Right Now

...I feel like a rubber band being stretched. Not me per se, but my faith. 

My only assurance is the presence of God and His promise.

A word in season

Happy Moments, Praise God

Difficult Moments, Seek God

Quiet Moments, Worship God

Painful Moments, Trust God

Every Moment, Thank God

Update: A fresh encouragement came through just a minute ago. 

2 Chronicles 16:9, NIV

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth 

to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Thank you, Lord!

Better Late Than Never

My Senior Pastor is a great motivator and he delights in stretching us just a little bit more in order to help us improve and advance.

I, together with a few other leaders, have been given the honour and privilege of preaching a few times a year in church. The last time I was given the opportunity to share, Pastor Gideon requested that I incorporate an altar call at the end of the message.

I dutifully did so but no one responded. Not even when Pastor Gideon took over after I have handed the service back to him. I was really discouraged and, to a certain extent, devastated.

How can it be? Didn't the message speak to even one person? Was it all logos without an iota of rhema? Is it even logos to begin with? Or am I merely sharing human wisdom at a purely carnal level?

PTL! God was ready with an antidote that is well-suited to neutralise the enemy's poison of doubt and discouragement.

The next Sunday, a sister came to me and said that she was convicted by the message. She went back and reconciled with her mother who is 89 years old.

Or is she 98 years old? Cannot remember already.

Anyway, when she told me that it gave me great joy and fresh motivation for my ministry in sharing the Word of God.

The next time round when I give an altar call in obedience to the Spirit of God it wouldn't matter whether anyone or no one responds. That is between them and God.

My responsibility is to hear from God and speak His Word in season and trust that that Word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11, NIV).

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Today is a extra special Christmas day for me. First of all, Pastor Gideon's message from Isaiah 9:1-7 really spoke to me because verses 6-7 are some of my favourite verses from the word of God. I cannot remember the countless times when these verses have ministered to me, strengthened me and given hope in difficult times.

Secondly, I was also very touched when he shared his testimony of the goodness of God upon him and his lovely wife throughout the pregnancy and birth of their newly-born fourth child, Jayden. I couldn't help but cry throughout the testimony. Hubby said that I looked a real mess after the service.

And thirdly, today is also the day my grandson is dedicated to the Lord because Caden's first month anniversary happens to fall on Christmas day. How timely and appropriate that we can rejoice and, without sounding blasphemous, echo Isaiah on this happy morning, "For unto us a child a born, a son is given."

Thank you Lord for my grandson...my best Christmas gift ever.

Salvation Has Come To This House

Halfway through our reunion dinner last night, we received this piece of wonderful news.

God is so good and He is indeed a God of signs and wonders.

I am so encouraged because this is the first time that I have heard a first-hand testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ appearing to pre-believer in a dream/vision that eventually led to salvation.

Truly all things are possible if we only believe.

Luke 19:9-10 (NIV)
[9] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house..... [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

A Day of Rejoicing

I received this wonderful testimony from a close family friend today.

Praise The Lord ! He alone is greatly to be Praised! This morning around 4am The Lord appeared first in the dream then in person to my mum! She was so excited that she missed call me during the service and I listened to her testifying to me after the service. She saw a tall man in white robe standing beside her smiling at her then she woke up but when she opened her eyes she still saw Jesus standing beside her smiling and bending His head looking at my mum. Since then she could not sleep and is still full of energy. We are making our trip up to Penang to visit her. Pls join us in prayer. Hallelujah !Our Lord reigns!in fact my mum was with hospitalized on Thursday for very high bp of 200. I began to pray for her till 2 :30 am on early Fri morning. I thank GOD he is ministering to my Mum :) Yong Ling

God is good! He is faithful! And ALL His promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus.

Do You Look Before You Cross The Raod?

I came across this quote which got me thinking.

I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined,
and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.
- Stephen Hawking

God is sovereign but He has given us a great gift, the freedom of choice. We can simply sit there and accept what life throws at us fatalistically or do something about it.

Most of the time we rise up to the occasion and do something about it which is why “life is a sum of all your choices” (Albert Camus).

So what about you? Do you look before you cross the road? Or just step out and leave it to God to get you over to the other side?

Grandmother-to-be Learns to Make Bird's Nest Soup

I was only pregnant once and that was almost thirty years ago. So I cannot remember what I ate or what soups my mom or mom-in-law prepared for me to drink during my pregnancy. All I remember was taking Obimin and drinking milk.

