The Day The Earth Stood Still

This American movie was about the alien who came to save the earth because the alien thought human did not care and distroyed the earth. Due to this misunderstanding, the alien started killing human being and finally there was HOPE!

After watching the show, my 2 friends & I shared each a lesson to learn:
1. A wake up call for us to save the our earth.
2. A second chance for human race to change.
3. A love (forgive & forgiven) to be united

Let's do our part to be good citizen of human race and citizen of God's kingdom!

Christmas!

There was a Christmas party in the office with gift-exchange. Each of us had to buy something with certain value then on the actual day we would draw for the gift. We had a hard time to search for the gift because we didn’t know exactly who our receiver was. It could be for male or female. However it is fun!

Christmas is a not a time for receiving but giving! Giving of our time, money, love, efforts, talents, creativity and many more…

Can we give generously? Yes, we can!

2000 year ago, Heavenly Father gave us the BEST GIFT ever!
Jesus Christ the son of God who came to the earth to redeem us from our sins so that we can be united with God forever.

If you have tasted the best gift, surely you will be able to give generously. Wouldn't you want to be generous?

Merry Christmas!!!

BSF - Matthew

This year BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) class has ended. During the last meeting, there wasn’t a discussion group or lecture but sharing voluntarily on what we have learnt.

I felt privileged for being able to share with the women group. I was nervous & my voice trembled but my heart was burning to share all the good things I have learnt.

This is my first year in BSF & the book of Matthew was not easy for me, because it talked so much about challenging applications especially lectures & notes questions that touched my inner heart like "How much do you love God?”, “How precious is Jesus to you?”, “Have you pleased God?"

Being a Christian for 10 years, I thought I had known a lot about God. As studied the book of Matthew, I am getting to know about God much more and I am falling in love with Him again and again.

So many things to discover & let me explain in 3 characters: BSF

B - Bride
God loves us unconditionally. People may like us because of our physical beauty, material wealth, intellectual, characters, etc but God loves us for who we are.
I was a bad person but God called me to be His bride. He clothed me with righteousness through Jesus Christ. How wonderful!

About the parable of 5 wise virgins & 5 foolish virgins, the wise virgins prepared the oil and were waiting for the bridegroom. I know it is not an easy path to follow Jesus but I am trying my best. To be His bride hence I am now standing here and waiting for my bridegroom (Jesus Christ).

S - Salt
We are called to be salt of the world meaning we have to be salt everywhere we go. Being a nice person to the people we love or our church mates is easy. However when it comes to difficult people or office work, it would be challenging. Am I the salt of the world for Jesus Christ?

F - Faith
I was amazed by the faith of a centurion, a sick woman, a woman whose daughter was sick and many more. Have Faith in Jesus!

Jesus said “…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." [Matthew 17:20]

Let’s remember this BSF! May God bless us abundantly!

Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek is a USA film starring Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning.
You can read the story line in wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hide_and_Seek_(2005_film)

This movie is about a person who has split personality (two different personalities at one time). On occasion he/she appears nice, helpful, a good friend and without warning he/she becomes selfish, arrogant and cruel. The sad thing is the person does not aware of having split personality.

Then I asked myself, do you have split personality? I think I don't but I will not know :) Nevertheless, sometimes I behave good and bad at the same time. Wasn't that worse than having split personality? The reason being is because I am conscious about it and I do it on purpose!

Oh! What should I do?
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. [Romans 8:8-10]

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. [Colossians 3:8-10]

Are you playing hide and seek? Do you have split personality? Do you have sinful nature?
Let’s pray & repent and let Holy Spirit be with us always!

Beautiful

At TV commercial, Jeon Ji Hyun (acted in Korean movie: my sassy girl) promoted the shampoo by Essence Asian. She said: "If you wish to be beautiful, you can be beautiful".

There is a phrase saying: "There are no ugly women, only lazy ones". This is encouragement for women to beautify themselves physically.

Is beautiful so important?
For some people appearance is everything, but that's beauty is just a deep skin.

Peter warned the wifes [women]: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. [1 Peter 3:3-4]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then to whom do you want to look beautiful?

