Still He Walked

He could hear the crowds screaming “crucify” “crucify”…
He could hear the hatred in their voices,
These were his chosen people. He loved them,
And they were going to crucify him.
He was beaten, bleeding and weakened… his heart was broken,
But still He walked.

He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.
He knew each of the faces so well. He had created them.
He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear,
But now they were contorted with rage and anger…his heart broke,
But still He walked.

Was he scared? You and I would have been, so his humanness would
Have mandated that he was. He felt alone. His disciples
Had left, denied, and even betrayed him.
He searched the crowd for a loving face and he saw very few.
Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered
And he knew that he would never be alone.
He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting
At him, throwing rocks at him and mocking him and he knew
That because of him, they would never be alone.
So for them, He walked.

The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through
The crowd. The sounds of his cries echoed even louder,
The cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet
Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow.
Loudest of all was the still small voice inside his
Heart that whispered “I am with you my son”,
And God’s heart broke.
He had let his son walk.

Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,
But instead he asked God to forgive, Not to forgive him,
But to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.
As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
But also, the face of every person yet to be,
And his heart filled with love.
As his body was dying, his heart was alive. Alive with
The limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.
That is why He walked.

When I forget how much My God loves me,
I remember his walk.
When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
I remember his walk.
When I need reminded of how to live like Christ,
I think of his walk.
And to show him how much I love him,
I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,
And I walk.

A Long Walk

In a remote village in Central America the word got out among the peoples of the region that one of the American missionaries that had served this country for many years was about to return to the US to live out the remaining years of her life.

The nationals desired to honor her for her years of service with a public time of appreciation. News of the event went to all parts of the country in which the missionary was known to the people. One very old and very poor man walked to the ceremony over mountainous terrain for 4 days to bring his gift to the missionary.

The gift consisted of 2 coconuts, but it was all the man had. The missionary recognized the man as coming from the remote village in the mountains.

“Brother, I cannot believe that you would walk so far to present me with this gift,” said the missionary to the man.

His response? “Long walk part of gift.”

Choose Your Words Well

A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best friend of many years. She regretted it immediately, and would have done anything to have taken the words back. But they were said, impulsively, in a moment of thoughtlessness, and as close as she and her friend were, she didn’t consider the effects of her words before hand.

What she said hurt the friend so much that this good woman was herself hurt for the pain she caused. In her effort to undo what she had done, she went to an older, wiser woman in the village.

Explaining her situation, and asked for advice. The older woman listened patiently in an effort to determine just how sincere the younger woman was, how far she was willing to go to correct the situation. She explained that sometimes, in order put things back in order, great efforts must be made.

She then asked: “Just what would you be willing to do, to repair the harm done?”

The answer was heartfelt. “Anything”

Listening to her, the older woman, sensed the younger woman’s distress, and knew she must help her. She also knew she could never alleviate her pain by living her life for her, but she could teach, if the younger woman would first listen, and then learn. She knew the outcome would depend solely on the character of the younger woman.

She said, “There are two things needed to do to make amends. The first of the two is extremely difficult. Tonight, take your best feather pillows, and open a small hole in each one. Then, before the sun rises, you must put a single feather on the doorstep of each house in town.

When you are through, come back to me. If you’ve done the first thing completely, I’ll tell you the second.”

The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore, even though the pillows were very dear to her, very expensive.

All night long she labored alone in the cold. She went from doorstep to doorstep, taking care not to overlook a single house. Her fingers were frozen, the wind was so sharp it caused her eyes to water, but she ran on, through the darkened streets, thankful there was something she could do to put things back the way they once were. Finally, as the sky was getting light, she placed the last feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose, she returned to the older woman.

She was exhausted, but relieved that her efforts would be rewarded.

“My pillows are empty. I placed a feather on the doorstep of each home.” Now, said the wise woman, “Go back and refill your pillows. Then everything will be as it was before.”

The young woman was stunned. “You know that’s impossible! The wind blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps!! You didn’t say I had to get them back!! If this is the second requirement, then things will never be the same.”

“That’s true”, said the older woman. “Never forget. Each of your words is like a feather in the wind. Once spoken, no amount of effort, regardless how heartfelt or sincere, can ever return them to your mouth. Choose your words well, and guard them most of all in the presence of those you love.”

I wanna catch God’s vision for the nation.

God sees the entire landscape, we only see the valleys.

This article made me cry…

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Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother was, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. On his arms were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn’t let go.”

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He’s been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. If you have Christ in your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That’s when the tug-o-war begins; and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not - and will not - let you go.

I might be moving into Becks’ place eventually! Been eying her place for over a year! She’s moving out and letting me have her place, and she’s even found me a flatmate. Plus the landlady used to be a teacher and doesn’t mind dogs in the flat as she used to have a dog. It does sound like it’s working out! And hopefully Becks gets the place she saw at Shelford. For now I am dreaming of nice CLEAN hardwood floor with a nice CLEAN kitchen to indulge in my other passion, cooking! People get ready to be harrassed to come over to be my guinea pigs! Don’t think Nicholas will want to be my guinea pig. He’s a chef leh!!

