Month: May 2020

Shine

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-15, NIV)

Jesus described Himself and His disciples as the “Light of the World”. Jesus said to His disciples, “Let your light shine”. So, let us be someone who does good deeds so that the people around you will glorify our Father in Heaven.

With many countries around the world still in lockdown, we the citizens of this world are going into the “new normal”.

How should I live during this pandemic? Apostle Paul reminded us in Philippians 3:20 that we are “the citizens of heaven”. We are living in this world but our citizenship is in Heaven. We should reflect characteristics that show we are citizens of heaven.

Firstly, I will follow the SOP set out by the government. We are to be in submission to the government (Romans 13:1). I practice social distancing as well as take care of my personal hygiene. I hope that when I am in the bank or when I am getting groceries in the store, I will be nice and courteous too.

Secondly, I put my trust in God. I know that God is sovereign. He is in control. He is Almighty. He can destroy the virus. I will look upon Him.

Thirdly, I should spend time in prayer and read His Word. This is to get to know Him and get to know His heart better. My relationship with God should be on-going, before the pandemic, during the pandemic and after the pandemic.

I love this prayer from Richard of Chichester (1197-1253):

Day-by-day

Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits you have given me,

For all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,

May I know You more clearly,

Love you more dearly,

Follow You more nearly.     

Fourthly, stay in touch with family, friends and the community of faith. I am an introvert by nature. I love time by myself. But, this is the time where I can reach out to friends whom I have not been reaching out to due to the busyness of life. Just a message may encourage them. Think of creative ways to reach out to them.

St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) wrote, “Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion upon this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours”.

I hope to do good and to bring God’s light to people living in fear.  Christ has no body now on earth but ours. May it be that I am willing to be the light that shines for Him and to glorify Him.

Courage

Today is the 60th day of the Movement Control. As restricted as we are, I have picked up a new hobby during this time which I did not have time for before the lockdown. Things are slowly getting back to how things were. Shops would be opening again soon. Many of us are going back to work. Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher who lived 500 years before Jesus Christ, said, “Change is the only constant in life”. As each of us ease into the “new normal”, may God grant us wisdom and courage.

Food on the Table

Since the Movement Control Order, my parents and I have been eating at home. My mum is the Master Chef. She plans the menu for our breakfast, lunch and dinner every day for the past 59 days (I took charge of the afternoon tea break, which is, a variety of snacks from biscuits to popcorns, peanuts and sunflower seeds). As I have mentioned yesterday, mum bears the weight of our household things so that we are free to do our work. Eating at home resets my palate. Each dish has been wonderfully prepared by mum. The finely chopped vegetables, the diced carrots, the fragrance of the curry chicken, the nutrients dense vegetable soup… each dish are prepared with love and sweat from the kitchen (the weather gets so hot in the evenings) . As they say, “health is wealth”, “you are what you eat”. I do crave for pizzas, fries and bubble tea from time to time but homecook meals bring the delight of bringing my family together. Having meals together is our bonding time. We talked about our day, what we did, and what we read from the newspapers. When I was living by myself, I ate in front of the laptop, watching whatever programme I had the mood for that particular day. I do enjoy spending time with my parents at the dining table. In the prayer our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us, there was a part which goes like this, “give us this day our daily bread”. It means, God will provide for all that we need. We need not worry what we are to eat and drink because God knows what we need (Matthew 6:25-34). Most of the time, the simple pleasures in life, and things that give us joy, are blessings from God which money can never buy. Let us receive them with a grateful heart.
A quote by C. S. Lewis which I saw on Facebook.

Happy Mother’s Day!

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Proverbs 31: 25-31, NIV)

From my early childhood, you have been a key and central figure in my life.

Since the day I was born, and you watch over the affairs of our household so that we can live in peace, knowing that everything is taken care of. You take care of us so well that your love warm our hearts and lives.

