My Identiy in Christ

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8,9

Who am I and why am I here on earth for?

I was once, like all other humans, "dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us/me, even when we/I were dead in trespasses, made us/me alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us/me up together, and made us/me sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us/me in Christ Jesus.

I've been saved, raised from the dead, seated in the heavenly places in Christ, I am His new creation and masterpiece in progress, prepared for good works on this earth, and perhaps in the age to come too. I am the beloved child of God, bought by the precious blood of Christ. I was crucified with Christ on the cross and now am victorious in Him by His resurrection power. I have the mind of Christ: I have been raised up so I can see things from the heavenly perspective.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:20,21

So here I am, by the grace of God I stand and live. Here I am, Lord, lead me, and use me, all for your glory.

Bitten by the Bug

Finished "The Hunger Games" in one day yesterday! Brilliant plot and setting reflecting life as it is even now: the inequities of the social classes, the fascination with entertainment, and the evil we do to one another to "survive". Now I'm looking forward to the movie!

Srill feeling under the weather: dry n sore throat, intermittent cough, and now some phlegm n sneezing. Still I have to go for classes. And I still haven't gone to the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale yet! I'm in two minds whether to go or to skip and save, considering that the apartment is already overflowing with books. It'll depend on how quickly I get better.

There are so many more books here in the home that I haven't read yet. My sons and even my students (some at least) are reading more than I am or have now. Gotta catch up. I've caught the reading bug again! And if the BBW Sale has infected and spread the bug to many young people, I'm glad!

Mirror Mirror

It started Thursday with a mild fever and a sore throat. I took 2 panadols and slept. The next day, I went to teach and had one-on-one with several students while the rest did their Wordly Wise. I thought I was well already, though the throat still was sore, and then began to be irritable and gave me a dry cough. There's an occasional sneeze. Thankfully, no running nose, which I hate. Hope I'll get over it and that it won't last for 5 weeks as it did for Siew Heng. She said she felt better, then worse, several times.

Reading "The Hunger Games" now and finding it quite enthralling. Haha, now I'm reading books recommended by my students and sons. How the tables have turned. Watched "Tropic Thunder" on dvd with D: silly over the top gags. I told D that if we ever were to bring in a young 'un in to foster, we'd have to quit watching such movies in the home. He said, "What makes you think I'd be continuing to do so?" He's keen to take in this 10 year old kid who needs a foster family, but I'm hesitating now. Will I be up to it? I'll be doing the main work, there'll be more work and responsibilities. Will we be good for the kid? We're no perfect godly family. We're flawed humans with baggage and many blind spots still. Am I asking for trouble? Or, will it, paradoxically, be good for us all? Lord, please guide and confirm it for us.

James did a good job leading in the singing. And thanks to God and to Alex and Fiona, the young adults had a good outing to the MV Logos Hope Saturday nite. Glad that Junie came after an absence of a few weeks. The speaker, Patrick Cheng of the NECF, has a masters in Christian Counselling as well as in secular Counselling, and he was talking about how to build emotionally healthy churches. We just need to listen to one another and help one another to renew our minds, basically, and we wouldn't be needing professional counselors and psychiatrists. We are like mirrors to one another, and we need to speak the truth in love to one another. Besides that, something he didn't say, I think that we need to keep reading the Word of God and applying it in our daily lives: the Word is like a mirror to us, showing us not just our outward appearance, but going deep even into "the thoughts and intents of the heart" (James 1:22-25), Hebrews 4:12)

Was glad that Michelle came, after her almost month-long sojourn to Paris and Europe, and we had a nice lunch at the curry fish head shop in Rampai with Sheryl and Ashwira as well.Was also very glad that the new Michelle came again with her husband, Ryan. Praise God that she is very keen to grow deeper in the Lord and has a desire to be baptised. She's taken the first Nav discipleship book and will be doing it, and I'm to be her partner. Thank you, Lord!

Turning, Churning

New books and new songs and movies are being churned out faster than I can keep up. My O3 students are crazy over the Percy Jackson books (the movie failed to impress any of them), and also over "The Hunger Games" now being made into a movie.

Through D, I got to know Adelle, and I listen to her CD "21" to and fro work. Her songs are very catchy, and I hear my students sing them like pros, even the 11 and 12 year olds. Like her song goes, "I can't keep up with your turning tables," so I say I can't keep up with the changes of the world.

