 Just read these 2 simple sharings below & my heart has been so blest! ---
And this is doctrine. Doctrine is the setting forth of what Jesus has done along with the meaning of the event for us.
"These two elements are always combined in the Christian message," Machen continues. "The narration of the facts is history; the narration of the facts with the meaning of the facts is doctrine. 'Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried'--that... is history. 'He loved me and gave Himself for me'--that... is doctrine."
Doctrine is the meaning of the story God is writing in the world. It's the explanation of what he's done and why he's done it and why it matters to you and me.
---
& I was thrilled to come across this next article: ---
As if occupying a small, utterly dependent body of flesh wasn’t enough, he ordained that his first place of rest be in a dirty feed [stable].
Why there? God could have chosen anywhere to rest his tiny head. Yet my soul is pierced as I remember the dirty manger is my heart too, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9). Jesus can.
"God chose to have His Son enter the world in a stable & be laid in filthy slop so we could know that our hearts are not too lowly of a place for Him to occupy."
---
:D :D :D
Joy to the world! Merry Christmas!  Here was what my ex-piano student smsed me on friday: Teacher! I juz realized yesterday was thanksgiving! Such a coincidence :-D Wish you happy belated thanksgiving! :-D
Did you realize that it was Thanksgiving? I love Thanksgiving! I don't know why I always had in mind that Thanksgiving was not until the week before Christmas. Recently I've been asking God to teach me & convict my heart on the subject of gratitude. & what a joy it is coz tomoro is a public holiday! & I can't wait to just take time to listen. :)
I've dug out my old notes/quotes on gratitude to meditate upon tomorrow. Here is 1 of them that I thought I'd share it with you. (& also the lyrics to the song that came to my mind while I was reading it). I know it's never too late to wish you too... a Happy thanksgiving! :)
Psalm 50:23 He who sacrifices thanksgiving honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.
Charles Spurgeon, on gratitude to God: "The fear of a man who really knows the love and goodness of God, will be somewhat of this kind: He will fear lest he should really be, or should seem to be, ungrateful. 'What' he asks, 'can I do? I am drowned in mercy. It is not as though my ship were sailing in a sea of mercy; I have been so loaded with the favour of the Lord that my vessel has gone right down, and the ocean of God’s love and mercy has rolled right over the masthead. What can I do O Lord? If thou had given me only a little mercy, I might have done something, in return, to express my gratitude. But oh! Thy great mercy in electing me, in redeeming me, in converting me, and in preserving me, and in all the goodness of thy providence toward me;--what can I do in return for all these favour? I feel struck dumb; and I am afraid, lest I should have a dumb heart as well as a dumb tongue; I fear lest I should grieve Thee by anything that looks like ingratitude.”
Lyrics to the song "What can I do" by Paul Baloche:
Verse 1:
When I see the beauty of a sunset's glory,
Amazing artistry across the evening sky
When I feel the mystery of a distant galaxy
It awes and humbles me to be loved
By a God so high
Chorus:
What can I do but thank You,
What can I do but give my life to You
Hallelujah, hallelujah
What can I do but praise You,
Everyday make everything I do a hallelujah
A hallelujah, hallelujah
Verse 2:
When I hear the story of a God of mercy
Who shared humanity and suffered by our side
Of the cross they nailed You to, that could not hold You
Now You're making all things new by the power
Of Your risen life |
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, (Psalm 92:1-2 ESV) |
 Listening to the song (pasted below) this morning reminded me of this tug-of-war which I had because of having a desire too strong for a certain issue. So strong was the desire that I was so tempted to give in to sin. What helped me through that moment was what I learnt quite awhile back :) .. that the fact is... that my desire which was seemingly so strong... was actually too weak!!! Here's what C.S. Lewis said...
| Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. |
Does it sound too deep? :P Well... for myself, I realized during these moments it really helps to be quiet & take time to have a good look at my heart. Because if I were to quieten down & to really look much deeper into my heart, I'd realize that more than the desire for a certain issue... is actually a far far more deeper desire to want to let the wonderful almighty GOD who is much wiser, have HIS way in my life. Coz seriously! Seriously! Would I ever gain the courage to say, "No God, I am 100% sure my own way is better than Yours"?
When I heard this song "Made for more" by Lincoln Brewster.... my heart celebrated! Celebrated at the wonderful truth that we were truly made to desire so much more than what we ourselves/the world can offer... it's never to say "Nope, I better resist & exercise self-control, avoid & stop having desires". On the contrary... it is God calling us to remember what Lewis stated as "the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels" & to desire even the more strongly! :D What a wonderful God we have.
