A Little Love by Mother Teresa

If you can't do great things,

Do little things with great love. 

If you can't do with great love,

Do them with a little love. 

If you can't do with a little love,

Do them anyway. 

Thank You For The Wind

by A A A

The rustling of leaves

The swaying of trees

The greens in the sun

The trunk and the twigs

The shade it provides

For birds and man

The oxygen and carbon dioxide 

The rattling of the windows

The ruffle of our hair

The sky of flying kites

The happy chirping birds (quite irritating)

The amazement of children

At the sight of their gliding paper planes

The flipping of the pages

The toppling of rubbish bins

The "flying" umbrellas

The swifting of an uncle's wrinkled face

The dropping of our dead skin cell

The flying droppings of the bird

The dancing of birds feathers

The twisting of litter plastic bags

Reason and Gift of Pain

I remember watching Lion King where the wise baboon hit the young lion Simba on his head. Simba reacted and said why did he do that on his head. 

The baboon continued giving his advice to Simba as he would be the next future King of the tribe and of the land. 

In a surprising swing of his walking pole, the wise baboon attempted to hit Simba on his head once more. But this time Simba in an instance dodged the pole. 

There and then he learn the lesson. 

There and then a lesson learnt. 

The Lost Coin

A great reminder from the book 'Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing' 

A story was told of a woman who lost a coin. She ransacked her entire place and everything was a big mess. 

When she found that thing she was looking high and low for - a tiny piece of coin - she rejoiced at the sight of it. 

The coin by itself is lost. It cannot call out to the owner, "Dear Master, I Am Here!" It cannot move. It is lost. 

The coin on hearing the noise around it, maybe the searching of the Master, it's heart starts to pound, "Dear Master, come over here!" But it can't. It is lost. 

But the woman upon getting hold of her lost coin, moved with dancing and shouts of joy. She whipped up a nice meal and celebrated with those she knew, to rejoice with her. 

Thank you dear God for seeking each one of us out. We love and glorify You all our lives. 

I Am A Sucker!

The impression of the word 'sucker' has a negative image or connotation that creates a sense of disapproval or disgust on people's faces. 

What images come to our thoughts when we think of 'sucker'?

Start from the beginning. 

The cute little baby sucking on the milk bottle or from the mother's breast. The next phase is the pacifier. Haha, remember those days. 

We see kids sucking from their favorite sugared drinks or these days, those nice straw-filled sugared candies, for best taste dip in your favorite flavored milk ie strawberry or vanilla. 

I am not going to mention certain addictions which use this method. You know what I mean. 

I am also hoping though in life we have people who under whatever circumstances are simply sucking dry resources ie  of earnings, household groceries and also of the lives of elderly folks, and not willing to move their butts to help in household chores or find at least a job to temporarily help cushion expenses. These are really life's worst suckers. 

Fast forward to horror movies, we see the vampire sucking the life of innocent human souls or ancient mummies absorbing the flesh and juice from the people in order for 'itself' to come alive or live again. 

Next we head to the Star suckers. The territorial hunger warlords infiltrating planets to suck dry their resources in order to survive. 

But there is positive side to it. 

We are encouraged to think positively. 'I am a sucker!' can draw images in a positive sense. 

Remember science experiments or even daily construction needs. We have to implement the initial suction in order for the water filled basin to be emptied. There comes the invention of pumps where liquid filled earth basins are being pumped out before digging or drilling works begin. 

There is the science to the way sucking works. The pressure and vacuum and eventually the movement. 

You can be sucker not only to negative stuffs but also to the positive ones. 

In the world of information technology and knowledge, learning never stops. We can read and absorb the lessons from textbooks, storybooks, journals, newspapers, magazines, even blogs and online news and articles. Surely the learning never ends. 

Therefore, grow in this aspect. Learn to suck the nutrients of goodness and even better from the eternal fountain of life. 

Book Review - Title: Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels & Mark Mittelberg

Contagious - when I think of this word, I think of the story of Jesus healing the lepers. The lepers were outcasts where people would stay away from them for fear of being infected by their contagious disease. No one would want to be around a person who is contagious.

