1 mississippi..2 mississippi..

Two cookbooks later, I started counting the number of seconds to go before Christmas. :) 

The holiday season is now officially upon us, and although it gives us that dancing-around-the-kitchen eureka feeling, let us not forget the joy of including others. My friend Annie said these words: "Jesus is what I need, what my family needs from me, what children need from me, what strangers need from me, what my work needs from me. They do not need a 'bettered' me, but a crucified, emptied vessel that overflows with the life of another - Jesus." 

May He be glorified with both the emptying and filling of our lives. 

Here are two beautiful images to mark the counting!  ♥ 

(Thank you for the 'inspiring Christmas photography.')

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) 

A thundering from Spurgeon

"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." — 2 Peter 3:18.

GROW in grace"—not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow in that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you have done. Let faith increase in fullness, constancy, simplicity. Grow also in love. Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word, and deed. Grow likewise in humility. Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward—having nearer approaches to God in prayer and more intimate fellowship with Jesus. May God the Holy Spirit enable you to"grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour." 

He who grows not in the knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed. To know Him is "life eternal," and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in happiness. He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him yet. Whoever hath sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ doth satisfy, yet it is such a satisfaction, that the appetite is not cloyed, but whetted. If you know the love of Jesus—as the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so will you pant after deeper draughts of His love. If you do not desire to know Him better, then you love Him not, for love always cries, "Nearer, nearer." Absence from Christ is hell; but the presence of Jesus is heaven. Rest not then content without an increasing acquaintance with Jesus. Seek to know more of Him in His divine nature, in His human relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His present glorious intercession, and in His future royal advent. Abide hard by the Cross, and search the mystery of His wounds. An increase of love to Jesus, and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is one of the best tests of growth in grace. (Spurgeon) 

Oh how I love this encouragement and awakening! Lord Jesus, cause me to delight in You and desire You more than anything. Let this be my heart's prayer every single minute of my everyday life: Satisfy my longing soul, Lord! (Psalm 107:9) But I can't delight on my own, I can't long for You in my own strength. Cause my heart, Lord, as only Your Spirit can do..

Mightier than all.

Crime news usually doesn't sit well with me so I make it a point not to watch or read about it. For all that, one of my friends was telling us about an unthinkable crime that happened in her hometown, and somehow, having known more details than I could help, I kept on thinking about it. It affected me in the most surprising way that brushing the thought off didn't lift the fear that was subtly building up within me. 

There may be a lot of things we fear or dislike to see. Although mine are limited to just snakes (of any kind), creepy crawlies (only when startled), and anything slimy, the story I heard got me so distressed. Normally, there is nothing I enjoy more than long walks on late Saturday afternoons (which I often find time to do in the midst of paper pictures to cut out for Sunday School the next day), but I found myself recoiling at the thought of walking along my usual route. It was a strange, new feeling for me. Alas, I had unwittingly yet foolishly let the devil’s lies disrupt my inner peace. I had to ask forgiveness from the Lord, allowing Him to wash and renew my mind and once more bask in this peace that only He can bring. 

Fear, they say, is human nature. But if we as children of the Most High God live and wallow in fear that proceeds from unbelief or distrust of our Father, we sin against Him. Our actions no longer agree with the faith we profess. True, we live in a world plagued by crime and lawlessness; issues escalate to new heights when we heed what the media bombards us with. But as what Leonard Ravenhill said (one of my favorite quotes), “What does it mean to be a Christian? Your life is hid with Christ. You are bought with a Price; you are no longer your own. You have no time of your own, no money of your own…Christ must become your complete Master.” That simply means God did not call me to spend my time worrying about what the media is feeding me and joining in the world’s panic. I should be about my Father’s business, truly believing that when He wants me to answer a specific need, He is more than able to bring me directly to it. 

If we allow, even for a brief moment, thoughts that are not of God to take the place of what His Truth says, fear will subtly build within us and cripple us to live far from victory. No wonder the promise of perfect peace comes with one condition: our mind must stay on Him (Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”) Amid the perils of this world, we can still say with confidence: “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6, NIV). “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) 

Notice how a desert flower thrives and stands out so much against the red earth of the desert. We will be immovable in this dangerous world, just like a flower in a parched land. We are ambassadors of the Most High God, and “no weapon forged against us shall prevail” (Isaiah 54:17). “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life.” (Psalm 121:7) Oh, the richness of God’s promises in His Word. They are indeed, more precious than diamonds.

Here’s an excerpt on Gladys Aylward’s slight detour through Russia before arriving in China in the 1900s: “One night an aggressive man from the hotel staff came to my room and made clear his intention to take advantage of me and also meaning to seize my passport. I boldly replied, “God is here. Touch me, and you will see.  He has put a barrier between you and me. Go!”  At that, the man immediately fled.”

May you have the boldness and confidence today and always, because of Who you are living for. Bless! 

LOVE always prevails..

LOVE always prevails. It silences me. It rebukes me. 

What a challenging, changing, shaping, and learning month it has been. My idea of loving people unconditionally has, for the most part, come true. But something happened that left my heart really empty I was almost groping in the dark for answers. 

I had never been exposed to wickedness, at least not directly. My meager brush with human wickedness was by all means understandable, forgivable, and forgettable, because I know that the wicked are yet to be called from darkness into God’s wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). But I was unprepared to witness the wickedness of someone who knows the Lord. Although it was not meant for me directly, it affected me (and everyone around us) just the same.  

