Time is Ticking to Eternity

And so, here we are... the last couple of days of 2008 and then the year is gone forever to eternity.

I get pretty introspective whenever the year is ending and another year is approaching. Every single day I am aware that I am not getting younger and white strands are trying to conquer the black ones. Oh well, everyone will have whites, sooner or later.

After asking some trivial questions regarding my own life and expectations like have I consumed less calories this year than last year, I decided to ask some questions that for me matter.

Have I as a servant of Christ pleased my Master well this year? Am I a better Christian today after 365 days? Have I gotten closer or have I known my Master better because I read His Word well and obeyed Him? Have I done my best to be a blessing to my family? Have I shared Christ to people?

Anyway, as the 2008 curtain is closing, I would like to say that I am praying for me and for you that we might know Christ better -- the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the King of Kings.

I am expecting unspeakable power in my life as I get to know Him better each day by reading His Word and applying it in my life until the end of my time.

Happy New Year, everyone.

What Would You Give to the Birthday Celebrant?

Last Sunday, as usual, I was busy with the kids in our church. Since it was starting to be busy for the Christmas season and all the the schedule of activities are beginning to be crazy, I decided I need to warn the kids not to miss Christmas -- the real meaning of Christmas, which is the Birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

There would be a cantata after the Christmas party next Sunday for the Sunday School department which would mean lots of food preparation, gifts, games, to mention the least. I felt so burdened with all these "traditional" activities.

15 minutes before we ended our lesson, I ran to the car where I hid the Christmas cake we bought and brought it to the Junior Worship class. I lighted the blue candle before we sang "Happy Birthday, Jesus." Then I asked each of the kids "What is your gift to Jesus?" Here are their answers: my life, my love, my trust. I asked them, "What is that one thing you love so much that you can give to Jesus?" One 7- year- old boy thought for a while, "Aside from my life? I think I would give my puppy." That's one concrete answer I got, and yet, it is so real and inspiring.

We can easily say we want to give our life for Jesus, the one that gave His life for us. But can we give up something we really love for Jesus? What about a bad habit? What about our imaginations and some unholy thoughts? What about our selfish desires? What about our tithes and offerings which rightly belong to Him? What about one hour a week to volunteer to tutor a struggling student?

I struggle to give an answer to my own question, "What would I give to Jesus on His birthday?"

It is so ironic that what I can give honestly to the Holy God are my unholiness and sinfulness in exchange for His forgiveness and edification which lead to a fulfilling life of tremendous and exciting victory.

I was 8 years old when I gave my life to Christ in an old church which building still stands today.

"What would I give to Jesus on his birthday this year?" I think I would give him all my unfair and cruel judgments on people which I know little of what their hearts say.

May God help me. Happy Birthday, my Savior and my Lord.

Suddenly...

Right after every Thanksgiving, my heart pounds faster out of excitement for what is to come-- my most favorite of all holidays and occasions: Christmas. I don't really know why suddenly, the monotony of the routine of life just rushes out and the forming cobwebs of my tired mind are immediately swept away. Suddenly, it feels my long-gone youth is back and I'm out, fresh, and ready to face life again! It is not the turkey I eat on Thanksgiving because I'm not fond of eating turkeys, nor the glitters and fresh scented christmas trees at the mall. It is everything! it affects everything and everybody. It is the message of hope.

Suddenly, the message of hope begins to affect almost everyone even those who are hopeless. A Savior has come! Joy to the World! Even recession is overshadowed by it!

O, the wonder of it all! I wish that not a single soul will miss Christmas. Dear friend, Jesus was born about 2000 years ago as the Messiah -- the Savior, and he has come to redeem every soul including yours -- He is the reason for the season! Merry CHRISTmas.

Chasing Wisdom

"I run not to take beatings but to win." This is a quote from one of the characters in the movie "Chariots of Fire". (This movie was popular many years back but it seems always a new movie for me that inspires me.)

I have always love running but I don't run much now except in opening the gate when my husband honks (because we don't have the automatic gate opener yet,)when I chase our german shepherd when she runs amock, and chasing my forever energetic daughter. Oh, but the thought of running in the wide open countryside still excites me!

Then as I read my devotional today at www.gty.org, I thought of wisdom and how we can truly live with it in our lives. I picture myself running after it. As a christian, I know that we can acquire wisdom from the Word of God, the Bible. But how about those who mock God, those who exalt themselves over their vain accomplishments, and treat others lower than their self illusions and think they know more than the rest of the people?

As Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:7, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Read the Bible, my friend. Chase wisdom.

God Desires to be Found

I was reading my devotional this morning and was zealously reminded that God not only can be found but also desires to be found. Wow! This is awesome! Although I've always known that God so loved the world and that He gave His only begotten son and that whosoever believes in Him should not not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16), it did not sink in me this profound and quite relieving thought that GOD DESIRES TO BE FOUND.

Every single day with its tedious moments of labor for some and monotonous minutes that form habits to eternity for others, millions of people will get lost and find their way to the feign and demonic gods of our society. Whether loneliness, pride, wealth, etc. that led them to their futile ways, it is up to them to make up their minds to search for the only one God who is Jesus Christ.

Search for God, my friend, search Him with all your heart and He can truly be found.

"If you search for me with all your hearts then you will find me." Jeremiah 29:13

I Voted!

Yes, I voted for ......!!!! I will not tell whether it's Barack or McCain. But I did my duty and yes, a precious privilege. Last week, the whole world watched as America elected its President. And now that it's finally over, comes the great work of playing my role as a citizen. But before I am a citizen, I am a christian first. This means I will give priority to Christ and His teachings first than anything else in this World.

There are lots of things I am not happy about in other cultures around the world. However, being a christian means loving and accepting all people but not necessary loving or doing their culture and tradition. This also means that I will continue loving the people that hurt me, stab me at the back, and use me. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal Life." (John 3:16) If God loved the World, then I am bound to love them too. So help me, God.

A Mother's Thanksgiving

Since Thanksgiving day is coming, I would like to ponder on the countless things I thank God for. This morning, my daughter read an entry on this blog and she was surprised I did not write anything about her. "How come you have not written anything about me?", she asked. Well, this made me ponder too what should I write about her. Whenever I think of her, there's this first word that comes to my mind immediately : Thanks. Lord, thank you for giving me my daughter (She likes to be called Danielle.). Danielle is a bubbly, super-active, cheerful, healthy, curious, and loving girl. Because God gave me a daughter, I am a different person now.

To the Youth: One Thing to be Passionate About

I'm not sure if my youth is fading. I guess it depends on how one defines youth. A once -popular poet described youth as NOT the time of red cheeks, red lips, or supple knees, etc. But rather, youth is a state of mind, and oh, I would like to think it that way too!

I was about 10 years old when every afternoon after school , I would trot along the green lawn in our quite spacious school yard and then lie down on the grass and look at the ever azure skies then think of the future -- where my friends and I will be 10 years hence. I would set rigorous training schedules and strict athletes' diet for me to follow when I admired and imitated great Olympic runners and other athletes. I would write poems of what I admire in nature and young love. I would sink on reveries while playing heavy classical music, etc. There were literally multiples of ideals I have let my mind be passionately awed of when I was young--er.... School was just OK although it never challenged me. No, I never drank. I never did drugs nor sex, nor whatever foolish things of the youth. But by having lots of ideals and rules to follow created in me some heartfelt burdens of disillusion. Where would all these lead me? What is the meaning of all these?



One hot afternoon after school in my sophomore year in high school, I sat in one of the chairs of a vacated classroom and listened to a college student leading a Bible study. We were 4 or 5 of my classmates listening. I found myself meditating on Psalm 139. And there, I came to realize that before I was born, God knew me. It was overwhelming to think that I cannot hide anything from God, not even my secret thoughts!

Awesome! God is just so awesome. That afternoon was years and years ago. And up to this day, I can't help myself being passionate about searching what God has to say.

It is found in the Bible. Never reject it until you've read it. Be passionate about the real thing.

Make it a Habit, Love it!

This morning when I got up, my back and shoulder blades are a bit sour. "Another day older, am I not?" I thought. "I wonder what the day will bring? I hope more exciting and not just the routine!"

Then I remembered that I really have to establish it, push it, and just do it! I'm talking about my habit of daily quiet time - my quiet time with my Lord. Years ago were so different. This morning, I turned on the computer and went to http://www.gty.org/ and clicked on "devotionals". I also have the http://www.biblegateway.com/ if ever I can't find my Bible on my side . I started reading my devotional. Wow, what a day to start the day! There are so many articles to read and to learn from. In about an hour, I learned a lot.

I vow to establish it, push it, and just do it! Wow, I love it! Try it! You will love it!