小小事情, 大大感动

如果小小的事情不能感动我们，那大大的事情我们只会把它当成理所当然。
Truly Lord, You are a God of details.
Every aspect of our lives is very important to You because we stray in the smallest things, we take for granted the great efforts of others, we take least notice of the least among us.
We see the grand things, we desire spectacular sights, we covet the seemingly greener pasture of others.
We really have the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
Being in Christ these 9 years, I try to look deep into myself.
I observe others with my limited knowledge of You and Your Word.
None of us is not found guilty of harbouring these self-centered thoughts and acting on them.
Praise be to You Lord that when we come to You in the face of our shortcomings and weaknesses, You cut away these undesirable parts of us, smooth the rough edges, cleanse us of our filth to enable us to go about each day.
You seem like a nagging Father for we are Your children with wandering hearts.
All You want is for us to follow You in all holiness and righteousness.
Those You love, You chasten.
We, Your sons and daughters, will and should appreciate Your every rebuke, chastening and discipline.
Our Abba Father, all You have in store for us is good.
Just that at our level, we cannot see Your goodness until we reach out and asked to be lifted up to Your level to see what You are seeing, to feel what You are feeling, to do what You are doing!
You want to give us ALL of You.
And so let us be faithful in all that You have given us.
Nothing, no one, is small or unimportant in the eyes of our Lord.
He is a God of details.

When God multiplied 1 by 4

This morning I wrote on my Facebook wall, "Mid Dec this year, I will celebrate my 1st decade with the One I love most! I'm excited, never mind that the year started bumpy but the taste of victory is sweeter in every instance. God also speaks through His people and I always thank God for you, Pastor Michael. You are one of the many who inspires me on this journey of faith.

Indeed, life with Christ is a surrendered one. God is Lord over our relationships, our ambitions, our possessions and over this breath of life that He has given us. He is the source of all strength, joy and hope. Our Lord will use you to inspire many more like me! I thank God for Coos, for guiding us on this narrow path! Many heartfelt thanks to my family and frens for sharing my joy n pain! This my greatest treasure that I will not forsake - Jesus Christ!"

Oh Lord, let me cling on to You and never let go!

Then I went to hear R's testimony. I was expecting a sermon followed by the testimony. Little did I know it's J sharing about his son, followed by 3 testimonies.

Isn't my Lord great and awesome? I went for one testimony but He gave me four!

J's son used to be afraid of cars in a carpark and being in the lift. Because he was very young and small, all he could do was to reach out for his father who is of course taller than him in the midst of the crowd and above the height of cars.

Then J would lift up his son on his shoulder and his son would not be afraid anymore.

Isn't this just like how our Abba Father lift us up, close to His chest, at His level to see what's happening around us?

In this way, don't we get to know our Abba Father better and that He is always there to lift us up, if we would lift up our eyes to Him?

In reality, when we face problems, we tend to look down. In actual fact, we should look up!

I will lift up my eyes to the hills- 

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord, 

Who made heaven and earth. 

He will not allow my foot to be moved;

He who keeps me will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

(Psalm 121:1-4)

K killed someone when he was in the secret society. But because he was before 18 years old, he was in prison for an indefinite period. By God's mercy and grace, he came to Christ in the prison and 4 times being in solitary confinement brought him closer to God. He read the whole of God's Word during the confinement. He was released after 13 years when it could be many more years.

Presently K is studying in the School of Theology and wants to serve our Lord full-time. Like me, he heard the name of Jesus at 7 years old. His tutor shared the Gospel with him. That really encourages me. Isn't what I'm doing now so impactful? Let the children come to Jesus. That's my goal, O Lord!

S is amazing. He came to Christ through 3 Christian friends who showed him so much love. We his spiritual family must be there to support him. Praise be to God for the family of Christ! And yes, at only 21 years old, he aspires to be a pastor! I'm amazed at his maturity and learn quite a bit from him about evangelism.

R's testimony is one that I have heard 3 times now. Courage is so needed to share what is in the heart. When R spoke that he broke God's heart, I was touched. 

God, how many times have we, have I break Your heart?

I break Your heart when I am discontented with my life.

I break Your heart when I take Your victory for me lightly.

I break Your heart when I compare myself with others.

I break Your heart when I idolize others.

I break Your heart when I don't know Your heart or take You lightly.

Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause.

