2009 And Beyond: Years Of Faith And Faithfulness
This year and beyond shall be the years that I should seriously consider on preparing myself for post-campus life. Thus, as I keep on building genuine relationships, by God’s grace, I shall also seek earnestly his will and to walk in faith and faithfulness.
God entrusts his inheritance on his people; this shall result in my faithfulness (to live life his way):
How blessed is the person,
who does not take the advice of the wicked,
who does not stand on the path with sinners,
and who does not sit in the seat of mockers.
But he delights in the LORD’s instruction,
and meditates in his instruction day and night. – [Psalm 1:1-2]
And all man depend on God’s faithfulness; this shall result in my faith (to believe in him for greater works) that I shall be a person as described in the following verse:
He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
yielding its fruit in season,
and whose leaf does not wither.
He will prosper in everything he does. – [Psalm 1:3]
In the upcoming years, no matter how challenging they can be, it is my prayer that upon building genuine relationships I shall grow in faith and in faithfulness, to believe in and to obey God. Accompanying this theme is my devotional sharing on Drawing From His Presence.
An Overview On 2008/2009 – YEAR OF BUILDING GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS
Genuine relationships – including all relationships, ranging from most general to most personal ones – can be broadly defined in different ways. Whatever its definition is, it requires continual, mutual commitments. Certainly, the relationship with God stands most vital, which in turn keep reminding me about the importance of the relationships with the people around me. I wrote about that in The Sabbath, a devotional sharing. This post shares an overview on what had happened for my past-one year. Of course, building genuine relationships is a never-ending process.
1. CONCERNING MY PRESENT FAMILY
First and foremost, I thank God and am glad that my parents and my brothers have accepted the Lord and are now walking with him. I have even decided to join them in the same Mandarin-speaking church (because I had been attending one communicating in English). Although there are still moments of trials, I pray we can grow strong and serve together for and with God. For The Ever-Greater Next-Moments is one of the devotional sharings most inspired by what had been happening in me and my family.
At the time being I have been continually keeping in touch only with my immediate family members (i.e. parents and brothers). Well, guess I gotta be more intentional in this area. Family is always the safest zone in my life whether I feel troubled or joyful.
谢谢你，爸，因为你坚强努力地工作赚钱养家。
你的毅力要成为全家人的榜样！
谢谢你，妈，你为家庭所付出的心思我们知晓。
还有你下的厨，我在沙巴时只能怀念，却不能品尝，唉！
也谢谢你们，垲峻（我的大哥）和阿豪（我的弟弟），我们兄弟要继续努力。
若上帝允许，我们将来要创大大的业！哈哈！
也谢谢你，阿姨，虽然我们很少联络，
但你每月的支助重重祝福了我在大学生涯的日子！哈哈！
也谢谢你们，二伯伯，三伯伯，大姑姑，大舅舅和二姑姑二姑丈。
虽然我也没常与你们联系，但你们所给的帮助，鼓励和指示都使我受益不浅！
阿公、阿嫲，和公公、婆婆，祝你们身体健康。
我每次回去都盼望着要吃你们做的爱心甜品和拿手好菜！哈哈！
Definitely, supports by the rest of the family are most acknowledged and appreciated. Thank you all!
2. CONCERNING MY OWN DREAM FAMILY
Besides, finding a life-companion remains my desperation. I had had a crush on a girl, as I had described in Finding A Girlfriend (the crush being resulted from a possible-to-be-misunderstood eye-contact), and, realistically saying, (1) I am still approaching to know the real her (hopefully not in vain) and (2) she also has yet to know the real me (if she’s ever interested to). Nevertheless, …
… even on a person one may have a crush,
if to share together there is nothing much,
nothing then it would be but a mere-emotional rush
if not a short-lived crush that awaits to be crushed.
Yet at that moment I will know what to do;
I just cannot and must not force my way through.
Throughout this past-one year, I deliberately put to test my feelings towards her, and what I’ve found is that she has remained rather passive (or in a non-initiating role) for most conversations or matters except (1) some greetings and (2) official matters (such as those related to my portfolio as an Exco of Student and Residence Service), and thus, I think, the existence of many barriers between us is obvious. Sigh… Whatever it may be, from now on, “Sever the desire, but not the relationship” is how I should respond, I believe.
Then, as a new beginning in this area of my life, Trusting In God As A Single spells out my heart, soul and mind regarding this major-issue in my campus (and future-working) life, in search of the right one lady.
