Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Words: Charles Wesley, 1739.
Music: “Mendelssohn,” Felix Mendelssohn, 1840

Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

Christ, by highest heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

Prayer
Lord, may the words of the carols strike the chords of the hearts of seekers,
light up hearts that have turned cold
re-energize tired spirits and
bring warmth in an unkind world.
In Christ, most precious Name
Amen

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Prayer
Lord, we sing this song, with lungs bursting with our praises and adoration for You as we celebrate your birth. In Jesus Name, Amen!

O Holy Night

Words : Placide Clappeau, 1847
English translation: John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893).
Music : Adolphe C. Adam (1803-1856)

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!



Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, may we fall down on our knees with hearts full of gratitude for on this night, more than 2000 years ago, You came as a babe in a manger, with a mission to lay down your life for sinners such as us that we might be reconciled to God, our Father. By your sacrifice on the cross, we now have hope where there was none,
Show love where there used to be selfishness
Enjoy peace and serenity where there used to be hostility
Thank you, good Lord.


Have peace instead of animosityhere used to

Joy to the World

Words: Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David, 1719.
Music: “Antioch,” arranged by Lowell Mason, 1836

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Prayer
Lord, let the praises of thy people fill the earth this Christmas. May the joy of thy birth bring a new meaning in our lives.

All to Jesus, I surrender

Words by Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896
Music by Winfield S. Weeden, 1896

Judson had been seeking God's guidance whether to pursue art or to go into full time ministry. God confirmed that he should serve Him and the outcome of his decision was the composition of this hymn and for the composer, the discovery of a talent, hitherto, unknown.

When we put God first, his blessings come, one after another. We'll be amazed and overwhelmed by His goodness and generosity. And yet, we ought not to, for if He can give us the one closest to His heart - His Son, Jesus Christ, what else is there to withhold Him?

May we mean the words of this hymn when we sing it this Christmas season.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

A Prayer

The Lord loves those who are humble
The proud He abhors
The Lord loves those who do good
He hates those who do evil
The Lord loves those who show compassion
For He is a compassionate God
The Lord loves those who fear Him
But the self righteous He will reject
Oh Lord, my God
Let your light shine in the hearts
Of your people
That they may know what is true
And what is not
In Jesus most precious Name
Amen

Prayer for Peace

Dear Lord, this coming season
May your light shine into darkened souls
To release violent men from their evil
That they may lay down their arms
To seek armistice
That the land may be healed of bloodshed
That nations may show love and forgiveness
That peace may once again reign
To the glory of thy Name
In Jesus most precious Name
Amen

Prayer for the Church

May revival fall upon your people
May their hearts burn with love
For others perishing without You
May they show love and care
May they bring healing where there is hurt
May they seek forgiveness
Where there are misunderstandings
May they genuinely repent
And seek restitution for their wrongdoing
So that their songs of praise may rise up
To heaven and be a pleasing aroma to You
This I pray
In Christ most precious Name
Amen

Prayer of Guidance

Dear Lord, King of Kings
Lord of Lords
I seek your counsel
Be my guide
That I may not stumble
Establish my tent
Grant me sharp spiritual ears
To hear your promptings
That I may not stumble
For time is limited
So I lay down my plans
Guide me as you’ve guided Moses
Every step, every move
Until thy presence shine forth
Where thy servant resides
Now and forever more
Amen and Amen and Amen

Prayer

May this Christmas , see a rich harvest of souls
May they turn out to be faithful followers
Who will spread your grace and love
To the furtherest corners of the earth
Amen

The First Christmas- Visit of the Magi

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ( Mt.2:11)

Pix 1 : Christmas at the Curve (left) Christmas at Ikano (pix 2, 3)
In the gospel of Matthew, we have record of the first Christmas when three wise men (Magi) from the East followed the star to the place where the baby Jesus was born and there they knelt down and worshipped him with gold, incense and myrrh.

How does this account speak to us today? Gold is as precious today as it was in the days of Herod. Our money is our gold. Do we tithe as part of our worship to God? There are wonderful testimonies of people who tithed faithfully and experienced God's blessings and faithfulness. It's not easy and I'm still learning.

Is our worship as incense rising up to heaven? Apart from our relationship with God, on a horizontal level, are we a fragrance within our sphere of relationships?

Myrrh speaks of death and hope. Jesus' body was embalmed with myrrh. Why? Because he would rise again on the third day. Do we die to our selves, our ambitions?

Christmas in the real sense is so different from the commercialized one with Christmas sales, Christmas trees, dazzling lights and music and booze.

Christian Apologetics (Part 2)

Mrs. Wong was an old neighbor. Her son is working in Taiwan and her married daughter, Alicia works as an accountant in a developer's firm and visits her on weekends to help her get her groceries. Mrs. Wong lives with her ninety year odd old mother.

She spends her day at home, glued to the square box, only moving when it's time to prepare meals or when nature calls or for grocery shopping. Sadly, her lifestyle reflects many women in their retirement age.

She's a-religion. Although her daughter, Alicia has embraced Buddhism in a big way, she remains non commital. She follows her to the temple, sometimes, though.

I shared several testimonies with her. It's not the first time, I've shared with her. She told me her former colleague had also shared with her.

I pray that through a chain of witnesses, Mrs. Wong will one day become a Christian.

Christian Apologetics

D.... heard the testimony of a Chinese pastor on video. The testimony was very touching and tells of God's providence to a poor student throughout his years of studies abroad. He shares of how through the generosity of fellow Christians, he came to know a God who is real, who cares, who answers prayers and who can be trusted. After his graduation, he went into full time ministry.

