blessed - the beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10

Bible study today reminded me that God's ways are not like man's ways and His ways are higher than our ways. The Bible is full of things that boggle our minds, that don't make sense to us. But as Christians, we believe by faith that the Bible is truth revealed. And so, I take comfort and encouragement in the words of Matthew 5:3-10, that blessed are these people. Though things may be crashing down and falling apart all around us, we will continue to hope in the promises of our God. He tells us to rejoice in times of trials for they are there to test our faith which produces perseverance and when perseverance has finished its work, it makes us mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-7).

Persevere on, rejoice in trials :)

And hope in God.

in life and in death

From the Heidelberg Catechism

Question 1: What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

Haven't been writing here for quite a while, but a lot has happened and has been happening. I recently got into a car accident, no injuries, thank God for His protection. But the car is now in the workshop. The damage was not a total wreck but it's still pretty bad shape.

:( hmmm.

But through it all, this was my comfort: that I belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ in life and in death. More than a physical death, I am saved from the consequence of my sinfulness that is eternal suffering. And that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head. This is such an amazing assurance, that I need not be afraid not even of death.

I've been learning that it's not how great my faith is but really it is who I put my faith in that matters. A lot of times, we put our faith in many things other than God; our jobs, our families, our loved ones, our financial stability, our education, our achievements, our fame and fortune, our homes, our properties, etc. But all these are not able to save us and are not able to keep us for all these are perishing as well.

Knowing these, makes me sincerely willing and ready to live unto Him. And so, I realize I need to live differently, in obedience by His grace and mercy. I am reminded over and over, not by my own means but by the Spirit of God.

it never gives up

final day of twentytwelve. wow.

as i look back, i see His steadfast love always always in my life. i don't have to look very far back, the previous few days is enough to remind me that God knows me inside out - my gifts, my strengths, my weaknesses, my failures and flaws, my hurts, my struggles, my needs, my desires, my imperfections, my beauty (which sometimes i don't see it), my everything - and despite the whole mumbo jumbo and complicated intricacies of what makes me waiyan, He still loves me. i've been using this word over and over again - humbled.

Your love never fails

It never gives up

It never runs out on me

One Thing Remains (Jesus Culture)

i think one thing about loving people is taking time to figure them out, taking the time to know them and even in the midst of not understanding, staying beside them while they try to do that. Ernest does a lot of this with me. i feel like i'm going through another bout of identity crisis -.- and i'm already twenty-two! oh gosh. haha. it scares me a lot of times, being so unsure and confused about who i am. i'm not usually like that, but things happen that make you stop and wonder, why?

i find it such an amazing thing how God always assures me of who i am in Him when i come to Him with my load of questions and searches. like in the midst of not understanding, He reminds me with a rainbow that He loves me unconditionally. He speaks to me through His word and as we pray. He reminds me of His promises and covenants and gives me new ones. it's a love that is beyond me. beyond my very minute human comprehension. it's perfect.

Ernest and i have got a long way to go. our love will never be perfect cause we're both human and fallen, but we rest assured knowing our God is sovereign and above all. and may we learn to love each other like how the Bible teaches us to love, not the way chick flicks and romantic movies, secular music, Nicholas Spark books portray love to be. :P those are really idealistic and unreal examples to take for your love life, just saayingg. and plus, the kingdom of God and what is eternal is far more important than just the two of us. like we always say, we're part of God's bigger picture.

i pray that in the new year to come, i will invest my life and my love in the eternal things of God :) it's worth it. and not with my own imperfect and inadequate human love, but i pray that my source to love others will be from God. that He will teach me to love like how He loves.

 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Thank You, God, for loving me. I love You.

He says to me,

"Do not fear, be strong.

I will never leave you nor forsake you."

*takes a deep breath and takes hold of God's hand*

final week.

God, be our strength and lead us through this week.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

majesty

Majesty, Majesty

Your grace has found me just as I am

Empty handed but alive in Your hands

Majesty, Majesty

Forever I am changed by Your love

In the presence of Your Majesty
-Majesty, Delirious

Indeed, despite all my flaws and inabilities, You are still King of kings and Lord of lords. Despite my downfalls and shortcomings, Your grace reaches out to me. Despite my struggles and times of weakness, I am found alive in You. 

But He said to me, 

"My grace is sufficient for you,

for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Lord, You make all the difference, Your love and presence make all the difference. And I know this is true because You are Majestic. Thank You.

chinese new year resolutions

since my new year’s resolutions didn’t get onto the blog, i decided to come up with something for Chinese New Year
it’s going to be simple and practical resolutions. and hopefully i’ll stick by them *hopefully!

