Love has already arrived

Exactly 2 months to 9 years in Christ. God didn't and will not perfect everything in my life cos it's me who need to be perfect, just as He is perfect.
We have so many expectations from others, from society and obviously even from our Creator.
Lord, make me a vessel of this shape, like that person so I can serve You like that person.
Excuse me, aren't you just a vessel, to be made according to the way I have planned it? And who says that you need to be like that person? You are not that person!
As a person who is uniquely different just like everyone else, how do I expect the society to treat me?
Awareness and education of the public towards people with disabilities, mental illness and whatever condition is necessary.
Knowing the limitations of what humans can do is very important too.
The moment I step out of my house, I'm faced with very nice people and sometimes really not too nice remarks.
Can we say society is not aware? The fact is, we cannot control what others say or do towards people they view as 'weird' or whatever.
In fact, everyone faces the same issue from others. Someone will not like the way you talk, your eyes, your mannerisms, your dressing...
Even I am learning to accept myself through the love of Christ, engraving His word in my mind and heart that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made and our souls know that very well.
I will praise Him for His marvelous works, even when others or I can't see it as thoroughly as Him.
We all struggle with ourselves.
But we all excel in pointing the blame to others cos it takes the burden off us to look deep into ourselves and see the ugliness and imperfection in us.
Others need to be perfect, not me.
Others ought to accomodate me; I don't need to change.
Society needs to accept me, even when I can't accept myself.
If my condition deteriorates, excuse me, it's the fault of others, not me.
Sure, we can blame others and the society for whatever that happens to us.
But in the end, we are the ones who suffer.
Precious time and resources are lost in not taking responsibility for self.
Relationships are broken and badly affected cos the self is exalted.
Lessons are not learnt and this life is wasted cos we spend it making the same mistakes.
When the focus is on man, we will lose.
When we finally look up and see that all along, Help has never left, Hope is never lost and Love has long arrived before our arrival on earth.
I stand here and look on.
What can I do?
Who will believe me when I say God is the answer to all of life's problems?
He didn't and will not perfect my life on earth.
He is already my perfection.

Euthanasia short-circuits the natural process of death and grief

I refer to the letter “Govt should consider tweaking laws on euthanasia” (Sept 25). Relaxation of laws protecting life does not only affect some, but also alters the value of all human life. 

In a case in 2002, the European Court of Human Rights declared that the right to life under the European Convention could not be interpreted as conferring a “right to die”.

The progress of a society is seen in how compassionate it is in supporting the terminally ill and their families.

Cancer support groups such as the Singapore Cancer Society and The Revival Connection are created to help address the various concerns of cancer patients and their family members, helping them to ease their emotional burden.

The terminally ill go through five stages of grief: Denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and, finally, acceptance. It is understandable that patients have thoughts of ending their life during one of these stages.

The family caring for the terminally ill also goes through five stages of grief: Crisis, unity, upheaval, resolution and renewal.

A stronger family emerges as they share fond memories with their dying family member, treasuring every remaining moment.

Euthanasia short-circuits the natural process of death and grief.
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/euthanasia-short-circuits-natural-process-death-grief

Original letter: Life has intrinsic value and there are values above and beyond our personal choices. (Govt should consider tweaking laws on euthanasia; 25 September). Mr Teo assumed that the only objections to euthanasia are religious. Objections to euthanasia include the fact that it is contrary to the fundamental right to life, medical ethics and have serious risks of abuse where these practices are legal. 

The right to life is a fundamental human right protected by various international human rights instruments as well as our Constitution. In a case in 2002, the European Court of Human Rights declared that the right to life under the European Convention could not be interpreted as conferring a "right to die".

The relaxation of laws protecting life does not only affect some, but also fundamentally alters the value of all human life, especially that of the vulnerable or those who are terminally ill.

Singapore already has the Advance Medical Directive Act, which allows people to reject extraordinary life-sustaining treatment when they are terminally ill and unconscious. During the debates on the Advance Medical Directive in 1996, the National Medical Ethics Committee took the position that euthanasia was wrong and the committee did not condone it under any circumstance. 

Despite strict legislative requirements, a 2010 Canadian Medical Association Journal study found that 32 per cent of assisted deaths in the Flanders region of Belgium occurred in the absence of request or consent. The European Institute of Bioethics also released a 10-year study in 2012 that noted several abuses of the law in Belgium, such as ignoring legislation that required a written declaration of a desire for euthanasia by either the patient or a surrogate.

Mr Teo recognized that euthanasia is against the natural order of things when he claimed that some believed that life should not be "interfered with unnaturally". Also, laws cannot and do not "bestow" freedom upon anyone; they can respect or violate human dignity. It follows, then, that man-made laws derive their moral legitimacy from and should conform to the natural law, rather than the mere expectations of society.

The progress of a society is seen in how compassionate it is in supporting the terminally ill and their families. Cancer support groups like the Singapore Cancer Society and The Revival Connection are created specifically to help address the different concerns of cancer patients and their family members, helping them to ease their emotional burden.

The terminally ill goes through five stages of grief; denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. It is understandable that patients have thoughts of ending their lives during one of these stages. Families would not have the significance they do for us if they did not, in fact, give us a claim upon one another. We are thrown together and asked to share the burdens of life while learning to care for one another. 

The family caring for the terminally ill also goes through five stages of grief; crisis, unity, upheaval, resolution and renewal. A stronger family emerges as members learn to resolve longstanding issues, heal wounds and redefine one's role in the family. 
They share fond memories with their dying family member, treasuring every remaining moment. Euthanasia short-circuits the natural process of death and grief.

People with mental illness need a listening ear, link to resources

As a person who struggled with major depression during my early 20s, I view love, empathy and support as most important in caring for people with mental illnesses (“Demystifying depression and other mental illnesses”; Sept 14).

