THE GENTLE TOUCH OF THE BREEZE OF GOD'S LOVE

From next week onward I cannot dash through life anymore in a 100 meter spring feeling the breeze brush against my face and hoping to catch the adrenaline rush of fulfillment in my labor. I have to learn and perhaps, relearn many times or unlearn sometimes I guess, to slow down and take a stroll - one step at a time - evaluating, reflecting, and pondering on life, and once again regain the gentle touch of the breeze of God's love brush against my breast. Oh, how I need once again to gaze into my Father's face of approval, of mercy, and tender compassion!

Oh, how I long for a miracle to happen once again in my life that I had long forgotten how it feels like and how it is like because it was in a very distant past. The faint memory of miracles eluded me ever so often. I wondered sometimes how I  could grasp it beyond the horizon. Faith, my child, faith. The Word of God is sure. Jesus comes with healing in His wings. I believe I can recall the miracles by faith from the distant shore and see it, touch it, and experience it. Father, I believe, help my unbelief!

My prayer is this: Lord, help me one day at a time, that's all I'm asking from you. Lord, teach me today, show me the way, one day at a time.

My heart is filled with many empty spaces waiting for the right answers to fill in the blanks. I will continually look up to Jesus and fixed my eyes and my heart upon him, the Author and Finisher of my faith. Father, draw me with your furious longing of love and I will run after you. In your presence is fullness of joy. Nothing, yes nothing, could or should separate me from your love.

GOD CAN MOVE THE MOUNTAIN

It's 1.30 am and I am wide awake. It is one thing to bravely say that my HOPE is in Jesus but another thing to have the actual fact of a huge mountain in front of you! I am not going to pretend to feel alright, I am NOT. But I am also not going to stay under - I will say to my soul, "Bless the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever. He is my ROCK, a shelter in times of troubles."

Yes, the negative news about my wife's health pulls me down to the bottom of the sea of disappointment, discouragement, and even despair, yet, I will be like the Prophet Habakkuk who look to God and proclaim: "Tho the fig tress shall not blossom, yet I will rejoice in my God - I will rejoice in the God of my salvation." This evening Keat Cheong and Cheng Cheng came over to my house and ministers to my wife and I. I felt a great relieve though the task ahead is still a task ahead - whatever it may be!! But while they were praying for Ean Beng I was brought to remembrance the life story of Job - everything that can be thrown at him he got it. He was in a very depressing situation. I felt the Lord encouraging me with the still small voice: "Out of the ash heap of despair I will raise you up and people will be amazed at the glory of the Lord." I am not going to try to interpret what that means in every detail but this one thing I know deep in my heart - the joy of the Lord will be our strength and it will defy every fiery darts of the evil one or brickbats that he tries to throw at us. God be praise and be blessed. He is worthy. He is good and He is great!

The facts may be negative but the truth is God heals and victory is in the hands of God! He is faithful to the end. Recently I just learned that "the just shall live by faith" in the Hebrew language can be translated as "the righteous shall live by his faith and his faithfulness." I will tell my wife and my children - we serve a faithful God, therefore, we must remain faithful! God be blessed!

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

I have problem with the problem of evil, do you? Actually, I don’t have problem with not understanding everything there is to explain about the existence of evil. I don’t question why evil is everywhere. I certainly would not question God. Some I understand, with the little that I know, concluded that because there is evil therefore God doesn't really exist. Their ‘logical” argument goes like this: If God is love. We see evil in this world. How can a loving God allow such evil in the world? But the atheists forgot to ask this of themselves: If everyone in the world is an atheist (believing sincerely that there is no God; material world is all there is and we are a product of evolution) would there still be evil? Would men be any better morally today - no violence, no crime, no natural disasters, etc.?

So I don’t have problem with the existence of evil. I have problem with the problem of evil because it is the direct result of SIN. Sin is not just about doing the wrong thing but in rebellion with his Creator and choosing to replace God with himself. I have problem with the problem of evil in people who thought it is their right to choose how they would live without taking responsibility of what might happen to people around them. I have problem with the problem of evil when men take hold of power over another by hook or by crook (sounds familiar, right?) and therefore violating human rights and democracy. They would also try to justify themselves with nice sounding political rhetoric. Clowning? “Sandiwara”? Monkeying around? Maybe that’s why the country that they control would become a banana republic pretty soon!