I’d just like to thank her here for the encouragements she offered during some of those trying moments which I took the initiative to share with her in writing. Well, we are still friends. God will always give her the best.
3. CONCERNING MY FRIENDS
In the perspective of friendship, at the appropriate time, the Men’s Breakthrough Weekend (MBTW) organised by Skyline Church has been a blessing. While I am desperate for my right lady with whom I can share my whole life – and her life – I thank God for the men in my MBTW group (two married and one in courtship) that as we open-up each of our hearts and share a bit here and there, prayers are offered and advices are given by the elders, even for our own quite-personal matters. Although the MBTW has just begun during mid-year of 2009, I believe it will eventually result in more strong bonds of friendship. Am I Accepted Or Not? is a little devotional sharing related to friendship.
I thank my cell group, viz. Faith’s group, for being committed to the warm, friendly and relaxing Friday-evening moments every week, and Clive, Steven and Willy, thank you for what you’ve shared during the MBTW. And thank you, Nicolas, though my busy-ness might have taken its toll on our once-usual times of prayers and sharings. Also thank you, Zheng Feei and Chee Tze, for the occasional tea times where we could open our hearts to one another. And Liu Qing, thank you, too, for the encouragements you gave during some of those doubting moments which I had written about to you. And Rona, you who are staying over there in the Philippines, thank you as well, for the continual, authentic sharings through the chat-room and emails even though we’re far apart. And thank you all, those who have cared, prayed or concerned for me, your name may not have been mentioned here, but I pray God bless you always! Thank you.
4. CONCERNING MY MINISTRIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition, relationships with bosses (in the case of students leaders, officers, deans, lecturers… etc), colleagues and subordinates are essential, with due regard to the importance of teamwork. Yet, it cannot be denied that problems exist among coursemates, housemates, colleagues (in student-led organisations), and so on. Leadership is another devotional sharings inspired amidst the trying times for the past-one year of my life especially as a student rep.
I thank all UMS staffs and all my colleagues and all coursemates and all fellow-workers alongside me in the Messiah. Thank you all for your commitments; you know that I am talking about you 
5. OVERCONCERNING ABOUT THE FUTURE
Lastly, there has been a battle in my mind: Over-concerning, or rather worrying, especially about the uncertainties lying in the future. Sometimes I just concern too much, about anything, at any time, any where… to the extent that such worries affect my relationships, performance in my studies, carrying out of my duties… etc. Nonetheless, there have been various ups and downs.
All in all, I thank you, God. I thank you not so much for the circumstances around me, but specially for your goodness and loving kindness to all people regardless during good or bad circumstances. About the worries, I guess I need a paradigm-shift; help me.
FINALLY
Undeniably, I have made mistakes. For instance, failing to manage myself in busy-ness and sometimes neglecting the importance of genuine relationships, or when students complained about campus bus service or inquire about some simple things, I got impatient quickly and responded too bluntly at times; I’ll continue to examine myself in these and many other areas of my life, and change accordingly.
Finally, I am still praying specifically about what I would like to focus on as (by the 25th of September, 2009) I have entered into the fifth year following the Messiah. May God bless you, too, as he leads you in all the things that you do.
Things I Should Have Done (A Good Friday’s Sharing)
Alighting from the bus this afternoon, I realised that I did not do the things I should have done properly. Passing a friend by, my mind was so focused on things and works that I overlooked greeting him/her or, even worse, his/her greeting to me. Waking up at 5am almost every day, instead of spending time in communion with God I had almost every time gone back to sleep.
Things like that happen often, and I am usually struck with a sense of guilt and sometimes depression at the moment I found that I did not do the things I should have done; something or someone is missing in my heart. That often makes me feel bad; that often makes those around me to feel bad. The disciples were not attentive, “… he found them asleep…” [Matt 26:43] and that, as we know, was followed by a disaster.
In today’s perspective, owing to mankind’s weakness many disastrous incidents happen, but we must not give up, “… All things are possible for God” [Mark 10:27]. Nevertheless, while no one knows whether the little things that we are doing will result in fruitfulness or a disaster, the important principle is that immediately when we hear from God we obey, now. What made Good Friday and Easter Sunday significant to us is this: hope is bestowed to the hopeless, and reconciliation to the deserted.
“Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.”
Oswald Chamber
Therefore, I must not let mere-guiltiness disable me. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus; the assurance of forgiveness stems only from faith in the unique Son of God – “… I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified…” [1Cor 2:2]. From such faith comes the confidence to dare to fail and try again (not the license to sin and sin again).