Song: Made for more (by Lincoln Brewster) Don't care about money don't care about fame
Not chasing some great accolade
Oh I want more
I've never been much for flattery
So don't waste that kind of talk on me
Oh I want more
More than this whole world can offer
More than all that time destroys
And all I've wanted here can't satisfy my wanting
'Cause I was made made for more
Well I've climbed as high as status goes
But I've got social vertigo
Oh I want more
Never thought my gifts would seal my worth
I never wanted fans just wanted church
Oh I want more
And after all I wasn't made for here
But I give myself to all you gave
Well I want to see my kids grow old
And always have Your hand to hold
Oh I was made made for more
Made for more |
 I came across this picture & it encouraged me much. My easily dissatisfied heart, may always be wishing there will be more time, more heart, to be doing more, to be more. Yet, this quote reminds me that being faithful with the few at hand, is actually very significant & not to mention,important. You may think that all you are is a mom to your kids (& you wished you were more), You may think that all you are is a wife to your husband (& you wished you were more), You may think that all you are is a daughter to your mom (& you wished you were more), You may think that all you are is a sister to your siblings (& you wished you were more), You may think that all you are is a Children's Church teacher (& you wished you were more), You may think that all you are is a worship leader (& you wished you were more), You may think that all you are is a worker at your workplace (& you wished you were more), You may think that all you are is a friend to a few friends (& you wished you were more), ... the list goes on isnt it?
Who do we admire and applaud--those who are extraordinarily gifted or those who are extraordinarily faithful?
:) Very good question to ponder on isnt it? :)
Luke 19:17a "He said to him, 'Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little,...'  This year's thanksgiving drives me to thank God for the wonderful women serving in DUMC's Children's Church. You are the living example of the Peter 3:3-5 women whose gentle & quiet spirit, & hope in God have inspired our hearts. Thank you! :) 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. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.”- 1 Peter 3:3-5  This afternoon, I heeded to an urgent call to lend a hand to help out in 1 of my church's ministry. I came away with a prayer, "O Lord, the field is vast & wide, please send in more workers." There are so many dear people to love. So many dear people to serve. My dear friends, I'm reminding myself everyday as well… that "if I think that my life/my prayers is all about just me, I'd be too foolish." quoted from Josh Harris. 1 Pet 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. O Lord, help me remember that it's really not all about just me.  My country, the land where my blood is shed, The people live united and progressive, Blessings of happiness, may God bless, (And that) our King may reign in peace. 2x My friends are familiar with my frequent confession of my struggle to call this land my own, to love this land. Yesterday at the prayer conference, I was convicted to finally, after so long... open my heart to love & call this land... my land...
I feel teary even as I recall the many many times I've sung the song above, Negaraku, especially as a student. Truly, this song has gripped our hearts at our young age. And truly it strikes a warm chord in all our hearts.
As I was reading the chapter on "Christian & Government" by R.C.Sproul awhile ago, what Dan Koh shared at CG kept ringing, "Even if you do not respect me as the boss, you have to respect the chair". Which was what Sproul also said, "Yet I realized that no matter how wrong they were in the classroom, I had to respect the office they held as professors."
I know. We do not have a peaceful political situation.
But 1 thing that constantly concerns me is this... that we have lost the capacity to show grace & mercy, love & forgiveness to those in our authority. Oh yes, we say we must love our neighbors as ourselves, we would even go to say we must love our enemies. But somehow ironically, 'those in authority' seemed to be out of even these 2 categories to us? Are we missing out on something then?
What does God say about this then? Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1 ESV)
I am not saying that we do not confront our authorities. But I think God intends for us to 1st of all make sure we are (as Sproul says) "in a spirit of genuine humility & respect" before every confrontation/judgement we want to make.
Let's not let grace take a back seat when it comes to political issues or country issues. Let us not forget to show mercy. Let us not be a noisy gong.or a clanging cymbal.
Before I read the news next time, I want to be aware of the temptations I'm going to face, temptations to be judgmental instead of critical, temptations to leave God out of the picture, temptations to hate instead of to show mercy, temptations to complain rather than to be praying for God to help us.
Before I read the news the next time, I want to pray that the Holy Spirit will help me remember God as I read. :)  Feelings are a great blessing! & God has intended the feelings I have to be for my good & for the good of others. (passionate love, outrageous joy, sincere empathy, serene peacefulness, deep sorrow, hot anger, anxiousness, etc) Feelings also serve us by revealing to us what is happening in our hearts.
