Amazed by You

Lord I am amazed by You. How You love me. Lord I am amazed by You. How You love me. (repeats) Eoghan Heaslip - Amazed is now playing. And my heart feels so light. It can't stop pouring out my thankfulness. It forces a smile on my face. It is very true that I usually forget about God's love for me. I don't see His Goodness, I say. But there are times when He just reveals Himself and I feel Him. I know His love. I sense His work. Love, so overwhelming. I have been looking for an internship for a few weeks. It seems that all my efforts and time are fruitless. But, this morning, I've got an invitation letter for an interview. What a nice surprise! Thank YOU. Lord I am amazed by You. How You love me. Lord I am amazed by You. How You love me.

Magic Candle

I just had the most refreshing conversation with my mom.

We were talking about this Magic Candle.

She started with stating, "A candle lit up in a house full of candle doesn't really light up its surrounding. The place is bright enough without it. But for someone in the dark, it means the world to him. It lights up his path and brings him to light -- life."

I got to response to her in this way, "But, it's very windy out there. The fire in the candle can be just blown up and gone easily. And the guy would be back in the dark."

She replied, promptly, "It's a magic candle. It won't be lit off by anything."

I was startled. What an interesting truth.

Many times, we would be that candle (light). We are sent to places where we can't find any other candles around us. The place is black. It's scary. It's windy. It seems dangerous. But we are in the right place. The place where we are needed the most.

And as God has said, I'll baptize you in fire, I believe, He's the fire that would keep us alive and shining. And just like the Magic Candle, we would be able to bring people in the right track without blacking out.

Are we too slow?

Earlier today, a friend of mine rang me and asked me to pick her up from her boyfriend's place.

I was so into my writing at that time and if I got up and left my desk, I wouldn't remember the things I was gonna write again. But anyways, I said yes.

I finished some more sentences, closed the notebook, and went hurriedly to pick her up. I didn't want to make her wait.

Once I was there, I rang her letting her know that I am waiting. 1 minute passed. 2 minutes. 5 minutes. I began to be impatient. I wondered what took her so long to get down. I rang her again. And not soon after she showed her face.

While I was waiting, I came across this thought.

Many times, we call on the Name of God. We ask Him to come to our rescue. Hurry, please, we say. And in no time, He's there, ready to save us. But instead of going with Him right away, we let Him wait. We haven't finished preparing. We are too slow. We are the ones who are not ready.

Yes, God is patient. He has all eternity to wait for us. But we don't. I am just imagining, if we could try to be a little bit faster, a little bit readier, how much farther we could go, especially with God beside us.

Anyway, lesson for today, be ready! Efficiency is the key to an effective production.
God bless us, friends!

Christmas' Grass

Matthew 6 (NIV)
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Salomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith?

Reading this passage about clothes or in today's term "fashion", it makes me think about what Jesus meant about 'clothes'. Why didn't he talk about something else, such as: pets or plans. He wanted to make a point--he always did.

For me, they are not clothes, clothing clothes. But they represent us: our body, mind, and soul. Flowers, as what Jesus made an example of, do not need attributes or attachments. Flowers do not put on clothes, for they are beautiful just as they are.

Well, it is true that in the beginning we were created 'naked' (i.e. without clothing) but I guess that's what Jesus is trying to refer to. We are unique in our very way. Maybe it's not our face nor body that make us stand out from the rest, but God has clothes us with humor, brilliant brains, skillful hands, and other potentials within us.

And with these clothes we have on, we are even prettier than Salomon and his royal robes. If Salomon was the wisest and richest king in his time, who do you think we could be?

Once again, princess and prince of Christ, do not worry!
God bless! Merry Christmas!

Rise

A new song that keeps sounding in my ears. The title 'rise' is pronounced the same way as the first syllable of my name -- one of the reasons why it's so easy listening for me. Hope it's a blessing for you guys. Click here for video

Yes, I will rise
Out of these ashes, rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise

'Cause He who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise

Sometimes my heart is on the ground
And hope is nowhere to be found
Love is a figment I once knew
And yet I hold on to what I know is true

Well I keep on coming to this place
That I don't know quite how to face
So I lay down my life in hopes to die
That somehow I might rise

Never doubt God! Never!

I have to admit that I doubted God as my sovereign God these last few days.

It started with being all alone at home. Tania was in Mexico, extending her Visa, and everyone else was busy with final exam or having a holiday. As indifferent as I could be, I still was not an island. I needed somebody around me.

People say that in a Christmas season, the best thing to do is to be with your loved ones. I completely agree. I miss my family back home. The thought of not seeing them this Christmas, New Year 2012, and Chinese New Year next year kills me inside.

Yes, I am used to live abroad and not spending Christmas at home. Once, I even liked it - that year, I had to be busy with 'serving the Lord' in Christmas celebrations. But everything is different now. I feel like a grown up. And I don't want to miss sweet moments with my Pa and Ma even though we never had Christmas tree or Christmas lights.

Facing reality of not being able to go home, I started to think what Christmas is about, again. I pondered about it almost every year. Or every other year, Pastors would remind me or give me a newer definition of Christmas. I found myself feeling nothing about Christmas. In my head, I kept sounding, "No Christmas, no Jesus, and why am I here?".

It is crazy that thoughts can go from a polar to the opposite one without having to 'physically' go anywhere. One day, I could be so on fire for God, and the next, I could lose my faith - not exactly losing it, but not trusting that much.

I needed a haircut. My hair was a mess. I dyed it last year and curled it. The dye and the curl had gone and they left my hair destroyed and shapeless. But the problem is I don't know good salons in San Diego.

I had an acquaintance. She came to Flood College in the last few weeks. She was a hairdresser. I thought, I might need to call her and ask her to help me out with my hair. However, I was not that close to her. So, I said to God, if I could meet her tonight in the 8 p.m.'s service. I would definitely ask her.

So, I went to the 8 p.m. Christmas Concert at Flood (FYI, it was the best Christmas Concert I had -- click here to see the video recording). And out of the blue, I saw my friend there. And while I was looking for a seat, she happened to have an empty chairs beside her. I sat beside her through the service. What a coincidence.

I didn't realize that I doubted God. It was just an 'if' statements that I made inside my head. I felt, I was joking. But He didn't joke around. He revealed Himself to me, in the strangest way. How cool.

A present from God this Christmas (for me and maybe for you too): little more faith.

Yes, He is real!
xoxo

Learn a little

I always hoped that I could skip the little things and go for the jackpot.
I was wrong.
It is okay to learn a little. Mountains are made up of both big and small rocks.

Cheers

JOY

Be joyful despite of your feelings and circumstances. :)