dry and irrelevant

Last week, the girls from the school CF asked me to take over the meeting

and I obliged as their advisor was absent. As she was asbsent again today, and

fearing that she might not turn up tomorrow, I told the president I would prepare

a message in case I need to deliver one. I want to give a message which can

minister to their inner man and not just one which is "dry" and "irrelevant."

Therefore, have prayed for leading of the Holy Spirit even as I sought

on what to speak on. Should anyone read this, say a prayer for me ... will be

speaking at 145pm or so tomorrow.


Prayer.. " Speak through me, Lord, to refresh the souls of your children.In

Jesus' name, amen"

science seminar

Me: How was your science training seminar?

Son: I nearly fell asleep.

Me: Why?

Son: The teacher put me at the back of the class.

Me: Is it because you are one of the better students ( he obtained the highest

mark in his class after all) and the weaker ones are placed in front?

Son: No. It is because I am so tall but I could hardly see what was going on.

Me: ??

seeing and loving

In the new worship song this morning, one line reverberates in my

spirit,

" The more we see You, the more we love You."

The more I see God for who He is and experience Him, the more I am

captivated by Him.

This makes me reflect on human relationships..especially couples who

choose to stay together before commiting to marriage ( why?) and statistically

speaking, many of these relationships don't end up in marriage later. This could

be because the more they "see" each other ( especially when there is no need to

put up a "false front" or "pretence"...purpose.. to "impress") the more they see

the not-so-good qualities of the other?

waiting and wondering

This lady in front of me has some apples in her basket. I asked what she bought

them for ( call it nosey or curious me) She says she is going to bake an apple-

apricot cake. I asked if she could send me the recipe and gave her my email

address. Let's wait and see if that happens.

My church elder and wife will be travellig overseas. He is on his sabbatical.

I remember one blogger I comunicated with some time back who did invite me to go

visit if I am ever in his country. Well, I have just sent him an email to ask

if he and family would like to play host to my elder and wife. Let's wait and see

if that happens.

fathers

Perceptive daughter has already told me weeks in advance what her dad needed and

she wanted me to help her get it for him.


A father is indeed a great influence on daughters especially and many say it

often reflects our perspective of our heavenly father. My dad was a very

undemonstrative father, I don't remember receiving any hugs from him. But he showed

himself to be a very responsible provider ( of 8 kids) and this might help me

to be able to receive this truth of God...

ps 23 v 1 " The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.."


I have forgotten if I wrote this before in any post. My father was the one who

carried me on his bicycle , second brother would carry third brother on another

bicycle, and they would park the 2 bicycles at the bus stop, and off we go by bus

to watch the latest James Bond movie in town. This is one memory of my father. I

don't remember him indulging in anything else.

cheerful heart

As I was unwell last week, migraine beginning of the week and a cold middle

of the week onwards,my principal asked whether I was feeling the stress of having

being treasurer ...collecting and counting money from the school jogathon.Quite the

reverse, in fact. This year, I have such a creative and organised way to do the

collection. All glory to God for inspiring me with this idea.

Trying to play doctor as I self-prescribed echinacea and vitamin C to myself,

and feeling so much better today. After all, proverbs 17 v22 says " A cheerful

heart is good medicine..."

chariots and horses

Second brother will be travelling to be with his eldest daughter at her graduation in Scotland. She went over to study pharmacy on a JPA scholarship.
Well, swine flu or not, I think he made the right decision to travel.

Youngest brother is home for a short stint. His daughter would have completed her O levels and joining him for good at place where he is posted.He has been invited to be the VIP guest cum speaker at his alma mater's speech day. If I were to travel with him home, just maybe, I would go listen to see what he has to say.

A reminder from the Lord today, Ps 20 v 7 ".. some trust in chariots and some in
horses,but we trust in the name of the Lord our God". This was because I was wondering whether to ask youngest brother to do some name-dropping with regards to my earlier application ... as if to safeguard being posted far away.

unfailing love

1) once in a while, I will be stricken with migraine or giddiness. Had that last

night, turned in early so will be fresh to worship God today.

2) Driving to church, having a song in my hear ( despite still having a "heavy"

head, and recalling God's unfailing love . During the week, I felt God reminding

me of His unfailing love. I told God I want an encounter from Him.

3) The first worship song ...you guessed it....is on God's unfailing love.

Praise God!

Ps 32 v 10 " ... but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts

in Him"

Proverbs 19 v 22 "... what a man desires is unfailing love..."

what kind of a mother are you?

I was thrown offguard when this guy( accusingly) threw this question at me.

"What kind of a mother are you?"

Thanking God, that I didn't lose my cool and in a tone that didn't match his,

I took the opportunity to explain about my faith in God. And how daughter is

experiencing her walk with God and how GOING to church does NOT make one a

christian.

Reflection: Thanking God for every opportunity to witness and praying that

I will pay more heed to Proverbs 11v30 "... and he who wins souls

is wise."

broken

Had a few things serviced this week.First was the fitness exercise bike and the

service technician, after checking, knew immediately what was wrong.

Second were the air-conditioners. This proved a little tricky. It was either the

starter problem or not enough gas and I received a shock when told that one of

compressors needed to be changed. ( Cost of a compressor came to RM500 while a

new air-conditioner costs RM1200. Of course, being the rational person that I am,

I opted to buy a new air conditioner instead.