Decay

When did you last visit dentist?
I visited dentist last week. The dentist told me I had decay on one of my teeth hence it had to be treated quickly so that it would not spread.

I felt so sad because I have tooth decayed easily so I asked the dentist: "Is it because I did not brush my teeth clean?"

"No! There are 2 reasons: one is genetic & another is the structure of your teeth therefore the food is stuck on them easily.” The dentist answered. Then she added “See, there is another potential decay here”. And she showed me another tooth.

When I apply this into my spiritual life, I fall into temptation and sin so easily. Why???
It is because I am a sinner (genetically from Adam the first man) and the world is corrupted by sin.
So, what can I do? I need Jesus who cleanses my sin & Holy Spirit to guide me through each time.

In Romans 5:12-21 "Death through Adam, Life through Christ."
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. [Romans 5:12]
For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus Christ) the many will be made righteous. [Romans 5: 9].

Have you checked your teeth today? Do you need a dentist?

Stress!!!

Are you victimized by stress?
The stress management consultant Donald Tubesing says: "stress is our response to the situation, not the situation itself".

Lately my boss assigned me a new task which I need to help up another department to generate some reports. The department secretary will send to me the data every Tuesday and on Wednesday evening she expects me to give back to her so that she can send the report to her department managers by Thursday 12pm. Every Tuesday or Wednesday I have a phobia in case I bump to her and reminder me.

Last Wednesday was a disaster. There was a system problem hence I could not generate the reports on time. Then she wrote me an email and asking me to commit on weekly deadline every Wednesday 5pm. I was so stress! Then I asked my boss because my boss knew best my situation and my workloads. In relax mode my boss told me to tell her 'No'! So I replied her email explaining the situation and I could only give the report the next day and in future I would try my best although I could not commit the deadline weekly.

When I stepped out of the company building this issue was still bothered so much “What if I could not give her by 12pm next day?” Then I asked myself “What am I thinking? Now I am going to church for song practice and I still think of work? Why I felt so scared of her although my boss already told me it was ok?”

Many of times I am afraid of things that never happened yet!
Sometime I am afraid of someone more than my boss!
Sometimes I am afraid of men more than God! *I feel so sorry!*

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him [Psalm 37:7]
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. [Proverbs 1:7]

Vital Red Soya

During the Healthy Lifestyle Week, the company (where I work) organised programs like on-site health screen, health talk and inviting health products vendors to promote health food.

My colleagues and I bought Soya drink with organic Red beetroot. The next day happily we opened each bottle of our 500 grams Vital Red Soya. Then we realised that it should be consumed within 2 months after opening. In order to finish it within 2 month time, I have to drink it daily and generously offering to other colleagues if they would like to try by telling them how good the drinks for our body.


Let's say if we knew we got only 2 months to live in the earth, what would we do?
Some might say we should do the most important things in our life as we also wanted to leave good names/ impressions to others. Or we’d tell our love ones (family, relative & friends) how important they were to us. Or we’d share to them good things (money, time, knowledge and experience).

Besides all the above, as for Christian what should we do? If we love God, do we also love others as our selves? Have we share or show Jesus’ love to others? How ready are you to meet Jesus Christ?

Sadly nobody will know when his/her life will be lasted in the earth.
What shall we do then?
Live blissfully and do our best as if today is our last day!
Life is not about how long we live but how meaningful it should be :)

Learn from Children

In BSF, we are encourged to volunteer in children ministy. There are two teachers in each class so the helper just sit in and help in opening bible for children and attentive to them in case of need. I was assigned to class primary 1-2, children of these ages are adorable.

Surprisingly I learnt a lot from them and the lessons that taught. The teachers spoke in simple words and explained to them with pictures as visual aids.

During discussion, they were so responsive. Although a friend had given the similar answer, they were still raising their hands waiting for the teacher to call them for their answers. (so cute!)

At discovery lesson, the teacher asked "What does it mean by faithfulnes?" Then with confident one said "Faithfulness is Faithful". "Kindness is Kind" :)

When the bible story telling, they all wanted to sit on the floor near to the teacher and listen alertly without any noise for half an hour. Wow! It amazed me. They were taughted to be discipline. It is important to teach them when they are young.

