Green pastures

People are leaving this country, even more so now than before it seems. Young people who go abroad to study will, if they have a chance, usually choose to stay and work in that foreign land. Professionals, business people, the wealthy, those able to, will fly for a better quality life, for the sake of their children's education or future, for a nice retirement home.

We know people who have gone, people who are going, and people who are calling us to go, go, go, before it's too late.

Who, in their right mind, would want to stay in this hot, dirty, messy place with goons for police and politicians, and civil servants? The whole country seems to be unraveling before our eyes, and things seem to be getting from bad to worse daily. It's not just the quality of life, it's the insecurity, hardships and perils of just living here.

So many are going Down Under, but we know one lady who's left there and come here and to poor hot, messy Asian countries to serve. Yes, it was lovely in Melbourne, Perth, with beautiful weather and parks, and order and courtesy in society (people queuing up for buses and trains which run on time). Yes, it would be lovely to stay there and enjoy life, but then life for this one is not the pursuit of happiness or enjoyment as most see it. Life is to serve and give and die for others most in need.

So what am I here for? I was born in this country and I grew up here. In this country, in my youth, O joy inexpressible, I found God (or, to be more accurate, He found me) and came to know Him as my Loving Eternal Heavenly Father. Since then, He has been with me and has been leading me all the way: to study in the local university, to work, to marriage and motherhood, to service in the local church and community. It doesn't matter where I am physically now as long as He is there with me. I would not exchange this life with and in Him for a life of luxury and comfort and greener pastures anywhere without Him.

As Paul said to the Athenians in Acts 17:²⁴"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

So here I am in Malaysia where God has put me for the time being. He has a purpose for me here: may His purpose be fulfilled to the glory of His name. I know that my real home is not here or in any other country on this earth: it is in Heaven with Him, my Everlasting Father and Gracious Saviour and Lord and the Eternal Spirit.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Psalm 23

Beware Adultery

Whom do I love: the world or the Father? As the Apostle John wrote, "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything is the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17

Can a person love both, like the old song that goes: "Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool, loving both of you is breaking all the rules"? I used to think that it was possible to be in love with 2 persons, like the singer sang, and like most people in the world. Now I see the wisdom of Jesus' words: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:2-4 I agree with Anthony Loke that it is not possible to harbour two loves within our hearts.

That's why, I guess, a two-timing lover or an adulterous partner is in such a conflicted state: knowing that he or she ought to be faithful and loving to one and yet actually desiring another and hating the bond of fidelity and the one to whom it is owed.

Proverbs 5:1-23 warn of the peril of adultery, the horrible end that ensues after the delicious taste of forbidden fruit. But it is not just physical and human adultery that we need to beware of; it is actually spiritual adultery that is so closely entwined in the former and that is so much more prevalent in innumerable other forms.

Isaiah 1:21 - See how the faithful city
has become a harlot!
She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her—
but now murderers!

Ezekiel 6:9 - Then in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remember me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices.

Mark 8:38 - If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

James 4:4 - You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

So, whom do I really love? You know my heart, O Lord, that I am sinful and adulterous. O help me repent, and return to my first love for You. As You have warned in Revelation 2:3-5 - You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Jesus, be the Centre
Be my song, be my strength
Be my all in all.

Physical v spiritual training

Whew! It's been almost a week since I wrote. I've been exercising daily except for Sunday: walking up the hill in Sek 4 Wangsa Maju or swimming in the morning, all with Fiona B. Yesterday, we walked there again in the evening after the rains in the afternoon, and it was cool and lovely weather to walk in, for a change. I'm glad for her companionship and find that it's easier to keep fit with a partner.

As for meditating and writing here, that has been a harder thing to keep at. Hmmm, physical discipline seems to be easier to maintain than spiritual discipline. But as Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:7-9: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

So I've got to try harder here, with God's help.

