Different places evoke different feeling in us. Just look at today's newspaper on different people wrote their holiday experiences. 2 full pages of stories and pictures, and all conclude in this point .... to enjoy nature (the simplicity and beauty), and feel refreshed

I guess too much of city life this people have. It's good thing they realize the importance of a break to enjoy beauty and simplicity in nature. Sometimes i do that too.

Another thot on the matter triggered when i saw my colleague's small print of the Grand Canyon .... and yesterday we had drawing game of wonders of the world. For the picture brought back a meaningful lesson... In the face of such greatness like Grand Canyon...i saw the beautiful and mindful God. His design is so marvelous and awesome. Certainly He's so great and powerful to have designed and created such as the Grand Canyon. And standing on the edge facing the dead rocks ... it's simply standing in the presence of greatness.

Nothing too difficult for God (few weeks back reminder), and whatever temptations or trials at moment were seems small, in comparison with what God could do. And in the light of eternity, what's our temporary sufferings, compare to the glory He's in stored?
So first in the light of His greatness.....all this issues were small. And second in the light of eternity.....what's all this things? But pointers to His great design and power.

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

~ Ps 8 : 3-4, 9 ~

How the more beautiful it's, when i think of the following account. The resurrection of Jesus. For it displays the greatness of God's power to raise the dead!!

But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him ~ Mat 28 : 5-9~


At the end of the meeting, in the presence of such greatness (greater than the Grand Canyon)...they bowed and worshipped him, Jesus the risen Lord.

A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. ~ Prv 11:25 ~

Somebody just shared the encouragement from email I sent out last month. Someone who seldom check their email. And somehow just had the time to read through the emails to find the particular email i wrote be encouraging.

And in return, I was encouraged, that God could use a small thing like email I wrote even outdated, to encourage someone in present situation and still relevant.

What more could i say, but that the word of the proverb above is true. Those who refreshes others, will himself be refreshed.

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
Within her citadels God
has made himself known as a fortress.

For behold, the kings assembled;
they came on together.
As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
they were in panic; they took to flight.
Trembling took hold of them there,
anguish as of a woman in labor.
By the east wind you shattered
the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the LORD of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God will establish forever.
Selah

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
As your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments!

Walk about Zion, go around her,
number her towers,
consider well her ramparts,
go through her citadels,
that you may tell the next generation
that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will guide us forever

~Ps 48~

Another beautiful psalm that i missed out :D
Thank God for the timely word.
It rightly describes the God that I believe in.
The GREAT God, and as His greatness, so His PRAISE shall be (v.1).

His greatness is elaborated in view things, such as:
His terrifying look that turn back a horde of kings (v.4-6).
And his steadfast love (v.9) that gives hope for mankind
And last, his judgment that's righteous (v.10-11).

So the call to count, to see, to witness, to prove
that this is God
that He worths His name
and He worths to be our God
And indeed He deserves; He will guide us forever (even beyond death).

Such a timely word.
That as result I could say with confidence.
When that day comes (the fullfilment of this Psalm)
I want to stand without feeling ashamed.
To say: "This is our God".
This much You promised.
Thus far I believe.
And I will not be put to shame.

It's been 2 years since we use the name for our group. And i've never grasped it's true beauty till this evening. Hahaha....wat a slow learner and dull person i am. Yah...but i really thank God that now i could really appreciate the words...and fall in love with it ....hopefully again and again.

Been praying for an old man that's very stubborn. Has been rejecting God's offer of forgiveness & eternal life since his youth. And a thought came to my mind that perhaps would just come straight to him and tell his ungratefullness and destiny ... in fact his continual rejection will not bring any good to him, in fact very sad ending ... and what hope someone could have when he's been persistently the grace of God? And now at old age ... what God would from such fellow?

There God rebuked me sharply. What basis that i could boast? That i'm better than an old man? Surely not! For it's the same grace that saves everyone. Both at creation, God created everyone equals. And at salvation, he makes everyone equal. That nobody should boast. Nobody is better than anybody else that God should be more gracious towards him. And the only reason God saves is merely His grace. Grace alone. And that's undeserved favor.

How marvelous it is. That everyone is equal before God. When on earth people see and treat each other differently (based on color, status, education, class, etc), but before God......he sees everyone equals. And woe to me if i think or see somebody whom Jesus has died for less than me because he earns less or had lower education or lower IQ, or even lower class or any other human distinctness......when God has given the same grace both in Creation and Salvation. May it always be in my heart. Undeserved Favor ... how sweet thy sound

And one day in His perfect Heaven ... i shall forever grateful...standing with those before me....equals before God

It's many many years back when i was just a child, the story of Sadrach Mesach and Abednego stood out in my memory. And this morning when i read it again, there's a sense of freshness in that old story that i know so well. The ice-breaker was verse 28, when king Nebuchadnezzar declares:

"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God."

For some reasons i've missed out this beautiful verse so many years. The words are very clear. It's not about preference of doing, it's not about culture, it's not about inconvinience. To these men, bowing to the golden image is a form of worshipping another god, and they're determined to worship only their own God. Worship another god? No! And they're willing to set aside even the greatest king (at that time) command

This is what they said to the king (v.17-18):

"our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

Wondeful words, powerful declaration, and perfect answer. I miss all those things. The absolute confidence that God is able. That's the childlike faith that often times being mocked and ridiculed as naive. But that's the kind of faith God is looking and pleased with. There's no traces of doubt when those guyz said those words. God is able and he will act. No doubt about it at all. And the second thing i miss, their resolute conviction. Even if God didn't act in the way we want him / think he will, it won't change our conviction. Many people call it foolishness, but God is always pleased with those who put their trust in Him.

And together with those guys and David, i too wanna to say:

But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
~ Ps 59 : 16 ~

I don't always win every battles. I lost many times. But it doesn't change the truth. God being fortress and refuge in the day of distress to me. It doesn't change any facts about God. Whatever happens to me...He's my fortress and refuge in the day of distress

And this is one thing i always grateful for being involved in children ministry For their childlike faith and resolute conviction often shames me. Let's sing of His strength and steadfast love