SAD

Almost one-third of 6,540 secondary students surveyed in a mental health study showed a high level of depression, anxiety and stress. The study also showed about 40% of the students interviewed found it difficult to cope with depression, anxiety and stress, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. [The Star 6 Oct 2011].

Acronym of Stress, Anxiety and Depression is S.A.D.


Extracted from Wikipedia :

Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance. It refers to the consequence of the failure of an organism — human or other animal — to respond adequately to mental, emotional, or physical demands, whether actual or imagined.

Anxiety (also called angst or worry) is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components.

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless. They may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable, experience loss of appetite or overeating, or problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions; and may contemplate or attempt suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment may be present.

Stress is expected in our life and are usually due to academic pressure, peer pressure and family pressure. Likewise, a little anxiety is normal, but constant worry is not. Peter encouraged believers not to be filled with anxiety but to cast all their worries upon God (1 Peter 5:7).
Recognising that the challenges of life can be both overwhelming and suffocating, Jesus urged us to take matters in hand by simplifying. He said "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34

In our sadness and devasting loss, we have this hope : The Lord Jesus provides joy in the midst of grief. So let us learn to lean and trust God as the Psalmist David recorded in Psalm 62:8 - "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6

Priest, Prophet & King

Father's Day was celebrated on the 4th of September in Perth, Australia. We attended Sunday Worship at Faith Community Church at Winthrop Baptist College, Perth. Pas. Benny Ho, the Senior Pastor, was sharing the role of a father that include :- PRIEST, PROPHET and KING.

The role of a priest as Job carried out in the book of Job 1:5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

A priest to pray and intercede for the family and loved one.

[representing his family to God]

A prophet is to teach and guide as the Lord speaks to the father.

[representing God to his family]

Only when you are a priest and a prophet, then you earn the rights to lead as a king.

[governing his family on behalf of God]

Just like Jesus, playing His role as the High Priest (Hebrew 4:14-16), Prophet (Matthew 13:57) and King (Luke 1:32-33)(Matthew 25:31).

God is good

Just came back from attending my son's convocation in Curtin, Perth, Australia. God is good and is always good to us. As I recall the time my son started his university life in Curtin, Miri campus, I was worried how we are going to provide for him financially.

Well, today he not only finished his degree in Curtin, but he was able to spend his last semester in Perth under a student exchange programme.

God also provided us the opportunity to spend a family holiday in Perth while attending his graduation. The only peoples missing in our group are; my dad [when back home to be with the Lord in November 2009], my daughter [studying in Singapore] and my brother and sister-in-law, work commitment in Singapore.

We were very bless while in Perth as the weather is kind to us when we were out travelling. We met up with good host and managed to cover many interesting places. God is great and most worthy of all praises.

Alone or Loneliness?

Mother Teresa said : "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty".

My daughter, after being away from home for 3 weeks came back to Penang to her familiar surrounding - cozy room, comfy bed, friendly people and delicious food; for 3 days. She was feeling alone in an unfamiliar place where there is no old friends, to shares and laughs.

Loneliness has been termed the most desolate word in the English language. It is no respecter of age, race, economic status, or intelligence. Albert Einstein said, "It is strange to be known so universally, and yet to be so lonely."
What circumstances make you feel helpless or hopeless today? Poor health, broken relationship, a family member in great need? In Jesus Christ, God has pierced the dark winter of our world in a daring rescue through His redeeming love. He is therefore able to reach us and calm our fears in the most desperate circumstances. If you feel unloved, don't run from your pain or try to get love through wrong means. Instead, devote yourself to knowing God and loving Him. Allow Him to meet your deepest needs. Then give Him all the praise !
God made us for intimacy and companionship with others. Even before sin entered the world, He declared that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2 : 18). That's why many people often feel so empty inside.
In such moments, I am thankful to have a heavenly Father who knows what it is to be separated from a beloved Son. I am thankful to have a God who is described as "a father of the fatherless, a defender of widows" (Psalm 68:5).
Those who know Jesus are never alone. THOUGH PEOPLE MAY NOT LOVE YOU. GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.

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

Discipleship

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

From the above Great Commission, we evangelize unbelievers, and after that, we disciple them to have a desire for holiness like Jesus Christ.

Likewise, with our Christian life. When we were saved [converted from pre-believer to believer], we were like babies. We started growing in our faith by feeding on milk, then soft diet and then solid food. Our spiritual life slowly grow from immature baby to mature adult by having an ongoing dialog with God and a growing knowledge of who God is and who we can be with in time of need. After being matured, we started to disciple other new converts to be disciple of Christ.