Lastly they got to play games, sudenlly the class was so noise and screaming all over the place. (Just Kids!)

That was end of the class but it was not end yet to learn more from them.
Have you experience these?
Just look around you if there is any child you can learn from?
Another way, you can try children ministry. I gurrantee you that you won’t regret!
Happy voluterring & serving the Lord!

Love

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal... Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ....

The above 1 Corinthians 13 is the most popular chapter especially at a wedding sermon. WHY??? Love is important to everyone. With love we build a relationship. A pastor once said... "Love is ... 1) Like planting a tree, putting efforts to water, fertilize and nurture it. 2) Like fresh air. Having a beautiful house without fresh air is useless. 3) To make someone special, not the other way round."

Have I made someone special today? :)
Have anyone felt the fresh air in my presence? :)

B.O.B

What is B.O.B? :)

Beijing Olympic Bird's Nest (B.O.B) held on 8-24 August 2008. This was spectacular event because each country presented their best athletics. Those winners will be the world best of the best (B.O.B).

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge delivered a speech at Olympic Games closing ceremony yesterday. I was impressed when he said "Keep up the spirit!"

This reminded me of Paul encouraged the Corinthians to keep up the spirit.
"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
(1 Corinthians 9: 19-27)

Captain

This morning I went cyclying with my colleagues. The weather was not stable. It was sunny, cloudy and rainy. While cyclying, our bodies' mucles were aching and we met tricky traffics with the joggers, roller-bladers and other cyclists. However the obstacles were nothing compared to the beautiful sea and scenaries our eyes could see! We took 3.5 instead of 2 hours journey from East Coast to Changi Village, surprisingly on our way back we took only 1.5 hours journey. We got a good captain who lead and encouraged us to be persistent through the journey. The captain knew the way very well as he had been there for many times. He even estimated that we could be back to return our rented bicycles in 6 hours including our lunch and snacks during the journey. Bingo! we met the target!

our life in the earth is a journey to our wonderful home in heaven :). In our journey, this life is ups and downs. Happy and sad moments like the weather in the sky, yet we need to continue our journey. We have a life captain whom we can lean on. He has gone through the life in earth and be tempted just like us yet He did not sin. During difficult time, remember this “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” [1 Corinthians 10:13].

Now our life captain is preparing a place for our home sweet home. When Thomas asked Jesus "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:5-6]

Who is your life captain? If you don’t have one, would you want to consider Jesus Christ?

Ghost Month!

In Chinese tradition, the seventh month (Chinese calendar) is regarded as the "Month of the Hungry Ghosts", in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. During this dangerous time they suspend all important activities and decisions. At its climax, they celebrate the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.

The Chinese seventh month, usually August and this year falls on 01st-30th of August 2008.

On the 1st day of August, my colleague warned me,
"Hey! You're not supposed to wear red today!"
"Why?" I asked.
"Don't you know? NO black or red on 1st day!" She responded.
"Not only that! No swimming or going overseas. You must be careful!" She added.
"Don't we have to be careful everyday?" I questioned her.
"Yes! But this month is the critical month!"

In Christian life, this is not new to us. God warns us to be extra careful everyday! In the bible, the evil one is called Devil/ Satan.

[1 Peter 5:8-9] Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

God also gives us the answer to resist that. [Ephesians 6:10-12 - The Armor of God] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

[1 John 3:8] He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

Now we know that everyday is critical day, what can we do?
Submit to God in prayer and refuse to go along with Devil (evil act, talk, thought, etc). You can do it with God’s help! :)

Boss on Leave!

As an employee, a great thing is when boss is away! However it is not always true! My boss was on leave yesterday. During his absent, I was busy attending to all queries from my colleagues who were looking for him. Poor me! Then I realised what an important boss he was! I couldn't wait for him to be at work! :)

In my spiritual life, sometimes I run away from God. I wanted to be my own boss! I did all things on my own and I got so exhausted. Then I cried “Lord, help me!”
Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me [Psalm 56:9]. O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed [Psalm 30:7].
I can't live without my saviour Jesus Christ (great boss)!

