You were once isolated in your room.
You were once afraid of the world.
You were once worried to the extreme
of your sister's safety
as well as the kingdom's peace.
In all those years,
you store your secret shut
in your two gloved hands,
surrounded by four frozen walls.
The coronation day
was the day you dropped the bombshell.
Your fate had changed
when you lost your patience,
summoning a wave of sharp ice in front of your royal guests.
Your automatic incantations were jagged and harmful
that forced you to retreat from civilization.
And here you are,
finding a solution to the depression and anxiety
you have held back in all those years.
Your mind warns you to keep your gloves,
but your heart tells you to toss them away.
This incredible power
flows and glides from your hands
in swirls of fluffy white in the air
and blocks of blue into a tower,
your new refuge.
Way to go, snow queen.
You've stood tall and proud.
You've conquered your fear
by becoming a rebel,
showing the gods above what you want to reveal.
Your frost fabric glistens and your translucent cape gleams
under the sunrise rays.
Yes, you know it.
The snowflakes are cheering with glee.
This is where you belong,
Elsa the Great.
Friday, 20 December 2013
Thursday, 14 November 2013
Be A Diamond, Not A Talc (Poem dedicated to the victims of the Philippines' Typhoon Haiyan)'
Be a Diamond, Not Talc
A fierce vortex may carry a roof away.
A gigantic earth fault will clash and clutter the walls.
A sliding slope will drag houses down like a waterfall.
An extreme army of wind and rain will drown the innocent
beings.
A furious conflagration might incinerate the mortals'
fragile skin.
A flowing ribbon of lava will engulf a tree's beauty.
Yet we are still alive.
Who knows when a plane will crash against a skyscraper?
Who knows when a ship will overturn in the deep cold
blue?
Who knows when a bus will skid towards a train?
Who knows when a young lad will get shot?
Who knows when death is cursed on a loved one?
Yet we are still alive.
We may live in a world weaved with catastrophes.
Poverty and prostitution still do exist.
One innocent mind will be harmed one day
by the awakening of reality’s rage.
Yet have no fear
that when faith knocks on your door,
Not even grenades of disaster will crash onto you.
We may lose our current plans.
Our shelters, together with our belongings
may be destroyed and no longer in use.
We may be devastated
to see earth turned to deadly black,
yet there is one tiny spark hidden beneath the soil
that will soon grows and glows with great glory,
a luminescence that will revive our hearts.
Dear people,
don't be a sectile, bendable talc.
Your heart may be twisted like its rubber-like body.
Your spirits may be shattered like its weak bonds.
Your soul may be torn like its easily-scratched surface.
But
do remember the spark that will illuminate
right before your eyes.
It will help to rekindle your heart,
like a flame of hope that ignites in brilliant warmth.
Let the flame in you ablaze with wondrous power.
Let's stand up from the debris left on the ground
and lay hands on one another's shriveled wings.
Let's be diamonds that conquer misery,
strong and resistant.
Its surface cannot be damaged
but reflecting beams of bright silver
that an enemy's eyes be blinded.
Don't let hypocrisy and sarcasm overcome your thoughts!
Get up on your feet now!
Fix the cracks and ruins
to create a renewed world.
Keep in mind that you are not engulfed in isolation
for we hold you in our prayers
and God will lend you his mercy and grace.
So open your eyes now.
Be a diamond,
not talc.
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
World Kindness Day 2013: Post a love message!
I don't know whether you are aware of this, but today is World Kindness Day. I don't have any money with me, except my debit card and countless pennies in my wallet so I can't buy gifts, but I would like to share this message with you all.
For those who can't find something to make someone's day better today, you can do this simple task on Facebook, twitter, or any other social sites (even email =P). So here's what you can do with your laptop in front of you. Post a short message of love as your status update OR as a special message to a friend or two. If possible, you can post your message to as many friends as you can think of. Here's an example:
"I just want to let you know that you're perfect just the way you are. You are the reason why I'm being myself and living here in this world with a smile. I love you, and I hope you'll never forget that you are always loved. Spread this to the people you care by (posting this as your Facbeook status/ tweeting this to your friends). Happy World Kindness Day!=)"
You can copy the example above as your own love message, but it would be better if you create your own love message and share it with your friends. Be creative, but simple, meaningful, and inspiring! Your message will make a person's day joyful. Compose a short poem, quote a portion of lyrics from a good song,share a bible verse...anything you want to make your love message perfect!
If you find this task a little cheesy, then you can grab your coat and start something bigger! One of my favourite Youtube artists, David Choi did a great example to show a random act of kindness. Check out his collaboration with Jubilee Project here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rSMRM9_TZo
In this video, he sang one of his singles "Can't Take This Away" in order to get some lunch money from passers-by. In the end, he ended up giving all the lunch money he earned to a beggar at the store. So, why can't you? Go and do a random act of kindness by donating a quarter, a toonie, or a dollar to a person in need! Just don't spare cash to those fake, lazy beggars! They are just trying to trick you! If you see someone who is desperately seeking help, let your heart to be softened and give a silver or a green to that person.