How marvellous is the creative gift that God has put in us! But then again, it's the same old story dressed in new fashion and style, always the story of love and loss and faith and betrayal, life and death, beginnings and endings. As the preacher said, There's no end to the making of many books and songs and stories, and also, "much study is wearisome to the flesh." (Ecclesiates 12:12)

I have to accept that I cannot keep with the turning of the world; one day I will take my leave and the world will go on without me. People will still be people, and God will still be God, and best of all, He will continue to build His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And then the Preacher said,

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil." (Ecclesiates 12:13-14)

May Their Tribe Increase!

Here I am, one of the few privileged to be able to sit here and ruminate and cogitate, and to write. Life is hard for so many, waking daily to labour, sweat and tears, with no time to sit and stare. I am thankful, and I am reminded not to take things for granted. Steve Jobs just passed away at 56, and the world mourned the loss of an innovator and visionary.

Yesterday the Nobel Peace prize was awarded to 3 women: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, director of Women Peace and Security Network Africa Leymah Gbowee both of Liberia and democratic activist Tawakkul Karman of Yemen. That just makes me feel good, hopeful and thankful. May their tribe increase!

As for me, mother of 2, teacher of more than 40 students, struggling to organise the home and work, I give thanks to God: for giving me life and health and strength. Thank you for my grown and mature sons: I saw pics of the older one on horseback in a ranch on the other side of the world! The younger one who was staying with a friend for a week just sent me an sms two days ago which said, "Mommy I love you". And he's going to be 20 end of this year. That is just so sweet, and typical of him.

I thank God for my husband too who is faithful, hardworking and responsible, and I pray God that You may bless him with good fruit for his effort and faithfulness, and a bonus, if You will, especially, a gift of a holiday to a place of his heart's desire.

Most of all, I thank God for who You are, for without You life and all it can give is meaningless, but with You even the bad becomes good. Thank You, God.

Do Not Be Surprised

Come to think of it, it's not just the Book of Acts that talks about and to a church that is being persecuted. All the epistles, especially Peter's, are addressed to believers who were living like aliens, exiles, pilgrims, a new and strange people who were counter-culture to the world in which they dwelt.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

1 Peter 4:12-19

O Lord, be with Your people now who are facing persecution here in Malaysia, and all over the world. Help Your people to stand firm and remain true and faithful to Your name, to testify of You without fear and shame, to shine as lights in an increasingly dark world.

GOSPEL

“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” Acts 11:18

GOSPEL: God offers sinful people eternal life

What great good news! The truth is that all people, both Jews and Gentiles, are sinful and are sinners from birth. All of us are estranged from our Creator God and as such, are dead spiritually, and condemned to judgment and eternal separation from Him who is Life.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

All of us need to repent from our own way of life, being our own master, doing our own thing and neglecting the Author of life and His ways.

As Peter said, "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses." Acts 3:14,15

So Lord, I thank You for Your mercy and grace upon us sinners, for giving Your Son to die for us, bearing our sin and shame. I thank You for offering to us this gift of life, forgiveness and freedom from sin and darkness. Thank You that this offer is to all humans on this earth.

Remember this land in these troubled days: grant to the many diverse people groups here this gift of repentance to life, that in days to come we shall all come before You in praise and thanksgiving with varied tongues and bring glory to Your name. Heal this land: let the few of those who know You here remain steadfast and strong, to be salt and light for the health and regeneration of the multitudes of the lost.

Anyone who fears Him and does what is right?

"...God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right." Acts 10:34,35

Surely O God, You are the creator of all the earth and of all mankind. Surely, You are the Holy and Wise One who sees and knows all, and yet, wonder of wonders, You are also the Loving One who cares and has compassion on us, frail children of dust.

Today, are there any who fear You and do what is right? Cornelius was one in the time of the early church, and there were many others too. Today, here in Malaysia, are there any? You know, Lord, and You will bless them wherever and whoever they may be, and grant them to come to Your salvation. Surely there are, and surely O Lord, You will bless them.

And grant that You may use Your children, as You did Peter and the other disciples, to be that channel of blessing for these precious ones You are seeking. And for us too, grant that we may fear You, revere You in the heart always, and do what is right, and be prepared to give an answer to those who inquire of our hope, to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15)

My Petitions

Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.

The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The LORD lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.

...
He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.
(Psalm 147:2-6,20-11)

Lord, thank you so much for these 2 weeks' break from school. It's a time to refresh myself and prepare for the new semester. Thank you that You are so great and mighty and that Your understanding is infinite. You know what I need before I even say it. I really need wisdom and organisational skills, to plan the lessons and activities for the coming semester. I need Your strength and power to love and understand others, and compassion to care. And I need and want a good memory too, for all I read and watch and hear and learn.

