clay

Hahaha....seldom talking about this topic. But just in 1 day i read about this already 3 times....

Yah...i ponder upon wat was written in proverb 31: "an excellent wife, who can find?" ... why is it written that way? why not: "where to find an excellent wife?" or "how to find an excellent wife?" ...... but who can find. Why?

In my heart i thought that's it! I'm not going to find it. For who can find? Perhaps its pointing to the impossibility of one finding an excellent wife. Nobody can find it. That's why it's said she's more precious than precious jewel?.........hehe....so then.......i'm going to get one that's not excellent?? huehehe....

The last words after a lengthy description of how fortunate the husband of an excellent wife is: "charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but the woman who fears the Lord........."

My last thought was perhaps that's the clue. Coz many are looking for charm and beauty .... that majority didn't find an excellent wife. And indeed who's on earth looking for woman who fears the Lord?

I wonder if that's what mothers telling their daughters..... I wonder if that's what fathers telling their sons...... I wonder if that's what pastors telling their youths ..... I wonder if that's what we are telling each other? I wonder if that's what i'm looking for most?

clay

Prov 3 : 11b  - "or be weary of his reproof"

   Was looking in dictionary the meaning of reproof. Initially i thoguht it's same as reprove or re-prove that's to repeat the proffing process to get different/opposite conclusion. But according to the dictionary that i was checking ... it's related to disapproval. Hence it makes more sense to me ... not to be weary of His disapproval. For certainly ... i got tired of disapproval. One time, two times, three times, four times, .... i get tired and wearied....

     Is he finding fault or something? Is he always disprove and objects? When will he eventually approve? ..

     Praise God for the next verse: - "for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights".

     The reasons for his reprove is his love. Once i dwell in that thought; for i can't really comprehend his love in full ... i praise Him ... and almost ashamed at myself. "Son that he delights in....that's why he reprove, and keep saying "NO".

     Last week i was hiking with a 7 year old boy. It's really steep and tiring journey. I feel sorry for the boy ... however, i wanted him to finish it himself. I didn't want to make it easy for him. I knew he can do it. Although my feeling want to carry him ... yet i let him sweat and complained, and told him ... the end just around the corner

      When i remember this, reminded myself ... faith is necessary ... to trust God .... who says "it's just around the corner" when i can't see the end ... but starting to grow weary .... when each turn isn't the end...

     it's just around the corner

clay

Recently picked up reading comic books..hehehe...wanna to know what's the current trend of thought of people (both writers and readers). Havent found really good comic (storyline + drawings)...till one that i thought quite nice.

Coz my reading not in sequence ... i could only make a rough conclusion.. the story about the great samurais. So there're several characters and the story developed such that each eventually become great samurais. Not afraid of death, invincible to their opponents, able to smile in the heat of battle, and last ... killing so many people single-handedly.

My first instict was purely enjoyment and admiration ... the sword techniques, the bravery, the strongness and heroism..... Till i read from 1 Chronicles 11. There a list of David's mighty men....and among those, are few people who kill 300 men in single-handedly!!

Among those 30 over men, there're 3 people who's named The Three. And although Abishai was doubly honored and became their commander, yet he's not included in The Three.

Apparently this The Three received different standing because they risked their life for their king. Not all man are great. And not all great man willing to risk their life for others. Yet this Three, they were great, and risked their life .....

to be continued

clay

There're many things happened recently. Wanna to update the topic on "True greatness" ... at least 2 more episodes Also on few things that i learnt from the last few days .... But let me do it one step at a time.

This morning read a short column on newspaper abt slowing your pace of life. IT's not something new i believe. Everyone know the fact very well. Life is simply hectic ... i guess majority singaporeans will agree. The americans who initially came up with the term "rat race", i think.

I'm also having group discussion with few people on book Purpose Driven Life. Chapter 4 titles "Created for eternity". That life doesn't end the time we died, but there's still life after death. God's purpose in creating us isn't limited to this lifetime...but beyond that. Each one of us, has eternal value. The only time & place we think about eternity is only at funeral when somebody just died.

YEsterday also received news that my friend's mum just passed away. In fact just came from attending the funeral service One thing that came to my mind ... the wisdom of this world (at its wisest) could only advice us to slow down our life. To get the most of life, one need to slow enough to enjoy and treasure relationship (as thought to be the most precious things in life).

Yet the Bible speaks of greater truth ... about death & eternity. One can slow down one's life to enjoy and get the most of this life. But at the end, still have to face death. And how about eternity? No human's wisdom could answer or give a solution. For it lays beyond our reach and power ...

If only those people listen to what God has said in His words. Slowing down life isn't good enough. It may be better than headlessly wasting life in a rat race. However it still won't stop the aimless living ... At one time everyone has to face death. And the fact that we put hospitals and cemetries at the corner of our cities, the outskirt of our communities, the remotest of our space .... that we won't think about it. The louder it speaks about our fear and the reality of death. The unpreparedness of our race to face eternity ... when we simply want the best of this life in ignorance of it (or trying to ignore it).

So what's one thing you should do and one thing you should stop doing, because it has eternal consequence?

clay

These few days i've been receiving depressing news. At some point it really disturbed me ... and still i guess.

A pastor that found to be gay (we could hardly believe it ... didn't he read the Bible?) A missionary that returned to his old sin I almost couldn't believe it. I still find it very hard to believe. A "hero" that seems to be a heretic teacher. And a friend that seem to be deeply involved and believed in a wrong teaching.........I almost can't take it anymore...

It disturbs, stirs turmoil, and unrest within .... Simply put me almost crazy.....find it very hard to believe in anything .... and afraid if my own mind and feeling deceive me ............

Till this evening when i was waiting for the bus, it rained heavily ... and the bus didn't appear at all...

The whole thing cooled me down. And i remember a short line from a poem that i quoted few week ago. The clouds you dread so much, are big with mercy, and ....(can't remember the exact words) ... gracious with the rain of blessings. It reminded me the nature of cloouds and rain. I dread heavy & dark clouds. But they will bring the rains i love (in poetic & romantic sense).

And i saw a piece of white clothe was carried by the flow of water going towards the drain. The strong current simply carried the clothe easily, straight, and soon the clothe will end inside the drain; gone. In my heart i simply said NO! Let it not happened. What a poor clothe to end up like that. And somehow.... the poor clothe stuck on the way to the drain....and it stuck there.

My joy didn't last long for then the rain was getting heavier. The clothe still stuck. It hasn't gone yet. And in short awhile....the rain poured even heavier than before. It's still there. And i thought soon this heavy rain will stop (The heavier the faster it will end). Yet it grew bigger till i hardly heard any other voices besides the loud and angry pouring of water. And i simply glad that the clothe remain stuck there when nothing else remain but sucked up to the drain.

God was surely kind to me. The whole incidend comforted me much. It takes nothing but the Grace of God that keeps us from falling. Nothing, but simply the Grace of God. The more i'm convinced of this truth .... Amazing Grace .... not I, but God who saves me ... Grace will lead me home. My trust in God's ability to save.

Reminded me of a verse in Romans 8: "...we're more than conquerors through Him who loves us..." Surely, we're winners...indeed more...through Him who loves us.......Apart from His Love .... nothing else has the power to hold us safe.....

Now unto Him who is able, Able to keep you from falling. And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy. To the Only Wise God, our Savior. Be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. ) Yes Amen )