weehou

A professor invited his former students to his house for a cup of coffee after many years. His students, coming from all professions, doctor, lawyers and engineers.

With the students comfortably seated the professor served, on his tray, a large assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain some expensive while some quite exquisite, along with the freshly brewed coffee.

When each of the former student had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor cleared his throat and began, " you may have noticed that all the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones"

"While its natural for you to want only the best for yourselves that is actually the source of much of your stress related problems. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. in fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you wanted was coffee. Not a cup, but we instinctively went for the best cups.. then you began eyeing each other's cup"

"Now consider this, Life is coffee, jobs, money and position in society are merely cups. they are just tools to shape and contain life and the cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we failed to enjoy the coffee that God has brewed for us."

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me"  -John 14:1NIV

Someone shared this quote with me,

I’ve Learned . . .

I’ve learned….. That just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my
day!’ makes my day.

I’ve learned…. That being kind is more important than being right.

I’ve learned…. That no matter how serious your life requires you to
be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I’ve learned….. That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold
and a heart to understand.

I’ve learned…. That it’s those small daily happenings that make life
so spectacular.

I’ve learned… That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants
to be appreciated and loved.

I’ve learned…. That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I ‘ve learned…. That when you plan to get even with someone, you are
only letting that person continue to hurt you..

I’ve learned…. That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I’ve learned…. That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to
surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I’ve learned…. That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I’ve learned…. That the less time I have to work with, the more
things I get done.

I’ve learned…. That life is tough, but I’m tougher.

I’ve learned…. That opportunities are never lost; someone will take
the ones you miss.

I’ve learned…. That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I’ve learned…. That I wish I could have told the people that I love
her one more time before they passed away.

I’ve learned…. That I should keep my words both soft and tender,
because tomorrow I may have to eat them.

I’ve learned…. That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

Last semester in Uni isn’t always smooth sailing. Numerous project deadlines to be meet, tests study then tests again. However, reaching this stage of my life, one important question would be what’s now? To my numerous economic health conscious friends, teaching seems to be the straight forward choice. No doubt this saddens me greatly; however the work of GOD, at the same time is not lacking. There are friends of mine that went into teaching because of one thing, God’s “calling”. It seems to me a wakeup call. What about me? What is God’s purpose in MY life?

As I begin to wonder what one must do in order to receive this calling, the story of the apostle Paul, came to me. Losing interest in one's job or studies, losing a job, or failing to gain admission to a university must not be construed as a calling. Faith as to God's specific will for us must move us – not circumstances (financial meltdowns included).

The biblical story about the apostle Paul, tells that he was a Jew that persecuted the believers of Christ Jesus and killed many, imprisoning both men and women. "I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished" -Acts 22:5 NIV. How can one be more 'unprepared' than Paul for God's work? The 'requirement', perhaps is best summed up in one word, Faith. Faith that God will walk in front of us, behind us and most of all, with us.

While not everyone might be that readily to accept God’s ‘mission’ to all of us. What if God’s calling requires you to work as a lowly paid clerk earning peanuts in a church? Surely one can reject, deny or ignore Him going after other pursuit.  BUT,
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builder labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those   he loves -Psalm 127:1-5 NIV
We can do anything, walk anyway. But if we are not with Him, we labor in vain.

However, for those who walked in His ways, this is what God says to us:
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
You will eat the fruit of your labor: blessings and prosperity will be your – Psalm 128:1-2 NIV
You can be the lowly paid clerk that God wants you to be, but the real treasure of life lies in seeing God’s righteousness and Glory that far surpass any gold or silver can buy. Giving up things that one cannot keep, in return for what one cannot lose--a place with Jesus Christ.