However, it is not God's intention that these feelings cause us to deny what is true.
- Try telling anger that it might be wrong.
- Try telling fear that there will be grace for tomorrow.
- Try telling guilt that there is forgiveness in Christ, which means that God does not see us according to our sins. Yes, you know the words, but when guilt is loud the words are silent
- Try telling shame that Christ, through faith, accepts, washes and makes us holy.
- Try telling mania that its choices might have horrible consequences.
- Try telling depression . . . anything good.
I was pleasantly reminded today that.. When there is a difference of opinion between my feelings and what God says, God’s words win. I gladly submit to him! - Ed Welch In my constant tug-of-war today & every day, may I always be grateful for the feelings I have & may I always gladly choose God's Word at anytime! For a start, whenever I am tempted to be discontented today & tempted to think that God is not good enough to me, I pray that God will help me choose instead to see the true picture of all that HE has already blessed me with, & to see how ridiculous & foolish it really is to think that God has been not good enough. :P  A few months back I came across a few simplified biodatas & I was very impressed that at the very 1st part of their biodatas was their own conversion story [in just a few but powerful sentences]. And I thought to myself, "Isn't it true that the gospel has affected our lives in such a huge way? So much so that it oughta be part of our biodata? :D" :P & Just when I thought my conversion story would be a very boring one, I remembered Ricky Alcantar's testimony & concluded to myself "No conversion story is a boring story because the gospel is an extraordinary gospel." :) Here's a lil from what he testified: I didn’t break down cry in the classroom that day but I’ve cried many times since then. I didn’t see the dramatic change the day or week or month after that day, but I’ve seen dramatic change in my life since then. Many of my friends have seen God’s love in their lives as God has pulled them from addictions or violent anger or sexual immorality. But in no less amazing a way I’ve seen God’s love in that he kept me from all those things. Every year God has drawn me closer to the cross and I see what he did for me that day in the classroom as even more amazing. Every year my God has become bigger and bigger. Now the thought that I’ve gone from death to life is amazing, because a boring testimony is never boring to the one who’s been saved. Since then, I've always wondered how would my own conversion story sound like if I had to phrase it in just a few bare sentences. :) I finally got to doing that today & I hope God will continue to help me say every day... I am so grateful for the wonderful gospel! Below is the story of how Jesus Christ changed my life... :) “I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home & was richly 'nurtured' by an amazing loving extended Church family,” Esther says. “I asked God to be my God at a young age, and God has been patiently helping me to know Him more throughout my childhood, teenage & Uni years. But it was only in the recent years [since I started working], that God began to help me see how easily my heart loved sin & left to my own willpower, I could never make myself naturally love good." Upon that realization that Jesus has paid for all her sins & that she is accepted & loved by God every day despite her shortcomings, her life was never the same again.  I loved this exclamation the moment I saw it here. Recently I felt the heavy burden of being the big sister. & yet I was graciously reminded & know that I wouldn't trade being a big sister to my siblings for anything else. :) A few years back, I wouldn't have exclaimed this. 10 years back, I would tell you I don’t 'know' my siblings. Ask my siblings, they'll tell you they hardly remember where was I in their life. Serious! I was hardly 'there' at home. Morning, school; Afternoon, co-curricular activities; Night, studies; Any free time, nap. It was only during my uni years long semester breaks that God gave me a 2nd chance to know my siblings again. But it was only in these very recent years that I've intentionally & purposefully 'pursued' & enjoyed in our brother-sisters relationship. It all started with these… HE's the one who created the [brother-sister] relationship. (or any siblings relationship) & HE has a purpose for the [brother-sister] relationship. It is because we have forgotten God's purpose in this, that we sometimes lack appreciation for our [siblings'] involvement in our lives. It is why we lack reasons to talk and something to talk about. - amended quote of C.Mahaney If just “getting along” with your brothers and sisters is your goal, you’ve set your sight way too low! God designed brothers and sisters to be lifelong companions and teammates. - the Mally siblings Aim to glorify God with your parents, pursue your brothers & sisters. You live together, You grew up together. - Devon Kauflin Come to think of it, isn't it true? Your siblings know your true colors. Who better other than your parents, to offer you sincere & true encouragement & especially precious rebuke? Who better other than you, to offer your sincere & true encouragement & rebuke, & especially the gospel to your siblings? Being best friends with our brothers and sisters and enjoying their fellowship and comradeship is just one of the amazing blessings. - Stephen Mally  Here're just a few of the many new songs to me that I've enjoyed of late :D 13) Safe, by Phil Wickham feat. Bart Millard  Last friday a teen from Singapore shared with us at his simple 3 minutes testimony & yet it stuck with me ever since ...