And I believe this is the essence of Easter Sunday commemorating Jesus’ resurrection: “… not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power…” [v. 5]. It is an ever-renewing life to see God’s greatness despite our weaknesses; it is the reality of Emmanuel – God is with us.
Friends, are you and I living in communion with the Risen Lord daily and continually? Or is that kind of reality… far from us?
They Are Loved, Too!
Watch this video, YouTube Video – Street Ministry
It shows how God loves those whose homes are the streets, accepting the rejected, adopting those thrown-out of homes, comforting the dejected, helping the helpless, giving hope to the hopeless… How good is our God. All glory be to Jesus!
I thank God for the people willing to tap into God’s work. I’ve tried doing that before, and I found it hard and uncomfortable, yet God has to teach all his people, thank God for my cell group members who encourage me and all the members to go and serve… Sometimes I do feel guilty for not availing myself to do such work, a bit of shame crept into my mind even as I’m writing this post… But whatever I feel or say, I am convinced that nothing changes in me unless action is taken…
My respect to those who serve faithfully in the street, may God bless you! You do not serve out of guilt, but you have done it out of love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, may the Good News be made known to all.
For God does not show favouritism to anyone [Acts 10:34].
Although this may be common, but may the video at least encourage you and me a little bit more to be sensitive to needs of those in the streets. God loves them as much as you and me, who are using the internet.
脚印
I found this story on the internet. It’s quite touching. I’ve heard it before but don’t know how about you, so I edited and reposted it here, just to share with you. Take your time!
有一天，一个女人因为一件个人的私事，情绪很低落，就独自一人在家附近的市场到处去逛一逛，以纾解心情。她走进一个卖照片的店里，接着看见一张照片拍着脚印留在沙滩上 – 有两双脚印。她一时好奇，又觉得有趣。
女人就问：“这是什么啊？”
卖相片的阿伯就说：“嗯……这两双脚印是一个老妇女在沙滩上拍下的，很有趣吧！她说她与耶稣在一起，一双脚印代表自己，另一双脚印代表耶稣 – 两双脚印让他怀念：‘我们曾一同行走在这世上，这是多么美妙的人生。’”
那女人听了，有些许感动，情绪舒畅一些。
数日后，又有事情发生了，这次很严重，那女人试着安慰自己，但那件事情还是不停地缠绕着她的心，她的情绪真的非常低落，感到好像一波未平，另一波又起这样。于是，就像平时一样，她又独自一人在家附近的那一个市场到处去逛一逛，要纾解心情。她走到那同一间的卖相片的的店的时候，看见一张照片，这一次是石头堆之中 – 只有一双脚印。她就感到非常好奇。
女人就问：“这又是什么呀？上次不是卖‘沙滩上有两双脚印’的吗？怎么现在是在一堆石头上啊？而且只剩下一双脚印而已，另一双呢？”
那阿伯就回答说：“哦，这也是那老妇人拍下来的啊！石头堆代表着她人生中最缕难的路程。那老妇人拍下这有趣的照片是因为这照片让她很怀念那段日子。”
当那女人想起自己所面对的问题，因情绪很不好，就自己在心中问：“怎么有人会怀念他人生中最痛苦的事呢？”
那阿伯继续说：“当时那老妇人感到很孤单，走了一段路，突然回头一看，想到沙滩上本有两双脚的脚印，但是在石头堆上行走的时候，却只有一双脚的脚印。她就不禁问主耶稣为何在她最困苦的时候离开她、不顾她、丢下她一个人。
“就在她正伤心痛哭的时候，有一个那声音对她说：‘妳仔细察看，石堆上的那一双双的脚印都是我的。’她仔细回想，才发觉到果然是这样，原来那一双双的脚印真的是主耶稣的！当那老妇人面对人生的难处时，是主耶稣亲自背起她走过那一段的日子。因此，就拍下石头堆上只有一双脚印来怀念那一段日子咯！”
女人听了很感动，好像眼泪要流出眼眶了，却又微微笑，在心里也感叹地、又轻声地对自己说：“Wow…………！”
我们人生不免会有如此对 神的误会，但将来一切都明白了，并会因而更多感谢 神暗中的保守。我们今生所学的有限，我们所明白的也有限，但当我们见主时，我可以问主关乎我们所不明白的。
主耶稣为我们而死。他战胜了死亡，他复活了！他永远地活着，他要永永远远与你同在，为的是要你认识他，要你知道他爱你。人生悲痛的日子因着主耶稣要成为令人怀念的日子。
