19
Oct
I will not be shaken
Ingrid
I came a cross these encouraging verses today:

 Psalm 62: 5-6
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

 I especially love the NIV version because it says : my soul find rest in God...my hope comes from him. This reminds me of what my pastor told me recently that we (humans) are souls with bodies, not bodies with soul.
I find it very interesting when David in Psalm 62 uses the word 'soul'. During this hard time of dealing with miscarriage, I feel like my soul needs more healing than my body. 
Today, after an ultrasound, my OB told me that my womb is returning to its normal size and I will be fully recovered by next week. Then, I began to ponder (and half wishing) if only my soul (read: emotional state) would be fully recovered by next week too...

But Jesus is really GREAT and FAITHFUL!! He led me to check my blackberry only to find verses from Psalm 62:5-6 :) 

(Photo by Kenywid)

Those verses led me to another lovely song called "I will not be shaken" by Jadon Lavik. 
(I often find it very easy to connect to God through singing and reading psalms)

I thought I'd share the video and the lyrics of this song.
I pray that you may also be blessed through this song :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xhVduq7qUc

My soul finds rest in You
My fortress and my rock
My hope for life my hiding place
My refuge and my God
In You I’ve found my home
My shelter from the storm
And I’ll pour out my heart to You
And lean upon Your throne
I will put my trust in You
I will put my hope there, too
I will stand upon Your word
And I will not be shaken
I will let my praises show
Holding on to what I know
Because I know You’re always there
And I will not be shaken
I will not be shaken
(Repeat)
I will not be moved
I’m leaning on the throne
Because You died for me
And called me to Your own
And even when the strongest winds begin to blow
I will stand my ground
I will not be moved
I will not be shaken
---

 After all these encouragement... I am not half wishing anymore...
I have faith that God will eventually heal my soul but for now...
I will put my hope and my trust in HIM and...
I will not be shaken (by HIS grace)
0 comments | edit post
17
Oct
Bring the Rain
Ingrid
Last night was the hardest night of my life...
My husband and I lost our 6 weeks old baby due to miscarriage. The doctor came in @8:20pm and pronounced that our baby has stopped growing and the placenta has shrunk. 
I tried to control my emotion and to listen to doctor's explanations. The doctor tried to cheer me up and told me that I could produce another one next month.
Once the doctor left, I couldn't contain the horror and the pain of losing our baby and I burst in tears.... 
My husband held me in his arms and we both cried. We mourned for the baby...
"Mimi" is what my husband used to refer the baby.
We pray that Mimi would be in a better place with Jesus now. We trust that God knows what's best for Mimi and for us. 

During this hard time, there is a song that God put in my heart. The title of the song is "Bring the Rain" by MercyMe
Here's how it goes:

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

---
I know in my mind that God is faithful and He knows what is best for our little Mimi and for us... 
He is the Creator of heaven and earth...
He is the Almighty God...
He is my source of Hope...
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. -- Jeremiah 29:11

 My heart is learning to catch up with my mind...

I pray that the process won't take too long...
Labels: , , 0 comments | edit post
05
Apr
Maundy Thursday
Ingrid
Courtesy of Google Image

Most of us are familiar with Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. But how much do we know about Maundy Thursday? Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. According to various reliable sources that I read online, the word ‘Maundy’ for Maundy Thursday comes from a Latin word mandatum, which means commandment. This commandment is referring to Jesus’ command in John 13. Jesus said (verse 34-35):

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13 tells the story when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet on the night before his crucifixion. When Peter, one of his disciples, refused to have his feet washed, Jesus simply respond that he will soon understand the meaning. Peter finally did understand… It is a symbol of Jesus’ love to him… to you…and to me…The creator of the universe loves us so much that he would stoop down and wash the calloused feet of his creations…

In verse 14 and 15, Jesus said to his disciples:

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

This is a call for us on this Maundy Thursday to wash one another’s feet (*read: love and serve one another). On this Maundy Thursday, the night before his crucifixion, let’s think of ways to obey his command to love and serve others and put them into actions.

Labels: , , 0 comments | edit post
05
Jan
Give or take?
Ingrid
Just finished listening to Matt Cassidy’s sermon for the new year’s service. He talked about a message that he had heard long time ago from a fellowship of athletes. He was anticipating a grand and complex message from this speaker however to his disappointment it was a very simple message. He almost felt insulted haha… To cut the story short, his disappointment was turned into an amazement… The message was so simple that it kept on playing in his head as he finds it to be true in so many people’s lives that he encountered in his life. The simple message was…

“There are two types of people in this world: a taker and a giver. A taker can never get enough and they rarely, if ever, grateful. You never want one to work for you and you never want to work with one. Don’t be a taker, BE a giver. It’s good for you, it’s good for everyone else.”

That’s it. That was the simple message… But what I think very profound, which Cassidy did mentioned as well, was it is so TRUE. The culture and the society that we live in are now so engrossed with the message of CONSUME… CONSUME… CONSUME… It’s everywhere you turn. It’s like SALE UP TO 70%... BUY 2 Get 3… FREE upsize with this credit card…the list never ends. However, I can’t control that…what I can control is ME and my views towards those ads.

Oddly enough the purpose of my life is totally THE OPPOSITE of that. I am created to serve…to give… to live a life with courage and to spread God’s grace to others…

In the letter to Philippians, Paul said: to live is for Christ and to die is gain.

Cassidy gave three principle to be God’s minister:

-Be Holy: set apart, be clean. If we read church history and the Bible, God has been using people who are holy and wanting to serve God.