It was wicked by all accounts. And the more I listened to stories, the more I struggled to intercede for this person. I would cry and ask the Lord to lift the burden up. In my eagerness to be free of it, I unknowingly focused more on getting the facts that poured out, detailing the wickedness of her actions. I was a step away from giving up. I sinned against the Lord by faltering to labor for her in prayer (1 Samuel 12:23). 

What an enormous sin! Shouldn't I have asked the Lord for more strength to stand in the gap for her, instead of using my tongue to say words that didn't please my God at all? How naïve I was to forget my own wickedness when the Lord had not rescued me yet and made me His!   

It was wicked by all accounts, yes. But God reminded me that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12), forces that at times use and manipulate people to act in ways that lead to destruction. And if I, as His child, disobey to stand on her behalf, what right do I have to desire Christ-likeness? This is a much bigger heartache!

The Lord Jesus taught me that His kind of Love always prevails. No matter what wicked things someone may be doing, Christian or not, they all need God’s mercy and forgiveness. They all need someone to care enough to stand in the gap and pray unceasingly on their behalf, see them with God’s eyes, and extend the same grace that we have been given (2 Corinthians 9:14). Lord Jesus, continue to take ownership of my heart, my tongue, my ears, my everything. May You be seen as the Possessor of this life..

Catching up on some reading

There are no particular patterns to my weekends, but I would love to start my day with a bike ride - only I found out that it takes time to learn to ride one. Sigh..I gladly gave up the idea. :) 

Lately, I have been reading Christian biographies for hours on end, and I am marveling at how God has graciously given me free pdf files I can read online. What rich testimony of the handprint of God in their lives! There is no better way to share the joy than to give you the links so you could soak up in the grand adventure of a life with the Lord. Here they are: 

Tortured for Christ (Richard Wurmbrand's life story). A Romanian Christian minister who was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured for refusing to give up Jesus Christ. 

Jackie Pullinger. Stepping off the boat into the Walled City of HongKong, God used her enormously to impact the lost and lead at least 500 drug addicts to Christ, in the most extraordinary way. “Do you know, if Jesus were alive today, He’d be here in the Walled City sitting on the orange boxes talking to the pimps and prostitutes down there in the mud. That’s where He spent a lot of His time. In the streets with well-known criminals, not waiting in a neat clean church for the nice guys to turn up.” 

James Hudson Taylor. And a lot more here..

Knowledge of the Holy (A.W. Tozer). Who doesn't love Tozer? Here, he digests the attributes of our holy, magnificent God. It will leave you in awe of Him more than ever! 

And oh, a bonus :) 

The Scottish Chiefs (a historical novel of Jane Porter). Valiant, valiant! "Look at our country; God's gift of freedom is stamped upon it. Our mountains are His seal.." William Wallace's valiant character reminded me of Proverbs 31:8-9.

So grab a hot cup of goodness, get your Bible, sit back, and enjoy! 

P.S. I've noticed something interesting while tinkering around my blog - I can actually change the design to a more beautiful finish! So here is my own version of a prettier one :) I hope you like it. 

Update! Update! :) This was almost forgotten: God Has a Wonderful Plan For Your Life - The Myth of the Modern Message (by Ray Comfort courtesy of Living Waters) This is a must-read. Truth uncompromised..

* Here's another one I am currently reading: Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan. I would plead for you to read this, and pray that you not only be moved to tears but to action. Soul-stirring! [click here for a free pdf download, or order a free copy to be sent to your home. - Thank you, Gospel for Asia.]

November 1st!

It’s been a long while since my last post and I must say, I terribly missed writing and sharing here. Although I had visited my blog every now and then, it’s been a bustling two months (blogging-wise), and other things started to happen that it took most of my writing time. I didn't stop putting them in my journals though, but I found myself stuck for words - they seemed to be clogged somewhere within, right after I bring up a new post here. I know that feeling too well ;)

A lightbulb idea came on as I was skimming through my older posts the other day, so here’s the new look of in my corner of the world. Do you think it’s a happy re-design? It’s November, it really does feel like Christmas now, and this new look should be decidedly easier breezier to read J

Eric Ludy, in one of his sermons, said the following that left me humbled, convicted, and encouraged: ...for we have CHRIST! (I Peter 2:21) "The Bible proclaims that true Christians can be identified by a love that is wholly selfless. Supposedly, we are cheek-turners when struck, extra-mile-walkers when asked, cloak-givers when requested, and foot-washers in everyday situations. We are ready to forgive, without grievance and without being asked. Whether stabbed with unkind words or with daggers, we bleed grace, patience, gentleness, mercy, and kindness. And this is the way we are to live all the time, not just once a week."  

It is my heart’s deepest cry. Not because I want to look good as a Christian, nor because I want people to admire anything in me. But because this is the clearest picture of Jesus I may ever get. And if becoming a Christian made me His, then I want nothing more than for Him to be the Possessor of this life, this me. Oh, for my flesh to yield in joyful surrender and obedience, for I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20). 

My eyes have been pointed back to the Vine. John 15:5 says we must abide in the Vine at all times, for apart from Him, everything else we do to look or sound good is futile, a counterfeit of the real fruits of the Holy Spirit. For how can a branch live by itself for a day, without withering and dying? 

May your weekend be in fullness of Him, wherever you are in the world. Here's a rad photo of the rain from somewhere on the web (thank you)..Bless!