In contrast, does anybody want to know and be with a God who is contagious? The contagious God - His love, His mercies, His kindness, His authority - these characteristics are really contagious. Jesus is contagious in every aspect. But up to this time, it is surveyed that many still do not know Jesus. Many know Steve Jobs, Apple, Samsung, Toyota, Lexus and Coca Cola but not Jesus. Therefore we still have a commission to obey - to go and make disciples of all nations.

Here is a book that clears away the fog that reaching the lost is a very daunting task. It also helps to identify not only the few key essentials towards being a contagious Christian, namely authenticity, compassion and sacrifice, it helps to find out through a questionnaire what is our individual natural style of relating to people in order to bridge the Gospel to our sphere of relationships. Is my style like Peter’s Direct or Paul’s Intellectual Approach or like the Blind Man’s Testimonial Approach or Matthew’s Interpersonal style or the Samaritan Woman’s Invitational Approach or simply Tabitha’s Service Approach? What is encouraging and of great relief is that I can just be myself and realized that God knew what He was doing when He made me and each one of us.

Bill and Mark also provide the methods namely Direct, Indirect and Invitational methods to start spiritual conversations, and give us pointers to learn and ponder on the 4 components of the Gospel message. Illustrations always help to bring the message across better and you will learn about the Do vs. Done, the Bridge, the Baseball and Airplane illustrations and also how to clear the barriers to belief.

The book ends with a chapter on “Investing Your Life in People” and a story of Steve Jobs who headhunted John Sculley from Pepsi-Cola with these words, "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?" Like John Sculley, all of us have a God-given yearning to change the world. But personal computers will never impact the world as much as leading someone into a personal relationship with Christ.

God's Presence in Joshua

God journeys with the Israelites as He encourages Joshua, the leader after Moses: "Be strong and of good courage"

The news of the spy's return after they spied the city of Jericho encouraged Joshua. He still obeyed the instructions of the Lord on the unique way of overcoming the walls of Jericho. Was it the sound waves that tore down the walls or was it the poor quality the walls were built, it was not clear. The thing clear was the wall collapsed and the Israelites began the conquest of the land. The name of God was magnified worldwide. 

One by one, the Canaanite kings fell under the mighty hand of God through Joshua. The sun even stood still so Joshua had more daytime to overcome the enemies. This showed who really was battling on the behalf of the Israelites. 

The eventual purpose of the conquest was that Israelite can possess the land that God promised to them. And the land was allocated accordingly to the twelve tribes of Israel. God kept His part of His promise. 

The ending of Joshua ends of with Joshua's once more remindful words to God's people, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

God also preserved the bones of Joseph and it was brought out of Egypt and buried in the land allocated as inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. 

Greater Pleasure

How in the world to overcome all these little distractions and time consuming temptations which led us astray? So many things to do, enjoy! I want to stop but can't. Their little pleasure it does relieve the day's stressful moments. It gives me a reason for a break and enjoyment. 

Does making a clean break stop its fangs? Will the little leeches really let go?

What will really help with a clean slate of life?

Ever been distracted by a greater pleasure when you were focus on a current enjoyment? 

Seek that greater pleasure which becomes the mother of all pleasure - ultimate pleasure. 

Have you found it or is it looking for you?

Assess the risk. Deep within you, you know certain pleasures really does not satisfy. 

Can I be content with the present pleasure - a walk in the park, an enjoyment of the breeze, a slow sipping of my favorite beverage, a good talk with a neighbor and a usual breakfast with the kids or the folks?

God's Presence in Deuteronomy

God's presence has impacted Moses so much that Moses is a clear embodiment of God writing a reminder letter of warning and urging to walk in obedience of God's ways. 

Moses has spent so much time with God in the tent of meeting that Moses knows the heart of God and now retells and reminds the events to the Israelites so that generations after will continue in God's ways and not fall away and incur the wrath of God. 

