Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The Holy Week



Lent is coming to an end. It’s the 40 days fast and pray, building a stronger relationship and plugging into God. It originated as a symbol of 40 days spent by Jesus in the desert. Coming soon will be Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.

My classmates are asking the lecturer, why aren’t there any holiday on Friday, since Thursday is Nabi Mohammad’s birthday and there’s a holiday for it. Well, it will be a holiday for you if you’re in Sarawak, but not here. Moreover, its not about the holidays. Well, Maundy Thursday is to commemorate the last supper that Christ had with His apostles, washed their feet and gave them a new commandment, “love one another as I have love you.” John 15:12. Good Friday, is to remind us of Christ's crucifixion on the cross. Knowing that He’ll have no connection with His father for a period of time, bearing the sin of the world, by a sinless being, the suffering and the imagined images in my mind reminds me that salvation is paid with a great price. And Easter, the Resurrection of Christ. In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Well, without the Crucifixion, there will not be resurrection, without the resurrection, there will be no celebration, and without all these, we would not be cleansed. So, these days are equally important.

Well, this will be the first time that I’m going through all these away from home. (what happened last year? I have not much memory of it) Normally, we’ll have prayer meeting on Thursday night, service on Friday night and celebration on Sunday. Going through all these away from home will be a different experience, confused at first and a bit lost (having Good Friday on a Thursday and not knowing where I should be on Friday) but finally, decided that the praying, service and celebration “tradition” is good and should be carried along. So, Thursday night will still be a praying night for me, Friday night, we’re having some worship, games and food over at my place. But who’s going to share the word? That is still to be known yet. We shall see. Well, is not about what we should do on these days, its more of remembering what happened and commemorating it. Different people have different perception of how things should be but ultimately, the meaning should be there. Treasure it and pass it on, and be thankful!!!

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.


Saturday, March 15, 2008

Timing



Many times, we fail is not because human is not capable. Its not because we didn’t put enough effort. Sometimes, it’s the just the timing. ( Why superheroes are often defeated at the beginning and are only in control in the end of the movie? It’s the timing. At the end, they will have more power, more preparation, and more alertness, learning from their first defeat and regain consciousness and more aware and ready to face their opponent. ) the learing process requires time.

Our heart might want it so much, having high hopes, craving for the answer we want. But in the end, we go back with emptiness, having nothing to bring along, not having the answer in hand. We blame ourselves, we blame everyone else. Going through depression, lost and having nothing to look forward to. How scary it is when we start to lose hope.

Which is sadder? A person that have a dream but not pursuing it; or a person who has no dream at all?

But sometimes, why is the timing always wrong? Getting sick during your exam period, unfortunate things just come by when you’re trying to focus, something will just come and bug us when we’re trying to do something. Often, we will continue and press on to finish our task. But won’t it be better if we can complete it without much misery? But we must always remember that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. As easy as it is said, how many of us are actually looking forward to trials so that we can learn something out of it?

Most of the time we would prefer to learn from other people’s experience. But the outcome is not the same. For example, I never understand why will people cry when they do not score well, well, its just a paper, try harder next time. Until it happen to me, it’s a whole different story, all the effort just flush into the drain, just like that. Well, looking at the bright side, at least you know how people feel when they are disappointed when their efforts don’t produce the outcome that is expected.

We are often searching for answers. Are our questions not answered, or is it just not the answer we want, or is it that the timing is not right yet? Its easier to ask a question that we can get a yes and no answer rather then you’ll soon to find out. Soon? How soon is soon? What’s the measurement of it? How long more must I wait? Sometimes, we just feel the emptiness, there’s something missing in our life. But thinking of it, we have everything that we need, not to talk about wants. If we are earning more than USD 100 per month, we are in the top 5% income earner of the world. What more do we want?

Standing there the other day, with so many unsolved mystery, just hoping to get the answer, but can’t seem to get it. Just telling, “don’t let me die here, I know you’re out there some where, in fact I know you’re here. I know you’re watching. I know you care, I know you have a plan for me, I know that I need to have faith.” When will everything be revealed to me? Is it not the time yet? Who can I talk to that have the answers?

