Humility is concerned with what is right

James 4:10 - Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (NIV)

James reminds us of an important biblical principle that is found throughout the pages of Scripture, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James lays out the criteria on living a humble life that honours the Lord in chapter four of his epistle.  He lists a series of commands that will not only keep us in close fellowship with God but encourage us towards humility of heart and gentleness of spirit.

Humility is a fruit of the Spirit that should be exhibited in every believer’s life, but there is much misunderstanding about biblical humility and what it means to humble oneself before the Lord.  Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.  It is understanding ourselves properly considering who God is and who we are and living accordingly.  This humbling of oneself is not meant to be forced, but instead should be voluntary in a willing action.

James gives us a challenge that demands us going against our current day of self-exaltation culture.  He encourages us to appropriately humble ourselves before God.  When we recognize who we are apart from the Lord, the only response that can come from us in the presence of God is humility.  True humility grows in the heart of someone who is submitted to God, growing in grace, and maturing in the Christian faith.  The reward of true humility is exaltation from God - He will lift you up.  The exaltation from God is far greater than the exaltation of the world.

Gossip

In Ancient Greece, Socrates had a great reputation of wisdom.  One day, someone came to find the great philosopher and said to him:

- Do you know what I just heard about your friend?
- A moment, replied Socrates.  Before you tell me, I would like to test you the three sieves.
- The three sieves?
- Yes, continued Socrates.  Before telling anything about the others, it's good to take the time to filter what you mean.  I call it the test of the three sieves.  The first sieve is the TRUTH.  Have you checked if what you're going to tell me is true?
- No, I just heard it.
- Very good!  So, you don't know if it's true.  We continue with the second sieve, that of KINDNESS.  What you want to tell me about my friend, is it good?
- Oh, no!  On the contrary.
- So, questioned Socrates, you want to tell me bad things about him and you're not even sure they're true?  Maybe you can still pass the test of the third sieve, that of UTILITY.  Is it useful that I know what you're going to tell me about this friend?
- No, really.
- So, concluded Socrates, what you were going to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor useful.  Why, then, did you want to tell me this?

"Gossip is a bad thing. In the beginning it may seem enjoyable and fun, but in the end, it fills our hearts with bitterness and poisons us, too!"

- Pope Francis

Hopeful Connection

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me - Proverbs 8:17

Do you recall falling in love?  You hoped to know the person better and learn all the details that made the individual special.  You spent all your free time with your new love.  You formed strong bonds to last through troubles and time.  It was a moment when you felt connected to another person, when there was someone outside of yourself whom you could not picture your life without.

A. W. Tozer spoke of the desire to know God better.  The moment God became real and special to him was when he was fifteen years old.  He had heard a street preacher say that people needed to call on God if they did not know how to be saved.  Tozer ran home to his attic, got on his knees, and began a lifelong pursuit of God.  This moment inspired his pursuit to a deeper knowledge of God.  He loved and grew in his connection to God for the rest of his life.  Our pursuit of God should be lifelong.  God is too deep, too wide, and too high for the knowing to ever end.  The pursuit begins at the moment you understand that God truly loves you, and this begins your connection of hope.

Just tell our heavenly Father, "I love You and long to know You deeper. Lead me in Your ways so that I may walk closer to You day by day."  Amen

Source: 365 Devotion for hope by Karen Whiting

Chinese New Year Eve Dinner and First Day Lunch Fellowship

Chinese New Year eve dinner with the Yap's family. We had steam garlic prawn, curry chicken, pipa duck, ji hoo char, lor bak, tu tor soup and roasted chestnuts.

On the first day of CNY, our lunch consists of Korean Fried Chicken, Curry Prawns, Curry Chicken, Garlic Crabs, Onion Omelette and Vegetables Soup.

Lor Ark (Duck)

BRAISED DUCK (LOR ARK)

Most people tend to associate braised duck with the Teochews.  However, braised duck is also traditionally eaten in many Hokkien families.

Malaysia is a melting pot of a cornucopia of different cuisines which borrow heavily from each other.  So it is hard to pinpoint the exact difference between the Hokkien and Teochew versions, or which is more ‘authentic’.

In general, the Teochew version is darker-coloured and more savoury, while the Hokkien version is lighter and sweeter.

Some Hokkien Braised Duck stalls make this dish with a thickened gravy.  No starch is added to the gravy, apart than the slight natural thickening effect as the fats and collagen from the duck dissolve into the sauce during braising.

Ingredients : Sugar, 5 Spice Powder, Star Anise, Cloves, Cinnamon Stick, Dark Soy Sauce, Rock Sugar. 

[After cleaning the duck, stuff it with ginger, garlic and blue ginger (galangal)]