Thank You Lord.

My days will always start and end with my heartfelt thanks to You.   

What are others doing?

Hey Serene, look first at what God is doing with you! 

Living out You in my life

In every victory, let it be said of me, my source of strength, my source of hope is Christ alone!
Yesterday was a great victory in You O Lord!
7 months since I have ploughed and finally my letter, Your letter was published!
Didn't know I needed to wait for 7 months, like 7 months of resting in You.
Life is a process of waiting on You.
I waited for 3 people to contact me but none did as yet.
Some wanted to introduce students to me but none materialized.
Some assignments are on hand but I don't feel led to take.
Because I'm awaiting that big thing to come.
Oh, what is it? When will it come?
I don't know.
I just know I only need to be faithful with what You have given me now.
I have lots to do but time, you run so fast.
I'm learning to be patient.
I'm learning to watch and observe.
I'm learning that indeed, the head knowledge that God's timing is not our timing is true to the tee.
It's living out You in my life.
The sense of loss inside, the many whys in my mind, I surrender to You.
A life surrendered to You is my testimony.
My testimony of overcoming anything is just a portion of this life.
It's not the main thing, it's not my identity.
My identity is not 'overcomer of physical disability etc'.
That's not what I see myself as nor what I would portray myself as to others.
I can't control how others choose to see me but I definitely can align myself to what You call me to be.
And so I wait.
While the heart insists that there may be a hole, the Spirit says I am whole.
My greatest treasure is You.
If indeed so, I am whole.
All other people and things are bonuses.
Thank You Lord for loving me.
Truly, what am I that You take such great care of me?
I am mere dust.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcqria2wmg

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?

I am Yours

Whom shall I fear?

The purpose of sharing testimony

The sharing of testimony is not just to glorify God. It is to stir up the hearts of the hearers such that they see their partnership with our Lord against the taunts of satan and the limitations placed by self.

Let the person who shares her story not constrain herself by looking at self as just an overcomer of xx condition/ trauma. A condition or trauma is simply that: temporal and not worth the attention of a lifetime.

A life surrendered to God is then called the testimony.

Teenagers' sexual activity a worrying trend

It is worrying that teenagers as young as 12 or 13 are already sexually active and have multiple sexual partners ("Big drop in number of teen pregnancies" and "Teenagers 'starting to have sex at a younger age'"; both published on Monday).
Teenagers are at a developmental stage where they are not fully capable of understanding the relationship between behaviour and consequence.
They feel as if they are immune to the laws of mortality and probability.
As a result, they take all kinds of risks, falsely secure that they will never get sick, killed or caught.
They also think that by using contraceptives, they will not suffer the consequences of having premarital sex.
The minds of teenagers are not as ready for sex as their bodies are.
Teenagers tend to invest more in the relationship and suffer deeper pain and hurt when the relationship ends.
Academic studies show that the emotional health of these adolescents and their relationships with their families can be adversely affected.
Guilt over past sexual acts, loss of self-respect and a sense of regret can cripple these teenagers and lead to youth suicides.
Studies have found that merely understanding the facts of sexuality and knowing how to obtain contraception do not correlate with more responsible and cautious sexual behaviour.
Teenagers have difficulty envisioning alternatives and then evaluating each one, as they tend to focus on immediate needs.
Cognitive immaturity makes it difficult for them to arrive at rational decisions about sexuality.
Parents should always be the primary communicators with their children about sexuality, imparting values and the family's religious positions.
No effective programme can operate without the support of parents.
Lastly, sex is an expression of love and intimacy.
The increase in the number of our young exploring sex at such a young age is a sign that family support is lacking.
The growing prevalence of dual-income families, coupled with the rise in divorce rates, results in our young looking for love outside the family.
Having premarital sex is not the norm and should not be taken as such. It is a symptom of a society breaking down if we do not build a strong family as the foundation.
Just as teenagers are not emotionally or mentally ready to be parents, they are equally not ready for the consequences of having premarital sex.

http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/teenagers-sexual-activity-a-worrying-trend?login=true

Reveal, Restore, Restructure

To Jesus:
Your sheep hear Your voice and You know them, and they follow You.
And You give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of Your hand.
Your Father, who has given them to You, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of Your Father's hand.
You and Your Father are one.
(John 10:27-30)

I must first be Your sheep, not goat.
I must follow You then I can be Your sheep and hear Your voice.
I am given to You and no one can snatch me away from You.

