The Important Things

By now, a lot of people know me as the 'gifts person'. Gifts was always my love language.

While opening my Christmas presents, I realised things have changed.

Of course, I am so grateful for every present I received, and for every person who thought to give me something. Every item showed how well people know me and what I like. Big thank you!

But opening my presents felt a lot different this year. As lovely as each gift was, no longer are things what I really want (please don't take offence gift-givers!). 

Particularly during all the post-Christmas sales, where I would normally be happily and eagerly seeking out the best bargains on clothes, dvds and Christmas decorations for myself,this change came to a head.

I felt almost no desire at all to buy anything.

I still enjoyed the shopping experience, walking around looking at things, helping the Yeap boys choose their clothes, being among the bustling crowds... 

I stood in JB Hi-Fi, looking at all the super cheap dvds that I could buy, and once upon a time, would have definitely bought in an instant. But, I felt absolutely no pull to do so. Sure, it'd be nice to have those things, but I found myself not wanting them.

This is quite a turning point for me. I feel like I've always known what was important and what was not, but now I cannot be held back from pursuing the important by a desire for the unimportant, because that desire is just not there any more.

In this season, there are only two things I really want. Want, as in, I can feel my heart burn when I think about them. (Ask me and I'll share.) Everything else doesn't seem to matter much any more. And I praise God for that. 

Here's to a new season without the distractions.

K

 

God My Strength

"Psalm 18: 1-3
 I love you, O Lord my Strength.


The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, my deliverer; 
my God is my rock in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and am saved from my enemies."

When facing hard times, God is everything you need. He is the unassailable and immovable rock. Seek refuge in His fortress. Hide behind his impenetrable shield.

God is not only with you through difficult situations, or painful circumstances, but he is protecting you and wrapping you in His love.

Opinions

Last weekend, I did 2 lots of taste testing for a market research company. And for my troubles, I was paid $100 in grocery gift cards.

I've been asked, and paid, for my opinion on breakfast cereals, milk, lamb, beef, ice cream, websites, fish burgers and more.

But much less often are we asked for or actively seeked after for our opinion on God and the 'spiritual things' in life.

Put it this way: no one is going to pay me for my thoughts on Jesus and Christianity. Rather, it's those thoughts that often people would prefer not to hear, which is a shame because perhaps it's those thoughts (our testimony) that they need to hear most.

In the grand scheme of things, my opinion on which ice cream was yummier will not matter much. It probably won't be remembered in a few years time, it won't help a life and it won't save a life.

But my opinion, thoughts and testimony about God and who He has shown Himself to be - that can make a difference.

So.. make sure you give the opinions that matter, even if there is no obvious 'payoff' straight away. You never know what God can do with your voice :)



K

Just worship

At times, I like to put on a worship CD.
One of my favourites is the "Songs For Communion" by Hillsong.
One of the beautiful songs written by Amanda Fergusson is very uplifting and makes me realise again how thankful I should be for the gift of God's Son.

An excerpt of lyrics:
"Son of God nailed upon a cross
Tender heart was broken for my sin
Loving face marked with blood and tears and dust
And I am overwhelmed
And all that I can say is

Thank you for the price You paid
Paying what no other could
Thank You for the price You paid
For the terrible cost of love"

Whatever trials I face or faults I have, I know that God loves me and knows my pain, since He went through even more. I am often tempted to feel unworthy of such love, but I think the least I can do for God who did so much for me, is to love Him back and accept the gift of His salvation, and His grace for every day.

No such thing as a self-made man.

"Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."
- Psalm 100:3


I went to a selective high school, so I think for a time something about that made me slightly arrogant.


We were smart, we worked hard, and in the end it usually paid off and we became doctors or lawyers or actuaries. And we, and our (very Asian) parents, are proud of our achievements. 


It's not that I ever looked down upon 'normal people' or treated them differently to the 'smart folk', but inside I thought myself special for my smartness and always wanted to come first, and when I did, it made me happy.


I look back now on how fixated I was on making something of myself, and it's both sad and funny. I look to the present to people I grew up with who are now successful lawyers and doctors and actuaries, but declare themselves atheists, and it's no longer funny, but incredibly sad.


I think talent without purpose can be a very dangerous thing. If you are ridiculously smart, can think and talk your way out of anything, and have made a financially comfortable life for yourself thanks to your smartness, why would you need God? Or rather, why would you ever consider needing God or looking for something more than what you are?


When I finally got the revelation that being the best (in worldly terms) cannot infallibly save you, I think it was very freeing. Sure, I still love succeeding in things and doing well and being excellent, but now I understand why and for whom I am succeeding. It is no longer for personal glory, but for His glory - which is infinitely more worth magnifying than my own.


There is no such thing as a self-made man; only those who haven't met God yet.


I hope they get to know Him soon.




K

What's going in?

There was a Sunday School song that we sang frequently when I was younger, and it goes a little bit like this:

"O be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little eyes what you see

There's a Father up above

And He's looking down in love

So, be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little ears what you hear

There's a Father up above

And He's looking down in love

So, be careful little ears what you hear"

There's more of the song, and it goes on to say to be careful of where you go, what you do, and what you say. So much wisdom in such a simple song.

I was thinking about this and began to think how true it is to have to be careful and intentional about what we experience daily through our senses. Because what we listen to, what we see, where we go, ultimately has influence on us.

Certain songs on the radio or even on my ipod for example. Some of them should never have been written (in my opinion)... they just kind of add to the noise. In it certain rappers refer to girls as female dogs, address them using derogatory names, and objectify women by means of their body parts. No wonder society seems to think it's ok- and even those within our own gender to call each other these names. It's so important to monitor what we listen to, because there are so many lies being strewn about.

That's what I've been challenging myself with lately, and I've been rifling through my music collection and getting rid of a lot of some songs that I think would not align with what God would want me to hear.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

What we have

On Sunday night I was listening to the radio before going to bed (FM103.2). They have an "Open House" program on where they discuss different issues and include interviews with interesting people. One of the interviews was with a man who wanted to live more like Jesus.

So he wrote down a list of the things Jesus told us to do in the Bible. The type of things included communion, and selling possessions and giving to the poor. So the man actually got together a group of his friends and they decided to sell half their possessions and give to the poor. One of the revelations that came out of this was that the things that they thought were valuable, were worthless to others.

I can think of some things that I own, that I hardly use, especially clothes and shoes. And I'm not even the type of person that buys much of fashion. Fortunately, I feel that what I have is more than enough. I don't want to sell anything (no time)...but I will reconsider buying or going shopping for clothes. For the past few months, I haven't gone shopping (for clothes, shoes, or accessories)...yet, I don't miss it. There are too many more important things to focus on. I don't think I will be buying anymore clothes for the next year either...except that I'm going to Malaysia next year. I'll only be getting what is absolutely necessary! Or on ridiculous sale!

I once read in a magazine that some women (average women?) spend $100 a month on clothes, or more. That's over $1000 a year. That's 2 children that could be sponsored through Compassion instead.

We need to be happy with what we've got, and stop wanting what others have. Then we will feel secure enough to be generous with what we do have.