A sense of DIRECTION
Have you ever get lost? I am the sort of person who does not have a sense of direction at all. I even have difficulty (well .. sometimes) to distinguish quickly which's left and which's right. I need to have a map with me even I have been to the place for 2 to 3 times, and I have to follow the map VERY carefully so that I know exactly where I am! As such I love GPS, it was the BEST invention ever! If I am lost, I panic and I am terrified. I could still remember there was a night 2 years ago when I was driving home from the City, and I could not find the road. Every where was so dark, there weren't too much lights on the road, it was raining, and I could not find a sign of where I am. And most importantly, it was 3am and I was extremely tired!
On the other hand, I know a person who is extremely good at finding the right way to his destination, no matter where he is. He went to the US and Europe a few years ago and he could get every where without a problem. He can always find his way easily. When he needs to go to a new place, he just takes a look at the map, gets a sense of where he is heading, then he is able to find it for you. Being a person who does not have any sense of direction I wonder how he can do that! I am amazed every time I see him going to any place so easily. He says he doesn't know how. This is a gift.
Perhaps a sense of direction is what I lack and therefore I want it. I need something that points me to the right direction. And this is why I love GPS so much as it points you to the right direction, shows you what to expect next and exactly how many meters I need to turn and where to turn. It even warns you if there is a red light or speed camera!
Same thing applies to my life, I like this sense of direction and I make plans. My friends knows me I am an organised person and like making schedules and plans (well.. whether I can follow the plan is another story). I feel safe when I have the sense of control and when I know what to expect. However there were times that I lost control entirely. I realised that there were many aspects in my life which could not be planned. I thought there were schedules but it seemed not going to work. I tried to pursue what I wanted to do but not successful. There were things that I wanted to do but could not be achieved ... These were not good experience at all. There were times when I lost my self-confidence and worried A LOT. Just like 2 years ago when I got lost at night. Helplessness and loneliness were indescribable.
However, only when I lost entire control of my life, then I can be humble and realise there are still so many things in my life that I cannot let go and cannot give the control back to the Creator. When I reach the limit, this is the only way I can truely admit my inability. This is when I call the Lord for help deep from my heart. Cry out to the Lord and seek for His guidance wholeheartedly. This is in fact a valuable opportunity to learn -- Learn how to give the entire control back to the Creator but not to the creations. And when you do that, extraordinary things happen.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-- Philippians 4:5-7
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
-- Isaiah 6:8
I don't know if you still recall what your reaction was when you first received this invitation from MUCCN to be a part of the Foxfires committee. As all of us have already studied at uni for more than one year, we should have a pretty good idea about how busy it would be during week 6 - 9. However, they were also the most important week in terms of organising Foxfires. Not sure what was your first reaction, my first reaction was to pick up my diary and see if I can schedule Foxfires into my already-very-full schedule.
Here is Isaiah's response when the Lord asks for 'someone' to work for Him, "Here am I! Send me."
Many Christians (including myself) experienced the unconditional love of God and knew how much He has done for us, but when the Lord calls us to be a part of His plan, we gave ourselves all kinds of excuses. In many occasions, we said to ourselves, 'we can do it later', 'I am too busy with assignments and exams, maybe I will do it when I finish', 'can you find some one else to do it Lord?', 'I am not capable doing the tasks', etc .........
Now, look at Isaiah, without thinking about what task he will be assigned to do, whether it is hard or dangerous, whether he has time to do it or not ... without thinking AT ALL, he responds to the Lord, "Send Me!"
-- wrote for 2008 Foxfires Tour
First of all, i would like to share my stress with you guys.... this 2 weeks are going to be crazy for me....
In week 7 Tuesday, I had a mid-semester test (10%)
on Wednesday, I have this foxfires meeting with you guys
on Thursday, I have 2 job interviews
In week 8 Monday, I have a 2500 words assignment due
on Wednesday, I have an exam (60%)
on Friday, I have to contact my supervisor and submit the Research Ethics Application
and of course, have to organise things for foxfire.
So yeah, forgive me if I don't get back to you promptly before next Wednesday ...