Now that my 'bee is pregnant I had to go around consulting friends on what soups are good for her. I really thank God for Priscilla who is so knowledgeable and so generous to share her tips with me.

Not only did she teach me, she also packed the herbs for her daughter Melissa (another angel God sent our way) to bring down for Pam because I didn't have time to shop for them myself.

She taught me how to make bird's nest soup and is going to help me buy a stew pot to do that. That's my assignment for next weekend when my 'bee comes back.

However I am a very bad auditory learner so God in His wisdom sent further reinforcement through this blogger that I am following - http://www.noobcook.com/

Just two days ago she posted on how to cook Bird's nest soup with picture and lots of tips as well. That certainly boosted my confidence. Isn't God amazing!

Beautiful In His Time

Today is a beautiful day. Something happened this morning that put me on cloud nine.

We were having our breakfast at our usual "Sunday" coffee-shop when the boss lady came over with our drinks and whispered in my ear, "You are very beautiful." I was surprised but managed to say, "Thank you."

Then she came around again and asked, "Have you ever won any beauty contest?" I was flabbergasted. I said, "No," and in my heart I thank God for all that He has done for me.

Never, ever in my wildest, craziest dream would I have imagined someone having this conversation with me. Me, whom my relatives labelled as kiapsi, which in Hokkien meaning ugly, hideous or grotesque.

Thank you Lord for making me beautiful in Your time.

This was how I looked today in my red kebaya.

Langkawi Getaway II

This morning we went on an eco tour to the Kilim Geoforest Park, visited the Crocodile Cave that is no longer inhabited by crocodiles, had a great time at the Fish Farm (surprisingly), and also learned about bats at the Bat Cave.

A not-to-be-missed tour

At the eagle feeding I was reminded that we're to soar like eagles. That was my text for our HI convocation speech.

Thank you Lord for the reminder.

On our way back to the hotel, Albert, our guide gave us an FOC trip up to Gunung Raya, the highest mountain in Langkawi. So kind of him. It was really the favour of God.

Climbed up a tower and we're at the highest point in Langkawi

Rain

The annual haze season is back. We wanted beautiful pictures for the pre-wedding shots so I prayed for rain on the night before to wash away the haze to be followed by clear skies on the morning of the shoot.

God sent us rain in the middle of the night. But it didn't stop. It was still raining in the morning.


Despite the rain the photos turned out well. God is good.

He Will Carry You

This song, also from "The Dreamer", never fails to lift me up whenever I am down.

It's so comforting to know that we are always safe in God's hands. He is always there to carry us through the most tumultuous of times and most difficult of days. When the world comes crashing down we are safe in the cleft of the Rock.

He Opens A WIndow

I remember those days in the late 1970s and early 1980s when all the churches in Penang would come together for a musical presentation.

God's Hands

Today is in God's hands and so are you.

His hands are strong and will uphold you;
His hands are great and will enfold you;
His hands are gentle and will embrace you;
His hands are protective and will cover you;
His hands are reassuring and will quiet you;
His hands are powerful and will defend you;
His hands are parental and will train you;
His hands are masterful and will conform you;
His hands are compassionate and will care for you;
His hands are healing and will renew you;
His hands are calming and will comfort you;
His hands are giving and will bless you.

The hands that hold you will never let you down.

-Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer

Ch'neh Erm

Today someone called me Ch'neh Erm for the first time. Ch'neh Erm in Hokkien means In-Law and is a term used by members of the bride's or groom's family to address the mother-of-the groom or mother-of-the-bride respectively.

The person who addressed me by my new title was the the aunt of my future son-in-law. She is his father's second brother's wife and she came to the house this afternoon bearing gifts in 2 red boxes and a beautiful siah nar (a nyonya carry basket). Accompanying her were her sister-in-law (my future son-in-law's father's younger sister) and my son-in-law-to-be's sister-in-law.

Without my mom and mother-in-law around and having never married any children before (my 'bee is an only child) we had earlier consulted my new ch'neh erm on what is to happen and what we should do. So we took the cue from and just followed the instructions given by her.

• First we were to receive 2 bottles of wine and return either 2 bottles of F&N Orange or one bottle of wine and one bottle of F&N Orange. We are not wine connoisseurs so we played it safe and just returned 2 bottles of F&N Orange. Both 1.25 litre bottles fitted into the siah nar easily so you can imagine how big the siah nar was.