You have made a lot of sacrifices when we were growing up. We are who we are today because of you, mum. We are now adults who are doing well in life because of your love and sacrifices as we were growing up.

From you, mum, I learnt what it means to love. You love us so deeply and unconditionally, yet, you are firm and you discipline us when we were out of control.

You also show us by example of what it means to be a woman after God’s own heart—a woman who loves God, studies His Word diligently and pours her heart out to God in prayers.

My personality is somewhat similar to yours, and we laugh at the same thing. I enjoy hanging out with you so much. I praise the Lord for you. My mum, my rock and my best friend.

Peace

If you have read the “About Me” page, I mentioned that the name of this blog came from my buddy, heng dai (meaning “brother” in  Cantonese, which is a term to refer to a close guy friend). “Eirene” means “peace”.

Today, I am going to write about “peace”. I was feeling stressful the last couple of days. This morning, my prayer partner from Singapore sent me this verse, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

When the Apostle Paul was writing this letter, he was under a house arrest for preaching the Gospel. The Roman Empire had him arrested. The believers in the church in Philippi who supported his missionary work were worried about him (Philippians 1). There was also some disunity among them (Philippians 2) that the Apostle Paul called two women by their names and asked them to get along with each other. False teachings were  seeping into this community of faith too (Philippians 3).

Despite all the external pressures and internal issues the Philippi church was facing, Paul ended his letter with the admonition, “rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

External pressures and internal issues (inside us) can rob us of the peace that is within us—but only if we give them permission to do so. Remember Apostle Paul’s admonition: rejoice in the Lord!

When we feel we can not go any further, when we feel hopeless, lost and tired, there is Someone whom we can turn to—God! And, the best part is this: God can and will do something about it. Apostle Paul reminded the Philippians to pray in every situation, bringing their requests to God and offer prayers of thanksgiving to what He has done.

May be I am anxious because I had not brought the matter which had caused me anxiety to the Lord. I had let stress overwhelmed and took away my joy.

Remember: Having peace does not mean the absence of troubles or difficult times. Having peace means, regardless of the circumstances, we choose to focus our eyes on Jesus Christ, knowing that He is with us and He cares for us. Our circumstances may be overwhelming and it seems more than we can bear, but take heart that God hears all our cries, frustrations and prayers. He will help us and deliver us.

The Apostle Paul ended his letter by urging the believers to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4). Knowing that God is with us already gives us a reason to rejoice and be glad. Every day, find a quiet place in your house, turn your heart to Him and surrender your anxieties to Him. Ask God to increase your faith in Him. Ask Him to open your eyes to see His goodness and faithfulness. Then, end your session by listing out things that you want to thank God for.

May you experience His deep peace and joy in your life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are my refuge and shelter. When life is overwhelming, I give thanks to You that I can bring everything to You in prayers. Thank you for Your love and goodness to me. Help me to always focus on Your goodness and greatness, and not just on my circumstances or the problems I am facing. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

 

The Significance of Holy Communion

Today is Holy Communion Sunday. Methodists partake the Holy Communion on the first Sunday of every month, calling it “the Holy Communion Sunday service”.

The background of Holy Communion comes from the Passover feast celebrated by the Israelites just before God delivered them from slavery in the land of Egypt. In Egypt, they were forced into hard, laborous work by their task masters. They were oppressed to the extend that it was unbearable for them. They then cried out to God for deliverance.

God heard their cries and sent them Moses to lead them out of the land of oppression and slavery into the Land God had promised them. This land would be a good and spacious land, and it would be fruitful too— “a land flowing with milk and honey.” What a beautiful promise it was compared to their horrible living conditions in Egypt!

On the night of deliverance, God would send an angel of death to strike down all the first born of the Egyptians. God told the Israelites to smear the blood of a sacrificed lamb on the door frames of their houses so that when the angel of death saw the blood over the door frames, he would “pass over” their houses and not strike their firstborns.

That was the original Jewish Passover. It is recorded in Exodus 12:1-30.

