clay

What is life?

Is it just series of habits? Everyday routines?

Is it just series of appointments?

Accumulation of things?

If life just merely any of the above, it's a very sad one. How to call it blessed life? When life series of habits, appointments, projects, schedules.... 

Probably blessed life would means successful life? When every meetings, projects, appointments being fullfilled / met their objectives?

Probably it could also means a trouble-free life? Free from sickness, poverty, harms, calamities, etc? Sounds good, but is it really a blessed life?

Some people will look into lives of Abraham and called it blessed life. He lived long age, died in peace, very rich and not lacking. Little do people know the kind life he went through....left his people, family, friends to foreign country. The Bible recorded he was afraid and lied for his life, then God intervened. Another time he faced battle to rescue his nephew. God demanded him to sacrifice his one and beloved son at his old age.......what do you call that?

Some other look into the lives of Joseph and called it blessed life. Yes, he suffered when he was young, but eventually, he became authority in Egypt. The thing is nobody know how life would like tomorrow. Not every life would turn out well at the end. Would anyone want to go through Joseph's life? To be hated by all the siblings? To be sold as slave? To be thrown into jail?

Worse still for anyone who dreams to have the life of Job. Would anyone in their right mind want that kind of life experience? To lose everything in a single day? To lose all the riches is probably hard enough. And to lose all 10 children in a day?? After that, he's stricken by disease that unbearable....... Watching and being with my pregnant wife for 1 day is already a big struggle. To see her in weak, pain, and helpless state.....not comparable to the pain that Job went through...... 

What then is blessed life? If the end does not justify the mean? Could it be blessed life just an ideal? Where one live peacefully and die peacefully?

I'm intrigued by one man's life, name Paul. He went through so many things in life. He had experienced shipwrecked, thrown into jail, beaten, stoned, canned. He also experienced hunger, in need, nakedness. He went through hard labor, sleepless night, troubled days, abandoned by friends, chased by enemies. And he died by sword (according to church's tradition). Could anyone call it blessed life?

These are some his description of his life: 

as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (2 Cor 6:4-10)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

   “For your sake we face death all day long; 
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thought, I found the answer.

The following verse especially caught my attention:

But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ~ (Gal 1:16)

As an expecting father (expecting my wife to give birth), the fact that God set apart even from mother's womb gives great comfort & confidence. It talks about God's sovereignty, also of God's mercy & choosing. Why did he do that? I can only think of one answer....Because he loves.

As Paul says, a blessed life is ..being loved by God. Nothing beats that. Nothing greater than that.

clay

Just can't contain my joy inside.

Since last nite, I had sent the news of my wife pregnancy to a few friends.

Then this afternoon, I announced it in office.

Also I sms few good friends.

They all so supportive & encouraging. I just overwhelmed with their love & joy.

I just want to explode with joy.

Thank you Lord for circle of friends. They're really good friends. I'm so blessed to have so many good friends around me. I pray that you keep us loving one another, as your children.

clay

I disagree with many who depict the God in the Bible as a nasty & cruel God.

On the contrary, I see him as merciful God and abundance in love.

Perhaps our worldview (lenses through which we see) affecting our view.

But yesterday, as I read the following account, I became even more convinced.

Deu 3:21-29 : tells the story of Moses forbidden by God from entering the promised land.

I thought there's nothing much to be gained / learnt from that story.

Somehow, I was intrigued by why did Moses wrote / recorded it in first place.

He said that he pleaded with God to be allowed to enter the land and see the beauty of it.

But the Lord gave him the same answer: "NO!" And not to repeat the matter again!

(I thought like a father son kind scenario)

However, the next part is very interesting. For the Lord told Moses to go up mountain, and see the whole land with his eyes. I've never met such God before. Who's both just and merciful. He's just and uncompromising so he doesn't allow Moses to enter. Yet he's merciful & compassionate to allow him to see (for that's Moses' desire to see the good land beyond Jordan). I don't know how Moses feel. But i suspect he would be very grateful.

God being God could told Moses that "No" means "No". But he didn't do that. He bent slightly and gave him chance to see. Which will be far less superior with the next thing Moses would see... I learnt that in life, God knows best. If he didn't give us what we asking, I'm very happy to receive what he gives. Though it may not be exactly what I was asking. But I know he's my best interest. He gives the best...which far better than what we're asking.

There're things regarding my wife which I ask the Lord. And there could be things which He may answer with 'No'. And i've learnt that God's "No" could be the very best for me. For He is a loving & compassionate God. He knows what he is doing.

clay

31st Dec 2011

9.00 pm - my wife said she want to eat pizza. Chicken Supreme, because she wants the baked pineable taste....

We're searching for the pizza delivery.....got a few.

But the delivery size is definitely more than what two of us can finish. ...... It's not wise to waste food like that, not to say money as well........

So i said to her, if i just go and look for 1 sliced pizza.

She insisted it must be chicken with baked pineaple............

I don't know how, she managed to find there's one pizza shop near our place....and the sell the one she wants.