Is your Boss on leave? :)

What is your expectation?

I was upset when visiting one of TMC club. The members were not as friendly as I expected to be. I have visited a few clubs hence I had a tendency to compare them.
On way home, I questioned myself, was it wrong to have expectation? Perhaps the high of expectation that made me disappointed.

A story about my trip to Turkey a few years back. In beginning my plan was to visit USA but my visa was rejected. Hence I signed up tour to Turkey with less expectation and knowledge about the country. I was surprised by many beautiful and wonderful places (Blue Mosque (Istanbul) - Pamukkale - Ephesus - Troy - Cappadocia) in Turkey. :)

A year later I went to western USA, my dream country as visitor. I had learnt so much about USA from tour guides books that I set great expectation of USA. Afterwards I was very disappointed.

Well... I don't mean we don't need to plan or set our expectation but look back at the influence of the expectation. Do we expect too much of what our parents could have done for us? Or boss could have appreciated us? Or elders could have known much more? Or friends could have been good to us?

Let's look at ourselves!
What is our parents/boss/elders/family members/friends expected from us? Then what God is expecting from us? :) Trust, Obey and be holy. 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.' [Leviticus 19:2b]

Begonia

On my way to office, my colleague told me about her green fingers. She planted many flowers. Interestingly she shared this particular flower called begonia (chinese flower crab apple). “You know, the plant was dying, so I cut the branch that did not grow flowers. Surprisingly after a few days, the branch started growing buds and many more flowers.”

Then I shared with her, “Yes, it is very interesting about the flower, I read something like this in bible John15:1-4 (Jesus said) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

That’s the way God disciplines and molds us. Sometimes it hurts but remember that God loves us.

Do you want to bear more fruits? :)

Lord, Here Am I

This July is mission month in my Indonesian church, we have got lots of events including inviting few guest speakers. Rev. Nicky Chong, singaporean from Wycliffe Bible Translators, preached in Indonesian because the topic was ‘Language: spear/front-line of Mission’ (Bahasa: Ujung Tombak Misi). He really demonstrated it truely.

Last month, the choir sang 'Speak, O Lord' then this Sunday is 'Lord, here am I'. The choir feel the songs are too difficult due to its meaning and to be sung reverently.

When I shared this to a sister in Christ, she told me this.
People have wrong perception that if I’m 100% ready then I can serve. Don't you see that God is molding you and get you ready to sing? In John 21:15-17, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Jesus asked the same questions for three times. At that time Peter might not be 100% ready but God Jesus gave him a big task.

Another brother in Christ said, 'God doesn't ask proud people to serve but humble at heart to do his will'.

Lord, Here Am I
Master Thou callest, I gladly obey;
Only direct me, and I'll find Thy way,
Teach me the mission appointed for me,
What is my labor, and where it shall be.

Willing my Savior, to take up the cross;
Willing to suffer reproaches and loss.
Willing to follow, if Thou will but lead;
Only support me with grace in my need.

Living, or dying, I still would be Thine;
Yet I am mortal while Thou art divine.
Pardon, whenever I turn from the right;
Pity, and bring me again to the light.

Chorus:
Master, Thou callest, and this I reply,
"Ready and willing, Lord, here am I."
"Ready and willing, Lord, here am I."

Words: Fannie Crosby (1820-1915)
Fannie Crosby, who was blind from infancy, was the author of more than 8000 poems, some of which became texts of favorite Christian hymns. The anthem employes one of her texts which to the composer’s knowledge, has not been set previously to music.

The joy of the Lord is my strength

Beatrice is a new children choir teacher in my church. She is soft spoken & gentle but when she sings she can project her voice to be heard clearly. On her first day teaching the 4-8 year-old kids, she had a hard time as the kids had only short attention and I was inexperience helper for her, all experienced helpers were on holiday. Fortunately the kids liked hands clapping. She found a way to keep the kids quiet by clapping her hands. She taught the kids to sing phrase by phrase with the actions. The song was 'The joy of the Lord Is My Strength'.