Thus the lesson of repetition is vividly shown in this book so the people of God would remember the key lessons i.e. the Ten Commandments, the laws, the festivals, the Passover and others. 

God's presence is also taught through the process of parenting and household management as outlined in Deuteronomy chapter 6. Thus the important role of fathers and mothers to know God themselves and to be able to lay the environment for the next generation to experience God themselves. 

Next God's presence was also experienced down through leadership succession and preparation between Moses and Joshua, his aid. 

His Special Purpose

Just think,

You're here not by chance,

but by God's choosing. 

His hand formed you

and made you

the person you are. 

He compares you to no one else -

you are one of a kind. 

You lack nothing

that His grace can't give you. 

He has allowed you to be here

at this time in history

to fulfill His special purpose

for this generation. 

- Roy Lessin

To everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose

under the heaven. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

God's Presence in Numbers

Complains!, complains!, complains! Even with God's presence, people of God complains. Was not God's presence real in daily living?

God's presence in Numbers was seen in lots of numbers recorded throughout the book. The counting of the tribes of Israel shows evidence of God's blessing on God's people. Yet there were complains after complains; rebellion after rebellion. Here clearly shows the snowballing and deadly effect of sin. Basically evil in nature. 

Amidst the ups and downs we see the blessing word noted in Numbers 6:24-26:

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

The celebration of the Passover was an event to cause God's people and all to remember God's mighty work of grace and salvation on His people in Egypt. Then the interesting story of Balaam and his talking donkey reveals God's intervention in daily life, even for Balaam who wasn't an Israelite. 

Amidst the rebelliousness of the Israelites and their wandering in the wilderness, the Lord God continued to provide for the people and gave instructions for holy living in God's community and prepares the new generation for the promise land. 

By looking at the bronze snake, the bitten shall receive healing pointed to the future coming of the Messiah who will be raised up on a cross and he that looked at the crucified shall receive healing and forgiveness of sins. Here notes once more the loving care of our Maker and Saviour God Almighty. 

Come To Jesus Find Rest

Matthew 11:28-29
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Here is one good passage to reflect in our daily striving. Here is a great invitation from Jesus.

Come to me. The invitation to come to Jesus - our God who is with us. The invitation is to who. All who labor and are heavy laden.
The invitation to receive what. Rest for the soul. We certainly know the condition of our soul.

Learn from me. Another invitation from Jesus to take his yoke upon us and learn from Jesus. Follow Jesus and we shall learn.

Come. Follow Jesus and learn.

Rest for our souls.

Have you found rest, my soul?

God's Presence in Leviticus

Some children may have thought it hard to live with their parents or aged folks, think about it - wouldn't it be even harder for man to live in the presence of a 100% pure and holy God. Even a single bit of impurity may incur a awful end for the offender. 

How then can a person live in the presence of God Most High and God Most Holy? Will man's standard of holiness meet the benchmark? How high and tall order is God's holy standard? In man's measurement, there is no way for us to meet. Then how?

Only one way. God tells us the way. God shows us the way. God instructs us the specifics. God's directions for the conduct of God's people in the presence of His most holy place cannot be taken for granted lest a small mishap may incur the anger and wrath of God. 

God's presence is seen in the instructions passed down by Moses to the people, right from the high priest to the foreigner in the land; from specifics on different offerings to the Lord to personal conduct with one another in God's community and with foreigners. 

God Is Light

1 John 1:5
This is the message we have received from Him and proclaimed to you that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

The light here is certainly not like the torchlight we used to shine during a blackout, but it can surely illustrate one aspect - light casts out darkness.

Where God is light, no darkness at all.
Where God is, all is bright.

He provides more than normal light does.
He is the light of man.
He is the light of the world.
He is the life.

Therefore...

Walk in the light.

Your choice.

God's Presence in Exodus

He who made the ear hears the suffering cries of His people; He who made the heart feels the beat of His own; He who made the hands stretches out to hold the hands of His mold and one day those same hands will be pierced for their transgressions. 

