:: Are you feeling hot? ::

2 days ago i came face to face with the story of Jonah once again. the speaker was studying the text with the kids as the colourful powerpoint presentation whimsically depicted the story with life.

what most people remember about the story of Jonah is probably the storm, and of course, him being eaten up by the fish.. as i read on through chapters 3 and 4, Jonah's adventure continues and there's another practical lesson we can learn from the second half of the book.. and its very relevant to this period of time indeed..


Jonah 3: 5 - 8

5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."


feeling hot these days? think about what Jonah must have felt back then. by God's grace we have air-conditioning, fans, cold water to bathe in and drink, a roof over our heads and trees everywhere. let's not complain about the heat, but thank God that He has also provided us with many others things to help us cope with it.

i think the story quite cute. haha.

3:58 PM |blessed.

:: You Won't Understand ::

Often people say to me "You just won't understand."
"You're way too old," or "Way too young," or "You are not a man."
I don't know why some people feel they suffer unique pain.
As if they are the only ones who've lost or ceased to gain.

I don't know why they hide their pain and clutch it ever tighter.
It seems to me that all should know - a burden shared gets lighter.
Why some folks even deign to think the pain that's in their heart,
Is all their own, to keep and hoard, they set themselves apart.

They keep their eyes from meeting mine lest I should see their hurt.
And even if we stop and speak their words are often curt.
The Bible says: 'Two' can withstand what overcomes just 'one'.
And also that - a 'Cord of Three' can scarcely be undone.

Besides, I know the ways of hurt - My heart's been crushed before.
Friends have betrayed - I've lost at love, Despair's knocked at my door.
And I Remember - Thoughts gone wild - And crying late at night.
Not having strength to care at all - Much less the strength to fight.

But, someone special came to me - And when my trials were told.
I realized that with their tears - They'd eased my heavy load.
And so, I learned - that Pain - like Love - Is bearable if shared.
I don't know what I would have done without that friend who cared.

My trials did not vanish fast - In fact the time was long.
But sharing gave me breathing space until I could grow strong
enough to laugh again and even start to smile -
And though it seemed it could not help - It eased my pain awhile.

So, if you think that you can't share because I won't understand.
At least just give me half a chance to lend a helping hand.
For I know that you're hurting and I know a place to start.
Perhaps if you could realize - Your pain burns in my heart.

I know I cannot make your trials and troubles go away.
But maybe I can help a bit to get you through today.
And maybe by tomorrow you won't need help anymore.
But if you should - Don't be ashamed - For that's what friends are for.

And after all is said and done - The trials ceased - You're whole.
Perhaps you'll know just what to do to help another soul -
Who's being crushed by hurt and pain - be it woman or a man.
And you won't have to hear them say "You just won't understand."


- Author Unknown

5:24 PM |blessed.

:: Frustrations.. ::

yes i have frustrations that i want to spew..

if you have been reading xiaxue's blog lately, you would notice a mini-debate going on about Christianity. being a non-believer, xiaxue's influential website has managed to rally some people who stand on her side, questioning and criticising our religion.

of course i won't be going on and on about why they're wrong, ignorant, or who's the blame.. blah blah.. after all, who am i to judge? my sins don't smell any better.

but, at least i would never ever think about blaspheming the Lord explicitly.

what a bunch of misdirected people.. let's pray for them. if no one can change their opinions, surely God can. He sees everything that's going on in that blog of hers, and surely He doesn't like what He's seeing. meanwhile, we must keep trusting in the Lord that nothing is too hard for Him at all!

11:46 PM |blessed.

1:44 PM |blessed.

after service yesterday, we went down for tea fellowship.. noticed that the table display for the refreshments was really cute..

at the beginning end of the table lay a tray of bread. a sign reads: Jesus says we cannot live on bread alone.. that is why we have..

*tray of butter cake* butter cake.

*tray of scones* scones.

blah blah.

and at the end of the table lay two open bibles with the signs: especially the Word.

so cute. =p

12:14 AM |blessed.

:: The Pharisee and the tax collector ::

the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18 is a familiar story to many Christians. in one story we see two characters who couldn't be more different, but both of whom went to the Temple to pray. the Pharisee, a well-respected religious leader of his time, proudly marched up to the front, boldly proclaiming how religious and godly he was because he did this and did that. the tax collector, scorned by Jews and deemed a traitor, didn't even dare enter the Temple, but instead beat his chest with eyes cast down, saying "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Jesus went on to say that it was the tax collector whose prayer was justified.

if we are to be made righteous in God's sight, we must always curb the sin of self-righteousness. we often judge ourselves based on our deeds. how much of the bible we read, how active we are in church, how cordial we are to the people around us, how much tithe we give.... the list goes on and on. but, is there any man on earth who is good enough for God?