End Dec 2015 didn't end well. First day of 2016 till last week was not that great a start to this year. I was like, "God, this year is my 10th anniversary with You. My first decade! Why is it that things seem to start on the wrong slate?"

On 14 Feb, on the way to church, You said, "I love you with an everlasting love." My awesome Valentine Day's gift, if love needs to be proclaimed on that day. What's mine is what's real, everlasting, not on display for one day. Started fasting from Facebook for 4 days. My first time, long overdue. A whole process of detoxification. Anything or anyone that distracts me from my Lord, yes, I would need to stay away. I thank You Lord that You show me how good You are, how I can say I love You, drawn from deep within my heart.

Broke fast on 19 Feb. I wrote, "God is a God of surprises. Whatever happened that seems 'good' or 'bad' to us is all for our good."

On 20 Feb, You gave me a great surprise. And I'm eagerly waiting to see how things will unfold...

There are many things that I can't control BUT the things I can do, I will not be slack in doing.
I was very concerned that I couldn't hear Your voice but yesterday, You reassured me. Today, You reminded me of John 10.

Teach me O Lord to wait on You patiently. Today You gave me 3Rs
-Reveal
-Restore
-Restructure

You will reveal the missing pieces, restore what is broken during this time and do a great restructuring in my life. I had a new beginning last year and this year will be a greater continuity!

I will be faithful in the little things, knowing that You have so much more for me to be faithful in.
I will fix my eyes on You, knowing that just as You are dealing with my heart condition, You are looking at the heart condition of others too. I do not need to be anxious for others. I cast all my anxiety on You cos You care so much for me!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

LGBT clients are not any different from any client

This letter was sent to ST Forum but was not published.

The Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW) code of professional ethics states that a social worker's responsibility to clients is to avoid discrimination and prejudice, respect individual differences and accept that professional responsibility must take precedence over personal aims and views. The personal beliefs of these professionals have no bearing on how they interact with clients who have lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. (Social workers feel 'ill-equipped to deal with LGBT clients'; 11 Feb)

Social work is based upon a belief in the value and dignity of all human beings, and a concern for their social well-being. Each client has some form of brokenness, including a client who struggles with LGBT issues. He is no different from every client who comes to the social worker with specific problems. By highlighting these clients with LGBT issues, we risk isolating them from the community and prioritizing them over clients with other issues. A client is first a person of intrinsic worth. He is not labelled by his problem nor limited by it. There are many clients who have overcome LGBT issues and have led a new life.

Social workers affirm the right to self-determination by ensuring that the client is both aware of and has assessed alternative options. They provide all relevant information that would allow the client to make an informed decision. As such, Oogachaga, Singapore LGBT group should not be the only voice and option for those who struggle with sexuality issues. As in the case of Mr Ranjana Tanggaraju, even if the counsellor had let him wear a blouse and a skirt, it would not have eliminated the issues that he would face as a transgender. A social worker is not responsible for the ultimate decision made by the client. 

Social work is dedicated to the enhancement of the lives of human beings and is responsible for the welfare of the society as a whole.  380 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections were reported among Singapore residents from January to October 2015 by the Ministry of Health (MOH). 98% of the 144  cases within the first 6 months acquired the infection through sexual intercourse. Heterosexual transmission accounted for 38% of these cases while 60% were from homosexual and bisexual transmission. Certain lifestyles adopted by a small group of people carry risks to their well-being. Such lifestyles do not contribute to the common good of the society. It is against the ethics of a social worker not to present this information to the clients even when it may not be well-received.

Why do dads matter?

"Why do dads matter?

Firstly, international studies have shown that children with more involved fathers develop better, physically and emotionally. These children seem to adapt better in social situations, have higher self-esteem, fewer behavioural problems and better physical health. They also have stronger language skills and cognitive development.

Secondly, many mums would like parenting to be a true partnership, where dads are just as involved as they are. Like dads, many mums today have careers they love. And, doing well at work is no less satisfying than raising a family. But they can only juggle the demands of work and family if the daddies are fully on board."

-MP Josephine Teo, 6 Feb

https://www.facebook.com/notes/josephine-teo/confessions-of-a-new-parent/975292019211760

Since last year, I don't know when exactly but suddenly I became more pro-family than ever before. Being single, coming from a dysfunctional family, it is really strange of me to advocate for marriage, wholesome family, welfare of children...all the things that I do now is not me. 