1. Stop biting/peeling my nails! It’s a disgusting habit and i tend to do it when i’m bored or nervous. Plus i want to paint my nails pretty colours
2. Keep my room clean and tidy! Just finished a major clean up and now my back is aching imagine all the time and energy i can save if my room is kept in the state of clean (most times) *i think this has been on my resolution list since long ago. heh.
3. STUDY! Go the extra mile in all that i am to do. By God’s grace, strength and wisdom!
4. Exercise! Anyone want to be my exercise kaki? Doing stuff alone is no fun
5. Be random , smile more , laugh more , have fun , enjoy , run , jump , play , dance , get creative , be artsy , be fartsy (whatever that means), love genuinely , be nice , care and a lot more of that which makes others and me happy
6. REST in God. Remember who He is no matter how overwhelming everything gets
7. Cut down on FACEBOOK!  

seven shall be enough. hopefully, i’ll stick by them.

this sums things up pretty nicely :)

Happy Bunny Chinese New Year!

YewKong and Charity’s rabbit (Panda) My favourite rabbit!

unfolding plans

"...For I know the plans I have for you,"

declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

when we were still in secondary school, we used to tell each other and encourage each other that God has so much in store for our lives, that He has the best plans for our lives and therefore, we should trust and obey Him. we wrote it in our letters, in our cards, in our notes to each other.

it was a comfort and an assurance that our future was in God's mighty hands, that despite how discouraging our current situations were, God had a plan.

that promise brought me through much during my school life; exams such as SPM and STPM, while serving in the CF in our school, through the tears and frustrations, and so much more. looking back, i really thank God for being there :)

i was just reading Acts 7 the other day. it was Stephen's speech to the Sanhedrin before he was stoned. and he was telling of how God had called Abraham in the beginning right up to how the people of that day had rejected Jesus as Savior.

and i was just thinking God called Abraham to leave his country and just go. and Abraham went. and God gave him a promise; that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands on the seashore and that nations will be blessed through them and that they will possess the land where Abraham was when he was given that promise. and it didn't take a few days or a few years for all that to come to pass, it took generations! that's a long long long time! but true enough God's plans unfolded. and every other story such as, Joseph's story, Moses' story, David's story, etc. all played a part in this unfolding plan of God, their stories and lives played a part in God's promise to Abraham and His plans.

so, anyway, i'm not here to tell the whole chronicles of the Israelites. you can read that up in the Bible.

but, what i'm trying to bring across here is that when God gives us promises, we have to be patient and obedient in it.

patient in waiting for God's timing for it to unfold. and it's not easy most of the time, we may get frustrated, discouraged, distracted, impatient. and i know that, because i've taken things into my own hands at times due to all of the above and have regretted it very much. so, wait, wait for God's perfect timing.

obedience isn't easy most of the time too. sometimes, these plans that God has, well they require us to let go of certain things and do certain things we logically won't do. but isn't it worth it? God knows what's best. will we be trusting and bold enough to take a risk for what's best than to have something that is just safe? we only live once. i struggle with obedience too, a lot! i'm pretty timid, won't say i'm a risk taker. but if God says to do something, don't you think it's worth it even though it sounds illogical? because i believe that God knows what He's doing.

so yeah, time we start living out these plans God has for our lives. time to be obedient when we hear His voice. it is no longer just an assurance for the future or a thing in store for years to come, but it is for now. His promises and plans come to pass when we obey, that's when they unfold.

and know this, no matter how small or insignificant you may feel in this big world. we are part of God's bigger plan. we never really know entirely how we fit in, but we can make an impact wherever we are. each and everyone of us, is loved personally by God, we are significant to Him.

Lord, i know many times i mess up the plans you have for my life because i don't trust you or i think i know what to do. i've disobeyed you so many times, and i am sorry for that. teach me to be faithful and trusting, to not let my own human wisdom and wants get the better of me when it comes to obedience to you. thank you that despite me messing up, you still are faithful and sovereign and that is not the end of your plans. thank you for your love and grace. i love you.

and to GloriaChieng :) who is on her flight now to Perth, Australia.

thanks for being one of those friends who always encouraged me and reminded me that God has a plan for our lives. thanks for being my best friend and accountability partner. and remember, God has an amazing plan for your life! and as you go over there to Australia, live out that plan :) it's going to be so exciting! i love you and will miss you much! take care!

♥

Do Not Worry

It's 2.30am. drank coffee to stay awake to study. ♥ coffee.

so anyway, this passage really encouraged me today.

Luke 12:22-33 (Do Not Worry)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

(ahh, all you people who 'live to eat' and fashionistas who thrive on the latest fashions.)