Reflection: Thanking God, regardless of how "broken" ( emotionally, physically or

mentally)I am, He doesn't disregard me but wants me to come to Him


for total healing .Ps 34 v 18 " The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

praising God

I was told that many of the church members were touched at the recent camp.

I was so looking forward to much sharing and a better attendance at the weekly

prayer meeting.Was disappointed as only 7 of us turned up for prayer, 3 ladies and

4 men.

Understandably, there are so many other "activities" to occupy believers.

How is your church attendance at prayer meets?

My prayer: Father God, I repent and ask for forgiveness for the many times that

we seek Your face and engage in persistent prayer only for selfish

breakthroughs in our own lives. Help us to realise that You desire to

fellowship with us, and to remember that

Ps 50v 23" He who sacrifices thank offerings honours me,

and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation

of God"


As I read this psalm this morning, that verse leaps in my spirit.

When we praise God( in whatever circumstances we find ourselves) it

opens the way for God to work. Praising Him shows our faith in Him.

Do you agree?

wedding

Attended a wedding over the weekend. Met 3 schoolmates who were either friends

or relatives on the bride side.

One recognised me ( she said because I was one of the top students in school at

that time)although I couldn't place her.


Being reminded that I am to make myself ready for the wedding of the Lamb.

( Rev 19v 7)

egypt

This lady is burdened for the son who is now separated from his wife.He tells

mother that he feels so "liberating".

I tell the mother that the "garlic" and "onions " of Egypt may be tasty now, but

it is only for a season.

Are you in "Egypt"?

Then pray PS 80v 7 " restore us (me) O God,

make Your face shine upon us"(me)

compassionate God

I asked daughter , if given a choice,( after commiting a misdeed) she would prefer

A) man or

B) God

to punish her. She chooses God , believing that if she truly repents of her wrongdoing,God would be merciful to her and forgive her. Although daughter's faith is very young, I am so glad she knows this attribute of God.

I then told her of the situation faced by David mentioned in 1 Chronicles 21.
"Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel."
David was given 3 options of how he would be punished.


David's choice, (v13) "Let me fall into the hands of the Lord,for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."

Lamentations 3 v 22, 23 " Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness."

blessed

An online sermon I heard this morning mentioned Jer 6 v 16. This is the second time I am directed to this verse these last 2 weeks and I know it is not by accident. God is speaking to me.This is one way God leads or confirms something to me. How does God lead you?

Today God just wants me to be on the receiving end . I am the one being blessed today. I attended ladies meet at church, ( only could make it during school hols as it is held on a thursday morning.)I was blessed with "nasi dagang" for lunch.

I am always on the look-out to encourage someone and I find that God's word speaks so much more powerfully but God is saying that likewise, He wants me to learn to receive from Him as well.

happenings

1) went to the market, this morning, intending to buy some "chai kueh" or "pau" with turnip fillings to bless 2 ladies.However, the stalls were closed.

I took my daughter to visit one of these ladies end of last year. Daughter was so taken in by her that she wrote her first essay for the year on her as the assigned essay title was " A person I admire".Lady in question is a lady who has to be assisted by her 2 maids for her basic function, lying in bed but still mentally alert and an encourager in every way. She uses the phone to pray for people or minister to them. I remember giving her a verse isaish61 v 3 to describe her, "...called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendour"

2) wanted to pass some novels to my son's classmate's mum but didnt see her at school.

3)managed to pass the previous day's newspapers though.

4)wrote an encouraging email and prayer to someone. Did that 2 days ago also, I think. But I received a quick reply of thanks from the latter.

5) a phone call just came in asking me ( as old treasurer of apartment management committee, signatories haven't been changed yet) to sign some cheques

6) will visit pasar malam after this, probably to enjoy my favourite laksa.

7) a trip to giant to get some sundries.

8) and lastly, church prayer meet tonight.

reflections

Reflections:



I received an sms from the friend I mentioned earlier who came to me and cried? Her sms states that her ailment is NOT the serious one as she feared. PTL ( Godd of her to let me know...or I will be wondering)

While at son's school today to pick him up ( extra classes held) I remembered his vice principal telling me one day that she has not conceived after a few years of marriage. Remember what I shared in my earlier post about the lady I prayed for who conceived? ( although she didnt come back to thank me? so that God is glorified? Reminds me of the 10 lepers)
So, I walked up to this vice principal and offered to pray for her ( aggressively looking for people to pray for) And she consented, she has not conceived after trying for 6 years. I shared about the earlier lady with her. After praying, she thanked me profusely and said she will "belanja" me when she conceives.

Let's wait for good report....am just a vessel.


Then I went to the library to return 2 books which are long overdue, stopping to buy some curry puffs for the voluntary librarians. This library is mainly run by expatriates.

Oh yeah, I also dropped in to visit my elder's wife who shared about the church camp. I bought her 2 curry fish heads to supplement her lunch . Her hubby asks me for previous days' newspapers ( these will be passed to him tomorrow...a blessing booked for tomorrow already)

So, elder's wife said that there was this nature trail ( at Fraser's Hill) and they were asked to pick up anything along the way and later shared about it.For eg, she mentioned about one lady who picked up a liquor bottle and shared that it reminded her not to be drunk with wine. A few others pick up flowers. I told her that I would not have picked flowers. I would want a piece of hardwood, to symbolise the blessed man( woman) in psalms 1 v 1 - 3.By the way, " whose leaf does not wither" ..leaf here symbolises good health as leaves of many plants have healing
properties.



What would you pick on the nature trail?