I cut out the sermon by Dr. Billy Graham relating to Christian families. Instead, I shared of God's faithfulness to me.

D.... has been exposed to a church wedding when he attended the wedding of his sister in law's sister. His excuse is that he is a Buddhist and he gets drunk sometimes.

The devil's ploy is often that all religions are the same and that "oh, I'm not good enough to be a Christian."

How to defend the issue of "all religions are the same." Use an analogy that your listener can relate to. For my Chinese students in China, I would tell them :
"There are many ways to go to Beijing - by train, air, bus, on foot etc. But there is
only ONE way to heaven. And it is not by being a good person, obeying your parents, abiding by party rules etc, etc. Although such things are good, by themselves if they are within the law, they cannot solve the SIN issue. Jesus, by his death on the cross serves as a BRIDGE between GOD and MAN. When you accept Jesus as LORD and SAVIOR, you bridge the gap between yourself and GOD. He solves your sin issue because your sins are forgiven.

Other religions provides rules. Christianity asks ONLY that you BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again. Once you confess that and invite JESUS to be your LORD and SAVIOR, you have eternal life and your sins are forgiven- as simple as all that. And your place in heaven is guaranteed. In other religions, you can work till doomsday and still WILL NOT be able to fulfill your tasks because sinning is in our nature.

How to defend the issue of "I'm not good enough to be a Christian."
You don't become good to be a Christian. It's the other way round. As Jesus said, I come for the sinners. Once you believe in Jesus Christ, something wonderful takes place within your heart and spirit and by God's enabling, you will desire to do good because you love HIM.

A Faulty Remote

The Rusty Coil (Pix 1) Remote Control (Pix 2)
Liu Po (ur) returned my call. She’s unable to make it for the breakfast video. What a waste, I thought. I’ve got three videos and no one to show it to. I had invited my nephew, David but he shied off when he heard about the video. But surprise, surprise!!! My neighbors whom I had also invited and requested to RSVP by Tuesday, called on Wednesday evening. Beyonce is coming with a friend.

I’ve previewed the English video. The testimony is powerful. If I use it, I would need to cut off the songs. I’ve also seen the Chinese version. It is good too. Which to choose, that’s the problem. If I choose the Chinese video, I don’t have to bother with using the remote but if I choose the English video, I would need to select the shorter version and to fast forward and I'm unable to do it because the remote control is not functioning since the battery had leaked causing a rusty spring. The machine doesn't make allowance for manual function. Nevertheless, I would still need to get a new remote that works on my video.

What kind of dinner should I prepare for my guests? The choice is between Italian and Chinese. I don’t trust my oven, yet I’m inclined towards Italian. We’ll just have to see this coming Sunday.

Lord, may your Holy Spirit touch the hearts of those watching the video.
In Christ's Name
Amen

How does God speak to his people today?

I took Scripture as an examination subject for my Senior Cambridge. Sister Anne told us "the days of Acts are over." She continued by explaining that Jesus does not need to prove His Godhead anymore through miracles like what was recorded in the Book of Acts. (In the Book of Acts, believers spoke in foreign tongues, the blind could see, the lame could walk, miraculous healings took place and God spoke to his apostles audibly, He gave them dreams and visions as He did in the Old Testament.

The Days of Acts are definitely not over! God continues to work in ways that cannot be explained by human logic. How would you expect a man who has a successful business as a medium to be converted? Mediums use sorcery and have the help of foreign spirits and this comes from the mouth of that very medium. But when he came under the power of God, he gave up his lucrative business to follow Christ.

What about the hardcore drug addicts? They have no control over their lives. They would sell their mother for a shot of the drug. They may have gone from one therapy to another but with dismal failure. But one touch of God's love and "walla," the chains of addiction are broken. To see their transformed lives is to see God's power at work. You may see some of these former drug addicts in Christian drug rehabilitation centers.

God used a young Christian boy to witness to the dreaded Botak Chin, leader of a notorious gang that went on a spate of heinous crimes. Botak Chin accepted the Lord before he was hanged.

A young lady was crossing the road at the pedestrian crossing when she was knocked down by a driver who disobeyed traffic rules. She died without hearing the good news that GOD gave us a gift in the form of Jesus Christ who showed His love for us by being punished for our sins so that we can be saved for eternity. That young lady never had the chance to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We can leave a lot to chance, but death is certain. Are you ready to meet the Savior should death sneak upon you? If not, you should give considerable thought to what follows after death. Only Christians escape judgement by virtue of their faith in Jesus Christ and they have a pass to Heaven.

A Sinner's Prayer

Lord, this hour I need to feel
Your touch
To know that you're close by
To be reassured that you've not forsaken me

For if you have
Then there's no point in living
For without you, I'll be careening downhill
Like a car that's out of control

So, Lord please reveal yourself
Intervene into my situation
Set the record right
As much for my sake as well as yours
In Jesus' Name
Amen

…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Ro 10:17, NIV)

I have issued an invitation to Liu Po(ur) and her friends to my place to watch an evangelistic program. They can only come if their employer gives the nod of approval. They begin work at eleven in the morning and I promised to take them to and fro from my place so that they would not be late for work. I’m yet to receive any confirmation.