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart is also.

how very apt for these moments before STPM and also the whole dilemma of what i'm going to do in the future. it's been quite worrying. and Jesus reminds us not to worry because our Father knows what we need and He is able to watch over us.

i say, humans tend to complicate things. we argue that we are not simple beings like ravens and lilies where we can just fly around and grow in some park. but even all this storing of material possessions and working for "success" is driven by our own human wants. wants to be better than others, wants to be in control of our lives, wants to have power, etc. when God has far greater plans for our lives. we're so valuable to Him, of course He'll take care of us!

But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

what are we seeking for? what are chasing after? the eternal kingdom of God or the temporal treasures of the world?

i ask, whose kingdom am i seeking after? whose treasury am i storing in?

is it my own or God's?

For where your treasure is, there your heart is also.

where is my heart?

of course seeking after a kingdom that is not tangible and that is invisible to sight is not the easiest thing to do.

most people would want to touch and feel their ringgits, dollars, euros, etc. even seeing the digits in their bank accounts is tangible enough. people prefer cars, houses, jewelry, etc. compared to this "kingdom". they say, "what kingdom?"

it's faith. faith that there is a kingdom, God's kingdom. faith that we are storing our treasures there, treasures that do not perish. faith that we're not wasting our time. faith that God will provide in our lives.

Dear Lord, thank you for this reminder. thank you for providing all these years and for watching over me. thank you for your promises. thank you for giving me faith. i love you.

a promise for the year to come

phew, what a busy month this has been.

camps, holiday trips, shopping, meet ups, yumcha sessions, biology project, practices, church, prayer meetings, tuitions and lots more.

random note: i don't like tuitions during the holidays. yuck!

but despite the busyness, i am enjoying my holidays and i would rather be it like this forever and i never have to go back to school :)

...

yearight, like that would ever happen.

this holidays, God has been teaching me many many things, reminding me of past lessons, showing me His amazing love and promises, helping me to grow, encouraging me to keep pressing on, and so much more.

and i guess that's more of why i am enjoying this holidays so much.

it's not the activities and stuff to do that's giving me the thrill of holidays, in fact all that get tiring after some time. but it's what God is doing in my life. that's exciting!

i'm so shocked at how super duper fast time flies. the year 2008 is already coming to an end, and pretty soon in comes a whole new year!

i'm already 18 this year! even that is still pretty surprising when i come to think about it.

let's see what God has install for next year :) i am excited!

Dear Lord,
Thank You for bringing me through this year with so much grace and faithfulness.
Thank You for this holidays and all that You've done.
And even as we step into a whole new year, Lord, continue to guide my way and teach my heart to be obedient to Your call.

i love you :)

Isaiah 43:18
"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not percieve it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

promises

i was talking to a friend today and he said something that made me realize a little more about myself. i have a problem. serious wan :(

i have a habit of making empty promises. promises that i don't keep or "conveniently" forget.

what he said made sense to me. even though, at first i thought those were just very small promises i had been breaking. like going for makan or for a drink, stuff like that.

but a promise is a promise. whether it is a BIG one or a small one.

breaking promises you make to your own self isn't as bad breaking promises made to others. you see, when you break a promise to yourself, the consequence of it is usually and mostly upon your own self. feelings of disappointment, regret and so on. but it usually doesn't affect the people around you that much. unless you're making the promise to yourself for another person, then that's a different story. do you get what i mean?

okay, for example, you promise yourself you'll start studying really hard for some exam. if you do keep the promise, good. but if you break it, the consequence is mostly faced by yourself. bad results and all that and the ever familiar "i should have studied when i had the time." see, the after effect is mostly upon you.

breaking promises made to other people affects both ways. you give fake hopes to others, lose their trust, and when you realize it, you start to feel guilty. and it's not a very nice feeling. i got pointed out today on some of my empty promises.

but we're all human and we are never perfect. so our lives get kind of messy at times. mistakes are made and so are promises that are never fulfilled. everyone breaks promises.

so why am i making a fuss about this whole promise thing? well, i realize i've broken too many promises. promises to people and promises to God. and i want to change.

but God is so amazingly loving even though everyone has made broken promises to Him. i mean, think about it, if the people you love so much made promises to you that make you so happy but then they break it in the end, wouldn't you feel disappointed? i would. but God still forgives and loves us so much :) amazing, huh.

God is the only one who keeps all His promises. and that's why we can trust Him in everything. there's so many promises in God's Word. promises that He will take care of us, promises that He will provide for us, really wonderful promises.

Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will never pass away.
Luke 21:33

Dear Lord,
thanks so much that i can trust in Your everlasting promises.
i'm sorry for the broken promises i've made to You and also to others.
help me to reflect You in my life by keeping to my words like how You keep to Yours.
Thank You for the amazing love that You give and for forgiving me.