There are, of course, other ways to do something kind. If you don't feel like doing something nice, then I suggest you to start by doing the online task above. If this encourages you to do something more, post more of your love message, and eventually, you'll find yourselves walking down the aisle and help your family, friends, or even strangers with a good deed. You wouldn't want to miss out on this special day! Today is a practice for you to do something good for other people! So....what are you waiting for??? START NOW! =D As Ellen Degeneres always says: "Be kind to one another"!
For those who can't find something to make someone's day better today, you can do this simple task on Facebook, twitter, or any other social sites (even email =P). So here's what you can do with your laptop in front of you. Post a short message of love as your status update OR as a special message to a friend or two. If possible, you can post your message to as many friends as you can think of. Here's an example:
"I just want to let you know that you're perfect just the way you are. You are the reason why I'm being myself and living here in this world with a smile. I love you, and I hope you'll never forget that you are always loved. Spread this to the people you care by (posting this as your Facbeook status/ tweeting this to your friends). Happy World Kindness Day!=)"
You can copy the example above as your own love message, but it would be better if you create your own love message and share it with your friends. Be creative, but simple, meaningful, and inspiring! Your message will make a person's day joyful. Compose a short poem, quote a portion of lyrics from a good song,share a bible verse...anything you want to make your love message perfect!
If you find this task a little cheesy, then you can grab your coat and start something bigger! One of my favourite Youtube artists, David Choi did a great example to show a random act of kindness. Check out his collaboration with Jubilee Project here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rSMRM9_TZo
In this video, he sang one of his singles "Can't Take This Away" in order to get some lunch money from passers-by. In the end, he ended up giving all the lunch money he earned to a beggar at the store. So, why can't you? Go and do a random act of kindness by donating a quarter, a toonie, or a dollar to a person in need! Just don't spare cash to those fake, lazy beggars! They are just trying to trick you! If you see someone who is desperately seeking help, let your heart to be softened and give a silver or a green to that person.
There are, of course, other ways to do something kind. If you don't feel like doing something nice, then I suggest you to start by doing the online task above. If this encourages you to do something more, post more of your love message, and eventually, you'll find yourselves walking down the aisle and help your family, friends, or even strangers with a good deed. You wouldn't want to miss out on this special day! Today is a practice for you to do something good for other people! So....what are you waiting for??? START NOW! =D As Ellen Degeneres always says: "Be kind to one another"!
Monday, 4 November 2013
God is Life
Now you probably know the story of Adam and Eve in the beginning of the Bible. God made them for a significant purpose, that is to express Him and to contain Him as a vessel. God gave them two types of tree: the "tree of life" and the "tree of knowledge of good and evil" (Lee, 104). "God's placing man in front of the tree of life [so that] men [can] receive Him as [life]"and to take him in as "food" (Lee, 110). He is our real food! He is found "in the Word", which is the Bible (Lee, 110). In fact, the tree of life represents God himself! Praise the Lord that He is life! We have to take Him as our "center" so that he can supply our empty hearts with his life. His life becomes our life which is real to us (Lee, 110). God also desires us to take Him as "food", as it says in John 6:48: "I am the bread of life" and John 6:57: "He who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me." (Lee, 110-111). The fruits that grow in the tree of life are organic and fresh for us to eat and enjoy, and this will help us to experience God's life as well as his eternity. John 6:51 reminds us: "I am the living bread, which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever. And the bread which I will give is my flesh, given for the life of the world". On the other hand, the tree of knowledge of good and evil is portrayed in the picture above. People who only believe in the matter of good and bad are dying. Genesis 2:17 says: "But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, of it you shall not eat; for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die". Eve ate a fruit from this tree and she experienced death, so did Adam. Same goes to us today. If we eat the tree of knowledge of good and evil, all we believe is morality and values, which causes us to fail in experiencing God's presence! Yes, you go to church but if you do not feel that God is knocking the walls of your heart and begging you to let him break through and reach you to breathe him in, then you are not satisfied with the way you live just like the woman in the picture. Ask yourself, dear reader. Do you want to eat the tree of life OR the tree of knowledge of good and evil? I would like to hear you say: "I want to eat the tree of life so that I can depend on God as the real life!"