God's presence feels with the pain of the people and He prepares a man of His own. He journeys with Moses from birth to boat to Pharoah's palace; from prince to pauper; from personal to the people of God; from a voice out of an unconsuming burning bush to being God's voice to Pharoah and to leading the Israelites. 

God's presence was powerfully magnified through the pillar of fire in the night and the pillar of cloud in the day; through zipping up the Red Sea and then zipping down drowning Pharoah's army; through providing manna and water for the complaining and ungrateful and forgetful and stiff-necked people of God. 

God wrote Himself onto the tablets of stone - the Ten Commandments; the visible evidence of His voice; the visible word of what is to come - the Word becoming flesh and dwelling amongst us. God shares His glory with Moses taking a glimpse through a view of the back of God. One day we shall see Him face to face. 

Love Is Patient

Love is an active word. A verb. 

Love in John 3:16 shows by giving. 

How to show patience in love?

In a modern time of gadgets and pace, show by our body language. What do I mean?

Give a person proper eye contact. Put our newspaper or gadgets down or away. Interact by asking questions kindly and not in a way that shows to get it done with attitude. 

Spare many thoughts of value and worth of a person. Young and old. The Bible says every person is made in the image of God. That thought is already an unimaginable thought. 

Once more, love is an active word. 

Love. Grow your patience. 

God's Presence in Genesis

The first book of the Bible begins with God making His presence known through His creativity forming the heavens and the earth. There we see the Spirit hovering over the waters. 

God's breath was given to the first man and woman. His presence was felt walking in the garden. God knew about the murder of Abel by Cain and God sustains Cain's life through His present watch over him. 

God's presence came in words to Noah to build the Ark when there wasn't any sign pointing to a need for such a huge project. But then His word came to past when the heavens open and the floods came. 

God's presence came in calling Abram to leave his home country and his idols and to obey Him and look forward to God's promise of blessings - the father of many nations. God's presence and promise were heard once more when the voice stopped Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac on Mt Moriah.  God's presence came in His timely provision of a ram caught in a thicket. 

God's presence journeyed with Abraham's servant and answering his prayer towards getting a wife for his master Isaac. God's presence was felt by Jacob when he fled his brother Esau and dreamed about the heavenly stairway. Jacob said he was not aware of God's presence. 

God's presence wrestled with Jacob and He journeyed with Joseph through thick and thin, through dreams and trials. 

Whoever, Basically Whoever!

A very straight forward verse of assurance for us all -

Whoever has the Son has life

- 1 John 5:12

Whoever ...

has the Son ...

has life!

Question:

You have the Son? Yes! Have life. 

How to have the Son? Who is the Son?

The Son is Jesus Christ. Believe in Him. 

3 Ways To Help Make Decisions Easily

1. Get Enough Information

When making a decision whether is it to buy some things or go on a trip, getting sufficient information makes deciding easier. It is best to get a few quotes so making a comparison allows to get the best. Google to search for the information needed. Submit questions or contact the customer service to help clarify any questions. 

2. Act On Experience

One other way to get information is to request to try out the sample or trial product so can make a decision based on customer experience. 

3. Last, Decide by Faith

Without the above, be the first to try out and get the information. Though it can be an expensive experience, do not feel regretful or feel the decision was made wrongly. Act with the attitude of learning and boosting courage and confidence. 

Do share other ways of decision making options. 

Learning From Questions

A string of questions as I read a passage from the gospel of Luke, chapter 19 verses 1-10.

What is a tax?

Where does the tax go to?

What does the tax collector do? What is the job of a tax collector?

Why is the tax collector disliked or hated by the common people?

What did he feel when he collected more than the required tax from the people?

Does anyone not want to be a friend to him?

Does being short stopped Zacchaeus from knowing Jesus?

Does your shortcomings or your wrong doings stop you from going to Jesus for forgiveness and receiving His love and mercies?

How did we know Jesus made a difference to Zacchaeus's life?

Did Jesus make a difference to your life?