In this craziest week I have ever had in my life, I will remind myself with the verse in James 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
God knows our pain and He gives us strength generously! And ask him in faith, keep praying and reading the bible, seek for peace and wisdom from God and He will give them to you.
--- wrote on 23 April, 2008 Foxfires Tour
James 1:5-8
神有祂的奇異恩典
祂會安排不同的天使在你身邊
以各種的方法鼓勵你 ...
神的話語是何等寶貴
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person much not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
-- James 1: 5-8
A or B?
If you must spend 5 years in a place that is totally new to you. And you can only chose either Place A or Place B, which one will you choose?
Place A:
A wonderful place that looks like a paradise. You can enjoy the richness of the place, and all residents are lovely people. It is a place of your dream.
However in order to get there, you must enter by the small gate and walk on the narrow road. Not many people can arrive the destination. And it may be dangerous to travel on the road (But your safety is ensured, no matter what happen you are not going to die on the way to Place A).
Place B:
A place of destruction. The place is abandoned, no sunshine, no entertainment, no fun. And everyone is evil and unhappy. There is no hope in the place.
However to enter Place B, the gate is wide and the way is easy. Drinks and food are provided, you can buy anything you need. Many people can easily enter Place B. On the way to Place B, you can enjoy all things you like.
Both ways take the a month to travel.
What is your choice?
I choose Place A.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7: 13 -14
In the time of darkness
When we are in the time of darkness, we sometimes cry out for God: 'God where are you? If you love me so much, why do you give me so much trouble?' Some of us even want to turn away from Him.
What could we do when we are going through difficult time? First, We have to make something clear: Life is given by God. No one can have life without His love and grace. All he has given us are gifts that do not belong to us. So, is that right to only appreciate the good time that He's given us, but question Him whenever there is trouble? This is like asking your boss to give you all of his share in the company *for free* without putting in any effort. If he doesn't give you his share *for free!!*, you question whether he is a good boss. Do you think this is right?
God's love is so much valuable than your boss's share, yet he does not require us to do anything to receive the gift.
And no matter we receive the gift (in good time) or not receive the gift (in bad time), God is
always in control of our lifes. He is
always the loving Heavenly Father.
Learn from Job who went through so much troubles. He lost his house, his wealth, all of his 10 children and his wife. But the first thing he did was
not turn away from God, not even question God. The first thing he did was ...
worship God.
After he heard all the bad news from the various people, according to Job 1:20-22:
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Job worshiped God because he knew God is in control and praise the fact that God is so powerful that He controls all things.
Can you do that?
Can I do that?
The Big Switch Off
Around 3000 Melbourne residents signed up for the 24-hour big switch off to help reducing green house gases. They had to switch off power during Oct 6 - 7 for 24 hours.
When I was a kid, I liked black-out. Actually, I was excited about it. I ran outside my house and see if everyone had a power cut. Then I ran back to my house and helped dad to find candles. Then I held my father's hand and visited our neighbours, trying to figure out what's happening. To me, this was fun.
But in fact many people are afraid of dark, because the feeling of loneliness and danger usually come with darkness. Notice that people may not necessarily stay in a dangerous position, yet they are afraid because darkness come out from their heart, not from the environment. When a person's heart does not have light, how can this person not feel lonely and in danger?
I am not afraid of dark until now, not because I can create light. But I know HE can. HE is the source of light, HE is the source of comfort and love. HE gives me hope in darkness. This is like holding my father's hand when I was a kid. I have faith in him that HE always stays with me and brings me to the place where has light and hopes.
HE is my Heavenly Father
This is the message we have heard from him [Jesus Christ] and declare to you:
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
Beauty
hehe ... many people say I am pretty these two days
well honestly, I am in fact quite happy when I hear these
and I thank God for this gift
However, I should always remind myself that beauty should not come from the external apperance, but the internal heart
we should not look at the outside, but the inside of a person, which will not perish overtime
I hope, one day, people will feel my internal beauty, but not look at the external beauty
I hope that I will be able to show people with a gentle and quiet spirit, which praises the Lord
1 Peter 3: 3-4
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