My reflection on the chapter Fellowship of the Heart, Waking the Dead by John Eldredge

If we open our eyes or have eyes to see, we’ll be tuned into a different world. So many stories and characters elevate us above our mundane worlds, and into one where nothing is as they appear–the magic of life.

You see a rhythm that is weaved into your life. It’s not about the mundane that gets you by. It’s about a gravitation towards a calling, a vision. Priorities, passion, posteriorities, whatever name you give it, it pulls you to a certain calling. You will feel restless until you find it.

Dorothy from Oz was lost and desperate to go home. Yet she was right where she needed to be. Aragon, early in the story, was longing, lonely, waiting, and thwarted (J. Eldredge, 2003). When the story ended (or just began, depending on your perspective), he was crowned King; he claimed his rightful place in the mythical world. It’s their calling, their destiny.

Is your journey about a familiar routine: waking up, going to work, coming back home, sleeping, and waking up again? What is the dream God is laying on your heart? What are you doing to make this dream come alive? Has the mundane rob you of this dream? Have you become passive, acquiescent?

With what eyes do you see your life in what dimension?

Just put up 3 more pictures on the empty blind. I caught myself doing it and stared at the blind in disbelief! I told myself I would not make my cubicle any more cosy than functional. Now it’s becoming a haven. Pictures of dogs, kids’ cards & drawings, a small collection of figurines (grew from a single music box), and canine and christian literature (books, articles, lyrics, brochures, cut-outs, bible) and a tennis ball (so I can toss it to destress) now grace my cubicle.

Went IMM for lunch with Jo, Ivan and BY. Was dreaming of Fish Porridge and Ice Kachang (such a hot day today) but Jo had to be back in school fast so ended up having fast food. Am watching my diet strictly now. and I can’t quite explain why I had BK. All for u Jo!

"And I want to show you great and marvellous things." (Jer 33:3)

Ever been to Grand Canyon overlooking its rim? Or admire the galaxies and constellations through telescopes in pitch darkness on a lofty mountain top? The marvel the works of Nature brings out of you is simply… breathtaking. God’s handiwork bearing His mark, His beauty. YOU too are God’s handiwork. YOU take God’s breath away. YOU bear His image. YOU reflect His glory.

Good morning, Marvels!

Had 2 games of bowling, went to the gym (timing improved YAY!), popped into the arcade and tried my hands (legs rather) on the Dance Mixer before heading off to late dinner at Yoshi (Sushi Tei and Hanabi were closing by then). Oh saw a silver SLK 200 and we parked beside it! It’s indeed gorgeous! I would love to hear the engine hum! We went into Dempsey Road to admire St George’s Church. It’s beautiful. Would have loved to explore the place around on foot some night. 

Reon Ho, a writer in my class, whose writing I enjoy, graces my blog.

The work of heavy highway equipment is to smooth the way for travelers by exalting valleys, making low the mountains and hills, straightening the crooked. Obstacles–trees, rocks, houses, even mountains themselves–are put out of the way. This is what the Lord can do for his travelers (it is promised by the prophet Isaiah), but He does it without fuss, and in response to the one who simply thinks of Him: "Think of Him in all your ways, and He will smooth your path" (Prv. 3:6 NEB).

The mind can build barriers, produce huge obstacles, collide with boulders of impossibility. Strangely and wonderfully, when we turn our thoughts to Him with whom nothing is an impossibility (and to turn thoughts takes an act of will), He smoothes the path for us. We find it possible, maybe even easy, to move forward.

Don’t waste time, energy, perhaps sleep-time, thinking of all those rocks in the way. Think of Him. Think of Him! You may find your path suddenly smoothed.

Left school at 1 today. Plan was to head off to Haagen Daz to do some marking of compositions but the balmy hilltop with the swaying of the palm trees beckoned me. I made my way to my favourite quiet spot overlooking the pool. Let my hair down, close my eyes and let the breeze have its way with me. I opened my eyes after a few minutes only to laugh at myself. For my mind was a total state of blank during those minutes–a moment of much-needed quiet from myself! No thoughts speeding through at warp speed vying for my attention. Just letting God’s peace wash over me. It was a moment of inarticulate closeness. No need for words. It was as if the wind carried my thoughts away into heaven. Aahhhh… heaven… 

This excerpt is dedicated especially to Jo, Angela, Wen, Min, Hwee Peck, Sharine & Ian.

"This stream of counselling… flows through His people as well. We need others–we need them deeply. The fact is, we are usually too close to our lives to see what’s going on. Because it’s our story we’re trying to understand, we sometimes don’t know what’s true or false, what’s real and imagined. We can’t see the forest for the trees. It often takes the eyes of someone to whom we can tell our story, bare our souls. The more dire our straits, the more difficult it can be to hear directly from God."

