Farewell to Steve Jobs

Today Steve Jobs died.

I have been so touched by the connectedness, and the simplicity, and usefulness; the almost perfection his Apple inventions had been in the last few years, that I just have to pause and write this down.

I love his iPod, iPad, and iPhone. Never has a gadget been so useful to a stay at home mum and her children.

Thanks for changing our world!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2

The Secret of Being Glad ! (John 11:25-26)

Smile! We have eternal life. "Those who believe in Me will never die!" Jesus said in John 11:25-26.

Nathan and I just read a book titled "Pollyanna" in which she changed people's lives by teaching them to play a game called a 'just being glad' game. Basically, in any sad situation, we must find something to be glad about. There's always something to be glad about. (I highly recommend all of you to read this classic book!) Pollyanna's father made it into a game to help Pollyanna be glad about everything even though they were very poor.

Did you know there are more than 800 verses in the Bible that tells us to 'Rejoice; or 'Be glad' or 'Thanks be to God' ?
If God takes the time to tell us to rejoice so much, it must be real important.

My father told me once. When he was in secondary school, he had a wonderful christian teacher. This teacher showed real care for them and even for the naughty boys like him. My father said he used to wonder, "What is he so happy about?" Because this teacher was always smiling and happy compared to other teachers.
After my dad became a christian more than 40 years later, he realized something. That teacher must have been always joyful because he is a christian!

Yes, a christian must always find things to be glad about. She must not pout and look harrassed all day long. She must not moan and complain and lament about things she lost or cannot have.
Nay, a christian must be joyful because in our Savior and Lord there is always something to be glad about.
After all, we are the only people who will never die. Praise Him!


²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶ and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 
(John 11:25-26)

Jeremiah 29:11

If I could go back to the past to meet my old self, this is what I'm going to tell her:

Don't worry about anything. It's gonna turn out fine.
God has planned it all for you. You just take His hand.
Make sure you follow His commands. 
Everything will turn out fine.

Although now you may have no money, 
and you don't know if you'll get a good job.
You'll see, sister, that you will get an amazing job. 
And you'll do just fine.

Now you may wonder about a husband. Much less a baby. 
How would you afford it?
But He'll make sure you'll get the one He has chosen for you.
And the babies, the most wonderful babies, 
- yes, not just one baby - will come, too!

And you wonder how you'll ever serve God. 
If you'll ever gonna be any good.
Sister, you'll see, He has lovingly prepared 
Exactly what you need to be!

So now that I'm here in this wonderful future of mine, I should remember one thing more.
It's all gonna turn out fine later. 'Cos God is still in control of it all.
I do not hold my own fate. It is all in His merciful hands.
And He says, "I know the plans I have for you. Child, you'll do more than fine."

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11

Call unto Him

Today for the first time my daughter calls me, "Mama," very clearly! It has been "yaaa" or "maaa" for a while, but today it was a really clear two syllable word.

I can't describe how happy it made me feel.

I wonder if God also feels the same way when we call His name. When we call Him, "Father God," or "Lord Jesus," how does He feel?

Why don't we call Him more often?

Psalm 89:26 (New International Version)

 ²⁶ He will call out to Me, 'You are my Father,
       my God, the Rock my Savior.'

honey for a child's heart blog!

http://tumblon.com/honey

I stumble upon this wonderful blog by an author that I consider my 'mentor' in reading books to my son!

I read her book 8 years ago when Nathan was still two years old.

Many a wonderful daily reading cuddles later, Nathan is now an avid reader. (In fact we've had to pry away books from him because it's time to eat, or study, or sleep!)

I've always loved books but her Honey For A Child's Heart taught me principles of reading and sharing books with my family. Thank you, Gladys!

In her blog you can find book recommendations, and wonderful insights on all time favorite books for all ages.

Countless times I've copied her list of books for the young from her book to look up in our local library or bookstore. My son always loves it ( I also read them to kids when I volunteer as reader at the library). And always, I love them, too!

Not all books are equal. Read only good books. Especially to our children.

Learning to give thanks!

Right now is the best years of my life.
Yes, right now. Not two years ago. Not next year. But today. Right now.

I should never complain and worry all the time. I must always be thankful. After all that's God's command.

Why is it so hard for me to be thankful? There is always something I'm not satisfied with. There's always more things to clean, to reorganize, more stuffs to do!

But I'm missing on the good stuff God has blessed me with. Instead of showing my love to my family, I'm always harried and moody. I wonder how they can stand being around me all this time.

Oh Lord, help me. Only You can save me from a life of futility. Only You.
Yes, He not only saved me from the punishment of sins, but also from my life of sins!

I know I can be free from under this cloud of dissatisfaction because of His power. Not by positive thinking or self-help tricks, but by His strength.

