Dragon Boat Festival and What it Means for Us Christians

Dragon Boat Festival is associated with Qu Yuan (屈原) , who was a patriotic poet and a beloved minister during the Warring States period. He was falsely accused, which resulted in his exile by Emperor Huai. The next emperor surrendered the country to the rival states, and in his despair, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River.

When the villagers heard what he did, they raced out in boats to recover his body. To keep the fishes from eating his body, the villagers made rice dumplings and threw them into the river. They also beat drums to frighten off the fish. This has since evolved into a yearly Chinese traditions of eating rice dumplings and dragon boat races on the 5th day of the 5th month in the lunar calendar.

What does it mean for us as Christians today?

(1) Honouring admirable virtues:

Qu Yuan demonstrated virtues such as loyalty, courage, and integrity. As Christians, we can appreciate the virtues Qu Yuan was upholding. The Bible also teaches values such as faithfulness, integrity, and justice.

(2) Appreciate our cultural heritage:

Being Christians does not mean we have to abandon our  Chinese culture. We can still have family gatherings and eating rice dumplings as expressions of family unity and heritage.

(3) Discernment regarding spiritual practices:

Some traditional customs have roots in folk religion or beliefs about warding off spirits and bad luck. As Christians, we should not participate in such practices but we can still enjoying the cultural and social elements of the festival, some of which includes family gathering and dinners.

(4) Opportunity for family and community:

The festival can be a time to strengthen relationships, such as: show hospitality and love to family, friends, and neighbours.

1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

We can still enjoy the family gatherings or watching the Dragon Boat races while remaining clear that our worship belong to the triune God alone.

#dragonboat #ricedumplings #Chinese

A Heart Strangely Warm

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1, NIV)



On May 24, 1738, John Wesley reluctantly attended a prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. Though he was a priest, missionary, and disciplined Christian, he still struggled to experience the assurance of God’s grace personally.


That evening, while listening to the preacher reading from Martin Luther’s introduction to the Book of Romans, Wesley experienced God. He wrote in his journal,
“I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation…”

Aldersgate reminds us that Christianity is more than religion. It is a living relationship with Jesus Christ.


Many people have head knowledge about God but still carry fear, uncertainty, or spiritual emptiness. Wesley discovered that salvation is not earned by good works or religious effort. It is received by faith in Jesus Christ.

Aldersgate is not only a historical event.
It reminds us that God still transforms lives through grace today.

The same grace that touched Wesley is also given to us today.


Today, God is inviting you not merely just to be an intellectual Christian who know Him in our heart, but to trust Him personally and deeply and be transformed by His grace.

Questions for Reflection
(1) Have I experienced the assurance of God’s grace personally?
(2) What burdens, fears, or doubts am I carrying today?

Prayer
Gracious God,
Thank You for Your amazing grace that reaches us even when we are weary, doubtful, and broken. As You warmed the heart of John Wesley, warm our hearts anew today. Fill us with the assurance of Your love and salvation through Jesus Christ. Renew our faith, deepen our holiness, and send us out to share Your grace with the world.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Closer to God

J.C. Ryle, an Anglican bishop who often taught on holiness and purity, said that God would use suffering and affliction to bring us closer to Him.

Spiritual growth and closeness to God are more valuable than a life of comfort and temporal ease.

Life is full of distractions that can easily make us forget God. But God is not distant from human suffering. Jesus Christ came into this world as a helpless baby and He suffered and die on the Cross so that we sinners can be reconciled to God our Heavenly Father.

Our goal in life is to enjoy Him and to glorify Him in our daily living. We live not for ourselves but for His glory. 🙏🏼

Blessed Maundy Thursday!

The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “commandment.” As Jesus gathered His 12 disciples in the Upper Room, He gave them a new commandment: to love one another. He didn’t just say it; he showed it. He knelt to wash their dusty feet, and he shared a meal with them, including theman who would soon betray Him for 30 pieces of silver.