On her second day teaching, she gathered the kids and making a circle. She taught them another song ‘Hallelujah, Praise the Lord’ with much hands and body movement. I was so stunned by her energetic actions. I did not expect that she would teach so well because during the service she looked so pale. She told me that she had bad fever on Friday and still recovering hence she might not be able to teach the choir.

Wow! She really demonstrated her strength is the Joy of the Lord!

The joy of the Lord is my strength,
The joy of the Lord is my strength,
The joy of the Lord is my strength,
The joy of the Lord is my strength.

He heals the broken hearted and they cry no more,
He heals the broken hearted and they cry no more.
He heals the broken hearted and they cry no more,
The joy of the Lord is my strength.

He gives me living water and I thirst no more,
He gives me living water and I thirst no more.
He gives me living water and I thirst no more,
The joy of the Lord is my strength.

Words: Alliene G. Vale, based on Nehemiah 8:10

How are you feeling today? Are you weak, weary or worried?
Remember this "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." [Nehemiah 8:10b]

The Liar

In West Coast Toastmasters club last Saturday, the table topic was about lying. I was given a scenario of ‘On Friday night, there is a party and last minute the boss is asking you to stay for work and you have to tell a lie to my mum.’

At office hour, phone ringing and mum on another line and I spoke ‘Yes, mum. Yes, it’s Friday. Yes, there is a party at night. I’ll not go because my boss’s just assigned me a work’.

'At 7 pm, my phone ringing again, “Yes mum, I’m still working and I’ll not be back so soon but I promise to be back before 12am. Mum, please don’t keep the food for me. I’ll be eating somewhere near my workplace. You know I have a gastric pain so I’ll settle my own dinner’.

At 10pm on the dance floor and I was dancing (with dancing action), the mobile is ringing and I’m answering the call “Yes mum, me? At work! Yes, here’s very noise because we’re having meeting” (action walking out to quiet place)’

That’s end of my story. Guess what? People were very pleased by my speech and action and I was voted as best table topic. I was the best liar of the day! At that time I was very happy to receive the award and a free Chinese fan souvenir from a member who just came back from China.

When it’s over, I ponder. Although this is just a play, I can imagine how terrible I can become. One thing I know for sure, I can trick people BUT I cannot con God. J

All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart [Proverbs 21:2]. For God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything! [1 John 3:20b]. Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. [Galatians 6:7]

Fishing

A week ago, a friend of mine taught me fishing. We caught snakehead and Red Devil. I was so fascinating by fishing like a kid got a new toy. While fishing, I was told to be relaxed yet alerted and patient.

On my way home yesterday, I met a colleague, Leong who enjoys fishing. We chatted about fishing and I asked him: "Are a patient person since you like fishing?" To my surprise, Leong said: "No! I am not a patient person. You must like fishing then you can be patient fishing, not the other way round."

Wow! It reminded me on 1 Corinthians 13:4a Love is patient, love is kind. To love is to be patient and to be kind. Many of time I asked God to give me patient to love others, now I will ask God to give me the love then I can be patient to the person.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. [Ephesians 4:2]

The Pianist

An American Pianist, Christopher Taylor performed during Singapore International Piano Festival 2008. He played 2 pieces of songs: A bach - Goldberg Variation Bwn988 & Rzewski - The people united will never be defect.
He used organ to create the whistle sound like sound of wind. He played the piano with much body & face expression and the piano sound is so crispy and crystal clear. Although I do not much about music, I was so amazed by him.

A friend of mine, May told me that Christopher swapped the songs, he played the 2nd song then the 1st song (different from the sequence in the agenda). May is a piano teacher and understands well on the piece Christopher was playing.

The concert is about 2 hours; in between there is intermission. After the intermission, there were many chairs left empty, those people who were not appreciated the play had left. There were some people who were trying to appreciate the play although they don't know much about music, I could tell that, because they were looking at the wrong song in the agenda. They did not know that the pianist swapped the songs.

In life, there are these groups of people:
1) People who can play the piano like Christopher Taylor
2) People who understand about the music like May
3) People who are told about the music like me
4) People who are trying hard to appreciate the music
5) People who left the concert before it ended

I wish to be like Christopher Taylor, but I need to understand the music in order to appreciate, accept and slowly learn to be expert in it.
Let's imagine the song is the word of God and the music is a language. We need interpreter!
Many hungry people out there, are we willing to help them?