Praise the Lord.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song (Psalm 28:7).

Psalm 103:14 and Matthew 28:20

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 28:20

When I look at my newborn, so small and fragile, yet so beautiful and precious. I am reminded at how small I also must have been, once.
I am trying to take it all in, to always remember her this way. I feel like I could never be angry at her. Discipline her, being ever so slightly harsh on her? I know I must do that some day (like her big brother surely can testify). But I just cannot picture it right now.

Whatever she will become, however naughty, she will always be my baby.
She will always be this precious. If only I could always remember her this way.

Then I realized that this must be the way God remembers us.
HE, the Almighty, never forgets.
He must have remembered how fragile we are, how small, how precious.
Is it any wonder that He loves us to pieces?
Is it any wonder that He even redeemed us by death upon a cross?

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ps 103:11-14

In her Father's hands...

In his father's hands...
Originally uploaded by tollen

I noticed the way my husband picked up Emma today.
After I finished feeding her, he took her from me. His big hand holding up her head, I saw his little finger holding up the neck. It's strong enough!

It made me think of my heavenly Father's hand.
Yes, His hand, even His little finger, is strong enough to hold me.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ps 103:13

Help in Times of Trouble

The Rolling Hills of Tuscany, Italy
Originally uploaded by curreyuk

The Lord is always good. He never fails us. Time and time again He proves Himself faithful, although He didn't have to do such favor to me. What love is this? Amazing love, beyond words! He is our Father. At the right time indeed He rescues us. He provides for everything we need.

Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ps 121:1-8

God Our Father

London Metro
Originally uploaded by Hendra Lee

It is impossible for our Father in heaven to abandon us.

Even if an earthly mother or father abandon their children, God our Father will never do that.

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).

Recently troubles have come our way, but He keeps us joyful and thankful all the way. Well, not all the way just yet, because the light is still nowhere to be seen in this tunnel.

But I know one thing. He is our Father. He will never forsake us. In fact, it is truly impossible - and totally against His very character - for Him to abandon us, His redeemed people.

“Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.” (Romans 8:38-39).

The Frills Don't Matter

Zoe's "girly modern" Nursery
Originally uploaded by The Doe or the Deer

I've realized that the frills don't matter.
It doesn't matter that we don't have a proper nursery for her, or a proper cot, or a fancy changing table.
It doesn't matter if I have not prepared a black and white picture of her big brother hanging in a frame on the wall across from where she sleeps. Or a cute mobile over her (since she'll be sleeping on my bed). Or get the apartment absolutely immaculate and totally ready for her arrival.
I think it matters to her that she knows exactly how much we love her. It matters that we feed her exactly when she's hungry, change her when she's wet and cuddle her tight all the time. It matters a lot that we'll be there in a heartbeat, to hold her, whenever she calls.
I think those really matters to her.
I should put it in perspective and not worry so much about not being ready for Emma. 'Cos by God's grace I believe all three of us are ready for her.
It doesn't matter if we can't afford fancy decorations. It would be nice if we can. But if not, it's perfectly fine. Emma's all that matters.
The frills don't matter.

Pregnant Ladies in the Bible

Being pregnant gives me a certain perspective on how some Bible characters must have experienced. When we were passing christmas three months ago, my heart went out to Mary. How tiring it must have been, even just riding on a donkey for a few hours. Let alone all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Later on I was doing Bible study on Sara who had been waiting for the promised Isaac so long. I could feel her anticipation and happiness. Usually my mind just skipped right to the delivery. But this time it occured to me how long they still have to wait. The day to day pregnancy, etc, for over 9 months. Sara was 90 years old. How they must have trusted in God’s promises, that God will carry the baby through despite the impossibility of such an old lady being pregnant. And what about the prospect of giving birth?

Rebekah too, was struggling with the twin babies jostling inside of her (Esau and Jacob). Right now I am enjoying my girl’s kicking and turning around in my tummy. Sometimes it is very hard and persistent, to the delight of her dad and big koko (brother in chinese). But it’s always fun. How terrible and worrying it must have been for Rebekah to have the babies fight inside her tummy. Maybe she thought something had gone wrong somewhere. After all she didn’t know there were twins (no ultrasound machine, yet). She prayed and God answered her that there were two inside her womb.

At 7 months I had my first ever contraction that I have ever experienced. With my first child there was never a contraction, he had to be delivered immediately by caesarean procedure due to the baby not moving for 12 hours already. So when I had my contraction last Sunday I did not recognize it immediately.

I guess I was just too tired after an especially busy two weeks. Anyway, my hubby rushed me home from Sunday School (I had to leave all my little kids in class to my partner, thank God for her!). All is well after I rested. But my, on a scale of 1 to 10 it felt like a 3 only. Yet it was bad enough for me. What of the real thing?