I used to 'hate' children for their blunt honesty, I used to hate even the word 'father' being mentioned but suddenly my heart warms when I read that more and more support is given to dads to bond with their kids, to partner with their wives in parenting. 

And I wrote on my facebook wall, "Fathers, you are very important! Never let anyone, including yourself tell you otherwise!"

It's like a shoutout to my own father. 

Had early reunion dinner with my family last night. 

Dad talked about how hard it is to take care of my 5 years old step-brother and compared it with how hard it was for him when I was young.

Actually my memories of my childhood are just hospital stays, fractures, surgeries, healing, fractures again and the cycle went on. My memories are not too good scenarios of my father's hot temper, throwing of things, verbal abuse to my sisters etc. Perhaps I did have some good memories of him but the events are less than my ten fingers. Then more bad memories after my mum passed away. 

Suddenly it hit me that while I may have forgotten what he has done for me as a dad, that does not mean he did not do anything for me.

I didn't probe cos it hurts when he talked about the past in a way that I don't agree with. 

My memories are too full of my mum that he seemed not to have a place in them.

Are dads important? Having a dad means I'm not illegitimate.

Having an absent dad in the end is no different from not having a dad.

It hurts cos I didn't have a role model of how a man with emotions is like. 

I didn't know how to relate to men, needing protection but no man to protect me.

I heard too many ugly words that stayed with me since I was a teenager. 

That's why I totally agree with God's Word how influential our tongue is- for well-being or for destruction.

It didn't help that my formative years were spent in the hospital, being forced to 'grow up', to interact with adult nurses when I was just a child with no playmate.

Over the years, it is God who stirred in my heart to forgive my dad. 

If I truly love my heavenly Father, how can I hate or not forgive my earthly father whom I can see?

It was and still is a long process. I struggle between respecting him as my father and agreeing with how he chooses to lead his life.

I come to a point whereby I recognize that he has freewill and there is a limit to my worries and what I can change.

God will enable me to do what I can, one step at a time. 

And yes, it's still tough interacting with him. We start and stop at superficial things but I guess we need to start somewhere.

And so dads or promising dads, you are very important. Your daughter will look at you and know what kind of man is good for her. Your son will grow to be like you. 

I thank God that there are now more men who are involved dads. 

You guys spark the hope in me that our children will grow up healthily in all aspects.

What we didn't have before, we want to give it to the next generation! 

Let support come to families affected by microcephaly

This letter was sent to ST Forum but was not published.

The Hartley Hooligans' enduring love and sacrifices for their two daughters who have microcephaly, among other disabilities is inspiring. (Living with microcephaly: A story of two sisters, The Hartley Hooligans; 2 Feb) 

Both Mrs Hartley and her husband are believed to carry a rare gene which caused this condition. For up to 4,000 babies in Brazil, microcephaly is said to be linked to the Zika virus, which is carried by the Aedes mosquito. However, researchers have not found a definitive link between Zika and fetal brain damage. A vaccine may be years away, according to a World Health Organization expert. (WHO moves into high gear to combat Zika, microcephaly: Expert; 2 Feb) It is understandable that shock and fear is now rampant in more than 20 affected countries in Latin America. Zika cases can happen in Singapore, given how much people travel.

Every parent wants his child to grow healthily in all aspects. It grieves a parent to see his child in pain. Yet what do parents do when like Mrs Hartley, her one daughter after another was diagnosed with multiple disabilities? She said the prospect of losing her two daughters is far more daunting than living with their conditions. Though her daughters have developmental delays as compared to their teenage son, Mrs Hartley love and cherish them as the miracle of life, like any other children. In fact, the family becomes more united and fully experience the meaning of love; that is perseverance. Strong family ties are fortified in times of testing.

As a result, a society that is formed by such strong families does not disintegrate.

In perilous times like this whereby the world is full of bad news, I want to thank The Straits Times for taking the effort to find the truth and strength that is found in humanity to overcome the challenges ahead. In the end, it is not science nor technology that can help us to rise above challenges. It is a mindset shift that continues to focus on the value of each individual in contributing to the society, directly or indirectly. Like Mrs Hartley, my hope is that support can come to those families whose babies are affected by microcephaly or any other disability.