"I started going to church every sunday since the age of 4, following my parents, but I never understood what was going on until one day at the age of 14... when my eyes were suddenly opened to see how my friends loved this God through their worship, etc... & i told myself, "I don't want to waste another sunday anymore."
The word 'waste' caught me. That night my 'heart' for 'bible-time' & 'prayer-time' changed! I must confess, most of the time, I catch my 'heart' wandering away during morning devotions & 'prayer-time's. Indeed, I was loosing sight of how really precious these moments are!:)
Deut 10:12-13 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?  Yesterday I was blown away at Children's Church...
I was taking over the 9 year old kids & was sitting with the boys at the eating table, & the boy beside me told the boy beside him.. "Hey, was that your sister? How come you were being quite rude to her?"
He said it so well! He said it in a tone that was not judgmental at all. He said it in a very casual, well meaning manner.
& the other boy? He wasn't offended. It was only too obvious to him that his friend was rebuking him only because he loved him & cared for him enough to correct him. He tried to explain a lil' why he treated his sister that way but it was clear that he felt sorry. & then they carried on talking about other stuffs.
I was so amazed. I was so grateful. I know how precious 'open rebuke' is. But i've never seen it practiced so clearly & simply. The boys have modeled for me how it's so loving & not so hard after all to openly rebuke.
I pray that I'll have such a loving heart to not judge & openly rebuke, I pray also that I'll have a humble heart to treasure open rebuke from loving friends.
Our hearts are deceitful. We'd want to have a distrust of our own hearts. It can be hard to discern what is in our own hearts. So we've gotta get help from others … to discern to that. - J.Bradshaw
Prov. 27:5 - “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
(photo from: junie-moon.blogspot.com)  I'm in the midst of enjoying reading 'Blue Like Jazz' by Donald Miller. Still half way through the book. After reading each chapter, I honestly come away always deeply grateful to God for allowing me to know Him better.
Yesterday's chapter was on 'Confession'. & what the author & his Christian friends did in University simply overwhelmed me I have to share it now with you! 
It was an event where people set booths around the campus field. At his university people outrightly hate Christianity & even burnt the Christian Fellowship's room before. But here they were, setting up a booth with bold letterings "Confess your sins".
But you know what was it really about?!
"Okay, you guys." Tony gathered everybody's attention. "Here's the catch." He leaned a little & collected his thoughts. "We are not actually going to accept confessions." We all looked at him in confusion. He continued, "We are going to confess to them. We are going to confess that, as followers of Jesus, we have not been very loving; we have been bitter, & for that we are sorry. We will apologize for the Crusaders, we will apologize for televangelists, we will apologize for neglecting the poor & the lonely, we will ask them to forgive us, & we will tell them that in our selfishness, we have misrepresented Jesus on this campus.We will tell people who come into the booth that Jesus loves them. ... ... It would feel so good to apologize, to apologize for the Crusades, for Columbus & the genocide he committed in Bahamas in the name of God, apologize for the missionaries who landed in Mexico & came up through the West slaughtering Indians in the name of Christ. I wanted so desperately to say that none of this was Jesus, & I wanted so desperately to apologize for the many ways I had misrepresented the Lord. ... For so much of my life I had been defending Christianity because I thought to admit that we had done any wrong was to discredit the religious system as a whole, but it isn't a religious system, it is people following Christ; & the important thing to do, the right thing to do, was to apologize for getting in the way of Jesus. ...
(the 1st guy who visited the booth) said "A lot of people need to hear this" "Have we hurt a lot of people?" I asked him. "You haven't hurt me.... Most people just have a strong reaction to what they see on television. All these ..."
& may I add...from the way Christians in their neighborhood act? from the way I act?
The story had a happy ending. They broke through the 'wall of tension' between them & the University community through this 'Confession'. In the author's own words.. "We watched a lot of students take a second look at Christ."
