Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The essence of Desire

When I was in junior high school, I love to draw. I could spend my whole weekend in my room just drawing sketches. I once thought that maybe I could be a painter. Since painter was and still is not a desirable career path, my dad suggested maybe I could learn to be an interior designer. I performed well enough on my national exam and getting to any senior high school was not an issue. So at last, I chose my school based on the best school I could enrolled myself into.

Time flied and then it's time to make another decision. I graduated from an university in Sydney, majoring in I.T. Should I apply for permanent residency and stay in Sydney? Or should I go back to my country or move to another country? Every path is simply feasible, making it harder to make a choice!

Have you been in these circumtances before? The options are there, the choice is yours! You can choose do A, or you can choose to B. There's no right or wrong. What we're missing here is the essence of "desire". Do I want to do it? And how will this fit in God's plan for my life?

Back to my story, I decided to stay and applied for permanent residency. I had few challenges, but I persevered because I knew that was what I wanted. I knew that I would serve God mightyly in Sydney. God heard my desire and He responded. "Not simply because I can do it, but I have the desire to do it" is what exponiates my energy to persevere through what lies ahead.

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."
II Corinthians 5:20

Monday, January 25, 2010

Grateful 24-7


Isn't it great if we can smile happily all the times? Just let thanksgiving fill our heart 'til there's no space for anything else. No resentment, no jealousy, no unsatisfied feelings. Yet it's our weakness as human beings that we tend to be ungrateful for what we have. We always want more and more! If Adam and Eve had been satisfied with all the stuffs that God gave them, we would not be here at the first place. The question is when will we be satisfied?

More than 30 years ago, people wanted something that can be used to communicate and Mr. Bell invented a telephone. Afterwards we wanted a mobile version of a telephone, hence Motorola invented the 1G mobile phone. Since then, there has been more demands than ever. Nowadays a mobile phone can almost do everything we can think of, yet there's more to add on.

When we think of what we need, it will never be enough! Have we ever stopped and think of others' needs? Have we taken the chance to pour the words of hope to someone who desperately needs it? In last few days, have I encouraged anyone? Have I spare couple of minutes letting someone know that he/she is important? When I've done that, trust I will be grateful 24-7.

The little things I can do


On one of the xmas cards I received, my special someone wrote this. "I thank you for all the little things you've done throughout the year. After all, it's the little things that counts and guess that's why I love you so."

As wonderful as it made me felt, I imagine if one day I am to receive such a word from Him. Now to think of what kind of little things I can do for Him, that's another thing.

I am no more than a sister, a daughter, a worker, a friend, a minister just like any other girls. To sum up, I'm just an ordinary person. What difference can I make for just being myself? But wait a second, didn't God just love to use the ordinary? Then He must be delighted to use a common girl like me!

Ideas start popping into my head... Maybe I should start by not complaining how sleepy I am the first thing in the morning? Instead I can greet my friends cheerfully! Spirit is contagious after all.

Next thing I want to do is a simple prayer a day for a person. I can spend couple of minutes to pray for a family member, a friend, a colleague or even someone I'm not fond of. What gift can be more special than a prayer? I can go on and on. He's cheering for me to show Him what I got!
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Swimming through the pool of life

I still remember my first swimming lesson when I was a 7-year old. Back then the lesson was how to float on my back. My tutor held my waist, made me lie on the water and put his hands on my back to support me. Occasionally he would let go of his hands purposely, and every time he did that I panicked. Until one day when I watched him teaching the same lesson to the other kid, I came to realize one thing. His hands were not touching her back, but they were just below her back ready to support her whenever it’s needed.

Just as the Psalmist said, “If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand.”

I learned that no matter what troubles come my way, God allow it to happen. If the circumstance hasn’t changed yet, it simply means that there’s still more for me to conquer. And most importantly, there’s no need to panic as it will only get myself into more troubles. I would be still because He’s nearby; ready to stretch His hands anytime He thinks it’s needed. And who knows our limit better than He does?

Seeds of kindness

Woke up one morning and found no milk in my fridge, I decided to grab some from the nearest Coles. While waiting in the queue, I looked around and saw this old man tried to grab a tomato can from the lower shelf. He bended over and accidentally caused some cans to fall off the shelf. I ran over and picked those cans from the floor, then walked back and queued at the very end. Surprisingly the lady in front of me asked me to move in front of her and so were some customers in front of her. I vividly remembered one of them told me, “You were helping somebody; you don’t deserve to queue again.”

This happened 4 years ago and it has continued to encourage me to never grow weary of doing good. Random people may not understand what Christianity is, but they will surely embrace the kindness of a Christian. Only God can transform people, but seeds of kindness can be planted by any of us. Practice and it will become part of who we are, Christians!

So what do You think?

Mary was out shopping with Jane one day when she saw this beautiful gorgeous dress. She rushed to the changing room, eager to see how it would look on her. After 10 minutes of looking at herself in the mirror, it’s time to ask Jane the ultimate question “So what do you think? Does this dress make me look fat?”

Now, the women might be giggling realising it’s a fact and the guys might be smiling naughtyly. But do know that guys do just about the same thing when it comes to their cars or a new toy. “So what do you think” question pops out almost every single day in our lives.

Have you ever read the review first before buying something? Have you ever checked the rating before watching a movie? The truth is we as social being do care about others’ opinion. But do we care enough about God’s opinion? Have we kept the know-it-all God in our speed dial?