I have problem with the problem of evil in men who are full of greed because they have power and authority (most of the time illegitimately). where their billions were stashed away in Cayman Islands and yet won’t call it quit, foolishly thinking that all the illegal wealth that they gain at the expense of their fellow countrymen could go with them to the grave and beyond!

Yes, I have problem with the problem of evil!

TRIBUTE TO MY DAD

It’s been more than 15 years since my dad has gone home to be with the Lord. Today I want to pay a tribute to this great man. For the past one week my memories of my dad came back to me. My wonderful memories of my dad were not when I was growing up but when I was in my late teens. The earlier part of my life I did not have much time with my dad, in fact, I didn’t know him because he was working all the time and was seldom home.

Today, I am not going to rehearse about those days but the part of my life when I saw an entirely different dad. The first wonderful memory that I had of him was when I was taking care of him during his kidney operation in University Hospital, KL. It was those times, at his bedside that he told me stories about his life. That was, incidentally, the most my dad converse with me since I don’t know when! In between those stories you could almost felt that he was very proud of us. He was a man of few words; quiet but talented (he sing, he paint, and he’s a good photographer), hardworking, a man of principle and non confrontational. Though he’s not expressive like hugs and words of endearment but in his own way his life was a life of much sacrifice for his family.

At the hospital I asked him whether he’s in pain and he said that if he could endured the torture in prison during the Japanese Occupation this pain was nothing in comparison. He said that to my other siblings too. He’s indeed a tough man.

My father was also a very generous, friendly, and hospitable man. Many of his long times friends spend a significant time in our photo shop in Malay Street meeting up for chit-chat and friendly games of cards. But I think he was loyal in his friendship.

But the best of all memories that I have of my dad is his love for my children as well as all his other grandchildren. I remember him climbing four stories up to my flat many of the afternoons and placed a packet of Sugar Cane water on my grill door. He hardly called my wife. He just placed the drinks there for us. Like I say, he’s not very expressive but this little act of him speaks louder than words could ever express of his love. I know he loves us. I know he loves my children. Little things like this may not mean much to some people but it means a lot to me and my family.

Once a week we took him to supermarket and he would be carrying Joyce the entire time. Many times we asked him to let her walk by herself and he would insist on carry her – at least for half-hour or more. Asked all my brothers and sisters and they would tell you that he loves his grand-daughters to the socks (I’m quite sure he does loves his grandsons, just that he shows it more to the grand-daughters!)  My father was a loving man. I know he was at times hard and bitter when I was growing up but since his first operation he became different; in fact, he quit smoking and drinking, and came to church regularly. He was a changed man. I knew it and I saw it. All this happened not too long before my marriage. That’s more than 28 years ago. I really do have tremendous memory of him.

Let me relate one last recount of my father. I believe with all my heart that he is not only loving but very, very proud of his family (children and grandchildren). I believe that one of the reasons my family (my brothers and sisters) are close-knitted up till today and also very blessed is because my father was a faithful man – he was faithful to his wife, faithful to his own siblings, and faithful to the Lord. Every Chinese New Year reunion my entire family will meet at my elder brother’s home. The most touching part of the evening was the gathering of the family to pray before we feast. My father would pray before we begin. Every time he prayed he would be in tears – not tears of sadness – but tears of gratitude for the blessings of the Lord upon the family. It was faith building. It was heart-warming to feel the love of God for the family and the man of the house truly was appreciative of the blessings of the Lord. I am proud of my dad. My father was a BLESSED man. We have carried this tradition till today – grand children gotten married and now a latest addition – the first great granddaughter for my dad and a grand niece added to the Lim family!

DAD, I LOVE YOU DEARLY! 

FROM RADIO MALAYSIA TO FACEBOOK QUEEN

It’s so easy to give comment about anything. I’ll be the first to admit that. Just look at our country and the things that make up the news for the day, I think, we are in no short supply of gossips, comments, news reporting, and what not!