Meanwhile, I’ve worked out my menu. I was weighing between a local breakfast and a Shenyang breakfast. A local breakfast might not go down well with their taste. A Shenyang breakfast, on the other hand, would arouse nostalgic feeling of home but my Shenyang pancake might not be to their standard. The Shenyang bing is a kind of savory pancake much like roti chanai. I decided the latter was too much of a hassle.

Soya bean curd would be closer to home. In mainland China, it is not eaten sweet but savory. This combined with our local yong tou fu would be acceptable to their appetites, I hope.

We will finish off with fruits and Chinese tea. I’ve got high grade Chinese tea and my Chinese students who come here to study always complain that fruits here are expensive. I can’t argue with them on that point. I’ll have papaya, banana and pineapple.

I came up with a hitch because my VCD player could not play the DVD record. I sent it to the photo studio shop to make a copy but they couldn’t convert the DVD to a CD. Finally, I was forced to open up the box which contains my Philips DVD player from China. I tried connecting the cords but in the first few attempts, I only managed to get the audio going. After much fiddling, I actually succeeded in connecting it. Considering, I’m such a dunce with machines, it has to be the help of the Holy Spirit.

The next step is to translate my testimony into Chinese and to start rehearsing. It’s a big step since I’m out of touch with Mandarin but I’m hopeful. Thanks, LORD for this opportunity. Pray you open the way for them to come.

…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Ro 10:17, NIV)

Shi Xue on the left and Feng Jing on the right, at my apartment, 1998

I first met Shi Xue through Feng Jing, my study partner. The latter was my huxiangbangzhu. The term means mutual help. I helped her improve her English language and she helped me with my Mandarin. Soon all three of us became more than language partners. We became friends. We went shopping together, visited musuems and I even visited Shi Xue’s place. That’s quite something at that time because the atmosphere was still pregnant with mistrust and suspicion of foreigners and a bad report from neighbors could land her in serious trouble.

She’s a medical doctor as well as an inspector of hospitals – a very influential position. She shared that some parents would kneel before doctors to beg for the lives of their sick child. Remember the one child policy. Shi Xue never joined us for church. She was afraid she would be spotted by someone from the hospital.
She once told me that she found a group of cleaners in her hospital, reading the Bible and praying. “They looked so happy,” she said with nostalgia in her voice and eyes.

We kept in touch after I left the college and she told me once she was ready to become a believer. I wonder if she has. Surely, there is less restriction today than there was way back in 1998. P/S Feng Jing was baptized in the year 1999.

Lord, this coming Christmas
As the gospel is being proclaimed
Pray that it will touch those seeking
For the true meaning of life
For those who have fallen away
May their faith in You once again be restored
Unto your glory
Lord, I pray that the faith of your people
Will be solidly built upon your Word
So that their faith remains strong
Despite the winds of adversity
The cruelty of the wicked
Or the twisted distortions of evil lips

"...and they will call him Immanuel - which means, God with us."(Mt:1:23, NIV)

Christmas is an occasion for celebration for on this day, two thousand years ago, God gave mankind a gift in the form of a Savior born in Bethlehem. He grew up to become the greatest Teacher, the greatest Preacher and the greatest Story teller. He dared to challenge the religious authorities of his day on the teachings of Scripture.

How was it possible for a man with little or no formal education to do that? The answer is obvious. He is the author of the Bible. It was He who gave the commandments to liberate mankind and help them live an obedient life. The religious authorities, on the other hand, had imposed multiple man-made rules upon God’s commandments which made religion rigid and obedience to its rules, stifling and burdensome.

The message of Christmas is clear and simple. The Savior of the world came in the form of man. He lived among men, experienced human weaknesses yet did NOT sin. His ultimate love for mankind was demonstrated when he died on the cross for OUR sins. If you believe the Christmas message, say this prayer in all sincerity:

Dear Jesus
I confess that I am sinner
Please forgive me
Thank you that you died on the Cross
For my sins
That you were buried and that
You rose again on the third day
I accept you as my Lord and Savior
May your Holy Spirit be my guide
To help me to be obedient
To your teachings
From this day forth
In Jesus Name
Amen

Congratulations! You now belong to the family of God. In order to grow in your faith, your next step is to join a Bible based church in your locality, read the Bible and pray daily.

...for I am the LORD who healeth you. (Ex:15:26)

Throughout my spiritual journey, the LORD has been good and faithful. When I was in my mid thirties, I began to suffer a dull, sour ache around my neck region. It was so bad that my head was always bowing down. I thought I would never see the end of the year.

I saw several general practitioners who prescribed nothing more than painkillers. Finally, by the grace of God somebody suggested that I visit the orthopaedic surgeon which I did. He took an X-ray of my neck region with me carrying two heavy pails. The X-ray showed dark regions around my neck region. The dark regions was the outcome of an old injury. I was involved in an accident when the bus I was on collided with a timber lorry. The impact was so powerful, my upper body lurched forward. This took place in my early twenties. And throughout those years, I often suffered from a dull ache which was tolerable until this outburst. The doctor explained that the old injury had compounded making my neck muscles unable to support my skull.

I was put on a three days per week treatment of traction and physiotherapy for several weeks. The relief, however, was momentary. The moment the treatment ended, the miserable pain returned.

Finally, someone took me to a healing service. When I was prayed over, I felt a warm rushing sensation over the afflicted area. It was like the sensation of rushing water massaging my neck. I remember closing my eyes to take in the sensation. Although there was no change in my situation, I knew that the LORD had touched me. Several days later, during my Bible reading, I saw a passage in the Old Testament about rushing water. It immediately confirmed what my spirit already knew- that the LORD had healed me. Blessed be His holy Name!