For us today, the Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Jesus’ sacrificial love on the cross for us. When we partake in the bread and the cup, we are reminded that: Jesus has come, Jesus is risen and Jesus will come again.
Not only do we partake in the bread and cup, we are to go out and love and serve our neighbours as well. To God be the glory.


Prayer:
Holy God, on this night, we remember that in the shadow of the cross, Your Son Jesus spent His previous last moments on earth with His disciples, giving them a commandment to love one another. Soften our hearts to receive Your grace. Teach us to love as You loved, to serve as You served. In the name of Jesus, the Bread of Life, Amen.

Come Away and Rest in Him

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31, NIV)

During the season of Lent, we are invited to pause and rest in God. It is about being intentional—stepping away from our daily noise and clutter—to draw near to Him, to hear His voice, and to simply enjoy His presence.


In the quiet, we find that when everything is stripped away, at our core, our true worth lies in our identity as children of God.
Today, let us spend some time in nature. It can be as simple as taking five minutes to look at the sky, the clouds, the flying birds, and the tall trees, and to appreciate God’s creation.


Enjoy each breath. Breathe deeply, acknowledging that each day and each breath is a gift from God.

Reflection Questions:
(1) What “noise” or distractions in my life do I need to step away from in order to truly rest in God?
(2) When was the last time I intentionally paused to listen for God’s voice?
(3) In what ways do I find my identity in things other than being a child of God?
(4) What does “resting in God” look like for me personally right now?

Prayer
Holy God,
We thank You for the gift of this day and the strength to navigate its challenges. In the midst of our busy schedules and many responsibilities, help us to hear Your invitation to “come away and rest.” Quiet our hearts so that we may hear Your voice. Renew our spirits as we continue this journey toward Easter, and remind us that Your grace is sufficient for every need.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Perceiving the “New Thing”


18 “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

(Isaiah 43:18-19)



God is constantly working in our lives to make us more like Christ. We often carry the weight of past sins or old identities like heavy stones.

Lent is not just about giving things up; it is also about clearing the “wasteland” of our old habits, the “former things” that is not pleasing to God and believing that God has forgiven us.

“Forgetting the former things” isn’t about erasing our past. It is about letting God change and transform us.


God is doing a “new thing” in us but our eyes are often so fixed on the wilderness we were in the we miss the fresh bubbling stream in front of us. God asks, “Do you not perceive it?”
When we dwell on past mistakes that God has already forgiven, we are essentially saying that our guilt is bigger than God’s grace. By holding onto “former things,” we keep our hands too full to receive the “new thing” God is trying to hand us.

Reflection Questions:
(1) What “former thing” are you still dwelling on? Is it a mistake from the past? Is it a grudge against someone?
(2) Where do I see a “stream” imy current “wasteland”?
(3) How can I help clear a path for someone else who is still stuck in their wilderness? (Who can I encourage, forgive, or serve today?)


Prayer
God of the Wilderness, thank you that You do not leave me in the dry places. Forgive me for dwelling on what is behind when you are calling me forward. Give me eyes to perceive the new life springing up in my heart and in my community. Help me to trust the path you are clearing, even when I cannot see the destination. Amen.

Out of the Shadows

“8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10, NIV)


We were once darkness. The Apostle Paul said we were “darkness” not we were in darkness. We were darkness because we did things that are not pleasing to God.

But through the grace of God, we have been saved from darkness and enter into God’s marvellous light. We are free from the bondage of sin and shame.

We now live a life bearing the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Reflection Question:

Is there a hidden habit or attitude that God is inviting me to bring to Him this Lent so that my life reflect Christ’s light to others around me?

Prayer
Lord, you have called me out of darkness into your marvellous light.
Help me to live each day in what is good, right, and true.
Reveal to me what is not pleasing to You, and give me courage to break away from these habitual sins. Mould me so that others may see Your light through me. Amen.