I will just trust in the Lord. Oh, baby, wait for your time. Do not come early. I want you healthy, gal.

***

***

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,c saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
c Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard of God.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Sa 1:19-20

moving

Moving house is hard work.
Moving house with a pregnant wife is an even harder work.

I had a bit of trouble with my pregnancy. Just a tiny bit. But the doctor, of course, did not let me carry anything during the move. I still managed to do some stuff, but my husband is very protective of me. I basically just alternate between resting, cooking and a bit of cleaning at the new place.

It was God's grace that the new landlord gave us the keys two weeks in advance. She didn't even know I was pregnant at the time. Because of this we can move slowly over these two week period. We are truly thankful.

My hubby had been such a super hero. He shuttles back and forth with loads in his back and his hands. Sometimes he pulls them in a suitcase, sometimes on a trolley, wobbling the almost a mile walk to our new apartment, every day now during the chinese new year holidays and weekends. He still managed to have lunch and dinner with us, though.

Our mover comes tomorrow with a big truck. We hope not to use more than a truckload because it's quite a cost.

In all things, my Father is looking out for me and my family. I'm so grateful.

house-hunting

It was time for apartment hunting again. We rent, so every time the lease ended there's always an option to continue or look for another one.

All the time, however, I always believed that if God wants us to move, He would have prepared a new place for us. That does not mean that I was not anxious. Poring over property classifieds in the paper, calling them up and visiting apartments, are really taxing. It always brought me to near despair.

Yet in the past 8 years and 4 times moving, God always led us to the right apartment. I say the right one, because every time we found the house we simply knew. From the time we stepped into the house we just loved it. Like this apartment we're staying now, it was such a beautiful surprise from Him, so lovely, so right for us, that I couldn't stop laughing and smiling after we closed the deal that time.

But I always wonder, what if this year is different? What if this year God is going to lead us to a place we don't really like? What if we don't love the new place? After all, current rent prices are disastrous and we have to downgrade.

Again I was near despair last weekend. As my hubby and I go through the classifieds and visit an apartment and arguing over the budget, I felt that surely this time is different. Surely we would have to move to a bad place.

I keep reminding myself that God is my Father. He will never abandon me. I asked Him for a house that we love, that we can afford. Even though my head told me otherwise, I believed with all my heart. Whereever it is, He knows best. Even if it's not very nice, it would be the best if it's from Him.

Well, what do we know. HE did it again! Today we went to see an apartment. We were blown away by it. Such a cosy and lovely place. Much smaller, because we cannot afford a big place like our current apartment, but it's just right. And the owner likes us so much, she gave us a very reasonable price. It's still above our budget. But that, too, we know God will provide.

We signed the contract tonight. All three of us love it. Throughout the visit my son just plonked himself happily on the sofa like he was at home already. It's just recently renovated, too. There are even little details, like furnitures that we had always wanted. It's all provided. The house is easy to clean with ceramic floors throughout. I could totally see my new baby crawling around in there.

What a lovely surprise, yet again!

I was reminded of something tonight. That my heavenly Father delights in making His daughter happy.

Whatever He allows to happen, whether good or bad, is always for my good. Always. Praise the Lord!

"... your heavenly Father knows that you need them."
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 6:32

God's guarantee

In the shadow of the Lehman Brothers collapse, that has become a domino effect to our financial crisis at the moment, I was reminded of this verse:

Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Eph 1:13-14

As christians = believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit.

Awesome as this seal is, it is only a deposit, an earnest or a downpayment, for the glory that is to come.

If someone buys a property, he will give a deposit, a promise to send the full payment at a later date. But he might default.

Indeed even a big bank that has been there for more than a hundred years can go bankrupt with our retirement money going down with them!

But I was thinking: will GOD, the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of all things, default?

Of course not!

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Pe 1:3-6

Oh, praise the Lord for even when our life on earth is wasting away, our inheritance in heaven is shielded by His power until the full redemption is meted out.

Yes, even though we are saved now and have this joy and peace, yet our full salvation is not yet. All this is but a foretaste of the glory to come. It is not yet even fully realized.

Oh, may we have this longing to know God more, so that we may long for this full redemption. Not just looking for treasures on earth like stocks and bonds and money and property and health. But eternal stuff that will count for eternity. Talking about compounded interest on that one!

Coram Deo

Latin words. It means "Before the face of God."

Martin Luther said that the goal of christian living is Coram Deo. That is to live constantly before the face of God.

It is so difficult it's impossible.

Our daily living is filled with rushing here and there, meals to prepare, children to care for, laundry to load, dishes to wash. Blogs to write :P. We sometimes forget that we are living in the presence of God who watches over us quietly, patiently, lovingly, Himself never ceasing to work to hold all things together for this world to keep on turning, turning.