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..Rom 1:16 a (NIV)

Guangzhou’s climate tends to be humid. This coupled with the cold weather is definitely not good for those suffering from arthritis. For this reason, during my stay there, I used to go for massages, at least once a week. It’s only about 30-40 yuan for a full hour. The massage improves blood circulation and unblocks trapped air which is a cause for bone ache. I often had my massages at the Military Hospital where they have qualified masseurs.
Last week , I suffered an incessant, killing headache that robbed me of all productivity. It was so bad that I was reminded of how good the Guangzhou massages were. That’s when I decided I would go for a Chinese massage. The female masseur was a lady in her mid thirties. She is from Shenyang and is here on a three year contract. We had a good chat and I was able to share my testimony with her. Her name is Liu Po (ur). She tells me that her birthday falls on December 25th. Umm…something to ponder and pray about.
Lord in Heaven
Thank you for the opportunity
To declare your goodness
And your faithfulness
May the good news fall on fertile ground
May it multiply a thousand fold
Unto thy glory
In Jesus Name
Amen

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;..Isa 43:1 d( NIV)

The Bible tells us to fear GOD. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. As much as we are exhorted to fear the LORD, we are also told not to fear. "Fear not," "do not be afraid," GOD assures his people many times in the Bible. For in his infinite kindness, He knows that we are but made of dust and are weak and easily frightened. We may be afraid because of the insecurity of our jobs, we may be afraid of a bad boss, of cunning colleagues, snatch thieves, old age... the list goes on. BUT stop! Don't you know that when you are afraid, it infers you do not believe God's promise that he will be with you?

Oh Lord, thank you for the sweet assurance
That we should fear not
For your watchful eye is ever over us
Hovering like a doting mother over her children.

Therefore I shall still my fear
Of the known as well as the unknown
Of the present as well as the future
For you are with me through storm and calm
And you will lead me home victoriously.

Grace

I’m reading Philip Yancey’s book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace? His accounts of grace, especially the lack of it in the church rings a shrill bell. Grace should be the hallmark of the church in a world that desperately needs it, in a world that says : “You scratch your back, I scratch your back.” In other words, I expect a favor in return for my favor. Nothing is free. Instead everything comes with a price.

Grace, on the other hand bestows love, forgiveness, kindness to one who doesn’t deserve it and expects nothing in return. Grace is the extra mark that the teacher gives that moves you from Fail to a Pass grade. You didn’t work for it, you didn’t deserve it, but the teacher gave it to you, anyway.

Stories about grace warm the heart. The hand of forgiveness extended to Germany and Japan for war atrocities illustrates the concept of grace. Corrie ten Boom who was sent to concentration camp during the Second World War spoke of how she was preaching about forgiving your enemies when a man in the audience came up and asked in an unbelieving voice whether it was truly possible to be forgiven. He turned out to be the prison officer who had made life hell for the inmates of her concentration camp – the man who had killed her sister.

It’s easy to talk about grace until it hits home! There was a moment of emotional conflict for Corrie ten Boom. But grace, through the enabling of the Holy Spirit triumphed and she was able to forgive him and to pray for God’s forgiveness for him.

Grace is best seen in my favorite hymn:
Amazing grace. How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fear relieved……
The hymn was written by a former slave trader. Remember, slave traders are inhuman. See how the power of God’s grace changed this man.

Lord, may we see more of such grace in your church!!!

He has made everything beautiful ( Ecc 3:11,NIV)

Here is a beautiful poem e-mailed to me in the Christmas of 1999. I don't know if Audrey Hepburn was a Christian but her lyrics are laced with scriptural essence.
The Bible tells us that the same lips that praise God is also used to curse fellowmen. Didn’t Jesus say: Why do you look at the dirt in someone’s eye and not see the plank in your own? Remember, Jesus attracted tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers and a never ending line of those regarded as no gooders during his earthly ministry. As Christmas approaches, let’s learn from this legacy left by the enigmatic Audrey Hepburn. Let’s stop being critical. Instead, let's see the good in others. Let's treat them with love and care. By the way, I've used this poem with great effect with my classes.

Beauty Tips

By Audrey Hepburn

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.
People, even more than things have to be restored, renewed,
revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anybody.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands,
one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure she carries or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from within her eyes.
because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? (Mt,18:21 b, NIV)

My spirit is troubled. LST dropped a bombshell by way of conversation, announcing that she had left the faith. This past year, I’ve been lifiting her up in prayer like she was a non believer. I guess my spirit knew but my eyes refused to accept the signs. Still, the confirmation direct from the horse’s mouth, left me dazed. I was in remorse the whole day-shaken, frightened and defeated.