I need You, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit, to sanctify and mould me more and more into the likeness of Your Son.

Thank You, Lord, for hearing me, for answering me even before I call. Thank You for healing me and lifting me up.

I love You, Lord, and praise You for all that You are and do.

To be or not to be

To be or not to be - that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
or to take arms against a sea of troubles
and by opposing end them; to die, to sleep,
No more - and by a sleep to say we end
the heartache and the thousand natural shocks
that flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation
devoutly to be wished: to die, to sleep -
to sleep - perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub
for in that sleep of death, what dreams may come
when we have shuffled off this mortal coil
must give us pause. There's the respect
that makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
that patient merit of the unworthy takes,
when he himself might his quietus make
with a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear
to grunt and sweat under a weary life.
but that the dread of something after death,
the undiscovered country, from whose bourn
no traveller returns, puzzles the will
and makes us rather bear those ills we have
than fly to others we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
and thus the native hue of resolution
is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought
and enterprise of great pith and moment
with this regard their currents turn awry
and lose the name of action.

Shakespeare, Hamlet

To be or not to be, to live or to die, to live fully or to just exist, to do or not to do but just think, talk, watch and pray? - these are decisions that we have to make daily, that determine our life story.

I'm memorising these lines and find them to be truly sublime. O, if I were to be marooned on an island, or more likely, detained and cast into prison, just give me a Bible and Shakespeare, and it wouldn't matter how long the stay there!

But to return to real life here - I am amazed at the grace and mercy of God who hears the cries of the helpless and downcast, who cry to Him in desperation, humility and faith. There are some smiles now on the face of the 16 year old girl, some glimmer of hope shining through. Thank you, God, for opening a way for her, at just the right time. Please give her the strength and will to choose life, to choose You.

Please be with A2, heal her of her sicknesses and grant her to continue in strength and wisdom to reach out to even more, for Your name's sake.

The One who Bore Me

Yesterday was a blessed day, thank you Lord!
D took me n Elliot out to lunch at the newly opened Korean restaurant below Hope. The food was pretty tasty. In the afternoon, I drove to Eric's, enjoyed baby Jian Shern, and took mother out to Carrefour.

Mother is getting on: she has been complaining of weakness, and has gone for a medical checkup. Today she'll be going for a blood test. She walks extremely slowly now. Her left foot is still hurting her, and her back is hunched.

O Lord, have mercy upon my mother, and papa, my brothers n their families too.

I praise you, and thank you that Lord, you are

"... gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.

The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.

The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them."
Psalm 145:8-19



On my birthday, I remember it was my mother who bore me and gave birth to me. Without her, I would not be here. She has worked hard all her life, serving us all selflessly.
Remember her, O Lord, in Your great mercy and compassion. Let her know Your very presence even today, and help her come to taste of Your goodness and to call upon You in truth.

Thank you, Lord.

LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.

Psalm 144:3,4

Today is my 53rd birthday. I am filled with thanksgiving for all the Lord has given and done for me, all undeserved. Thank You, Lord, that You took knowledge of me, that You have been mindful of me. Nay, more than that, You have been exceedingly kind and gracious, to forgive my sins and show me Your goodness. You have given me the very best gift of all: Your very own Son, Jesus Christ/Messiah, to bring me from darkness to light, from death to life.

So here I am, all Yours. Do with me as You will. Fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, like You did Stephen and the other members of the early church. They were filled with the Spirit and with wisdom and faith and power, and were able to do great things for You, becoming effective witnesses for You.

How I need Your Spirit! Without You, I am nothing. Apart from You, I can do nothing. So live in me, and take control.

Let me say, as Paul did, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

And Lord, let me not just say it with my mouth but with my life: let it true of me, that it may be even said of me: "She had been crucified with Christ; it was not longer she who lived, but Christ lived in her; and the life she lived in the flesh, she lived by faith in the Son of God who loved her and gave Himself for her." O let it be so. Amen.

Spiritus Sanctus

"I think the Holy Spirit struck me!" said James when I asked him how it was that he had chosen an amazingly apt song for the closing yesterday. It was his first time leading worship service at Hope, and he had done well. All the songs were well-chosen, and there was an atmosphere of reverence, with the absence of the drums a nice change. The last song was "Spirit fill my heart with Jesus" and D's sermon had been on Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. I, and everyone else, had thought that James must have communicated with D and found out about the topic. But no, he had not known at all what was going to be preached.

"That's wonderful! It surely is the Spirit's work!"