Well, our timing is not always the best timing. Maybe its just a period of change. Can an obedient heart and a little step of faith take us through all these? Well, the answer will sooner or later come, we need to continue to ask, continue to wait for the answer, but no matter what the answer may be, receive with it with an open heart. And be grateful at the end of the day. But if we never ask, never seek, we’ll never know. But sometimes, its just too hard to ask, but all shall be revealed in due time.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Utter randomness



In cafeteria :-
Amir : You know, English, there’s just love. But in malay, its sayang, cinta, and suka.
Me : What’s the difference to you?
Amir : Sayang – you love someone, but even though you’re not together,you’ll be happy for them.
Cinta – you love that someone and you want to be together no matter what.
Suka – it just come before sayang and cinta.

Me : -.-“


Outside Physics Lab :- 
Jia-Li : how you doing?
Me : Fine, just a bit blur, can’t really study just now.
Jia-Li : Its good to see you blur all the time, makes me calm.
Me : Hahaha… I’ll take that as a compliment i guess.
Jia-Li : You know what? I just need to look at you before the exam, and that will calm me down.
Me : -.-“


On the Phone :- 
Jonathan : Hello, who’s this?
Me : Who do you think this is?
Jonathan : Ah, Serena, what’s up?
Me : How do you know its me?
Jonathan : Its your blur voice, always sound like you just woke up.
Me : Hahaha… I woke up long ago, already on my way to college. -.-“


Note : Blur don’t equal to I don’t understand, I’m not listening, I don’t care, “whateverlar”.. etc.. Its just merely talking monotonously. -.-“


Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Seeking





Isaiah 55:6
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.


Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 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. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

Monday, March 03, 2008

Fasting and Praying

It’s the time again, nope, not the time for dieting, but it’s the time to fast and pray. Isn’t it exciting? What’s so good to be excited about it, people may ask. Well, so many people come together, mostly strangers but connected together some how or other, having the same vision, praying for the same thing. Isn’t that amazing?

So, why do we fast and pray anyways? “so that we may be slim at the end of the day”, “so that people will regard us as the goody holy being”, “so that I’ll be accepted into church”…etc.. well, that’s not true, that shouldn’t be the reason. Fasting is to put God first, its an effective way to move the hands of God and it connects us with Him. At the end of days, it will result in the blessings promised. He’ll hear us from heaven, forgive us of our sins and heal our land!!! (2 Corinthians7:14)
“Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning…Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity (Joel 2:12-13).

So many things to pray for…

Ever heard of Lent? Well, it’s a 40 days fast and pray before Easter. It’s a preparation of the believer, through prayer recalls the Resurrection of Christ, and celebrates it!!!



The NECF, praying for the election, these are important leaders that are suppose to take care of the well being of the people around. So, its very important that the right person is chosen for the right job at the right time. “I’m not into politics” really? Everyone is a part of it in a way or so. Well, we are part of the community aren’t we, so, its our responsibility to pray for the election as well. We really need someone who really love God and love man. Well, polls on the 8th of March, few days left to pray. For those who are voting, vote wisely.



City Harvest KL, 21 days of fast and pray.


Will the answers be revealed? Well that’s another reason why its so exciting, we are able to understand God’s plan more and more. Pray must come together with faith, perseverance, self-control, commitment…

Just excited, excited because it’s a time of fast and pray again. Believing that our prayers are able to move the mountains.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

The answer


Standing,
In the middle of the crowd,
Laughter and cheers,
What does it mean?
When the answer is still unclear?
There must be more than this.

Staring,
At the blank wall,
Thinking of the things that need to be done,
What does it mean?
When the answer is still unclear?
There must be more than this.

Sitting,
In a restaurant,
Eating and chatting through the night,
What does it mean?
When the answer is still unclear?
There must be more than this.

Saying,
Things that encourage,
Bringing momentary calmness and joy,
What does it mean?
When the answer is still unclear?
There must be more than this.

Show me,
The purpose,
The way,
The reason,
The truth.

I know that the answer is out there,
Somewhere.
Somehow, I know I’ll find it.
Make it clear, so that I can make it loud.