Lord, you who are a God of covenant
Who keeps to your side of the promise
I pledge today before You
To stop asking to see your punishment
Upon those who have torn my name to smithers
With lies and distorted truths
Who slander my name with vindictiveness
I wipe off their account
The abacus is at zero
They owe me nothing now
In exchange, I beg You
To restore LST’s faith
To touch her heart and spirit
Once more, with your love and grace
In your mercy, forgive her sins
May your angels minister to her spirit
May she see your hand of grace
In every adversity
And know that she worships
A God who is alive and who cares
In Jesus’ most precious Name
Amen

For it is by grace, you have been saved, through faith..Eph 2:8 a

Today, I'm reminded of God's grace to me from the time, I believed in Him, three decades or more ago. One incident stands out clearly, illustrating His grace to me. It took place in my early twenties, when I joined a group tour to the East coast. I was playing by the edge of the beach but before I realized it, the people on the beach looked to me like puppets. I realized that I had somehow, drifted far out to Fear, alarm overcame me! I swam with all my strength back to the beach, swallowing tons of salt water from the South China Sea in the process.
I wasn't a Christian then, A week later, I read in the papers that a skin specialist from the University Hospital, an expert swimmer had drowned in the same spot.
When I finally believed in Jesus Christ, my eyes were opened to His grace, extended to me, even before I knew Him.

Lord, You are so gracious
Even when we don't deserve it
You give wealth to the righteous and wicked
You suffer our disobedience and impudence
You suffer our sins which are dirty rags in your sight
You continue to shower your grace on mankind
Even when we are hostile to you

Like the father waiting for the prodigal son
You wait for us to return to your bosom
Where we can find comfort and rest
Protection from the storms of life

Ah Lord, that you may give me a portion of your grace
To show to those who don't deserve it
Grace that comes not from self
But from the enabling of the Holy Spirit

...be prepared in season and out of season; 2 Ti 4:2 (NIV)

When I was taking a short course in Beijing, my hostel looked out to the college backyard. The fall had set in and each time I looked out of my fourth floor window, my attention was drawn towards this tree with its wide canopy . As fall set in, its crowning glory was being shed, slowly but surely. By winter, it was totally bald. It stood stark naked with its bare arms in surrender to the freezing Beijing temperature. Coming from the tropics, I often marveled at the sight. Then summer set in and before I knew it, the tree was rejuvenated, its glory once again restored.

Lord, you made the heavens and the earth
You made the seasons too
Summer to bear fruit
Winter to rest
It is your way of teaching your people
That there is a season for everything
A season to plant and a season to harvest
But one thing is needful
Whether in season or out
To be prepared for thy coming
To have our lamps and oil ready
When the marching order comes
To welcome the Bridegroom

Pray continually; (1 Ti 2:8, NIV)

It's the rainy season. Afternoon convectional rains are common. I was watching one the other day. The house electricity had tripped. It does whenever fierce thunder rolls and lightning strikes. "The skies must be angry," I tell myself, jokingly. But seriously, the dark moods of the weather gives me the premonition that the second coming of Christ is imminent. That shakes me. I'm just not ready for Him!

Lord, heaven is a wonderful place
A nirvana where the streets are paved with gold
Where sadness and sickness are unheard of
Where everyone is filled with joy and peace
A second Garden of Eden
Where we can talk and walk with you
So, why am I not ready to make the step to cross over?
Cos a dead person cannot praise you
Cos I'm waiting for You to use me
Cos there are scores to be settled
Cos evil has to be overcome
Not with weapons, nor with words
But with the prayer of power

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; Ps:103:15, NIV

I stopped by to get a bunch of orchids and fifty cents of jasmine from the Indian florist at the morning market today. The orchids are in the living room but as for the jasmine, I have had it strewn on my study table. It's not opened yet but sniffs of its fragrance has begun to permeate the room. There are some references of flowers in the Bible, In fact, Jesus Christ has been described as the Lily of the valley in a hymn.

Lord, when I look at the orchids
And see the various shades of purple
I marvel at your handiwork
The care you took in endowing it with its royal robe
When the fragrance of jasmine fills the room
I marvel at the power of such a tiny flower
For its fragrance soothes my frayed nerves
Lord, thank you for time to enjoy the flowers
Thank you for the eyes to appreciate your creation
Most of all thank you for the reminder that
Our lives are like the flower of the field
It flourishes but for a moment
Therefore, we need to make every moment count for eternity
Amen

For God so loved the world that he gave us his one and only Son….

God became man in the form of Jesus
What does that mean to me, Lord?
It means you, the Creator chose to become as vulnerable as man
While you were on earth -
A helpless baby needing mother’s milk
Consecrated on the eighth day
Your earthly parents could only offer a poor man’s sacrifice
You became a refugee baby to get away from
The bloody hands of King Herod
You subjected yourself to parental authority
Perhaps taunted due to your virgin birth
You needn’t have to suffer all these
For heaven with all its splendor is your throne
But you left it all for me –a sinner
That I may repent and accept you as my God and Savior
And have eternal life

At thirty, you launched your public ministry
Beginning with a forty day fast
After which the devil tempted you
But you overcame the devil not by sword or fist
But by the power of the Word of God
You went about teaching and healing
Often misunderstood and judged
When tired you slept
When thirsty, you asked for a drink
When lonely you sought the company of the inner circle
You needn’t have to suffer all these
For you are God and everything is at your command
But you did it for me – a sinner
That I may repent and accept you as my God and Savior
And have eternal life

Then you were betrayed for thirty pieces of silver
By one you regarded a close friend
Three times Peter denied knowing you
None of the apostles were found
When you hung on the cross
Except your beloved John and the faithful women

Satan thought he’d won when you were nailed on the Cross
Little did he know that you allowed yourself to be a living sacrifice
So that those who believe in your death, burial and resurrection
Can be restored in fellowship with the Father
Passing from death to life
Oh blessed Jesus!Thank you for the gift of Christmas

