The King on a Cross

It’s raining.

It rained on every Good Friday as far back as I can remember. One year when I was young, I remember getting nervous as the skies darkened. The clouds lay low and they were heavy. Obviously, a thunderstorm was on its way. Before I said anything, my Mum said, “Girl, today is Good Friday. Jesus died for us on the Cross today, and we remember that He died to save us.” Maybe Children’s Church helped me understand that, or maybe God knew exactly what He wanted to chisel in my heart.

Another year when I was a little more grown up and angsty and learnt the word “EMO”, I voiced out with a little angst, “Mummy, I’m EMO today. Why?” expecting an answer like a typical teenager. She replied, “Because Jesus died for you today, and your spirit knows it.” I looked at her, somehow convinced, “Yeah, I think so too.” Maybe XYZ helped me understand that, or maybe God knew exactly what He wanted to chisel in my heart.

Last year when I had started working, I only remember my Easter: Redemption at more than Arm’s length.

This year, Good Friday comes a few days after a day of soul-searching. I didn’t have to search deep to realize how much I sought assurance, and how much I had given up in that pursuit of assurance. Bawled my eyes out as His gentle voice whispered, “It’s okay, Jesus knows, and Jesus loves.” There was a question my heart asked as I re-digested that I am found in Christ, “Do You still love me?”

Today is Good Friday. And I know I am loved in a Love everlasting because Jesus died to save me, and my spirit knows it. Maybe growing up in church helped me understand that, but I think God has always known exactly what He wants to chisel in my heart.

Shout Out: To Pray

Watch the news, read the reports, hear the stories. Crisis.

The current Scene in East Malaysia is a wake-up call for me, for all of us, for the Church in Malaysia. Let us NOT speculate or be cynical about things – there is no time for that – instead, WE MUST PRAY.

Pray with authority, pray with urgency, pray collectively, pray without ceasing, with ONE voice, in ONE spirit to our ONE God. For such a time as this, let us equip ourselves with the full armour of God to stand our ground.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (emphasis added) 
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the FULL ARMOUR of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to STAND. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Everyone must know – the urgency, the reality;
Everyone must respond – to pray & to stand;
Everyone must encounter – the love, the mercy, the grace of God;
Everyone must be sure – that God is in all control.
Everyone must stand, united.

Next combined church prayer meeting: 26 March 2013, Tuesday 9 April 2013, Thursday @ DUMC Dreamcentre, 8pm.

Ku berdoa Malaysia akan dipenuhi kemuliaanMu.  

I'm Reading:

Now - can you see how the desires of a man’s heart and the desires of a woman’s heart were at least meant to fit beautifully together? 

A woman in the presence of a good man, a real man, loves being a woman. His strength allows her feminine heart to flourish. His pursuit draws out her beauty. And a man in the presence of a real woman loves being a real man. Her beauty arouses him to play the man; it draws out his strength. She inspires him to be a hero.

--  Captivating

'Tis The Season

“It’s here, it’s here! The SALE is here!”

I am beginning to shift about my chair as I wait for lunch time and after I get off this call with customer service.

“The first thing I’ll do is hunt for the clutch, and then the top.” 

I strut off in my not-so-comfortable heels and head for the shop. I enter and I smile sheepishly to myself. Let it begin.

Half an hour later, I’m done. Feels… good?

Hold it right there.

Am I missing something?

**********

Young adults, what do you look forward to as we approach the year-end?

Vacations, parties, beautiful decorations, carols, year-end sales, bonus, pay rise, spending time with people, etc. Wow!

Am I missing something?

You silly girl.

You’re missing the point.

On Tuesday, we celebrated Christmas.
We celebrate Jesus Christ, the gift of God to us, who redeems us from our imperfections and showers us with His perfect love.

So many distractions, so little time.

Bright Christmas stars shine on high,
Golden stars in the wintry sky,
Christmas candles in windows bright,
Sends greeting into the night,
While in our hearts the Christmas flame,
Glows with love like His who came,
The infant Christ of lowly birth,
To bring hope and peace to earth.

-- Wilson Soo, 2012

I want to celebrate Jesus every day.

#1

Had dinner.

Got pulled aside for questioning prayer – a little bit unexpected.

Blessed. 

Headed home – deep breath, like this.

Nervous. 

He prayed, I prayed.

Let’s do this.

Brought dessert – home made.

I hope they like it. 

Chat.


Chat. 



Chat. 





3-second pause.

Aaanyway,

I have something to say, actually. It’s about – 

& you know the rest of the story anyway. ;)

I pray that this will only ever be a Jesus story.

Strangely,

My heart races --

It really is not about you, neither is it about me; it is about God above it all. The God who designed the universe to its minute detail has designed your life and mine. I believe; and I am still in awe. Beautiful.

That is the reason why I’m so blissful, at peace when I’m with you.

-- every time I look at you looking at me.

11 Oct 201, Thursday

Sometimes I just really feel like writing something – anything – even if it’s just jibberish thoughts in my brain. It’s probably because since I started work (I always wonder how is it that I manage to sound as if I’ve been working for years when I've only been employed for 9 months), it’s always been typing-typing-typing-excel shortcuts-typing-printing-typing and filing. Most of the time, the only writing that happens is when I write down the things that I need to be typing later.

Look at my unstructured, grammatically incorrect, overly lengthy sentences – they’re beautiful!

9 months. In a very different context, a new creation would have been birthed (I don’t know if this is correct English – see, the deterioration of my grammar – makes me want to pick up a book now). Reproduction! I missed the mid-year mark for my personal 2012 review, so I thought I’d ‘take a stab’ at doing a 9-month review instead. After all, the 9-month levelling and one-on-one feedback sessions are coming up – it’s indicative, you know.

Yesterday (or was it the day before yesterday), I stumbled upon a blog (more like ‘came across’ rather than ‘stumbled upon’) that covers a few tracks: food, travel, life, and joy. The ‘joy’ tab caught my eye. Kenny Mah – sound familiar? – writes for The Malaysian Insider sometimes, but he keeps a personal blog. What I found intriguing was that he could write reviews of food, places, events and the like but still preserve a personal touch when he writes of his day-to-day occurrences – e.g. arguing with his better half (quote, unquote). And his style of writing is slightly enigmatic and witty at the same time. I quite like. I immediately did a Ctrl+T+’blogger.com’.

Cheers to inspirational authors.
Cheers to The Author of my life, and all its nitty-gritty deets.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

-- Hebrews 12:1-2

P.S. That was one lengthy sentence - but still so beautiful.

Much love, 

Christina.