Life is like flowing water that gushes out of a fresh, crystal clear river. John 4:14 says, "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall by no means thirst forever; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life". Many Christians take this as a doctrine, thinking that the fountain of living water is only a metaphor or an illusion of God. But here's what I learn from this precious verse. This specific type of water is a source that we as thirsty, desperate, empty human beings are seeking for to survive spiritually. It "[flows] within us", "[proceeding] out of the throne of God" (Lee, 153). "This river was made to water the garden [of Eden] that [it] might grow things of life" (Lee, 153). The world's first garden, the garden of Eden is introduced in the book of Genesis, and this symbolizes that today, the garden of Eden is in us! The greenery (trees and flowers and fruits and all you can find in this garden) depends on the amount of water flown from "the river of water of life" (Lee, 163). If a person's garden is dying, it means that he or she doesn't have the right amount of water from the river of life to water the garden. So what can we do to water the garden in us? Simple. We need to open ourselves to the Lord to allow the "fountain [to emerge] as a spring, and the spring flows out as a river" (Lee, 152)! We need the Lord to whoosh his waters of eternity all over our spirit, our soul, and even our body so that we can experience Him as our only life!
If you're interested, here are a couple of hymns about God as life.
"Christ Has Come To Be Life"
http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/ns/149
"Take My Life and Let It Be"
http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/445
Lee, Witness. Holy Word for Morning Revival: Crystallization-Study of
Genesis: Volume One. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 2013. Print.
Lee, Witness. Holy Word for Morning Revival: Crystallization-Study of
Genesis: Volume Two. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 2013. Print.
So..yeah...that's pretty much it! XD I've spent two hours writing this out, but it feels great to share this to you. Thanks to these two books as reference (as shown above), the points here are linked to the real matter of life. Only God's life is ideal and full of hope and glory, and with it, we can no longer suffer!
Oh! And as a special treat, this is a favourite video of mine about the Christian students at UBC (University of British Columbia) who sang a bible song from John 6:51.
What do you think of this post? Leave your comments below. ;) Thanks for reading!
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Don't Play Your Life, A Gift God Has Given To You
I take the second introduction to Psychology this semester, and we have to do this term paper about antidepressants. A part of this project is to listen to the three parts of a radio program called "Rethinking Depression", and if you're interested, you can listen to the recordings in the CBC website (www.cbc.ca) (go to CBC Radio 1-> Ideas -> type "depression" in the search box -> click on "Rethinking Depression Part 1 or 2 or 3). I've finished listening to this program a few hours ago (I listen to a part of the program per day) and what I've noticed is that there are millions of people who suffer from depression (either mild or moderate or even major). All of us (admit it) do feel depressed at times and we will think of negative things such as the "Oh! This is the end of the world!" effect or the common thought of "I wanna kill myself." People who suffer from depression (including major depression) will eventually either get help or commit suicide.
Okay, let's put the "commit suicide" issue aside first. Depression victims usually get help from medication, and I'm talking about antidepressants. You probably heard of this famous type of antidepressant called "Prozac" (P.S this is the first time I heard of it). For many years, people who suffered from depression take this drug in and the results escalate high like rockets. However, such a drug can also lead to negative effects that scare the hell out of consumers. According to the radio recordings, the interviewees share their stories about hearing sounds that don't exist in their subconscious minds or seeing visions that got them afraid of their future, and countless nightmares too. And when this happens, they go hungry for different drugs or any other medication that could "possibly" cure depression. This, in the end, will lead to the "final" thought of perishing themselves.
I just don't get it why people need drugs to heal depression, or any kind of mental issues. I suffered from depression as well due to the fact of being bullied back in elementary school and secondary school. I complained to myself that school was an unsafe place. I planned to commit suicide when I was fourteen, but thank goodness I didn't do it. The vision of me holding a knife towards my chest frightened me, and God reminded me not to do such a sin. It was a relief that the bullying finally stopped when I was in ninth grade. And as for this Youtuber, Anna Akana, she was being open to the world by posting this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvkbHIrrrvU
If you watch this, you'll get the sense that killing yourself makes everything goes upside down. The people that love you will get confused and miserable, and once you banish your body away, you'll waste God's gift. You'll waste the life that God has given to you. Don't you see? Satan is hiding in you to make you forget what you're made for and live for. Yes, it's not just God who lives in you but Satan who also lives in you. Eve ate a fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, so that makes us sinners, which means Satan has injected himself into us to make us scatter away from God. The reason why people commit suicide is because Satan is telling them to do so. God doesn't want to see them throwing their lives randomly! God doesn't want to see YOU thrashing your one and only precious life!
So if you're reading this, I'm not saying that this is what you should do. I'm writing this post to share with you what I believe in. Whoa! I just realize that I've spent half an hour writing this! Anyway, I just hope that....for those who plan to commit suicide, or if you're about to do so, please reconsider. Think about what will happen to the people around you, your future, and your religion. If you ask me what should you do if you want to kill yourself, I would say, "I'm not a psychic, but killing yourself will shake the whole world...and God Himself." You are given a life, and you should be blessed that you're alive. You are breathing to reveal a chapter of your journey in your life journal. So if you're feeling depressed or uncomfortable, find something that keeps you happy and seek help from the people you trust. But don't forget to stay strong, and put in faith to your religions. As for Christians, God is always there to listen to you, don't feel abandoned.This is your life, treasure it like God really mean it. =)
Okay, let's put the "commit suicide" issue aside first. Depression victims usually get help from medication, and I'm talking about antidepressants. You probably heard of this famous type of antidepressant called "Prozac" (P.S this is the first time I heard of it). For many years, people who suffered from depression take this drug in and the results escalate high like rockets. However, such a drug can also lead to negative effects that scare the hell out of consumers. According to the radio recordings, the interviewees share their stories about hearing sounds that don't exist in their subconscious minds or seeing visions that got them afraid of their future, and countless nightmares too. And when this happens, they go hungry for different drugs or any other medication that could "possibly" cure depression. This, in the end, will lead to the "final" thought of perishing themselves.