He (Jesus) told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. [Luke 10:2]

Those who give will receive more

A friend of mine invited me to Toastmaster club at Buona Vista Community Centre (Singapore). Toastmasters International is non-profit organisation which provides public speaking training. During the table topic, I was asked to volunteer to speak for 2 minutes by giving a topic on the spot. The topic was "Those who give will receive more". I began speaking nervously and slowly building up my confident.

Good evening everyone! When talking about giving, people tend to associate it with Money. If you have money or rich then you can give. It is not always true! Anyone can give something to someone for example a smile. If you smile to people, people will smile back to you. It is just a simple smile.
I recall an incident when I was in the bus. That day I had just finished my training course with my 5Kg notes to bring home. I purposely walked a bus-stop away to get a seat in the bus because the bus journey home was an hour. I got a best seat I wanted. A few minutes later the crowd came and an old uncle got into the bus and obviously he needed a seat. I felt uneasy because I felt he needed the seat more than I did. When I caught his attention, I gave up my seat. He thanked me with his best smile. His smile was just like an angel smile that touched my inner soul. With his smile, it brightened the rest of my day on that day!

For that, I shall conclude "those who give will receive more".

That was end of my speech, then I realised why people always say, "The more you give the more you are blessed". One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty [Proverbs 11:24]

Now that I have succeeded to give and received more, you also can try and be blessed!

Look Beyond the Window

Anna, my gentle friend has an angelic voice. Her voice is so soothing in ears. I love to hear her speaking. One day I met her, not as usual, she started complaining about her office work. Unexpectedly I felt so disturbed by her grumbles and my ears were shut off. I did not want to her angelic voice talking about those complains.

During my BSF women class, the lecture warned us about speaking recklessly, especially for women. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. [Luke 6:45]

When I shared this story in the fellowship, Kenneth, my brother in Christ, told me a valuable phrase. "When we look at the window, actually we look through the window, even more we look beyond the window".

Do you want to have angelic voice or pure heart?
As for me, angelic voice is not as precious as the pure heart we can have :)

Narnia - Edmund Pevensie

Edmund Pevensie was a boy who met the white witch in the movie of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”. The witch offered him his favourite turkish delights and the prospect of becoming king. For that, Edmund Pevensie lied to his brother & sisters that he did not know about Narnia. His ears & minds were shutdown when he heard about how wicked witch was. At the end of it, he realised how wrong he was when he was captured by the witch.

I am just like Edmund Prevensie, I am blinded by my desires and egos. I need God to give me wisdom to guide me to see the path clearly daily. How about you?

Big Brother

When I was a child, I felt my life was not complete without having a big brother. I have a big sister, younger sister & brother but I do not have a big brother. How greedy I was! I felt envy to my friends & cousins who have big brothers. Ideally a big brother to me is someone who can protect, support and care for me. :)

Amazingly when we are in Christ, we have a big family in God. We have brothers & sisters in Christ all over places.
Now I have grown up, I have my ideal & perfect big brother who is Jesus Christ. In Mark 3:35, Jesus said: "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Do you have big brother? :)

Introduce A Friend

Stella and Bob know each other from a common friend. Bob's task is to introduce a friend to Stella. Bob asks a lot of questions in order to find the best match for her. After long chats, Bob starts talking about himself. Stella confuses and asks: "Are you suppose to introduce your friend or yourself to me?" :)

This scenario is very commonly happened to us. Sometimes we want to introduce a friend to Jesus. Unawareness we talk too much about ourselves and we lose the focus. Let's set our focus right and point to the target!

Mini Plant

I went for tea appreciation with a group of friends. The tea is tasty & fragrance with soothing ambience. What a relaxing day Saturday! :)

After that we proceeded to Tea Chapter shop. While my friends admiring different types of tea leaves and antique hand-made tea pots, I was caught by the mini plants next to the tea pots.

Curiously I asked the shop-keeper if the mini plants were tea leaves. The shop-keeper explained that they were all fruits plants whom the seeds from fruits they ate. Patiently she introduced to me one by one: "This plant of apple, grapes, orange, etc".

Wow!!! I was so awestruck, and dumbly I asked her: "Can they bare fruits?"
She answered me with a big smile: "No, they cannot bear fruits with this small pot!"

I thought it deeply: “If I were a fruit plant, I would like to bear fruit. If I were a strawberry plant then I should bare sweet and delicious strawberries. Isn’t that our creator want us to be?”

As Matthew 7:18-20 was written: “Good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Then how can I bare good fruit?
In John 15:3-5 Jesus says: "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me (Jesus), and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Heroes – 0.07%

Heroes TV series is about ordinary people who have superhuman ability to prevent disaster and saving humanity.
Heroes’ episode with title “0.07%” was fascinated.

The bomb exploded in New York City, then Hiro Nakamura who has ability to manipulate time, went back to previous time and the story goes ….

There were conversation between Mr. Linderman and Nathan Petrelli.
Mr. Linderman: “We have to save New York City”
Nathan Petrelli (In deep thought as he was about to be elected as American President)
Mr. Linderman: “People need HOPE!”
Nathan Petrelli: “How much can we save?”
Mr. Linderman: “0.07%!”

The “0.07%” was mentioned about three times in that episode.

As believers of Jesus Christ, we are like Heroes who have superhuman ability (The power of God Jesus Christ). We are saints. We are given the power and different spiritual gifts.

The Question is: Do we care for others?
People need hope! People need Love!

Truly salvation is in God’s hand. However for those who accepted Love from God, have we shared the Love to others or we keep it to ourselves?
Or we may be thinking others will do it then why should I care?

I am asking myself: “Have I done my part as believer?”
“God have given me spiritual gift as faith and evangelism, have I used them fully?” “I have a chance to meet different races of people in Office or outside, have I share the LOVE of JESUS CHRIST to them?”

Certainly we cannot avoid death or stop the end of the world from happening and we cannot share the LOVE to everyone in the world either. Nevertheless we can share Love to people surrounding us although it is only 0.07%!

Love starts with God, now you have it, let’s pass it on!

SK-II

The SK-II TV commercial was promoted by QiQi (the Hong Kong Model).
Interestingly the last comment QiQi said: "If the only thing I can choose, I will choose SK-II". Then her husband (Simon Yam - Hong Kong Actor) appeared and asked: "How about me?"

After watching the advertisement, I was asking myself: “If I can only choose one thing in the world. What will I choose?”

My answer to the question is: The word of God Jesus Christ!
[Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!]

Praying Mantis

A night when my sister and I were about to sleep, an insect came to our room and hanged at the chain which attached to the light. We were terrific because it was first time we saw the green creature and we had no courage to catch it. Instead we tried to switch off the light but yet it did not move.

Later on I found out the insect was called ‘Praying Mantis’.
In Greek word meaning "Prophet" or "fortune teller" and the appearance of the front legs is prayerlike manner.

All of a sudden my sister urged me to pray asking God to get rid of the mantis. We both prayed. After some time the mantis was still there but moving slightly lower part of the chain.

Then I had no choice and prayed to God to give me courage and bravely caugh the mantis using a plastic bag.
My sister was so happy that I could catch it, she normally braver than me. :)

Surprisingly she asked "I wonder why the insect did not move when you tried to catch it. I simply answered "prayer".

WOW!!! I wanted to cry, my sister urged me to pray and reaffirmed by asking me a question. It was just her simple faith.

One thing I learnt, when we pray to God, God is listening and sometimes God also wants us to be His partner to accomplish the task! :)

Pau

In Kung Fu Panda movie, Po the Panda was picked by destiny to become a martial art master. He had to learn variation of kung fu moves, the only way to motivate him was using food (Pau – Chinese word for Bun).

I ponder about myself, what motivate me in life?
Money? Status? People?
Do I behave well because I want to be seen as good person?
Will I still do well when people treat me badly?

Finally I found the only motivation that I can rely on is the unconditional Love of Jesus Christ (The Cross).

How about you?