Thank You, Abba God, thank you for Your gracious work in our midst. We want more and more of Your Spirit. Jesus, come and fill Your lambs.

In the evening, surely it was God too who led A2 and me to visit with this family, to talk with and listen to a sixteen year old girl afflicted with depression.

This morning, surely it was the Spirit who led us 4 ladies to pray and intercede for her and other precious ones facing trials and temptations.

Gracious God, forgive us for grieving Thee, Thy Holy Spirit, dwelling within us. Fill us more and more, and help us walk in step with Thee, please Thee, do the works that glorify Thee, and bear the fruit that that reflect Thee.

Venire, Spiritus Sanctus, venire, come and have Thy way.

Life, Oh Life!

Here I am, blessed with Life! Not just physical but Eternal! Jesus said: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3 and "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

And this is my prayer to You, O Lord of all,
in the words of David in Psalm 141:

"LORD, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.

For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.

But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord;
In You I take refuge;
Do not leave my soul destitute.
Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely."

I am Thine, and Thine alone. Let me abide in Thee, and never leave Thee, never let my heart grow cold. Let me do that which please Thee, and do all for Thee and Thee alone.

What is life on earth apart from Thee? I cannot live without Thee! So feed me, O Living God, and teach me, lead me in Thy everlasting way.

Thank you, O Lord, for giving me Life, for making me for Yourself. You died that I may live, You gave me Your very own Life and all You have that I may share in Your heaven and abundance. Thank you, thank you, I love You.

The Cross: symbol of shame and degradation? or sign of power and wisdom of God?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:7-8

The attitude of selfless concern, sympathy and self-sacrifice for those far lesser than oneself is exactly what makes God even more majestic, noble and commendable to Christian thinking.

Whereas for a Muslim, that a ruler would subject himself to such humiliation for the sake of his lowly subjects is unthinkable.

That God would degrade Himself and come down to the level of His own creation; that God would sacrifice Himself/His own son (in fact, even having a son) for lowly created beings; that a perfect, infinite, uncreated God could at all relate to a flawed, finite, created world; or even that an innocent prophet might die at the hands of sinful unbelievers – these ideas are anathema to Islamic thinking.

As Hodi Jones sneers, such actions would disqualify a King from being worthy of his throne.

So the same action of God sacrificing Himself for humanity makes Him more deserving of worship to Christians, while making Him totally undeserving of deity to Muslims.
(http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/one-pieces-neptune-a-kingly-sacrifice-christian-and-muslim-views/)

It is exactly as what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:23,24 -

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

On Good Friday, we who believe in the Christ, came to the Cross and contemplating it, fell in love with and adoration of such a great Saviour. There's no other love that can compare. But many others can only see the humiliation and scoff: "What kind of god is that who is so weak and pathetic?"

But they forget: then came Sunday! The One crucified and buried broke out of the grave, rose from the dead, defeating Death and all the principalities and powers, and now reigns on high over all. He is alive! And His spirit is moving mightily all over the world today, convicting and drawing men to Himself still, bound by unbreakable cords of love and gratitude.

Mercy and Justice

How compassionate and merciful God is! The laws He laid down for the Israelites in Deuteronomy 23 and 24 show a concern for the poor, the stranger, the fatherless, the widow, the hired servant that is poor and needy. As He is, so we, His people, are to be: compassionate, merciful, considerate of the needs of the disadvantaged in society.

But against those who sin, He will punish. He is holy and He cannot see any unclean thing in us, or He will turn away from us.

Thank God for Jesus becoming our Passover Lamb giving His body for us, shedding His blood for us and writing a New Testament in His blood for us. (Luke 22)

He who is Lord and King of all so humbled Himself and became a worm, trampled on by evil men, crushed and disfigured, without resistance. And we, His followers now, also have to humble ourselves and be prepared to suffer as He did, to serve as He did, to live and die as He did. Therein lies our hope for resurrection and salvation, for he who saves his life will lose it, but he who gives up his life for God will gain it.

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
So help me, God.

The God who makes all things new

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." Rev 21:5

O Lord, what a promise and a hope for Your children!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Cor 5:17

or according to the KJV:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Eternal Word and the Everlasting Father. By Thy will and wisdom, and in love, hast Thou created all things, and art indeed redeeming and making all things new, redeeming and moulding fallen men and women into new creatures bearing Thy very likeness.

All praise and honour and glory be unto Thee!
Renew my mind and change my heart again and again today and in the coming days of this new year, for Thy glory and name's sake.

p/s started using the KJV again to read through the Bible in this year.