9.35pm - I left home

9.48pm - I reached the pizza shop. The lady at counter told me, that take away is already closed at 9.45pm. And they're sorry for that.

I prayed & pressed on little bit...I said my wife is craving. And i just need a small pizza, not a big one.

Thank God the lady then accepted it, and processed my order.

....Finally...all the customers left, and left me alone waiting for the pizza. Apparently, I was the last customer that night. And I could understand also, 31st Dec....everyone would want to have a break / not working.

10.35 - I reached home again with the pizza in my hands

I thank the Lord who grants such beautiful closing for our year 2011. My wife was so happy. I told her, it's the Lord's goodness, otherwise....it doesn't make any sense for the lady to entertain my order, or the kitchen personal to bake  just one small pizza at last minute. Thanks to all the staff on that night. Really made my year end memorable.

clay

Been reading the book of Deuteronomy lately. It was triggered by my reading of Psalm. So often the psalmist talks about rejoicing and delighting in God's law, decrees, and statutes. That brings me to the book of Deuteronomy, as to put myself in the shoes of the psalmist.

Indeed as the psalmist say, "Lord open up my eyes to see beautiful things in Your Word." And the Lord did just that. There i see so much beautiful things in His words, that not only meant for Israelites during those days, but also today both big and small parts of our lives.

A few good reminder of righteous living:

1. In choosing leaders, criteria of wise, understanding, & experience (Deu 1:13) I think government will do very well if they follow this guideline.

2. Being impartial in judgment. I think quite applicable in all areas, where we often required to make certain kind of judgment for disputing parties (even among family members).

3. Not being intimidated / fearful of anyone (1.17). Probably the hardest thing for me. Not to be intimidated by anyone, hence able to judge fairly. And the reason is simple, because judgment belongs to God. Hence fear of God and fear no man.

4. The reminder from life of Caleb.......still one thing very clear mentioned and praiseworthy of him. Wholeheartedness. Being wholehearted towards God (1:36).

clay

In our office, there's joke that IT person's presence is enough to scare misbehaving computers away.

It does occur a few times now, that I can't deny it, yet can't explain it either.

No wonder it becomes a widely circulated joke... 

Could it be the Lord is assuring me of His presence with me? So i know it's not me, but He in me that helps me in the job. Things beyond my abilities...but His presence the answer.

And i thought probably that's how it like when Jesus is around. Wherever he is, his presence alone is sufficient to cast all fears and doubts away. There're many cases of life we don't and can't answer. When Jesus is present, all the questions just disappear....

Hence, the Lord is near, His presence is powerful........we can be courageous and confident.

clay

But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandements are true. ~ Ps 119 : 181

This morning, as I read those words, they're like a confirmation.

I've seen many sufferings before. Not the most terrible kind, but is enough to make me pause sometimes and asking God what all these things mean.

I'm convinced that the Lord's presence is the one makes the difference. For those who're suffering, and knowing the Lord is near to them, they're able to rejoice in their sufferings. The happiest people on earth are not those who're free from sufferings. On the contrary, the happiest people on earth are those who suffer with the Lord.

While around the world people are concern about economic crisis, natural disaster, and things alike (they're valid concern)....yet the world forgets that without the Lord, they're always unhappy and worrying people. While the one with the Lord, even in their poverty and stricken with disaster & illness...their hearts is full of thanksgiving and joy.

I think that's what keep the Psalmist strong even going on singing in midst of his sufferings. For he knows that the Lord is near. And that's good enough

So yah, if i can have one wish...I won't wish for wealth, health, problem-free-life.....but i'll wish that the Lord be near me.

clay

The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. 
He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. ~ Is 50:4 

The above verse somewhat sounds familiar to me. But i can't remember when and where i heard it before. It very direct and simple. The servant of the Lord must listen to the Lord.

Nowdays, many people like to talk only. "Talk is cheap", people say. I've heard many who can talk well. But seldom I found one that listen well. And i guess this truth is aligned with what the verse say, "the righteous shall live by faith." And Jesus himself says, "man shall not leave by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." These mean that our lives come from listening to God....as faith comes from hearing the word of God. Interestingly it doesn't say faith comes from reading the Bible.

Hence the above verse is like a searching question for those claiming to be servants of God. How's your listening?

1. Morning by morning.....i kinda inclined to think, it's the morning / quiet time mandatory to listen to voice of God. It's very absurd to say we can hear well in noisy street. If we want to listen well, we must listen in quietness.

2. Morning by morning...suggests it is a continuous process. Every morning..this morning and next morning, and next morning after that..... It's not good enough to listen to one day and forget about it on the next day. It takes patience, discipline, and humility to listen attentively, every single day.

3. wakens my ear.......suggests it's supra natural thing, the Lord does on us. Hence, it's His mercy to do so morning by morning. His mercies new every morning.

If any blessing for the day, I ask for this grace. That he wakens me, wakens my ear morning by morning. To listen to Him. And i would say like the Psalmist.....i rejoice greatly over your law.