It's another memorable day. As usual, one way i used to relax and enjoy a day off is to run (maybe some thinks weird way to relax).
But i'm more certain now that this body (feet, legs, loin, chest, weight & height, and the rest) are built for it.

Before long then rain came and i returned back. And still some distance away from home the rain fell uncontrollably...
No choice but run as hard as i could, reached the security guard post

Before long, he picked up his call, and lightning stroke just near us, with deafning thunder followed very very shortly. I used to like Spurgeon's description that thunder is God's voice vibration. But it's far from that.......it's like "devil's slap", the guard officer commented.
And i thot, that he could be "true", except for me to "wake up"

Haven't really had time to sit down and think through what i'm gonna do in this year 2008. Probably been sleeping and thinking too much about relationship thing. And suddenly clear thots breaking in...

Was reminded again who i am and my role. Simply a servant of God and His Kingdom. For "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God & His Righteousness, and ..." Perhaps been worrying too much abt what people and the world say about being leader. Everywhere from secular world to christian organizations, been talking about leaders....and i honestly haven't heard passionate talk about servanthood....except what my senior pastor confessed that we've not done well in service & prayers. On that note, a simple resolution was made, for me personally......that will affect the way i lead the group given me, and also my relationship. PS3 (stands for Pray & Serve, Pray & Serve, Pray and Serve)

So yah, i will seek to serve the group well. Up to them to follow me or not. But i believe God entrusts His sheeps to His good & faithful servants. Similarly, as servant, i will seek first my master Kingdom.....and whether my dear will follow me......up to her

Happy New Year
Happy Serving Each Other

Some people have many dreams, and some people probably have lesser dreams. But i think everyone has dreams. Only probably in todays fast world people don't talk about it. However deep within, when one is alone, probably those dreams come to surface. Ask a child if he/she has no dream, and I would be very surprised. (Though it's possible due to harsh circumtances that shattered all their dreams).

Just thought about this subject after few incidents in the past week. Is it good to have dreams? I always thought so. But, with having, there's also the reality that something might alter / deny those dreams. And the feeling of our dreams shattered is terrible (given dream is really what you want with all of your heart). So again, is it better not having dreams at all and you won't hurt when things don't go with what you want?

I just remember last week when two incidents came. The old injury of my left arm. Thought it's healed. Hoped it'd be healed. But i am afraid it came again, and probably would stay.... And the other when a doctor told me about my bone structure..... That would deny me from doing one of the things i enjoy lots; running. And it's not only a matter of choice that one could choose KFC when there's no MaCDonalds around. Something deeper coz they're tied to dreams.

I searched for similar accounts and found quite amount of people sharing the similar experience. And personally i'm amazed at human's spirit that dreams result in power to overcome whatever the circumtances. Too many examples of man & woman who're denied because their 'peculiar infirmities', and yet they triumphed because their dreams & will power are greater than their infirmities.


Another thing which i found comforting, is the old proverb i heard years ago that "when God takes our silvers, He replaces them with golds" Well, that's one thing that puts smile on my face... believing that what i thot precious was only silvers in His sights and He'll send the golds... (may sound foolish)

And yesterday i was reading Genesis 32 - 33:1. Found the account shed a light on this topic. There was a man named Jacob that acquired great wealth (4 wives, 12 children, and great lambs, goats, camels, servants, and blessings) by schemeing. He's master in that since young and seems God was with him.
However, despite his trickiness to get himself off many things and the promise of God, he's afraid to meet his cheated brother. He devised probably his greatest plan by bribing his brother with all the gifts...and he'll come last.
Yet, he still afraid.......that he struggled with 'God' and would not let him go unless he's blessed. And God touched the socket of his hip......resulted in him became limping.

The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.... And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. - Gen 32 : 31 - 33 : 1 -

The story reveled much beautiful that Jacob's worst nightmare. Now with his limping condition and he'd probably won't be able to do anything before his offended brother and the 400 men. Esau ran to him and embraced him, ...and they wept.

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. ~ Gen 33 : 4 ~

Now i think that the old proverb may not be always true. A truer saying would be: "God does not always replace our silvers with golds. He sometimes takes our golds, that we might be left with nothing, (except Him)." "And when we're left with nothing, we know that He is all we need."

What a dull person I am.
And thankful to God for His marvelous love.
I stay next to a rehab. centre for drug offenders.
And every morning i heard many beautiful song of praises from the lips of those ex-convicts.
I always love their singing...as one pastor commented and i fully agreed. He's never heard a more beautiful "Amazing Grace" than the one he heard in the prison.
For truly, these ex-convicts has internalized the depth of God's grace so deep in their hearts......and their unison singing bursts forth so beautiful and powerful.

This morning i heard them singing: "He is my everything". And the particular lines which taken from Psalm and i love dearly: "Taste and see that the Lord is good, for He is sweet like honey in the rock."
I've never tasted honey in the rock, or the goodness that comes from tasting it. However few references and the description is sufficient to lead me to believe......it's beyond words, to taste honey in the rock and the goodness of such taste. And the Lord is good....like that.

And....it spells out all darkness and gloomy air surrounds me. How could i forget the Lord's goodness. And forget to taste and see that He's good?

And one more thing that their song brought about. Learning from Romans 1 - 3, i see that i'm too an ex-convict before God's judgment. And that's something i've forgotten also. The depth of sin, and the greatness of God's grace, the wrath and right indignation of God, the amazing Grace. )
I too, have shared the 'similar' experience as those ex-convicts, becoz i was one before. And hence....i do too, have, their songs in my heart and lips....Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...... )

thank you Lord,
and thank you dear neighbours, and brothers in the Lord