Had a really great time with Mum today. Felt so pampered. Nagged at her too. hahaha! She makes the best curry in the whole wide world. We just hung out with Freckles (left Orli at home to spend one on one time with GirlGirl), and later on my sis & Cola joined us. Spent some time with Bro too. Praying for their salvation. Esp Mum, and for Bro and Sis to return to God. Want to spend more quality time with them.

Jo, whom I sometimes call Qiu Yi, is my best friend. I don’t think we go by a day & night without talking to, smsing, msning each other, other than the weekends she abandons me to go diving. HAHA! 

My mind can be too active. Sometimes the sense I make to myself tears me in a very different direction my heart wants to make; these two organs always make indefatigable pursuits unauthorised by me hahaha! The decision-making process I go through was always weighted and conflicted. Thank God He broke the vicious cycle! What a burden lifted! My mind’s renewed and heart set free! I’ve learnt to watch out for the movements of my heart, let go of stray thoughts, reject Satan’s condemning and suggestive whisperings, tune into the still small voice which is calming and brings peace. It’s pure and sweet abandonment. My mind hasn’t stopped thinking, my heart hasn’t stopped feeling, but now I’ve handed the key over to my Gatekeeper.

Will God Explain Why?

We sometimes imagine that God must eventually "sit us down" and "explain" his mysterious ways to our satisfaction. Let us suppose we have never seen a skyscraper. We discover a whole city block surrounded by a board fence. Finding a knothole, we peer inside. Huge earth movers are at work; hundreds of men in hard hats are busy at mysterious tasks; cranes are being moved into place; truckloads of pipes and cement are being unloaded. What on earth is happening? There is nobody around to answer our questions. If we wait long enough, nobody will need to. When we see the finished building, all the incomprehensible activity becomes comprehensible. "Oh! So this is what that was for."

Pastor Kai had all of us in stitches today! Ask me about it!

Whole week, this song "Through it All" has been on my mind, in my heart. Today it was sung in worship. Oh, how sweet it felt…

My faithful Father, enduring Friend
Your tender mercy’s like a river with no end
It overwhelms me, covers my sin
Each time I come into Your presence
I stand in wonder once again

CHORUS:
Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
Your grace still amazes me
‘Cause Your grace still amazes me

Oh, patient Saviour, You make me whole
You are the Author and the Healer of my soul
What can I give You, Lord, what can I say
I know there’s no way to repay You
Only to offer You my praise

It’s deeper, it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
It’s deeper it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
than anything my eyes can see

I LOVE MY IMAC!! Particularly Front Row! While in bed as I woke up this morning, I reached my hand over for the remote control (iMac comes with 1 YES!), hit the play button, and was serenaded by Marti Webb as I hid under the comforter watching the dogs wrestle each other, with a blissful smile on my face, laughing to myself as they tumbled and rumbled with each other wearing a silly grin on their own faces. This blissful moment was broken when I saw what they were tugging!! My Reebok socks!! hahaha! They brought the socks to me as requested, only because they thought I wanted to join in the game! hahaha! I love my dogs. I looove loooove loooove my dogs!

Just had a nice long warm shower in candlelight. I feel toasty in my blue and white stripey VS PJs and pink stripey socks! 

After the Road had run down some way, and had left Bree-hill standing tall and brown behind, they came on a narrow track that led off towards the North. "This is where we leave the open road and take to cover," said Strider. "Not a short cut I hope," said Pippin. " Our last short cut through woods nearly ended in disaster." "Ah, but you had not got me with you then," laughed Strider. (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring) 

WOW… This just blew my mind. 

It is not always possible to know whether the source of an idea or deed is God or Satan, since God sometimes covers Himself in cloud and Satan is often an angel of light. It is, however, always possible to trust the Shepherd who has promised to lead us in paths of righteousness. We must do the thing that appears to be right to do at the right time and do it by faith. That is, we do it with an honest desire to obey God and a willingness to have what He wills us to have, or not to have what He does not will us to have. If it were not for uncertainties, we would have no need to walk by faith.

Show me the way that I must take;
to Thee I offer all my heart.
Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God.
Keep me safe, O Lord, for the honor of thy name.

–(Ps 143:8,10,11 NEB)

Asked a friend today, what do you do with the enjoyment you get from reading Proverbs? 

Had Parent-Teacher conference yesterday.

Jo said, "Please explain yourself. I don’t want to jump to conclusion." I don’t want to hide anything from Jo. Not my best friend. I want to be honest with her, even my weaknesses and bad decisions. I told her, "Nothing to explain. This is how it happened…" After hearing me out, she said, "That’s good. Well I have trust in you. So even though you’ve failed many times, I still trust you." More than relieved, I was grateful for her being accepting of my weaknesses, bad decisions, and most of all, my vulnerability, for not rejecting me or turning me away in anger for the decision she thinks I should not have made although I have my reasons. You know, I don’t know what I would do without Jo. *Jo, I don’t know what I would do without you. You are the sunshine in my life! Here you go, your 5 min of fame! haha!