I'm praying that God will give me the courage to ask for forgiveness (in His time) from many of my family & friends & even from my own siblings, for i know countless, countless of times I have misrepresented Christ. I pray that God will grant them the grace to 'take a second look at Christ'. I pray too that as I start to teach the children at Children's church that God will be gracious over my words & conducts, so that I'll never portray Christ as a religion, but as a GOD who exists & for reasons I cannot understand, liked me, loved me.  My mom shared with me her wisdom & in light of this season of declaring our income tax, I thought I'd share what she reminded me with you all. My colleague was very helpful to alert me that with my new job at the private sector comes more income tax that I'd have to pay. I didn't bother at first, but when she taught me how to calculate, I was really shocked at the new amount I was going to have to pay next year!
I was quite frustrated with the new amount! & I started to think of 101 ways of which I can maximize 'Deduction Claims'.
When I spoke to my mom about this, I sounded no longer frustrated & even told my mom, 'Don't worry, I already have a plan on how I can pay less'.
But my mom knew what was actually going on in my heart. & she kindly rebuked my attitude towards $ & towards the government. But what struck me was when she shared from Luke 20:25 He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
I'll be still filling in the 'Deduction Claims' next year. But I hope I'll do it not with a heart which is so dissatisfied & unwilling; rather, with a heart that is grateful to the government for allowing me the benefits to claim deductions.
:) 
Ordinary is where we all live most of the time. And yet our mundane, repetitive days are full of enduring work. The tedious is, in fact, momentous—when done for the sake of Christ: “…so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:10). - N.Whitacre.
:) Thankfully. My hope lies not in what I can ever do, but in this Mighty GOD who can turn what I do [even the tedious, mundane, ORDINARY] for His glory.
I hope you'll see your own 'ordinary' lives differently too! :)  Among the many many things I love & enjoy... is Music! :D
Ever since a year ago, my love for music grew so much more! May I even go to extend to say, my love for music only since then started? :P
& it happened because our gracious God through many means of grace (teachers of the Word, readings, encouragements from other brothers & sisters, the Bible) rebuked me of my own sinful selfish indulgence in singing & music.
Here's what Bob Kauflin caringly asks us: "The more time you spend listening to music, the more it becomes a friend that will affect you. Is your music a wise friend or a fool?" http://www.worshipmatters.com/2008/11/13/listening-to-music-for-gods-glory/
It was a great celebration & pure delight on the day 'I got it'! that God had His purpose for the gift of music!... that they may bring me only closer to my God.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Allow me to quote what Carolyn Mahaney commented in regard to this verse: I want to sing more, because this command to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is a means of grace to help me turn my heart to God in repentance, trust, gratitude and hope. http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/2008/09/singing-grace.html
God created music, so wonderful, for us to enjoy & enjoy Him even more thru it.
I am now reminded again of such a good reason for me to enjoy & pursue GOOD music & sing all the more. Lets see God in our music!
Ps 33:1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, .. it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. :D
May all of us always be reminded to sing!
Here are some resources I've been blessed by: http://www.klove.com/Listen/ (check out their website www.klove.com for a huge resource of more good music!) http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/ http://www.covlife.org/ministries/music_and_worship/scripture_memory_projects  | Serenity | Mar 19, '09 10:36 AM
for everyone |
 In the hospital, I count it a blessing to see these…
- families caring for their afflicted loved ones. In this, I'm referring to those - who really care consistently every minute, every hour, every day for as long as their loved one is still living. - whose family members are not just restricted physically, but maybe also afflicted mentally, emotionally. I've just came back from a Mental Health Seminar@DUMC conducted by Dr. John Tan, psychiatrist from UM. - my heart goes out to you… the family members of loved ones who faces affliction - you have my deep respect - we, healthcare workers only serve your afflicted loved ones for a moment… but you are the ones who'll have to face this challenge almost every moment of your lives. Other than that… this one thing I've observed from you & from this seminar… … SERENITY Serenity to accept the things you cannot change But even > than that… Serenity in trusting that GOD knows best, GOD is good & GOD is in control. Serenity to trust that our good GOD has allowed this, ordained this to happen in our lives … & it's not because Satan has an upper hand (Job1:12), not because affliction is a result of sin (Jn 9:3). Serenity to trust that our loving GOD who ordained this to happen in our lives (Gen45:8), will give us … the exact grace we need! (Rom 8:32) … the mercies we need! (Lam 3:22) & nothing! Absolutely NOTHING can separate us from the truth that GOD LOVES US! :D (Rom8:38) Nothing should make us doubt that we are 24/7 in the LOVE of our Heavenly Father. Serenity to trust that our LOVING Heavenly Father always, ever has our best interest in mind. Serenity to trust that He understands. (Jn11:33b) Serenity to say... "Come what may, I choose to still love YOU Lord" I left with these in my heart on sun evening when the class ended. An hour after that my hp was being swindled from me… leaving me perplexed. I struggled with many questions. … till I remembered this again… Your serenity & my GOD who ever loves me! Thank you. Thank YOU. :D Come what may, I choose to still love & adore YOU. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!" - Jesus (Jn 16:33) esthersiew@gmail.com  It was obvious that the doctor was really worn out this time. After meeting a few patients who got onto his nerve. We finally came to this elderly man. After the doctor did some checking, we noticed that the patient had tears in his eyes.