I just don't get it why people need drugs to heal depression, or any kind of mental issues. I suffered from depression as well due to the fact of being bullied back in elementary school and secondary school. I complained to myself that school was an unsafe place. I planned to commit suicide when I was fourteen, but thank goodness I didn't do it. The vision of me holding a knife towards my chest frightened me, and God reminded me not to do such a sin. It was a relief that the bullying finally stopped when I was in ninth grade. And as for this Youtuber, Anna Akana, she was being open to the world by posting this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvkbHIrrrvU
If you watch this, you'll get the sense that killing yourself makes everything goes upside down. The people that love you will get confused and miserable, and once you banish your body away, you'll waste God's gift. You'll waste the life that God has given to you. Don't you see? Satan is hiding in you to make you forget what you're made for and live for. Yes, it's not just God who lives in you but Satan who also lives in you. Eve ate a fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, so that makes us sinners, which means Satan has injected himself into us to make us scatter away from God. The reason why people commit suicide is because Satan is telling them to do so. God doesn't want to see them throwing their lives randomly! God doesn't want to see YOU thrashing your one and only precious life!
So if you're reading this, I'm not saying that this is what you should do. I'm writing this post to share with you what I believe in. Whoa! I just realize that I've spent half an hour writing this! Anyway, I just hope that....for those who plan to commit suicide, or if you're about to do so, please reconsider. Think about what will happen to the people around you, your future, and your religion. If you ask me what should you do if you want to kill yourself, I would say, "I'm not a psychic, but killing yourself will shake the whole world...and God Himself." You are given a life, and you should be blessed that you're alive. You are breathing to reveal a chapter of your journey in your life journal. So if you're feeling depressed or uncomfortable, find something that keeps you happy and seek help from the people you trust. But don't forget to stay strong, and put in faith to your religions. As for Christians, God is always there to listen to you, don't feel abandoned.This is your life, treasure it like God really mean it. =)
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Fog poems: Silver Curtains vs. Topaz Through The Thick
Hey, guys! So...I've written two poems about the foggy weather in Coquitlam, BC this month and I'm wondering which of these two poems is better/ worth reading as a perfect fog poem. Topaz Through the Thick is written during the sunrise while Silver Curtains is more of a dark poem and it's written in the evening. So what do you think? Take note that they're just drafts. Choice A (Silver Curtains) or Choice B (Topaz Through The Thick)?
blown by the pipe of a nature ancestor.
Its curtains caress through me.
The chilly breath hit against my skin.
Up the hill, under the grey sulking cotton,
I watch in this deserted park
as the clumps of fog frolic by
like animals spirits.
Thicker blinds overshadow the pine trees, surrounding the circle.
Oh, poor greens!
Their stomata eyes blink, gasping for ripe oxygen.
Drowning in the Lost World.
The overlapping waves of mist slowly fade
as minutes tick by.
They creep and shawl around me,
slightly mending the cracks in my glass heart.
Even though I can't feel my bones,
I still sit under a red-dyed tree,
watching and longing
to stay for a little longer.
B. Topaz Through The Thick
A. Silver Curtains
Swirls of white ribbons roll by,blown by the pipe of a nature ancestor.
Its curtains caress through me.
The chilly breath hit against my skin.
Up the hill, under the grey sulking cotton,
I watch in this deserted park
as the clumps of fog frolic by
like animals spirits.
Thicker blinds overshadow the pine trees, surrounding the circle.
Oh, poor greens!
Their stomata eyes blink, gasping for ripe oxygen.
Drowning in the Lost World.
The overlapping waves of mist slowly fade
as minutes tick by.
They creep and shawl around me,
slightly mending the cracks in my glass heart.
Even though I can't feel my bones,
I still sit under a red-dyed tree,
watching and longing
to stay for a little longer.
B. Topaz Through The Thick
Skin burns around my face.
Finger bones seem to freeze and crack.
Temperature drops at dawn,
forces me to wonder when will God
summon the morning sphere.
Hours crawl by.
Sunlight spreads over the earth.
An overlapping wave of gold
filters through unquenchable swirls of mist.
Its natural illumination dominates over all living beings,
signalling a new day.
Alas,
disappointment stings in my heart.
The rolling clusters of fluffy silver
vanish in transparent sight.
