True Healing

My mum was having an operation last week. And this week, a best friend is going to. Why don't they all just get healed miraculously?

Sigh. Nope. Guess that's not what really matters.

From the Bible we learn that healing that really matters in God's sight is not physical. When the prophets of OT talked about healing, it's not merely physical. We all know we will all eventually die. What is most important is spiritual.

This reminds me that this life is really real. God is really real. And what He wants for us is to be healed from real stuff that really matters.

We are sick with sin. Sin is totally real. We need to be transformed into holiness, Christ-likeness. This is the kind of healing He wants.

Yet we may pray for physical healing, for God wants us to pray for all things. But we need not be desperate about it. Because we know we're in good hands. GOD's loving, perfect wisdom filled, hands.

What I need to do is be there for them... though from far away, cos they're both in Indonesia. Prayer connects us all in spirit. God took care of them much better. God helped me to find ways to encourage them, even from such a distance.

How great is our GOD.

Pasta Lee

Our family love a pasta meal. Any aglio olio pasta with no complicated topping. I even get my son to eat vegetables this way.

Here's my trusty pasta recipe. I learned all my basics from Jamie (Oliver, that is)!

Into a pot of boiling water, add some olive oil, salt, and your favorite pasta (spaghetti and penne pictured). Let boil gently for about as long as the packet tells you (8-11 minutes).

Give or take five minutes before the pasta is ready, heat up a pan with some olive oil. When it's hot, add sliced garlic until fragrant.

Put in sliced sausages, sun-dried tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, asparagus or arugula/rocket leaves, chilli padi; whatever you want. Sprinkle some dried oregano, dill, a pinch of salt and crushed black pepper.

When the pasta is al dente (not too soft, not too hard especially in the core), pour most of the water out of the pot. Then season the pasta with a splash of olive oil, oregano, salt, and crushed black pepper. Mix thoroughly.

Remove the pan from the fire, and dump the pasta into the pan. Mix well.

Serve.

"He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name."
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ge 2:19

Today I went to the birdpark. As I sat in the cafe drinking my mocha, I watched all kinds of people buying nectar-filled cups to feed the birds. Their glee were evident and infectious. When a bird bravely perched on their arms, their eyes widened in excitement. They smiled happily and were positively radiant with joy.

I myself enjoyed it many times before. But now watching others went through the same thing, I was reminded of what joy it must have been for Adam when the Lord God patiently brought to him, one by one, all the animals of this world. To see what he would name them. Wow.

After Eve was created, she was given the same task also as she was her husband's helper. What joy! What privilege!

And, what joy it must have been for the Lord God Himself, to watch Adam and Even touch these animals, birds, etc for the first time. Their glee, their laughter, their happiness. Surely Eden was full of these and more!

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your greatness and majesty in creation. For Your abundant love and grace in giving all these to us to enjoy and care for.

Happy Valentine's Day

A gift from my hubby. A Russ Berrie Mischieve the Mouse from KrisShop.

Enough said.

Offering

The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love
there is no shadow in Your presence;

No mortal man would dare to stand before Your throne;
Before the holy One of heaven.

It's only by Your blood,
And it's only through Your mercy,
Lord, I come.

I bring an offering of worship to my King,
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing;

Jesus may You receive the honor that You're due;
Oh Lord, I bring an offering to You.

Paul Baloche

below is the song's christmas version:

a Quote from a friend

What He is doing in us is always more important than what He is doing through us.

After all that's happened, have I been discouraged because I thought my usefulness is less? Am I scampering to find new things to do, to continue to "bring glory to God", whereas actually He wants me to slow down and take more time to learn to know Him more personally, and enjoy Him?

Yes, man's (and woman's) purpose in life is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. What He is doing in me is more important to Him than my usefulness. He wants me transformed into the likeness of His Son. All I can say is, "Here am I, Lord."

happy chinese new year of the mouse !

This is a snapshot of my hamster, Remy.

2008 is his kind of year.

The chinese call it year of the rats, actually. But I prefer to call it year of the mouse here. :P

Singapore Zoo used the occasion this week to show off their capybaras, which actually are the largest rodents in the world.

I still prefer mouse. Or maybe we can call it hamster year? I suppose all rodents are included in this group of 'rats'?

Gong Xi Fa Cai, everybody!

"He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. "
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 2 Co 5:15

Who do I live for? Shamefully I say, for myself. For my family. For my children. For my friends. For my interests. For my travels.

But that is not what the verse commands. The verse says, "but for HIM who died.. and was raised.."

May it be so. I shall live for Him alone. He should be the reason of my every activity, every breath that I take.

Then, and only then, would I be able to truly live for those I love. My family. My beloved children. My friends. Etc.

He loves those I love with a love that is far more than my love could ever give.

Indeed there is no other way. I must live for Him alone.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Jn 3:1

I was talking to my young son about his status as a child of God the other day. That he should start living according to that wonderful fact.
Then this morning it dawned even more on myself (you know, sometimes we may 'talk' but missed the 'walk').
I am a child of God ! How cool is that.
It's this cool:
Bought me with nothing less than the blood of His beloved Son. Given me His Holy Spirit so His presence shall forever go with me to comfort and lead me.

I am a child of God. That means I have a father, GOD: Creator, Sovereign, everything in this vast universe is under His control. Nothing can snatch me away from Him. He has given everything to save me and in the future will give me everything associated with being a child. We are joint heir with Christ !

Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear. His presence endures as I cross the raging river to reach the Celestial City on the other side.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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. The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ro 8:38-39
And when compared to the sinful state He rescued me from. How great is the love of GOD! That I should be able to call Him FATHER!

Turning Leaves

 

Turning a new leaf is hard. At least for me. I guess I'm the sort of person who is very resistant to change. Or one may call it stubborn.

Recently, in His perfect love, my gracious God has to take me out of my comfort zone. I kicked and screamed, but in the end I saw. His majesty. His grace. His love everlasting. His perfect will for me. I guess I can say He made a rainbow out of my situation. :)

"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Zep 3:17

Kermit the Frog "Rainbow Connection"

Memories of my childhood came flooding back as I listen to my favorite frog. I'm glad I found it.

13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ge 9:13-16

Lunch today :P

I love ramen. A bowl of spicy broth with thin noodles, a good chunk of char siew, boiled egg, and lots of veggies.
This is what we had for lunch today. Sapporo Ramen Bishamon at Raffles City is my favorite place right now.