.  It is simply, ascribing worth to something, and this, we can also ascribe worth to God through our prayers.

Gracious gift of Sabbath

The Sabbath is not about just doing nothing all day.  It is not about sleeping in and doing no work.  It is about active resting: a rest that helps us reflect on and recognize who God is and what He has done, a rest that renews us as we participate and enjoy God and the life He has given us.  It is a rest that is centered on worship of the living God.

John Pipers states, "God's purpose for us on the Sabbath is that we experience the highest and most intense joy that can be experienced, namely, that we 'take delight in the Lord'"  

"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27

[Extracted from LIVING Life -June 2012]

Care Cell

The cell is the basic structural, functional and biological unit of all known living organisms.  It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing and is often called the building block of life.

The word  cell  comes from the Latin  cella, meaning "small room". [Wikipedia]

Invited a brother to share at our monthly home cell today.  At this gathering, we were able to learn about God  (Psalm 119:105) and meet with God  (Hebrew 13:5).  A healthy community can also be established through fellowship with one another  (Hebrew 10:24-25).

Fellowship Is God's Way of Accomplishing His Plan of Glorifying Christ