How I wish I can stand at a better spot
under the chilly climate
and gaze admiringly at the view.
Oh, dear fog,
please don't go
just for this once!
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Mimosa (New poem)
You'll probably find me weird but Mimosa Pudica is my favourite wild plant. I enjoy touching this special grass ever since I was seven and I never get tired of touching its sensitive leaves while watching it folding. Pretty much, the mimosa plant connects to my personality, that is being a shy introvert. To those who know that I write a novella series called The Magic Mimosa Plant, the inspiration I get is basically from a mimosa and I turn it into a magical object.I can't find a mimosa plant around Canada, and that's sad..so I write this poem to remind myself that I'll look for one when I go back to Malaysia. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy reading this short poem. =)
Where are you, my touch-me-not?
Your emerald leaves are indeed one-of-a-kind.
A palm of leaflets never fail to amuse me
with your bashful demeanor.
Where are you, my sensitive darling?
I can't wait to lay one finger on you.
Your long, thin ovals shut before my eyes
like a toddler that hides behind her mother's skirts.
You're hiding a secret, I can tell.
Cracks are approaching around your barrier
and through my sixth sense,
you're longing to break through.
Where are you, my humble favourite?
You're so timid that I find you beautiful.
You're like a servant to a master,
so loyal and true.
You're not the only one who fears.
I'm looking for you
so that I can accompany you.
Where are you, my enchanted inspiration?
You're stunning when untouched and free
but shivering when encountered and trapped.
A wallflower that connects to my insecurity.
Yet you revealed a magic swirl around me,
giving me hope to create new ideas.
Please approach to me
wherever you are now.
I haven't seen you for a long while
and I miss hearing your lonely whisper.
Where are you, my touch-me-not?
Your emerald leaves are indeed one-of-a-kind.
A palm of leaflets never fail to amuse me
with your bashful demeanor.
Where are you, my sensitive darling?
I can't wait to lay one finger on you.
Your long, thin ovals shut before my eyes
like a toddler that hides behind her mother's skirts.
You're hiding a secret, I can tell.
Cracks are approaching around your barrier
and through my sixth sense,
you're longing to break through.
Where are you, my humble favourite?
You're so timid that I find you beautiful.
You're like a servant to a master,
so loyal and true.
You're not the only one who fears.
I'm looking for you
so that I can accompany you.
Where are you, my enchanted inspiration?
You're stunning when untouched and free
but shivering when encountered and trapped.
A wallflower that connects to my insecurity.
Yet you revealed a magic swirl around me,
giving me hope to create new ideas.
Please approach to me
wherever you are now.
I haven't seen you for a long while
and I miss hearing your lonely whisper.
Saturday, 21 September 2013
Lord, We're Waiting For Your Return! (College Retreat September 2013)
"Come, Lord Jesus
As we become the same as Christ
In life, nature, expression, and function,
We are qualified to work with Him
For His Body.
As We trust in the Lord helplessly,
Depend on Him as our love and strength,
And listen to His speaking,
Our hope is to be raptured
Through the redemption of our body.
And out prayer is
Come, Lord Jesus!
And our prayer is
Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Lord Jesus, come! "
The sweet hymn above is one of the songs we sang in the college retreat today, and once I close my eyes, I could feel that I'm singing this hymn to the Lord face to face.
http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/ns/285
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvO0F0m2B5s
The message we discuss this weekend is about the Lord's return and this is what I enjoy so far. I appreciate that we, as college students, are encouraged to get the highest education as possible. We are advised to get at least a college degree, get the highest grades, and reach to advanced levels (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). I don't think I can get the highest grades, but I'll definitely try my best to reach till a master degree in fine arts. And when this happens, we will be useful for the Lord. We will be needed for the Lord's recovery. I also enjoy that we need to learn another language other than English/ our mother tongue. We need to be at least bilingual so that we can preach the gospel to other people and be useful to the Lord as well. I remember how much I hated Mandarin and Malay back then. But after realizing that I have learnt 6 years of Mandarin back in elementary school and 11 years of Malay in elementary school AND secondary school, I must not regret too much that I've learn these two other languages. And so...I guess I can try to speak a little more of these two tongues. I'm thinking of learning Japanese too, so I'm finding the opportunity to do so. =)
So dear young people and all Christians, you must endeavor to gain the best education! You also need to learn a new language! The more, the better! Oh! And I guess why I enjoy the retreat so much is because of the brothers' speaking, including brother Willie's (Willie Wise-in case you're familiar with this brother, he used to be an NBA basketball player back in the old days, I don't know when but he sure was famous at that time, yup we have a former celebrity here in the church family). I remembered that he shared with us a brief testimony. He said that he was in Taipei back in the 1980s and he joined a group for door-knocking to preach the gospel. A couple stood at the door and they were surprised when he said a Mandarin phrase (I couldn't remember what he said). We all laughed when he showed a surprised expression and shouted, "Hei Ren Jiang Hua Wen!" (That black man speaks Chinese! This was the reaction from the couple, not him). I learned that even one phrase of a different language will get a person to listen. There will be a connection between two people who can speak one word of a second language. Brother Robert, another speaking one, also shared a testimony with us and it was about him who was disappointed of not knowing how to speak Filipino language even though he was raised in the Philippines for many years of his childhood. He was a Filipino Chinese, and he learnt English and Mandarin throughout his school days. He dreamed of going to America to study, and this caused him to hated Mandarin (sound familiar? This is a coincidence =P). He made it to America to study in university, he lived with four Chinese brothers who couldn't speak English, so he had no choice but to speak Chinese with them. I guess, what he's trying to say is, even though we might hate speaking our mother tongues (sometimes), we have to know how to speak it. We are encouraged to be bilingual (at least). Psychologically, those who are bilingual are meant to have better character. I actually agree on this, because I've learnt about bilingualism back in the Psychology course I take this semester. Speaking of character, "we need to build a good character" by "exercising ourselves to build a character that is useful to the Lord" (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). We need to have a good character so that we can be vessels to contain God. But most importantly, we have to allow God's attributes to work in us (Philippians 4:13~I am able to do all things in Him who empowers me).