I remember when I was young we use to live in a rather big house and about four families (fairly large per family) stayed together. Our Lim Clan is rather large. And you know that with such large families living together there will always be misunderstanding, quarrels, and children fighting. One of the things I remembered vividly is about gossip – what goes around the grape vine! One particular person in the house was tag Radio Malaysia – daily dose of juicy news – both good and bad! It’s so funny because I was just a little kid then and the adults didn't think I could understand anything but I did. Those days there were no Internet, SMS, and email but Radio Malaysia was actually very fast indeed and the cause of many quarrels and misunderstanding!

Just imagine today – Facebook and Tweeter – and it’s enough information or misinformation overload! Let’ face it, we all are part of the great invention! Blame it on some IT Geek out there! Over the last 24 hours I am beginning to realize that it’s easy to comment about anything under the sun and get it out very quickly – to the moon and back in seconds! So be careful what we write, say or tweet. I know I am one of the culprits by posting on my Facebook questions that stir others to comment, gossips, and what not! Guilty as charged! I think I might be “sadistic” – thriving in stirring people up to comment or gossip boldly! Is this the freedom of speech that we are looking for in Malaysia? Just asking! What constitutes freedom? What is true freedom?

HARD THINKING ABOUT REALITY

I was looking through some of my sermon notes and came across this. It was written in 1st July 2010- that's about 3 years ago ..........
----------------------------

"I am constantly THINKING ALOUD my thoughts about life – revisiting the ageless purpose of God for my life. I call this discipline of mine HARD THINKING ABOUT REALITY. I am never satisfied with a mediocre lifestyle; mundane, routine, and smooth sailing through the sea of non-involvement in what is happening in our culture, society, and nation. In my HARD THINKING ABOUT REALITY I ventured to contemplate about my own spirituality – my personal walk with the Lord. The danger for many of us who have been long-time believer is the fact that we can become a “professional”. By that it means that we can get so familiar in our Christianity; routinely doing what is considered as necessary like praying, quiet time, church attendance, etc BUT really not being able to raise our loyalty, our commitment, and our involvement in God’s business to the next level. In my own spiritual quest I found myself struggling even in making sense of all the things I do supposedly for Him! Some months ago I was rudely awoken to the fact that I have not taken my life on earth seriously….I was just careening through the highway of life at a fast speed and crisscrossing through the maze of ministry all the time thinking I was at my best. In one of my still moments with the Lord He spoke to my heart about how faulty I view my life – my physical health, my thought-life, my spiritual aptitude, and my motivation in serving Him."

------------------------------------

What have you been reflecting upon lately?

GOD WILL DO SOMETHING

What do you think we, as Christians, should do in the wake of a more vibrant political awakening in our country as never before? Much as we like to let it go and just move on with life, I think that after GE13 it has never been the same anymore for many of us especially those of the younger generation. Some of us may have some pent up frustrations. Some of us are a little more vocal. Some of us may actually give up of seeing any change at all. I think there are some of us who still believe that change will come sooner or later. I am a firm believer that God is interested in the affairs of our nation. I think that God will do something powerful, miraculous, and awesome in our midst when His children cry out in desperation to Abba Father.

Let me quote Ravi Zacharias:  When God wants to drill a man, and trill a man and skill a man. When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part. When he yearns with all his heart to create so great and bold a man, that all the world might be amazed, watch his method, and watch his ways. How he ruthlessly perfect whom he royally elects. How he hammers and hurts him and with mighty blows converts him into tried shapes of clay that only God understands while his tortured heart is crying, and he lifts beseeching hand. How he bends but never breaks, when his goods he undertakes. How he uses whom he chooses and with mighty acts induces him to try his splendor out. God knows what he’s about.

God is no respecter of persons. He can and will raise up whoever he wills to carry out his plan and his purpose. I am very incline to think that when his children cry out to him in desperation, with tears for deliverance from evilness, violence, immorality, injustice, and unrighteousness, he will hear our cries and he will answer speedily. For those of us who carry the hope to believe in a better day for our nation should continually to pray fervently and believe that God will act. Let us trust in him to “use whom he chooses and with mighty acts induces him to try his splendour out! God knows what he’s about!”

God bless Malaysia.