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger...Luke2: 7b..NIV

Lord, you left the grandeur of your palace
To come to this cruel and wicked place
You could have come as a prince
Born into the home of a powerful ruler
But you chose to identify with the poorest of poor
When you were born in the dark and smelly manger
And you did it all for sinners like me
If not for your sacrifice on the cross
If not for your death and resurrection
We would still be men and women without purpose or hope
Thank you Lord Jesus for the priceless gift of Christmas
Because of your sacrifice, we who believe in You
Enjoy the privilege of a living relationship with our Creator

“If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” (2 Thess 3 :10b)

Idleness has its degrees. There are those who might consider performing a task that does not soil the hands. Between light and heavy work, they might choose the former. Then there are some who might consider contributing part of a workload. But the epitome of idleness is found in those who spend the whole day in empty talk and gossip, in imposing on people’s hospitality. Paul says “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” (2 Thess 3 :10b) The message is plain and clear. One does not have to feel guilty for not helping such a person.

Paul points out that he and his co-workers work day and night for their food and for God’s work in order to be a visible example for the Thessalonian church to follow.

This reminds me of a foreign friend, GB. He is the reverse of the idleness. When he’s working, he forgets about food and fatigue. But the moment, he’s free, he thinks of nothing but sleep.

...…pray for us … ..(2 Thess 3:1 b)

I have been re-listening to Pastor Lamb's sermons to brush up on my Pudonghua and Cantonese. His Bible expositions as always are simple, direct but interesting to his congregation because of the local examples he uses to illustrate spiritual concepts. Although my Mandarin is elementary, but I'm always fascinated each time he uses the written script to illustrate a point.

The Chinese script is tonal ( five tones) and made up of different radicals, often in pictorial form. In this sermon, he gave several illustrations of the meaning of disciple (men (2) tu(2). At this point in writing, I am unable to relate what he said about the Chinese character of disciple.

Based on Verse 1 and 2, we find that Paul asked for prayer for himself and his co workers. Does it surprise us that even Paul and spiritual giants of his time - Timothy, Silas required prayer? No, it shouldn't because God's servants are easy targets for the enemy who will use all kinds of means to frustrate the spread of the gospel. But with prayer, the enemy's progress will surely be derailed.

Lord, may your presence be with your workers
May their message of your love spread far and wide
May lives be saved
May the bells of heaven ring every second
With each added soul
Saved by the preaching of thy servants
In Jesus Name
Amen

..well done, good and faithful servant! (Mt 25:23b)

Starbucks launched its Christmas TV ad two days back. When I saw it, I almost fell out of my seat. What! Christmas already! It’s a signal that another 365 days of 2007 will soon come to an end. How have I used the time? Did I put it to good use or did I waste it away? There are many things in life that we can reclaim, but time once lost is like rice turned into porridge. Once gone, there is no turning back to redeem the twenty four hours of each day of 2007.

This reminds me of the parable of the talents in which the master gave five talents to one, two talents to another and one talent to the last, all in proportion to their ‘talents’ or ‘abilities.’ The Bible tells us that the first two doubled their talents but the last one ‘buried’ his talent. The act of the last person, incurred the master’s wrath so much so that he punished him by taking away his talent and giving it to the one who already had ten talents.

Parables in the Bible are stories that carry life lessons. This one is no different. Gifts and talents and I’m using the terms interchangeably here need to be honed. We’ve heard the saying ‘practice makes perfect.’ The singer who exercises his vocal chords and practices on his song repertoire daily is likely to perform better than one who slacks in practice. The writer who keeps on writing and writing and writing will soon find it easier to work his craft than one who waits for inspiration to seize him. The student who works on his mathematical problems will soon figure out how to arrive at the solutions.

Often times, we hear someone say, “But I have no talent.” This is not true. We all have talents. God is fair. He gives us gifts according to our abilities. I know of a lady who served food in church and learnt enough to set up a home food catering business that financed her children’s education abroad.

Our gifts need not be in high profile. Acknowledging someone with a warm smile, greeting a senior citizen, giving directions to a tourist are acts that make the day for its recipients. Keep on serving with whatever talents we have at hand and see our gifts multiply with time.

Lord Jesus- You who are the Giver of good gifts
Show us how to appreciate our gifts
Help us to use them to spread your love and goodness
When weariness takes over, grant us the discipline to persevere
For your kingdom sake
Amen

I take in the cool air of the early morning

I take in the cool air of the early morning
I’m reminded of life’s preciousness
My spirit rises with expectation
Of what’s in store for the new day

For I remember a time
When waking up in the morning
Was such a loathsome task
My spirit was weighed down as I asked
Would I, could I make it through the day?

But now I sing of your goodness
For you kept me through those dark times
When friends had turned away and I was alone
It was your promises that kept me alive
Your word like honey gave me strength and comfort

How can I not thank you Lord?
How can I not love you, my God?
For you’re better than gold or silver
Better than all the good things of the world

Composed on 16 Oct 2007 by englishsinseh

The end of the matter is better than the beginning, and patience is better than pride Ecc7:8, NIV

I shared about my insurance claim. It sounded so simple and I thought after the paper work was completed, things would move smoothly. It didn't unfortunately. The procedure took a while to be processed. First the insurance adjustor came and assessed the damages. It went to the insurance company and afer several calls, they approved the case but the workshop wasn't happy with the amount and the process had to be repeated.

My car is finally at the workshop. I pray that the completed work would be satisfactory.

Here is a picture of the dented mudguard. The cost of the damage outweighed any NCB (no claim bonus). That was the reason why I claimed insurance.