-Be praying: It gets me to understand His view of life. Pray for opportunity to serve.

-Be willing: Be that courageous person, initiate conversation, extend that hands. You will start realizing you’re part of His ministry… not just about evangelization…it’s about who’s in control of my world…of my life… it’s Jesus!


I don’t want to live a life of safety…

I don’t want to live a life of regret…

I don’t want to live a life of taking…

I want to live a courageous life…

I want to live a life full of hope…

I want to live a life of giving…

So help me, Jesus…
Labels: , , 1 comments | edit post
04
Jan
Happy New Year?
Ingrid
Wow!! Another new year!!
Thank you Jesus for a new year… a fresh start…
I read an article today, the author was commenting on the sentiment that people around the world were sharing on the eve of the new year as they mesmerized on all the colourful fireworks around them. She said it wasn’t that it’s bad to have the sentiment… she was questioning the meaning of wishing people a happy new year. When we wish people for a happy new year or wish ourselves a happy new year…are we wishing for a year that are filled with MY way and MY needs? It was interesting and to be honest I think she’s right… I think often times when we wish for a happy new year, we are wishing for good things to happen to my life and the life of others. When asked what are the good things? Of course, it’s all the things that WE considered good for ourselves… in another word… IT’S ABOUT ME!
Another year can mean one less birthday or one less anniversary… which can be devastating but… Wishing a happy new year wouldn’t be devastating and shouldn’t be about wishing things to go MY way. Wishing a happy new year can be hopeful when we wish ‘The LORD to be with you…’
I think it’s very sweet that we celebrate Christmas only one week apart from new year…because Christmas is a message of HOPE… Immanuel… God is with us… and with that in mind we can face the new year with a hope that our God is with us NO MATTER WHAT!!
Happy New Year!
Labels: , 0 comments | edit post
14
Jun
Faith vs. Feeling
Ingrid
(Courtesy of Google image)

Each day we are always faced with decision and uncertainties of life. One of the greatest advices given to me is 'To Have faith in Him'. My rebellious feeling would sometimes question: "What is faith?"

I like how Linda Dillow talks about faith in her book called Calm My Anxious Heart.


1. Faith is rooted in God's character.

2. Faith is based on God's Word, not our feelings.


Dillow focuses on three characteristics of God, which I totally agree:

1. God is sovereign

2. God is wise

3. God is love


I think these three characteristics are worth talking about because when I seek to find advise, I would normally find someone who can bring a change to my problem (sovereign/powerful), someone who give me solution (wise), or someone who I know will accept me and wants the best for me (love). And it's so awesome to know that Jesus can be all three for me.


The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2


God is the Blessed Controller of all things (1 Timothy 6:15).

He has assigned us our portion and our cup (Psalm 16:5)


He says in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing, not death, nor life, angels nor

demons, the present nor the future -- nothing in all the creation is able to

separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.


For me having faith in Him become so much easier when I have the confident that He is in control, He is wise and He loves me!!!


Let's talk about faith based on His Word. God's Word is a reliable access gate to know Him, His will and His promises. Matthew 24:35 says Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.


Ok that's all nice and good but it is easier said than done. There are times when I just can't feel His love and it's even harder to feel it because I can't see Him.


There was an old idiom that says 'Seeing is believing'. Many of us don't realize that our pragmatic society has slowly creeps into our souls and teaches us to believe only what we see. Dillow says that the result of living by feelings (and only what we can see) is an anxious heart. As for the result of living by faith (trusting God for what we can't see) is a calm heart.


To live by feelings means we put our confidence in ourselves (fragile and sinful). That's why we ended up with anxious heart because at the end of the day we know we are limited and weak. We CAN'T control everything.

In the contrary, to live by faith means we put our confidence in God. God who is sovereign, wise and loving.

Faith is like taking one step at a time on a dark path.

The Bible says in Isaiah 50:10

Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD

and rely upon his God.


"Faith looks to God, but feelings look to what is going on around us. Faith hopes in who God is and what He has promised" - Dillow, 2007


So, which eyes should I use today?

Eyes that look to God or eyes that can only see the things around me?


Labels: , 0 comments | edit post
19
Mar
God's spa
Ingrid
This past quarter, school has been really busy with preparation for our second annual musical production. After a long and tireless preparation, I would say it was a magical success. Parents and students had a wondrous time last night. I still remember having goosebumps as I heard the parents' applause.
And now....it's time for another break after a melodious quarter :D

I was thinking to myself last night that I am going to sleep early and wake up really late tomorrow because.... it's my break tomorrow!! haha...
But, thanks to both my biological clock and alarm clock, I was awake for a few times this morning. I forced myself to go back to sleep...it worked for the first time and I finally gave up. I got out of my bed at 8am (my plan was to get up at 10am haha).
Anyway, I'm still on with my plan of enjoying my break by pampering myself. I head out to find our dvd collections to pick up a dvd for myself. I was faced with several options but decided to go with a romantic comedy. So, I spent the next two hours watching dvd that wasn't really good after all.

Later in the afternoon, I read Psalm 73 and the last few verses caught my attention:
Psalm 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you
My flesh and my strength may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Boy! those verses refresh me! After spending half a day trying to do something to pamper myself, I ended up being refreshed by His words :) I should have done it in the first place :)

There is nothing wrong with pampering myself with movies, nail spa, body spa, etc. It's just I often forget that the One who never fails to refresh my soul is my Creator. He knows me so well, he knows exactly what kind of "treatment" I need. So, the next time I feel drained.....I know exactly what to do: visit God's spa and spend some time with Him.
1 comments | edit post