Martha

Putting down some excerpts & editions about the Martha/Mary thing.

Perhaps you have felt the same way. You've known the Lord your whole life, and yet you haven't found the peace and fulfillment you've always longed for. So you've stepped up the pace, hoping that in offering more service, somehow you will merit more love and respect. You volunteer for everything: you sing in the choir, you teach Sunday school, you took care of a group of teenagers, you visit the nursing home weekly. And yet you find yourself staring into the night and wondering if this is all there is.

Or perhaps you've withdrawn from service. You've gone the route I've described above and, frankly, you've had it. You've stopped volunteering, stopped saying yes. No one calls anymore. No one asks anymore. You're out of the loop and glad for it. And yet the peace and quiet holds no peace and quiet. The stillness hasn't led to the closer walk with God you've hoped for, just a sense of resentment. Your heart feels leaden and cold. You go to church; you go through the motions of worship, then leave and go home the same. And at night, sometimes you wonder, "What is the good news? Can someone tell me? I can't remember."

Or maybe you are somewhere caught or inter-woven in between. You've been here and done that, but there is this shadow of a dream, or a state of life and mind that feels like it is almost within your grasp but never attainable. You see somebody going to someone else, something got tied or messed up, somewhere you should be.

"What is the good news? Can someone tell me? I can't remember."

The good news is woven through the New Testament in a grace-filled strand that shine especially bright in the Gospel stories of Mary and Martha. The message is this: Salvation isn't about what I do; it's about what Jesus did.

The Cross did more than pay for my sins; it set me free from the bondage of the "shoulds" and "if onlys" and "what might have beens." And Jesus' words to Martha are the words he wants to speak to your heart and mine: "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed."

The "one thing" is not found in doing more.

It's found by sitting at his feet.

Catch that: Mary sat at his feet. She didn't move a muscle. She listened. She didn't come up with clever responses or a doctrinal thesis. Her gift was availability. (In the end, I believe that was Martha's gift as well.)

The only requirement for a deeper friendship with God is showing up with a heart open and ready to receive. Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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". (Matt 11:28-29)

Jesus invites us to come and rest, to spend time with him in this incredible Living Room Intimacy. Intimacy that allows us to hear our Father's voice and discern our Father's will. Intimacy that so fills us with his love and his nature that it spills out to our dry, thirsty world in Kitchen Service.

In the Living Room. That's where it all begins. Down at his feet.

---

Warning signs of a Martha overload. Five unrealistic expectations that can contribute to servant burnout, can you see yourself in the following false beliefs?

1. There should not be any limits to what I can do.

2. I have the capacity to help everyone.

3. I am the only person available to help.

4. I must never make a mistake.

5. I have the ability to change another person.

---

Five strategies for fighting discouragement:

1. Allow for rest stops (naps, sleep a little earlier)

2. Get a new point of view (take a few steps back and ask God to help you see his perspective in your situation)

3. Have patience (easy to get discouraged when things don't go as planned. But if you've committed your concerns to the Lord, you can be sure he is at work, even when you don't see his hand) Rom 8:28

4. Mingle. (discouragement feeds off isolation, get out of your house, visit some friends. It's amazing how good ol' fellowship can lift our spirits & chase away the blues.)

5. Set the timer. (ok, so things aren't so good, I've found it helpful to set the oven timer and allow ten mins for a good cry. But when the buzzer sounds, I blow my nose, wipe my eyes, and surrender my situation to the Lord so I can move on)

and this video for all my friends who 'love' miley, haha. cut the cheesy moves, it's a good song really.

matter of perspective

So the journey continues. There's always the need to study a little bit more each day. And after visiting Mount E a few times, Orchard Road feels different now.

Once used to be the most happening place, and then became a place I travel by everyday, noticing the daily construction progress of Ion Orchard & Orchard Central. And eventually became nothingness but a facade. And now became just like any place but i prefer JB home.

They say cancer could change a person, didn't know it could change the people around them too.

On a separate matter, went to friend's mom dept in the same hospital, watch a very little infant sleeping in a special containment unit, with a tube stuck near his nose. So little, so fragile. You could almost hold his torso in your palm. yet still living and breathing, what a wonder to me.

I saw another covered containment, empty, i remember my parents told me how i had difficulty breathing when i was an infant, almost died sometimes.. wow, God, you have seen me before i was born, right till now, till my future, all my steps are ordained by you. When I see the little infant lying there, I get a glimpse of how much you love me.

Now i'm big and strong. erm, not that big and not that strong. normal la, ha.

Wish I could be a better person sometimes. But thank God for who I am, with peace.