I thought to myself, "Anyone would surely have tears in moments of weakness, especially hopelessness when they are admitted into hospital". It wasn't out of the ordinary for me to see patients with tears. But what the doctor did next... was extraordinary. He asked the nurse to close the curtains. I was puzzled. He then asked the patient, "Pakcik, ada apa yang nak bagi tau saya? Ada masalah ke?" I was amazed. I know he was very worn out already. He could just ignore the tears. Finish his rounds. There were many CORE tasks awaiting him. But... he stopped to ask. Luke 10:25-37 - the story of the good samaritan what if, they (the priest & the levite) are people whom, like you & me, have grown in Word & revelation of God, have grown in our personal walk with God, but simply... ... we forget to serve the needs that God brings along our path? We forget that God has placed us where we are, has ordained the people whom we meet... we forget to show mercy. - Chee Wai Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly & to love mercy & to walk humbly with your God. I have to admit I am at most of the time at a lost of how to show mercy. But… Thank God for this hope! The hope in knowing that GOD shows us what is good! The hope in knowing that GOD promises to give grace to the humble! (Js4:6), to those who asks GOD for help in ways to love mercy!  · Persuaded a Chinese uncle to insert a fistula so that he can proceed with haemodialysis.
- Docs & Medical assistants have tried for the past few months to persuade him. Today he got admitted again & they asked me to give him a shot. So, it took very long, I explained to him his condition, asked him about his family, had to ask so many questions … (he finally agreed today!) · Became the mediator/translator between doc & patient’s wife, - had to ask the wife so so many questions, to finally realize that the whole family was in denial of the patient’s needed help in terms of his mental health. We were so confused with all the answers but the doctor was very brilliant to finally asked me to ask her 1 more question, & the wife finally whispered to me that the patient attempted suicide 10 years back. (I was already quite exhausted by this time) · & then there were this elderly uncle whose son & daughter were very distressed over their dad’s need to start injecting medication for his diabetic condition. - & suddenly after pestering the doc for so many days to discharge the dad, finally when the doc did discharged the dad today, they are now worried why the doc allowed discharged when the dad’s sugar level is still not stable. So, I tried to help them understand why this medication will help, what’s diabetes, had to understand their family’s lifestyle, … etc
I came back to my pharmacy… there were more patients. As much as I know I shouldn’t let the patients lives intertwine with mine… I just felt that I needed time to decipher myself from all of the above.
For all 3 of them… CARE was yet unknown to them For all 3 of them… they needed the assurance that the hospital is here to help them (& not to give them a bad sentence) For all 3 of them… fear gripped them. Because the little bit of knowledge that they initially had, gave them the wrong BIG picture. For all 3 of them… when they knew we sincerely want to help, when they understood more & had a more correct view of the BIG picture… they smiled, knodded, thanked us. (these were priceless!)
A close friend also reminded me just 2 days ago about how our tiny knowledge can cripple us instead of benefitting us. My challenge to her & to myself as well was… to never give up studying the WORD, seek help from people who have more wisdom to understand better… but in the mean time… while we still cant see, while we still cant understand… to remember to not give up praying & to trust in the character of God! (& even if we will never know, then, that is God’s best for our best, to not know) :P
Matt 11:28-30 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." |
“I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home & was richly 'nurtured' by an amazing loving extended Church family,” Esther says. “I asked God to be my God at a young age, and God has been patiently helping me to know Him more throughout my childhood, teenage & Uni years. But it was only in the recent years [since I started working], that God began to help me see how easily my heart loved sin & left to my own willpower, I could never make myself naturally love good." Upon that realization that Jesus has paid for all her sins & that she is accepted & loved by God every day despite her shortcomings, her life was never the same again.
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