As I was born with brittle bones that resulted in countless surgeries since I was seven years old, the sudden death of my mother to cancer during my A levels was one of the many factors that triggered my depression.

This, coupled with family circumstances and my strong personality, brought me to the brink of death. My suicide attempt was a cry for help. I did not want to die. I just did not know what to do with my life, thinking that no one cared.

When I saw how distraught my family members were in the intensive care unit, it occurred to me that this life is not my own.

My death would have caused unresolved grief to my family.

Those who have died through suicide never got to witness all these. If they had, they would probably not have committed suicide.

I never felt that I was not accorded dignity by people during my depressive episodes. It was I who did not give dignity for myself. I was wallowing in self-pity and expected pity from others.

I was self-righteous, expecting people to succumb to my whims and wants simply because I saw myself as a victim.

I am grateful I had a psychiatrist who showed me great empathy and trusted in me to heal. It was his unwavering support that helped me persevere.

People struggling with mental illnesses do not thrive on pity.

They already have dignity. Like any other person when times are challenging, all they need is a listening ear and the link to resources.

Love and support from family and friends draw out their potential to overcome any situation.

My compliance with taking medication and working closely with my psychiatrist helped with my recovery. I learnt more about myself and accumulated precious life lessons through depression. Having a robust faith also reminds me that I am responsible for my choices.
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/people-mental-illness-need-listening-ear-link-resources

We bring life to this dying world

I truly love the way God reveals Himself through our past, the struggles we go through, the relationships and conflicts that we have with others, our work, our passion, our lifestyle, our habits...He reveals His character, His plans (bit by bit), His humor, His wholeheartedness in wanting to bring out the best in us, His determination to make sure that we rise up, BUT only if we allow Him to.

He molds us in tests, He helps us to grow in Him by the growing death of self.

In truth, loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength requires the whole of me, not 'No, Lord' when times are bad. If God is truly Lord, do we say no to Him? If we have the choice of saying no, then He definitely is not the Lord of our lives.

Many things I can choose not to do to avoid trouble, conflicts, pain...to be a 'yes' woman to what people say. I can jolly well hide away in my 'christianity' world, naively thinking that I'm leading a 'godly' life, close my mind and heart to all that's happening because hey, I just commune with God. He is God, I'm His princess, full-stop. But I am fully convinced that our lives is not a full-stop when we come to Christ. It is the beginning of many commas, question marks and exclamation marks. Even in heaven, we do not stop worshiping the One who knows it all.

Worship is a lifestyle. If people ask why I always talk about God, that's because He is my life, just like how parents will not stop talking about their children or anything that is top priority in their lives. Nothing to do with talking about God means being holy...You don't become holy by talking about God. You become more like Him by knowing, loving Him and His people and applying what He has taught.

Growing in Christ is very painful. No wonder many do not even want to come close to Him. We have to say no to self to say yes to Him. We used to be the kings and queens of our lives but now we have to say more and more goodbyes to ourselves each time we need to stretch and tear. Tears is the crying out of pain. After the old skin is taken away, the new skin is red but beautiful, swollen but will heal. Just like my scar on my arm. No longer painful but a part of me, a mark of His faithfulness to me, a mark of my growing trust in Him.

In this dying world, we bring life. If that is not our purpose in this life, I don't know why we are here. The easiest way is to opt out and short-change yourself. You will actually go through more unnecessary tests and pain that would have been learnt earlier if you had allowed Him into your life. Either way, pain is inevitable. The difference is the One who heals your pain is the One who loves you before you were born. You are safe in His loving arms rather than your own.

Separate us from dross

It's not easy to be parents. No parent has practical experience on how to parent his first child. The closest is to learn through modeling from his parents (either positive or negative) or from books, peers, mentors, relatives...

For those who are in Christ, we learn from our perfect Parent: our Father in heaven.

I'm not a parent. At most, I'm a spiritual parent who aspires to learn from my Father. 
What I can give my kids now is vastly different from when I first started teaching. 
Then, I looked at them as just another assignment, a chore, at most; a cute little face now and then. They were just a means to an end. They were too noisy to be cute actually.

A prayerful Baptism made a great difference. My life changed quite a bit, more than when I first received Christ in 2006. I respect every family who is not ready to receive the God I worshiped. I do not impose and neither can one impose cos Jesus is a Gentleman. 
From 7 years old till my years of wandering, has no one shared Christ with me? Of cos. 
Just leave me at arm's length and don't bother me while I 'enjoy' my life.

Only when tragedies hit and man is at his utmost desperation will one look above and ask, "Where is God in the midst of this injustice?"

Man's sufferings seem like injustice, no matter what or who caused it.

Those who know me before and after, I know you are just as ecstatic as me in how much I have changed. I always laugh at how I would react when something like this happened in the past. I'm proud of the God in me, not with myself. 

There's nothing in me that warrants pride. I was telling a church mate that as I ate my noodles the other day, I was like swallowing (accepting) all that had happened. 
And I have to eat humble pie. When Pastor Michael talked about self-denial, this made me crumble. I didn't know self-denial tastes like this. 

And I know this is just the appetizer. 
Come on, haven't I known that life in Christ is taking up His cross and denying self? 
Didn't I sign up for this in 2006?

No, I only tried Jesus because I had come to a dead end.

Then I have heard, read and seen that in others. To me? Maybe later...later...not now...

We long to delay hardships but please don't delay our gratification.

We love roses but please take away the thorns.

We love You Jesus but please don't let me suffer like You.

Jesus loves me for my loveliness which He has created but He loves me all: even my rottenness.

Eat an apple but don't want to see the seed? Then where does the apple come from?

To our Father:

Refine us and assay us. Let us be purged as gold and silver, that we are separated from dross!