Jesus tells us from this story that we are made right in God's sight through repentence and faith. that is all we need with us as we come into His presence to earn His acceptance. it is the awareness of our own sins, needs and helplessness that God sees, for only then do we throw ourselves at the mercy of the Lord and learn to depend on Him.

the Pharisee went into the Temple to IMPRESS, but the tax collector went to the Temple to EXPRESS.

what are we to do before every service when the chairperson tells us to prepare our hearts for worship? sit there and switch to "worship mode"? prepare our voices for songs of praise? look around for people you know? chat with your church friends? no. instead, we sit there and remind ourselves that we are sinners, that we're sitting on that pew every sunday because we need the forgiveness of the Lord, and that we are willing to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice unto Him and tell him "do what you will with me!! take my life! i wouldn't have it any other way."

i know sometimes even in church i sin. i am amused at a particular family of 4 who turns up in matching-coloured outfits week after week. i judge fellow worshippers of my age when they turn up in revealing clothing. i worry that my belly shows when i sit down. i stare at my nails when i'm praying. i find the sermons boring. i get irritated when the children cry. i think about those earrings that i'm gonna buy when the service is over. i think about the FOOD i'll get to eat downstairs after service. you see, even in church we cannot stop ourselves from sinning. how rotten we are!

however, it's comforting to know that although no man is good enough in the eyes of the Lord, no sin is too great that He cannot forgive either.

sometimes i know i'm guilty of being the Pharisee. when i do something right, or help a friend, this air of self-righteousness puffs up within me. it's ironic that the quality of my Christian life has caused me to be proud of it. it's a dangerous and tricky situation we're in. when we know too much, we find it difficult to remain modest about it. at least, i do. that's why Jesus told us to have faith as innocent little children, for then are we worthy for the Kingdom of heaven. adults ask way too many questions anyway.

i'm not saying we should all enter church everyday with heads hung low, being ashamed of the things we've done. but we should enter the church joyfully, celebrating the Lord's forgiveness, and never stop repenting as we all strive to be more like Christ in one way or another week after week. let us grow together for the glory of the Lord. =)

6:00 PM |blessed.

on this easter sunday, we celebrate the risen and exalted Christ. it's quite funny.... on friday, everyone is so solemn cos we focused on the death of Christ, but today everyone was so joyful.. so funny indeed.. but now that it's all said and done, we should rejoice always for all the Lord has done for us, and feel the comfort in His presence.

scripture reading today came from Luke 24:13-35. however, this particular section caught my attention.. shall paste it here... (NIV nivvvv...)

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.


notice this is a very metaphorical event where the progression is concerned. after Jesus shared to them the Scriptures pertaining to His own death and resurrection, explaining the prophecies written to these two indifferent Emmaus (v.28), in v.29 we see that the Emmaus invited Jesus into their home to stay for the night.

this tells us that we should invite Jesus into our lives.

in v.30, Jesus took bread, asked God's blessing on it, broke it, and gave it to them.

the task of breaking bread and distributing it is taken on by the master or host of the house.

this teaches us to let Jesus be the Lord and Master of our lives. it is not enough to just invite Him, we have to let Him take over.

what happens then?

we will see that Christ has risen and is exalted and only then can we recognize Him for who He is (v.31). to me, this has a more profound meaning. it also implies that if we do not trust the Lord wholeheartly, He in turn would not reveal Himself completely to us. to know the Lord is to empty ourselves and submit ourselves to Him. in a way, to know the Lord, we must give up everything we know about ourselves.

submission never was something easy. it's a lifelong process of transformation that is often hindered by pride, doubt, bitterness, temptations and all other things the world bothers us with. it's nearly impossible for someone to give in to the Lord 100% because we are sinners by nature. it's a daily struggle we face.

but fret not. this struggle is an oppurtunity for prayer. we can ask the Lord to help us break free from this bondage and help us give in to Him because we have the desire to. all it takes is a desire as small as a mustard seed, and as the Lord tends to this mustard seed, it will grow into a huge tree that shall bear fruit.

never give up. for the Lord will always be with us.

11:10 PM |blessed.