I also enjoy that "we must pursue and grow in our spiritual life", and we can do this by "maintaining a living fellowship with the Lord, fully consecrating ourselves to Him and having proper dealings with Him, to be the Lord's overcomers" (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). To be succinct, all we have to do is to just simply love the Lord! Just. Love. Him. It's that easy! Do you love him, Christians? We must "grasp the opportunity to love him" (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). Mary is an epitome to this matter. She "sat at Lord's feet and was listening to His word, having heard and received the Lord's word and revelation concerning his death"; she even "looked for the opportunity to anoint Him before he died" (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). She listened to the Lord because she loved him. So we should listen to the Lord's speaking if we love him.
We are reminded that the Lord's return is near. We need to be watchful and eagerly awaiting for the Lord to come back for the second time. It is said in the Scriptures that he will "steal" "His treasures" (those who love Him), as a "Bridegroom" for us to enter into His wedding feast, and as a "judge" to the nations (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 10-11). He will also come back to "solve all social problems in the world", including "injustice", "sicknesses", politics, and negative activities (going to clubs, drinking, smoking, premarital sex...) (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 5).
Christians, we're living in a corrupted world and Satan is behind all this. Don't you want all this to be put to an end? There are nice things that we can't take our eyes off, and plans that we're waiting to begin in the future, but there's not much time. Christ is coming, and he's approaching soon! I have a lot more to say, but I'll stop here. If you would like to know more about what we talked about in the retreat, let me know in the comments below. =)
LORD JESUS, PLEASE COME! COME QUICKLY!
As we become the same as Christ
In life, nature, expression, and function,
We are qualified to work with Him
For His Body.
As We trust in the Lord helplessly,
Depend on Him as our love and strength,
And listen to His speaking,
Our hope is to be raptured
Through the redemption of our body.
And out prayer is
Come, Lord Jesus!
And our prayer is
Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Lord Jesus, come! "
The sweet hymn above is one of the songs we sang in the college retreat today, and once I close my eyes, I could feel that I'm singing this hymn to the Lord face to face.
http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/ns/285
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvO0F0m2B5s
The message we discuss this weekend is about the Lord's return and this is what I enjoy so far. I appreciate that we, as college students, are encouraged to get the highest education as possible. We are advised to get at least a college degree, get the highest grades, and reach to advanced levels (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). I don't think I can get the highest grades, but I'll definitely try my best to reach till a master degree in fine arts. And when this happens, we will be useful for the Lord. We will be needed for the Lord's recovery. I also enjoy that we need to learn another language other than English/ our mother tongue. We need to be at least bilingual so that we can preach the gospel to other people and be useful to the Lord as well. I remember how much I hated Mandarin and Malay back then. But after realizing that I have learnt 6 years of Mandarin back in elementary school and 11 years of Malay in elementary school AND secondary school, I must not regret too much that I've learn these two other languages. And so...I guess I can try to speak a little more of these two tongues. I'm thinking of learning Japanese too, so I'm finding the opportunity to do so. =)
So dear young people and all Christians, you must endeavor to gain the best education! You also need to learn a new language! The more, the better! Oh! And I guess why I enjoy the retreat so much is because of the brothers' speaking, including brother Willie's (Willie Wise-in case you're familiar with this brother, he used to be an NBA basketball player back in the old days, I don't know when but he sure was famous at that time, yup we have a former celebrity here in the church family). I remembered that he shared with us a brief testimony. He said that he was in Taipei back in the 1980s and he joined a group for door-knocking to preach the gospel. A couple stood at the door and they were surprised when he said a Mandarin phrase (I couldn't remember what he said). We all laughed when he showed a surprised expression and shouted, "Hei Ren Jiang Hua Wen!" (That black man speaks Chinese! This was the reaction from the couple, not him). I learned that even one phrase of a different language will get a person to listen. There will be a connection between two people who can speak one word of a second language. Brother Robert, another speaking one, also shared a testimony with us and it was about him who was disappointed of not knowing how to speak Filipino language even though he was raised in the Philippines for many years of his childhood. He was a Filipino Chinese, and he learnt English and Mandarin throughout his school days. He dreamed of going to America to study, and this caused him to hated Mandarin (sound familiar? This is a coincidence =P). He made it to America to study in university, he lived with four Chinese brothers who couldn't speak English, so he had no choice but to speak Chinese with them. I guess, what he's trying to say is, even though we might hate speaking our mother tongues (sometimes), we have to know how to speak it. We are encouraged to be bilingual (at least). Psychologically, those who are bilingual are meant to have better character. I actually agree on this, because I've learnt about bilingualism back in the Psychology course I take this semester. Speaking of character, "we need to build a good character" by "exercising ourselves to build a character that is useful to the Lord" (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). We need to have a good character so that we can be vessels to contain God. But most importantly, we have to allow God's attributes to work in us (Philippians 4:13~I am able to do all things in Him who empowers me).