Even when our journey in life is marked by confinement and limitations, we can be sure that the Lord will leads other Christians to guides us and encourage us through His Word.

Discipleship is relational and experiential. As such we not only need to communicate with one another, but also live a God glorifying life. We are also to be committed to our call to fulfill the commission to share the gospel to others.

KNOWING ABOUT GOD MAY INTEREST US; BUT KNOWING GOD WILL CHANGE US.

Right Attitude

Author Henri Nouwen, in his book The Return Of The Prodigal Son, suggests that all Christians, at some point in their walk of faith, are represented by each of the three main characters. At times we are the wayward child in need of repentance and forgiveness. At other times we are the big brother who wants to hold on to resentment and withhold forgiveness. But as we mature, we become like the father, whose highest desire is to have all his children reconciled.

The church is also a big family, we should not be split into separate parts as 1 Corinthians 1:10 records "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."

1 Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

Paul encouraged the Corinthians in their trials: "Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

So what's unseen and eternal that we can focus on? The character of God is an excellence place to focus. He is good (Psalm 25:8), He is just (Isaiah 30:18), He is forgiving (1 John 1:9), and He is faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9).

A right attitude with your family begins with a right attitude toward God.

Journey

Live is a journey.   We are just like a pilgrim, travelling on a bus or train.  As we move on, we will come to a cross-section where we need to make a decision - to stop or to move on.  We can make a wrong stop, or turn into a wrong direction, but if we have Jesus with us, He will guide us back into the right path and right direction.

By the end of July, my son Johnathan finishes his university life while my daughter, Audelia begins hers from first of August.  In a few months time, Johnathan would journey on to the next stage - that is working life.

As parents our role is to prepare our children, when they grow up to leave us as independent, emotionally resilient beings with a strong moral and social compass.

Being loving and kind while setting clear behavioral boundaries and consequences, positive and negative.

Proverbs 22:6 "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Faithfulness is God's requirement; fruitfulness is His reward.

Father

Fathers of today is different from the past, which could get away with just being the breadwinner of the family. They are expected to juggle work and home, just like mother. They need to be strong in the office, yet gentle, loving and supportive at home. They must provide encouragement, teach and counsel; to warn and be a model Christian life for their children.

Being a dad means that God has entrusted us with the task of training our children in the way they should go [Proverbs 22:6]. He also asked us to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord without exasperating them. [Ephesians 6:4]

"A dad is Gods love in action, He looks with his heart and feels with his eyes.
A dad is the bank where his children deposit all their worries and hurts.
A dad is the cement that keeps his family together and his love last a lifetime."

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

"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 development. And "instruction" speaks of providing direction by well-chosen words uniquely suited to each child.

THE BEST FATHERS NOT ONLY GIVE US LIFE -- THEY TEACH US HOW TO LIVE.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Salvation Belong To The Lord

I am very blessed and honor to be given the privilege to lead my aunt's sister through the sinner prayer just now. I am amazed, and believed that ... grace and truth came through Jesus Christ [John 1:17b].

As usual, I was with a group of church's friends hiking at Youth Park, when my aunt called and told me that her sister would like to invite Jesus to be her personal Saviour. This aunt, aunty Yeoh shared that she saw a vision of two persons carrying a table and a book on it, asking and inviting her whether she would like her name to be written into this Book - she said she told them she was not ready, and they just turned away and took the table and book away and disappeared.
Her niece [a pre-believer], upon hearing her vision, asked her if she would like to be a Christian - and she replied three times 'yes'.
I went to the hospital and share to her that all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:10). God loved us and sent His Son Jesus to died for us (John 3:16) and He was buried, and He was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4).

By the grace of God, I then lead her through the sinner prayer. Jesus said , “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Revelation 20:15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Salvation belongs to our God,
Who sits upon the throne,
And unto the Lamb:
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks,
Honor and power and strength -
Be to our God, forever and ever, AMEN!
And we, the redeemed, shall be strong,
In purpose and unity;
Declaring aloud:
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks,
Honor and power and strength.

F.A.T.H.E.R. in heaven

Attributes of our Father in heaven :-

F AITHFUL For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalm 100:5

A WESOME For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. - Psalm 47:2

T RUTHFUL Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. - John 3:33

H OLINESS Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. - Psalm 29:2
E TERNITY Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. - Psalm 93:2

R IGHTEOUSNESS Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. - Psalm 89:14

A GODLY FATHER REFLECTS THE LOVE OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER.