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 :)