Love and faithfulness in my heart

I haven't done my run yet: this morning, we had breakfast of oats and fruit, Fiona, D n me, and conversation.

The word to me today is: Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:3,7)

Last night, Fiona and I had a great time at the Sri Semarak Reading Room. She had been there only once for the first session in February, and those children who had met her had been asking for her. There were more than 20 children, eager, lively and happy to be there. Fiona read aloud 2 books, but only some listened to it all. A few are too young and all have short attention spans, and they all still need to learn the discipline of staying still and quiet to listen. But we see signs of growth in learning to love books and reading. They have been allowed to borrow one book back each and have so far been good in taking care of the books. We have to train the prefects/librarians and give them some responsibilites, and enforce the rules in a stricter manner. The kids: they grow on you.

Lord, give me wisdom or I shall die!

Another 20 mins today!

It is the Lord who gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. I should accept Your words, store up Your commands within me, turn my ear to wisdom and apply my heart to understanding. I should be calling out for insight and crying aloud for understanding, looking for it as for silver and searching for it as for hidden treasure. Then I will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Provers 2:1-6)

For the truth is, You know, O Lord, how foolish I am, and how ignorant, and how far short I have fallen from Your glory. I am poor and wretched, blind and lost, unless You come and shine Your light into my heart, and lead me in Your way. So, here I am, crying out to You: Lord, give me wisdom lest I perish in my foolishness! Give me wisdom or I shall die!

Yesterday, Fiona B came back from Australia to stay for a while. Thank You, Lord, for giving her a blessed time there, and for leading her in a new project. And last night, Elliot and I took the train to a JPS meeting to plan for a debate in June. And D had a happy time at the last day of the Big Bad Book Sale in PJ: so we've got another pile of new books to enjoy.

Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord

Good morning!
It's Monday, and I've done 20 minutes on the treadmill, and had my Daily Bread. Ok, yesterday was Sunday, and I didn't do all that: we had to leave the house for church by 8.30. Sunday can be an exception, a day of rest!

I'm very happy that the readings (Asian Reflections) are from the book of Proverbs starting yesterday. "At the heart of wisdom is the desire to understand the world and how to live in it, and how to make the best of our short time here. Wisdom is therefore not just accumulated knowledge but also practical guidelines and useful advice." (Anthony Loke)

King Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs for:
attaining wisdom and discipline;
understanding words of insight;
acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young,
adding to the learning of the wise, and giving guidance to the discerning. (1:1-5)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (1:7)

Saturday night, the Tan family celebrated the matriarch's 80th birthday with a grand dinner: 11 tables, about 100 over people comprising mostly her siblings and other relatives. She has 6 children (4 married sons and 2 unmarried daughters) and 9 grandchildren. It was a time of much thanksgiving for the Lord's grace and mercy, for keeping PorPor so well, physically and spiritually till now. She still cooks every day, every meal, and caters dinner on weekdays for her 2 sons' families! Her younger sisters are not as strong as her. It's her simple faith in the Lord, and her love for her husband (while he was alive) and family, and her keeping active in mind and body, daily thinking up what dishes to cook for her loved ones and numerous invited guests. It's her fear of the Lord that keeps her wise and healthy and strong.

O that I may age as gracefully as she has, to be beautiful within and without, to be strong to the end of my days, actively loving, serving, doing good works for the Lord. It begins with the fear of the Lord. On Mother's Day, Pastor's sermon was from Proverbs 31. May that standard be my aim: to be a virtuous woman, a wife of noble character, a woman who fears the Lord. O Lord, I cannot attain it! Only You can help me to put away foolishness and to pursue wisdom and virtue, by Your grace and mercy.

New Habits for Old

They say a new habit can be formed in 3 weeks.

Today I will start:
1 walking 20 mins (and more) on the threadmill in the morning
2 reading His Word, meditating, and writing here
3 doing the necessary in the house as early as possible
...

We'll see if what they say is true.

sc