For the word of God is living and active. (Heb 4:12a, NIV)

At one of our gatherings, I took a long look round the table. We were from the same mission school and Scripture was one of the subjects that many of us sat for both for the Lower Secondary Examination as well as for the Senior Cambridge. During one of our discussions, the subject of Christianity cropped up. A handful of them commented drily that they had even obtained distinctions for the subject. “So what? It did nothing to convert us. That was ten years ago.

Ten years later, we met again for a similar gathering. Most of the married ones were already in the empty nest phase. Some marriages had broken up. Others were already retired.

And what do you know? Some of the more antagonistic ones had become believers! God does work in mysterious ways. We had learned Scripture for exam sake. It held no power because faith was absent. But once faith enters, the word of God becomes living and active, sharper than a doubled edged sword, able to discern between truth and lies.

Dear Lord Jesus
You have said the harvest is ready but the laborers are few.
May you raise up believers to respond to your call
to preach the Good News
for as the Apostle Paul says:
how can they believe unless they hear
and how can they hear unless it is preached to them?’ (paraphrased)
In Jesus’ most precious Name
Amen

David ….danced before the Lord with all his might. (2 Sam 6:14, NIV)

Several years ago, I watched a weight lifting competition on television. It was probably the Olympics. I can’t remember for sure. But there was this short, stocky guy who came up, gave one big heave and succeeded in lifting the heavy weights. Immediately, after he dropped the dumb bells, he just prostrated on the ground and muttered a prayer of thanks for his victory. He was from a Moslem country.

That vision has never escaped me since. Here was a man who gave free rein to his emotions to worship his God before the whole world!!! He wasn’t ashamed of his God.

Sadly, I am reminded so often that as Christians, many of us, (me, included) tend to be so stuffy in our worship. We are afraid of what our neighbors would think of us. We don’t want to appear too ‘spiritual.’ There is Church decorum to consider.

Granted, that there should be some semblance of order on most Sundays. But it’s not everyday that we win a gold Olympics medal. Surely that kind of victory calls for a celebration. We should dance like David did, prostrate before God in full view of the world and sing and jump and shout!
No wonder this stuffiness has led to the loss of so much territory to the enemy in Christian countries. Christian colleges are no longer Christian, Bible studies and prayer activities are frowned upon and so are expressions of Christian faith on television.

It is time to reclaim what was lost in the mass media! Bring back the good old family values of faith, family loyalty, diligence and honesty.

Lord, forgive us for our spiritual stuffiness
Help us to worship You not just with our mouths
But with our hearts and all our might!!
Grant your people too spiritual perception
In a fallen, depraved world
In Jesus' Name
Amen

Give thanks in all circumstances..(1 Thess 5: 18a)

It never rains but pours!! That was my situation the whole of last week. First, I locked the bathroom door by mistake and didn’t have the key to open it. I tried to open it myself for a week but couldn’t manage it. So I had to use the washroom downstairs. I wouldn’t have minded the inconvenience except that it was a squatting toilet which took its toil on my weak knees. In the end I had to call the locksmith and that cost me $50. Unnecessary expenditure!!

Then I did my shopping in Carefour, took the trolley down the elevator and fell right at the bottom of the stairs. Hit the small of my back and my left knee. Thank God, except from some bad bruises, I’m still moving.

Then I took anti- histamine for a scalp allergy. I had such a terrible hang over the next day that when I threw my laundry into the washing machine and saw a sleeve stuck out of the door, I didn’t bother to stop the machine. That act of laziness cost me $310.00 in repairs! A huge dent in the pocket!

Sunday evening was a rainy day. The LDP was jammed packed and I went under the expressway and was feeling very smug about being able to avoid the jam when a car hit my left mudguard when it turned left at the SS2 traffic light. I was in the wrong lane. It was a lane for right turn and I was going straight. Three young people came out of the car, two men and a lady. Very aggressive, very ill mannered, they shouted on top of their voices, dropped names and called their ‘police’ friend. Several minutes later, their friend turned up, wearing a T-shirt with the RELA logo. I told the young man calmly, “you don’t have to shout.” His Perdana was OK but my mudguard was a total wreck!

We went to the police station, submitted our reports and again they were claiming relatives with the sergeant. The police report was finally submitted by one past midnight. Thank God, the police did not fine me. I even shook hands with the young punks. The guy turned out to be a mechanic and asked if I wanted my car fixed at his workshop. Of course, I declined.

The next day, I went to two workshops. The cost went from $300 to $500. Finally, after discussing with my nephew, I claimed my own insurance.

The procedure is quite simple, really, if you know how.
The documents needed are :
the police report of the accident
a copy of your car registration
Photostat I.C
Photostat driving license.
It’s best to send your car to your manufacturer. They can arrange for insurance. Thank God, for the car insurance and thank God I wasn’t hurt.

Lord, thank you for each breath that I take
Thank you for each new day to praise and worship You
Thank you that even through difficult times
I can see Your protecting hand at work
May your name be glorified throughout the ages!
Forever, and ever, Amen

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. (Heb 12:2) NIV

I was studying in a convent school where there was a little nun. I said 'little' because she really was tiny. Maybe slightly four feet and above. Perhaps because of her height 'liability,' she had a thing against tall girls. And I was counted among the tall.


I remembered one day, during Monday morning assembly, when the whole school lined up according to classes in the school field with the Mother Superior and all the teaching staff facing us, looking down on us, the little flock from the rostrum.