• Then we were to receive 12 out of the 24 oranges given. This was easy.

• When it came to the biscuits we hit a snag. We're told to just take the biscuits on the top layer of the box 'cos the biscuits will be in two layers which are separated by a piece of paper. But in these modern times the biscuits all come pre-packed in small packets and there are no 2 layers! So we consulted the Ah Erm who brought the gifts. She took out four of the 10 packets of one type biscuit and said that we can take those or more if we want to. So we took her cue, and took four packets of each of the four types of biscuits they gave.

• Then we piled in the 12 kaya paus that they requested for.

• Then, as instructed, we took half the amount of money inside the angpow for the "too kar" or pig leg. In the past the groom's side will send over the real "too kar" or roasted pig. We wouldn't know what to do with any of those stuff so cash was a good alternative.

• Then came the angpow for the dowry. We were in a dilemma because we were not told exactly how much we should retain. We were only told to take as much as we want and return some. So how much do we want?

If we take too little, does that mean our daughter is so worthless?
If we take a lot, does that mean we are "selling" our daughter?
Nobody could come up with a satisfactory sum so I prayed
and I had a brainwave that I believe is from God.

For the Christian, a tithe is a recognition of God's ownership
of all of creation and Him as the source of all the bountiful blessings
that He has freely given to us. We have raised, cared for
and loved our daughter and now we are "giving" her
to be a blessing to her new family. I reasoned that like God,
not that we are God, a tithe would acknowledge symbolically
that this blessing they are receiving comes from us. Therefore
I decided to take a tithe, which is 10%, of whatever
the amount is given. Simple.

Thus we dutifully did what we were told to do and, where no guidance was given, did what we thought was right.

Now that the exchange of gifts is over we have to see to the wedding plans. There are only eight more days to the ROM and a fortnight to the solemnization. So little time and so many things to do.

A Place of Safety

The centre of God's will is the only place of safety.

- A quote from "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom

Something to keep close to our hearts as we head towards tumultuous times.

Move of the Spirit

Last Sunday was simply awesome.

Pastor Gideon led us to wait upon the Lord during worship and encouraged the congregation to move in the Spirit. When I was lost in worship, the following scriptures kept coming to me:

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest."

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Never having demonstrated any prophetic gifting before, I dared not bring forth the word. What if it's me and not the Lord? Fortunately I was taking the offering, so I simply incorporated the verses into my prayer.

Then Pastor Gideon started to preach. To my dismay, I found out (too late) that the two verses were in absolute alignment with his message that morning. When I told hubby, he confirmed that he also received those two verses.

What an opportunity to bless the congregation, glorify the Lord and encourage my pastor! And I missed it.

I repented and promised the Lord that henceforth I shall take the step of faith to speak whenever I receive the word of the Lord. No holding back. Easier said than done.

Lord, hlep me and grant me the boldness to obey you in all things big and small!

Overwhelmed

One night, thousand years ago, a man agonised alone in prayer within the darkness of a garden. He made a decision that caused him his life and gave me mine.

I am overwhelmed.

He Who Has Faith...

And we know that ALL things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are the called
according to His purpose.

- Romans 8:28, NKJV

An Answered Prayer

I wanted to ask a favour from someone and instead I received this reply:

You are a prayer answered from above.

God, indeed, works in mysterious ways. He has the big picture and somehow He manages to orchestrate everything so well that everyone is blessed.

One thing I do know, it's good to experience answered prayers but it is even better to be an answered prayer!

Pengkalan Hulu Trip (12 September 2009)

Last Saturday was our home cell's 6th anniversary.

Instead of the usual feasting we decided to be a blessing to the folks at Pengkalan Hulu instead.

We budgeted RM1,600 for the bus + food for the people + offering for the pastor but collected a total of RM1,900! God is so good.

That's me with Vatthira (left) and Junika (right).
They are sisters and are of Siamese descent.

This little kiddo stole our hearts.

The kiddo and his teenage mom. They marry at the age of 15!
We met one 41 year old lady who is pregnant with her 13th child.

Pastor Low interpreting hubby's message on the salt of the earth

Pengkalan Hulu is situated on higher ground so
there are lovely flowers due to the cooler climate.

That banner, at a Pasar Ramadhan in Baling town,
was a reminder to us that we were in unfamiliar territory

The famous Baling hills - Chin Peng's hideout