While there has not been any call from God yet, or perhaps due to my stubbornness, I had failed to see them, what I can do, is to perhaps keep praying to him and who knows when, you will be the next Paul. Amen

Am reading the bible when i came across this verse, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." -Matthew 19:23-24

Ever since i was young, my mum had inculcate into my siblings and i that money, of all things, gives us the greatest sense of security. Even the marriage between my parent fails but money never fail you. Hence, since young, my siblings and i start saving and never fail to cherish every single cent that came along our way. Of course to the young kids like us, money represent the freedom to buy whatever toy or that favourite ice cream that we had always wanted and long for. However, the need to always save up and gather lots of money never seems to be enough. When one have $1000, he or she looks forward to the second thousand. Since my family were poor, my mum always complained about money issues to me. Electric bill, phone bill utilties bill, even my university school fees were among the topic to be complained about. strangely, the more my mum complains about them, the more i did not want to care about them. Moreover, the more i pursue that money, the more insecure i am... when will this amount run out, will i be able to earn more? Ultimately, my biological father, due to the large amount of debt owed to the banks took away all our 'security' to pay off his debt... I was devastated...I continued for several years struggling to claim back these lost 'security'....

It was then, Christ came. Remembered it was first the biblical story about the rich man that gave a lot but pales in comparison to the poor lady that gave her all. A refreshing insight into the theory of relativity!!! It was then did i realized that real sense of security still lies in building up wealth and riches, however NOT on Earth but in Heaven. Like what the old lady did. while one can look at it from this point of view, the old lady gave just a penny in return for plenty on heaven but a rich man gave plenty in return for that tiny bit on heaven! It doesn't take a genius to know who got a better deal. However, before one can even get such good deal, one need to be, as the Lord commanded, go sell ALL your treasure and give to the poor and follow him. While it might be a great ordeal for the rich, for the poor like me, I do not even need to sell anything as i have none to begin with. Hence, the Lord is fair. What you don't have on earth, you get in heaven. What my biological father took from me i gained in heaven.

While many had always complained to the Lord about having not enough to spend or survive on, can anyone provide the Lord with the definition of enough? if u cant, then you will most probably be the rich man that fails to enter the kingdom of God and in this case, i would rather be the poor camel squeezing through the eye of the needle into my Father's house. Amen

Saw this at youtube and found it to be meaningful.

But one from the dead they would not heed,
If Moses and the prophets they did not believe;
For they told of the Christ who would die for sin,
And save all from hell who trust in Him.

Now Jesus told this story that we might escape,
And not be partakers of the rich man's fate;
Heaven, not hell, is my destiny,
For I've trusted in Jesus who died for me!

All help, all hope, all good things were ended,
For to those in hell, there's no mercy extended.

Then the rich man thought of his brothers in sin,
Who would soon be in hell, tormented like him;
So he prayed that one from the dead be sent,
To warn his five brothers, that they might repent

But then the scene changed and things were reversed,
No longer in misery was Lazarus immersed;
For he died and was carried into paradise,
Trusting the Saviour who paid the great price.

The rich man died, too, and to hell he was sent,
To suffer forever in flames and torment;
For mercy he begged and that Lazarus might come,
With a drop of water to cool his poor tongue.

But the rich man cried for mercy too late,
For a great gulf is fixed and there's no escape;

The Rich Man And Lazarus

There is a true story which Jesus told,
Of a rich man in purple, with silver and gold;
And a beggar named Lazarus who lay at the gate,
Longing for crumbs from the rich man's plate.

Now the rich man fared sumptuously, as I recall,
Showing no mercy for Lazarus at all;
Yea, the dogs, with more compassion than he,
Licked the sores of the beggar in his misery.

I think i am writing a blog? haha. It has been around 1.5 years since i became a believer in Christ. Looking back, it has not been a very long journey but inside, i sense that something is definitely not the same. Is it faith? love? strength put upon me by the Holy Spirit of God? I dunno. But one thing is definite, a new found relationship. Not romantic love as many would desire, but one that never fails u. One that reminds after u when u are careless, guides u when u are lost, carries u when u are tired and most importantly, still loves you when nobody else does and most importantly,  DIES for u when u are in the wrong! Hence i think this special relationship deserve a journal or sort! Anyone reading this entry please forgive my poor command of English. Amen! :)