I also enjoy that "we must pursue and grow in our spiritual life", and we can do this by "maintaining a living fellowship with the Lord, fully consecrating ourselves to Him and having proper dealings with Him, to be the Lord's overcomers" (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). To be succinct, all we have to do is to just simply love the Lord! Just. Love. Him. It's that easy! Do you love him, Christians? We must "grasp the opportunity to love him" (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). Mary is an epitome to this matter. She "sat at Lord's feet and was listening to His word, having heard and received the Lord's word and revelation concerning his death"; she even "looked for the opportunity to anoint Him before he died" (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 28). She listened to the Lord because she loved him. So we should listen to the Lord's speaking if we love him.
We are reminded that the Lord's return is near. We need to be watchful and eagerly awaiting for the Lord to come back for the second time. It is said in the Scriptures that he will "steal" "His treasures" (those who love Him), as a "Bridegroom" for us to enter into His wedding feast, and as a "judge" to the nations (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 10-11). He will also come back to "solve all social problems in the world", including "injustice", "sicknesses", politics, and negative activities (going to clubs, drinking, smoking, premarital sex...) (The Lord's Return (Part Two) Western Canada Retreat 2013 booklet, page 5).
Christians, we're living in a corrupted world and Satan is behind all this. Don't you want all this to be put to an end? There are nice things that we can't take our eyes off, and plans that we're waiting to begin in the future, but there's not much time. Christ is coming, and he's approaching soon! I have a lot more to say, but I'll stop here. If you would like to know more about what we talked about in the retreat, let me know in the comments below. =)
LORD JESUS, PLEASE COME! COME QUICKLY!
Monday, 16 September 2013
O Love, That Wilt Not Let Me Go (another favourite hymn of mine)
" 1. O love, that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
2. O Light, that followest all the way,
I yield my flickering touch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
3. O Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
4. O Cross, that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be. "
This hymn is taken from Greater Vancouver Young People Songbook, page (I'll add the page number as soon as I can)
Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/nt/432#ixzz2f5jAHCIP
This is also a favourite hymn of mine. The tune is just so soothing that sends my heart to a calm, joyful mood. The lyrics are poetic as well with such beautiful, encouraging words that expresses the love of God. God is our lifelong friend, and he is always there even when you're alone.
Check out the soundtrack right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxbPPa-AafM
And the instrumental version:
http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/nt/432
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
2. O Light, that followest all the way,
I yield my flickering touch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
3. O Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
4. O Cross, that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be. "
This hymn is taken from Greater Vancouver Young People Songbook, page (I'll add the page number as soon as I can)
" Nice song. By George Matheson
History of Hymn
“O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” written on the evening of Matheson’s sister’s marriage. His whole family had went to the wedding and had left him alone. And he writes of something which had happened to him that caused immense mental anguish. There is a story of how years before, he had been engaged until his fiancé learned that he was going blind, and there was nothing the doctors could do, and she told him that she could not go through life with a blind man. He went blind while studying for the ministry, and his sister had been the one who had taken care of him all these years, but now she is gone. He had been a brilliant student, some say that if he hadn’t went blind he could have been the leader of the church of Scotland in his day. He had written a learned work on German theology and then wrote “The Growth of The Spirit of Christianity.” Louis Benson says this was a brilliant book but with some major mistakes in it. When some critics pointed out the mistakes and charged him with being an inaccurate student he was heartbroken. One of his friends wrote, “When he saw that for the purposes of scholarship his blindness was a fatal hindrance, he withdrew from the field – not without pangs, but finally.” So he turned to the pastoral ministry, and the Lord has richly blessed him, finally bringing him to a church where he regularly preached to over 1500 people each week. But he was only able to do this because of the care of his sister and now she was married and gone. Who will care for him, a blind man? Not only that, but his sister’s marriage brought fresh reminder of his own heartbreak, over his fiancé’s refusal to “go through life with a blind man.” It is the midst of this circumstance and intense sadness that the Lord gives him this hymn – written he says in 5 minutes! Looking back over his life, he once wrote that his was “an obstructed life, a circumscribed life… but a life of quenchless hopefulness, a life which has beaten persistently against the cage of circumstance, and which even at the time of abandoned work has said not “Good night” but “Good morning.” How could he maintain quenchless hopefulness in the midst of such circumstances and trials? His hymn gives us a clue. “I trace the rainbow in the rain, and feel the promise is not vain” The rainbow image is not for him “If the Lord gives you lemons make lemonade” but a picture of the Lord’s commitment! It is a picture of the battle bow that appears when the skies are darkening and threaten to open up and flood the world again in judgment. But then we see that the battle bow is turned not towards us – but toward the Lord Himself! "
Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/nt/432#ixzz2f5jAHCIP
This is also a favourite hymn of mine. The tune is just so soothing that sends my heart to a calm, joyful mood. The lyrics are poetic as well with such beautiful, encouraging words that expresses the love of God. God is our lifelong friend, and he is always there even when you're alone.