Today is the day. =)

joy =)

when we cry

I sort of started to see things differently lately after what happened to my big sis. At first life seems to lose its meaning, and then it takes on a whole new meaning. Used to worry abt work, studies, ministry.. Now i've been thinking about life as a whole, as a morning fog, as a gift & abandonment unto God in every area of enjoyment, mundanity and struggles.

I remember the morning when I cried in pre-service, and how God's comfort comes like a friend. Ever prayed and felt God coming so real to u that ur heart will undeniably know he is right beside you? ... real comfort can come from His presence, His word, His promises.

There's this hope and strength that can drive you on, and it goes beyond human limitations. By this one God who exists, whom we can't see but believe in. He loves us. He knows us by name. We are His image and His likeness is shown in us.

And so this fire fuels the fierce, unrelenting passion in loving people and living life without regrets.

..

close friend had cancer..

..

less is more, more is more. ha

gonna move my PC to sis' place in Dover tomorrow night. so i will be using PC much less for the rest of the year, maybe.

i'll miss a lot of things.. but it's ok anyway. just blabber my heart out to God.

I wonder if one day God appears in my dream and take me for a ride in heaven, show me my room (hope that its awesome). and the food there..

or we can just sit on the edge of a cliff overlooking the beautiful sunset sinking into the sea down its endless skies, and talk forever while munching on some good stuffs like japanese octopus balls with choco and sushi handrolls, or american fat sandwich with bubble tea.

or going to a theme park together . screaming and laughing out loud while going through the thrills and scary darkness in the tunnel, coming out frightened but went in again anyway.

or we can go watch a good, long, sappy romantic comedy movie together, wearing real thick and warm while the aircon is so cold but not having the urge to go to the toilet. oh ya, not forgeting the hot melting caramel popcorns, nachos with dip and icy coke.

or we can watch a dvd at home in the living room in winter, beside the fireplace with mashmellows and some good books lying around with a large muffy carpet lying underneath.

ir we can simply soar into the sky, over the leaning tower, 12 apostles, my house, everybody else's houses (ha), chase dogs, pick apples from the tallest tree, fooling around a giraffe's head, scare passerbys (haha). eventually sitting on someone's roof, watching stars flicker and fly. and drift off into another dream.

or we can form a band, he plays the bass or guitar or a whole symphony, while i play the drums, the awesome coolest drums. In an open hall full of people, or none. he will have his limelight, i will try to have mine. we crash and be crazy, throw off our instruments, jump into a pool nearby and
dive into another world of fishes and corals.

or we can just play computer games.

ha. "what la"

God..
there's something about you that is so much, so much more which i don't know about.

Let my dreams run real wild with you. Let my thoughts run with you, let my heart be set on you.

randomness

went home as usual today, bypass orchard road, a car stopped by the red traffic light. A posh, big, 4WD. The lady inside looks familiar. I was standing right beside the car.

oh, it's Fann Wong.

gf

lately some people are sort of asking me or hinting me that it's time to find someone.
my best friend's getting married very soon anyway, in less than a year's time.

people who read this might want to comment something, so, let the comments come ba..

just wanna declare aloud that if u see me with girls/ladies, most likely they are my big sisters. it's nice sometimes cos i don't have a biological big sis and my big super bro is not around. my close friends gave me a lot of wise advice, genuine concern and superb reading materials. but of course my parents & own little sis are still the best. so i'm a lucky guy, ha.

anyway, tired.. want to sleep..

thank you God for today, for teaching me how to live in peace..

good friday's coming soon, yay, public holiday.

nite.

my heart & eyes r a little heavier today, but my God abounds in strength and grace.

Jesmond is leaving next week

This guy ar, last min wan wor. Coming weekend is his last weekend in church liao, then he'll be studying in KL - civil engineering. Same college as his brother.

Today after work suddenly one sms -

"hey bro, juz wanna inform u tat i'll b going off next week 2 kl to further my studies.... gOnna miss u a lot man :-) "


what the!!??!

Whack him when u see him yar! =P


Time flies, i have known him for years... since form 1, i think. There's something about him, quiet faithfulness in serving, something rare among the youth nowadays. I have seen how his drum skills improve, strong groove.

wow, now he's going. so fast. he used to run, but now i believe he will soar from here onwards.
He will start to lead, like how he used to gun in the above picture, ha, joking.

He will lead one day. =)

4 gifts

Lord I pray, grant me these 4 precious gifts, whether by hardship or brokenness, that I may move on this year and be light for you.

Wisdom, diligence, perseverence and gumption.