Only by surrendering ourselves to the Holy Spirit can we strive for corum deo.

Yes, I do not want to give up living corum deo just because it is impossible. It's precisely that it is impossible that I could be glad in knowing that Christ Himself through His Holy Spirit will enable me to live this way.

During the day when I suddenly remember that He is present always, I should talk to Him, or sing a song of praise, or reciting a memory verse. Always saying, "Thank You, Lord, for this moment. For this city where I live. For this house. For this family." Anything.

Oh, may His grace enable me to do this. Always.

May I never be too sick for this. Even when I'm old. Even when I have alzheimer, dementia or anything of that kind. May I never forget Him who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Just a thought and a prayer for today.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Th 5:23-24

Sovereign God

Today as I walk home from the market, listening to a song from Bob Fitts on my ipod, I was thinking about God. The pathway is winding between two apartment buildings (a condo and an hdb block), with leafy trees on one side and grass on the other.

I look at myself walking ever onward towards home. Every step takes me closer. The road is hot and sometimes gravelly, but I press on knowing full well that it will soon be over. Another half a mile.

I look at the road ahead of me and realised something.
God is already there. He knows where I'm going. He always knows. He always protects.
He is powerful to use everything for His glory. Even the bad things.
Nothing can happen outside His knowledge.
The wicked and the righteous will both be put to justice.

My road is known to Him. He knows where I'm going and He is taking me there.
This love relationship that I have with my Father in heaven is real.
I'm so glad He answers prayers. I'm so glad He is sovereign.
My heart can trust in Him.

Fully.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Je 29:11

His Eye Is On the Sparrow

ps: bird in picture not a sparrow

In the morning the birds sound so happy. Maybe because it was raining all morning.
They were busily chirping in the trees below our apartment. Some were singing outside our breakfast window. It really seemed to me like they were talking to each other in loud cheery voices.

The rain lasts all day long. This is such a welcome respite after a week of humidity.

I love it that the birds are not intimidated to approach our windows.
Thank You, God, for the birds this morning.

Luke 12: 6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Lk 12:6-7

This song below come to mind.
Hymn: His Eye Is On the Sparrow
text by mrs. C.D. Martin

1. Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

2. "Let not your heart be troubled,"
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth
but one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
(Refrain)

3. Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song gives place to sighing,
when hope within me dies;
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
(Refrain)

God's Will

How do we know God's will? ...
But it's not like God is hiding His will and waiting for us to find out what it is. Oh, no.

It's more like God leading me and me just follow trustingly. That's all there is.

There's nothing mystic about it.
All we have to do is pray to the Lord, tell Him all that is in our heart. Our concerns, the confusion and fear. Ask Him to keep us in His way regarding what we must do. Ask Him to protect us from wrong decisions.

He is powerful to answer us. He will never abandon us. That is His promise in the Bible again and again. He will never abandon us to our bad choices, if we earnestly seek His will.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Pr 3:5-6

So I should truly trust in Him and not doubt. Why should I doubt Him, that somehow He is going to lose control and let me go? Never.
Jesus gave His life for me on the cross. He died in my place.
What makes me think that He would let me go? Never.

That's how we can know God's will. Not that we know for sure, but that we trust His leading as we decide prayerfully.

Along the process and even afterwards we would still be haunted by whether or not the decision is right. But let's put our trust in Him. If He already impressed upon our heart what we must do, confirmed by advice from godly friends and family too, we should just rest in Him.

Only much later will we see the big picture. How beautiful everything is in God's time.
Oh, yes, we can count on it.

wedding blessings

A friend of mine had a wedding ceremony at church yesterday. As I was sitting there at the pew, I was thankful for the so many guests who attended. The church was full.

The bride, my friend, has been a faithful servant of the Lord at church. She is also a cancer survivor, yet was still faithful to serve in her capacity in sunday school as much as she could during the difficult healing process. No wonder so many church members, parents and children, came. They want to be happy alongside her on this special day.

I'm thankful for these people who came. Because I think it makes her day, really, to see them come.

It reminded me of my wedding day where people braved the volatile situation (after a riot broke out a week before) to attend my meager wedding ceremony. Many of my own family members who lived out of town could not come. Many of my colleagues at the bank where I worked could not come. But I just remember how glad I was when I turned around from my bridal seat and saw the pews packed up to the balcony. There were many parents and children whom I taught in sunday school who made time to attend. The Lord gave me countless people who cared for me, back then in Jakarta. They made my day.

I wish I could have thanked each of them one by one, again and again, for coming on my one, most wonderful day.

So as I sat on that pew, thanking God for my caring church towards my caring friend's wedding, I thanked Him also for the way He cared for my wedding last time, even under such dire circumstances.

Thank You, Lord, for true friends.