In the New Testament, on the night before His death, Jesus Christ deliberately celebrated the Jewish Passover Feast with His disciples. ‘And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For i tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:15-16). He drew parallel of His sacrificial death to the Passover lamb. As the blood of the sacrificial lamb was smeared on the door frames and the Israelites would be safe in the house, the blood of Jesus would be poured out to save humanity.

During the Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus introduced the symbols of the bread and the wine. For those who have been baptized in His Name, we will take the bread (a wafer) to remember Jesus’ death on the Cross for us. We remember how He had given Himself up for us. He was crucified for us. He was just like the Passover lamb; He died, so we can live and have eternal life. We will then take the cup (grape juice) which symbolises the blood of Christ that is shed for us and washes away our sins.

Jesus commanded that this is to be done in remembrance of Him. He said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b). We also remember the new covenant which Jesus made through the Cross.

I tell my church members to remember these few things every time we come forward for Holy Communion:

a. The Past

Jesus was crucified for our sins and He died for us. He who is without sins took the sins of the world upon Himself so that we sinners have a new life and a new identity in Him, the Giver of Life. We are reconciled to God the Father. In the past, we rebelled against His love, but through Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross, our relationship with God is restored.

b. The Present 

Three days after Jesus had died, He rose again. He is alive! He is in Heaven now. The Holy Communion reminds us that Jesus is with us now. It is the time to examine our life: are we living a life that is pleasing to Him?

c. The Future

The Bible tells us that one day, Jesus Christ will come again in victory as well as coming as the Judge of the world. He will come and take believers with Him and we will be with Him in His Kingdom, forever. One day, we will all feast with Him in His Heavenly Banquet. The Holy Communion we partake every month is just a foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet in God’s Kingdom someday.

d. Unity in Christ 

Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:17, “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (NIV). The “one loaf” here refers to the unity of believers. When we kneel together for Holy Communion, we will realise we are all the same in God’s eyes. We are His beloved children; there is no hierarchy, no class or labels as “richer” or “poorer” people. God loves us all. Jesus died for all of us. There is no distinction. It is also time to examine our relationships and to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with each other before the Lord. God’s love will restore us.

I hope you have been blessed by this brief introduction of the significance of the Holy Communion. 🙂

 

Persevere

One thing which my dad taught us from a young age was to persevere. Persevere when the going gets tough. Persevere when you don’t see any fruits of the labour.

Nicky Gumble tells of the story of British archaeologist Howard Carter. Despite many failed attempts, he preservered and finally unlocked the ancient Egyptian tomb of Tuthankhamun, who reigned from 1352-1343 BC. Carter made this discovery 3, 265 years later, on 26 November 1922, after centuries and centuries of failed attempts by archaeologists and tourists.

Carter discovered the ancient tomb because he persevered.

Similiarly, God also promises that those who seek Him earnestly will find Him. He will reveal Himself to those who persistently seek Him. Jesus said, “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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10, NIV).

Seek God as if He is the most precious jewel on earth. And He truly is! What joy it is to have found Him and to know Him. A relationship with Him is the most satisfying thing we can ever have. Seek His kingdom. Seek His righteous. These bring meaning, purposes and sweet joy to our lives!

Growth

When I heard that my friend had to submit an essay to critique the work of another person as a part of her homework, I got interested. I told her I wish to see her essay after she had completed it.

In my own craft, it takes years of practice and honing the skill and yet I feel I am lacking in so many ways. I welcome constructive criticisms but the biggest critiques usually come from myself.

I get discouraged at times because I am not where I think I should be.

May be if I am gentler with myself, I will learn to appreciate the journey I am on. When I stopped and turned to see the trails I have trotted, I praised God for He is with me. He had given me this privilege to be on this journey.

My encouragement for myself is to look to God. Do my utmost best for Him and let Him work in me: break me, mould me, and stretch me to be His servant which He delights in.