Victoria Ho

Left office at 5.45pm today, wonderful isn't it =P (for myself only, i guess)
It felt like I had a day off, I can let my hair down for once. It felt like something sprung into life.
Took the initiative to help pass a letter to KPMG, and KPMG closes at 6pm, so there goes, hehe.

Went for a walk thru the places, the nasi lemak stall, christian book shop, browsing thru books, and then my favourite trail, the long walk from raffles place, thru the bridge, asian civiliation museum, the park, and to esplanade's top, library... It seems so different now.

Sat at the stairs at the edge of the stage extended down to the river, watch the unseen sunset's light reflecting against the millions of waves, the towers changing colours. Thinking of everything, and then thinking of nothing.

Suddenly the esplanade staff stuff me a brochure. Then came 7.30pm, the sound started. It's ladies night, a lone woman sat alone on the stage with a guitar and she sings. Late twenties or early thirties, Victoria Ho sings. People gathered around. With a voice similar to Corrinne May's, she sings Michael Buble's "Home".

And then i went home.

Daddy.. daddy.... bloood..

and its not funny.

The oval office

President John F. Kennedy claps as his four-year-old daughter Caroline and son John F. Kennedy Jr. dance in the Oval Office of the White House in October 1962.

I heard about this picture from a New Life Church sermon. What happened in October 1962? JFK informed the world that the Soviet Union was building secret missile bases in Cuba, a mere 90 miles off the shores of Florida. Discussions and serious stuffs..

The oval office, the office of ultimate power, decisions made that can change the world. Top leaders have to make special appointments to meet in the office, commoners find it a lifetime experience to step into the office. The history, the moments. The legend.

and see the two little children dancing away while the most influential & powerful man in the world is clapping away.. =)

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I wonder.. God of creation, the ruler & owner of the heavens & earth. Even when the nations are all before Him, they are nothing compared to Him, regarded as worthless & less than nothing to Him (Isa 40:17). God who structures every multiplication of amoebas and the formation of proteins & DNAs, forms billions of human features uniquely and names every planet & stars that are formed by the millions everyday. Architect of the rise & fall of civilization, directs every artistic vision and philosophic wisdom.

Yet He chose us.

"Come dance in my oval office", you might hear Him say from a distance. Enter my joy, my holy of holies.

Flawed and ignorant as I am, yet it's like instinct. As He claps, you know it is the rhythm, more than building taller sand castles, sweets and lollies, chasing after pretty butterflies, dreaming for the next big thing.

.. =)

I know my father. Run to Him.

This is gonna be my best year

Teach me, to go for the extra half-stroke everyday =)

Janjimu Sperti Fajar - Edward Chen

ketika ku hadapi kehidupan ini
jalan mana yg harus kupilih
ku tahu ku tak mampu
ku tahu ku tak sanggup
hanya kau Tuhan tempat jawabanku

ku pun tahu ku tak pernah sendiri
selama engkau Allah yg menggendongku
tanganmu membelaiku
cintamu memuaskanku
kau mengangkatku ke tempat yg tinggi

reff:
janjimu seperti fajar pagi hari
dan tiada pernah terlambat bersinar
cintamu seperti sungai yg mengalir
dan ku tahu betapa dalam kasihmu

Never weary

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 18:18

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Go

Don't sulk, work harder, push through, extra mile, study more. Potential hints more. Clay needs to be molded. Character must go through fire.


When on the brink of complete discouragement, success is discerning that... the line between failure and success is so fine that often a single extra effort is all that is needed to bring victory out of defeat.

-Elbert Green Hubbard

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Dal­lan For­gaill (translated from the Irish by
Ma­ry E. Byrne, Versified by El­ea­nor H. Hull)

be thou my vision - corrine mae

Be Thou My Vision - Late Night Ministries

Be Thou My Vision - Richard Cole

>15

...

P.s.23

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

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

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

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.

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

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 - DaQuela Payne

>13

>14

For those who are still studying, pleeeeeeease treasure the time in school/college and after lectures when you can afford to think about what to do next in your free time or have time to have a hobby, watch a 30-min show, see the sun, feel some natural wind, be bored, write blogs, worry about the future, thinking about boys/girls, not getting genuinely humiliating scolding, actually get nagging from parents, have time to see your parents, talk to your siblings, friends, go to the cinema, eat sonething and feel contented, can choose not to do homework, thinking that time is just too slow, have no responsibilities besides those that relate directly to yourself, able to sit in a car and not driving, have someone to fetch u everywhere without feeling guilty.

And please do your best and enjoy every bit of it, if not then let the world punish u severely in not doing so. haha.