I was then at the tender age of thirteen, beginning my junior school. I remembered looking up at this little nun, in her long, white robe and veil. She looked so pure and good -like an angel against the tropical sun. "But how could she be such a devil?" I asked myself. And I decided, I never wanted to be a Christian.

In my sophomore year, I went for an evangelistic meeting and spoke to one of the evangelists. When he invited me to accept Jesus as my saviour, I declined, quoting ill treatment from this nun.

God used him to convince me that we should not look to man but rather to Jesus who is the perfector of our faith. I was persuaded and became a believer.

Over the years, I must have been hurt a thousand times in church but by the grace of God, my faith remains intact. I believe it has very much to do with my initial induction to Christianity - that Jesus, alone is pefect.

..The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. (2 Sam 22: 2) NIV

As a young Christian, I once comforted an older colleague who was deeply worried for his family in case something happened to him. He had a wife and three school going kids. They were renting a house and were living on his pay. His job was on a contract basis and could be terminated in a day’s notice. He didn’t have life insurance as far as I knew.

The insecurity of his job was compounded by jealous colleagues who tried several times to influence the relevant authorities to dismiss him. I was able to observe their cunning tactics first hand because I was handling the administrative work which included recruitment and salaries.

Somehow, they never succeeded each time they tried and my faith grew just watching God’s protection over him. I remembered the first time this happened and the chairman of the meeting was almost ready to implement the ruling to strike off his post from the register but at that point, the meeting broke off for lunch. When it resumed, we went over other matters and they all clean forgot about getting rid of him! Except me - the secretary and I remembered sending up a weak prayer for his job knowing his circumstances. And indeed they never remembered and my friend was safe for another year’s contract. That first time it happened, my faith shot up sky high!

I was able to relate what happened to him and I told him if that was the God he worshipped, I wanted to know him more. From then on, we would talk about God and the Bible.

Like I said at the beginning, , he was often worried about the plight of his children and I remembered comforting him by quoting from the Old Testament that God would not allow his children to go hungry.

God’s assurance was worked out in his lifetime for he saw his children succeed very well in life before he passed away. God is great!!!

Lord, You are the Almighty, ruler of the heavens and the earth
With You at the helm of my life, I have no fear
May all your promises work out in my life
You have said also ‘revenge is mine’
I accept that, claiming your promise that You will vindicate me.
In Jesus’ Name
Amen

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thristy and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in (Mt. 25: 3

Have you ever wondered how often meals figure in the life of Jesus? Jesus ate with sinners and outcasts –Levi, (Mark 2:15-17), the Pharisees (Luke 14) and Zacchaeus. (Luke 19:2-9) Think of the wonderful miracles that came out of those meal times. He himself was ministered to when he ate with his friends, Lazarus, Martha and Mary. The Last Supper was clearly instituted in the context of a meal. The resurrected Christ brought Peter back into fellowship in the midst of a meal fellowship.

And today, I can’t help but think of the many testimonies of people who came to know Christ through Christian meal hospitality. I remember testimonies from the pulpit of students who began by going to church because of the free meals and who were converted later. Some of them are church leaders today. I think of a former political refugee of the Tiananmen massacre (his name slips my mind at this time of writing) who attended bible studies in the States just for the meals but who eventually was convicted by the word of God. Today, he has a world wide ministry to the Chinese speaking community.

A Vietnamese pastor Paul Ai, spoke of his people who are foreign workers working in places where pork was forbidden. Like the Chinese, pork is an essential part of the Vietnamese diet. What did they do? They went to church because there was free food with pork thrown in. I was told recently that seventeen Vietnamese were baptized in this area. I am very sure, for them, their salvation began with pork which reminded them of home, love and family.

In the parable of the sheep and goats (Mt. 25 : 35-40) Jesus said that when we give food and drink to the hungry, we are giving it to him. Never underestimate the power of food to the spirit. Blessed are the hands that prepared the food!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Tim 4: 7)

I went to church last Sunday and it turned out to be the funeral service of a church leader - a fine, godly man who had lived to a ripe old age. Accolades were heaped upon him. They spoke of his dependence upon God, his humility and his graciousness. These qualities, nevertheless, were tempered with firmness when the occasion demanded it – truly, the marks of a great leader.

Although I didn’t know the man personally, I’ve had the privilege of bumping into him and his lovely wife along the church passageway one day and had requested their prayer. I was depressed about my circumstances then. The wife prayed for me. I don’t remember what she prayed (the memory is short, these days) but the brief encounter left me with a warm impression of a gentle couple who exuded quiet graciousness and that kind of quality doesn’t come cheap. It is acquired through spending time with God.

My voice choked as the old familiar hymns were sung. I sobbed quietly as I watched one of his sons share of a father who prayed with them and for them through their growing years and until death took him away. What a loving father! A picture of a grieving, aching family flashed across the church screen. How much they must have loved him and how they will miss him! May the gentle reminder that he has gone to a better place comfort them.

I cried when I thought of how much he had achieved in his life time and how abundantly the Lord had blessed him. I cried for here was a visible example of a person who had fought the good fight and who had finished the race. (2 Tim 4:7). I cried for unlike him, I have nothing to show the Lord if He were to take me home.

My spirit was troubled. But by the following morning, my mind was cleared. I would live each day of my life with spiritual urgency, putting the things of God above mine. Then, perhaps, when I breathe my last, I can claim 2 Tim 4:7.