Check out the soundtrack right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxbPPa-AafM
And the instrumental version:
http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/nt/432
Sunday, 15 September 2013
My favourite hymn "God hath not promised skies always blue"
" 1. God hath not promised always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
Chorus: But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
2. God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
3. God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river, turbid and deep. "
This hymn is taken from Greater Vancouver Young People's Songbook (hymn no. 128)
I wonder how many of you who read this blog are Christians, especially those who are in the church life (for the Lord's recovery). I would like to share this hymn with you all, because this is my favourite hymn. I first get to know this hymn when I was browsing through Youtube back in my Taylor College days (Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) in the year 2011. I watched this video posted from a brother who played this hymn with his guitar (quite well actually, but I forgot his name). I couldn't remember his background well, but I think he was a former soldier or something (or navy?). Through his playing and his voice, I could tell that this brother loved the Lord. This tune caught in my head from that day onwards, and it faded for a while. Then, this hymn came back to me again when I arrived in Vancouver six months later. I joined the large Young People meetings there, and I couldn't help enjoying this hymn. The tune (new tune) was so melodious and the lyrics were so poetic. I sometimes forced myself to open my mouth to call out this hymn to be sung in home meetings, and I always shook with excitement and satisfaction when we got to sing it.
If you're Christians but not in the church life like I do, then I recommend you to listen to this hymn. In fact, everyone should listen to this! This hymn helps me to go through dark times. I'm writing notes for Psychology, but due to a cold I'm catching, I can't concentrate entirely. My favourite hymn suddenly came to my head, and I have the urge to share this with you guys. =)
Here's a Youtube video that covers this hymn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8P75mvWH_k
And here's the instrumental tune together with the lyrics like the ones above:
http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/nt/720
In case you're curious about the writer of this hymn:
http://onthejourney7.blogspot.ca/2012/07/what-god-hath-promised-annie-johnson.html
I wonder who's the blogger? =)
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
Chorus: But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
2. God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
3. God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river, turbid and deep. "
This hymn is taken from Greater Vancouver Young People's Songbook (hymn no. 128)
I wonder how many of you who read this blog are Christians, especially those who are in the church life (for the Lord's recovery). I would like to share this hymn with you all, because this is my favourite hymn. I first get to know this hymn when I was browsing through Youtube back in my Taylor College days (Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) in the year 2011. I watched this video posted from a brother who played this hymn with his guitar (quite well actually, but I forgot his name). I couldn't remember his background well, but I think he was a former soldier or something (or navy?). Through his playing and his voice, I could tell that this brother loved the Lord. This tune caught in my head from that day onwards, and it faded for a while. Then, this hymn came back to me again when I arrived in Vancouver six months later. I joined the large Young People meetings there, and I couldn't help enjoying this hymn. The tune (new tune) was so melodious and the lyrics were so poetic. I sometimes forced myself to open my mouth to call out this hymn to be sung in home meetings, and I always shook with excitement and satisfaction when we got to sing it.
If you're Christians but not in the church life like I do, then I recommend you to listen to this hymn. In fact, everyone should listen to this! This hymn helps me to go through dark times. I'm writing notes for Psychology, but due to a cold I'm catching, I can't concentrate entirely. My favourite hymn suddenly came to my head, and I have the urge to share this with you guys. =)
Here's a Youtube video that covers this hymn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8P75mvWH_k
And here's the instrumental tune together with the lyrics like the ones above:
http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/nt/720
In case you're curious about the writer of this hymn:
http://onthejourney7.blogspot.ca/2012/07/what-god-hath-promised-annie-johnson.html
I wonder who's the blogger? =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)