Colours

Broadly speaking,
the short words are the best,
and the old words best of all.
– Sir Winston Churchill

So, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Still on Time

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. Eccl. 3:1

I started 2007 with this post which I called time and eternity. At the close of the year, I am “Still On Time”.

Some of the happenings (read it here and here) over the year has given me some new insights into “Time”.

I have learnt that I do not “save time” by setting my own agenda.

I have learnt that setting my own priorities always put me in a condition of needs for more time.

I have learnt that I have to always choose a path that reflects God’s priorities to ensure time-efficiency and resourcefulness.

I have learnt that taking care of His will first, even little I have in strength, wisdom or resources, I would always have my needs being met.

I have learnt that “little is much when God is in it”.

I have learnt that my time is in God’s hands.

I do not know what is in store for me in 2008, but I know He will be there.

My prayer for the close of the year –

God, teach me to number my days.
Help me to live your priorities,
your will for my life.
Then I would know I will have
all I need and please you by how I live.

A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIENDS.

(Story behind the two watches in the picture above can be found here.)

The Rest

“There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music in it.” –John Ruskin

If you have sung in a choir, you probably could identify with the saying of John Ruskin – the making of the music in a rest. Or you probably do not like the nagging interludes when your voice is missing.

Yes, I have never like the “rest” – especially when I am set aside through sickness or even a long leave. In my thirty years of working, I have not taken a leave of more than two weeks in a stretch “doing nothing”.

When God said, “Be still….” I felt that God is telling me that I have come to the end of my song. I did not like it…

This time I took a long leave – doing nothing. I have been resting since the 10th of this month. I have learnt to “rest”! I have the sure knowledge that God is making music in the “rest”. The Great Conductor is counting time. He knows the best arrangement. I only need to fix my eyes on him.

Poet, Annie Johnson Flint expressed it very well in this poem –

The great Composer writes the theme
And gives us each a part to play.
To some a sweet and flowing air,
Smooth and unbroken all the way.
They pour their full heart’s gladness out
In notes of joy and service blent;
But some He gives long bars of rests
With idle voice and instrument.
He who directs the singing spheres,
The music of the morning stars,
Needs, for His full creation’s hymn,
The quiet of those soundless bars.
Be silent unto God, my soul,
If this the score He writes for thee,
And “hold the rest”; play no false note
To mar His perfect harmony.
Yet be thou watchful for thy turn;
Strike on the instant, true and clear,
Lest from the grand, melodious whole
Thy note be missing to His ear.

(This post is an inspiration from a good friend who wrote me an email this early morning that his new year resolution is to work less and spends more time with family. He has learnt to rest! This one for you, mGf.)

The Tree

I took down the Christmas tree at home today. I also took down the Christmas trees in my Christmas blog header and replaced with this one.

A dear friend sent me this Christmas message. I think it’s for all year round –

Pray before you plunge into the packages. As you look at the Christmas tree, remember THE TREE. (Galatians 3:13) When you see the lights, remember THE LIGHT. (John 8:12) And when you look at all the gifts, remember THE GIFT. (John 3:16) Have a blessed year ahead!

Galatians 3:13-
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written. “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Celebrate the Gift

There has never been a gift like Jesus.

In this world at war, Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
In any dominion of darkness, Jesus is the Light.
In our culture of confusion, Jesus is our Wonder Counselor.
When we are weary and weak, Jesus is our Mighty God.

Rejoice tonight, for in Jesus we have been given all we need!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

If you are in Sibu, you are warmly invited to “Celebrate the Gift” with the Wesleyans in a Christmas musical tonight at 7:15 pm.

A blessed Christmas to all friends.

“Wearing Aloud”

It reads – I could be more control but I don’t want to be.

Cool?

But it really makes no sense to me.

Will you “wear that aloud”?

I have seen another lady wearing this –

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Are you Environmental Friendly?

Just as I thought I am consciously being environmental friendly, I was called “Environmental Unfriendly”.

I have completed the design of my Church’s Christmas Cantata bulletin and sent for printing. Instead of the usual size of bulletin (half of A4), I decided that I would use A4 size. I would need 300 copies.

While I was telling the printer/boss the layout, another man in the shop exclaimed, “You are going to distribute this in the church?”

“Yes.” I said.

“How unfriendly you are to the environment.”

It was like you are enjoying an ice-cream on a hot day and suddenly you spotted this picture 🙂

Dove of Peace

Captured this at the birds’ show of A’fomasa, Melaka.

White dove is generally a sign for peace. The quest for Peace continues to reflect the yearning of the human heart which only God, the source of Peace can provide.

Christmas reminds me that Peace comes from Christ and Peace is God’s gift to this troubled world.

“Live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Cor 13:11)

The Tallest Wish

Shopping malls are competing on “tallness” of Christmas trees. Looking at the tall Christmas trees, our wishes also grow tall. Spotted this hung on the wishing Christmas tree of a shopping mall.

If you don’t read Chinese, the wishes are –

Wish that I would marry a rich, handsome and caring man.
Wish that I would be with loved one forever.
Wish that I would have better interpersonal relationship.
Wish for improvement in studies.

It was not the tall Christmas tree in the first Christmas, neither was it the tall Christmas wish. I like the song “Christmas Isn’t Christimas” that I sang in the Christmas Cantata some years back.

This was one of the songs of the Christmas Cantata of my Church on Christmas Eve. Enjoy!

Christmas Isn’t Christmas

Narrator: We give gifts to those we love. Our Heavenly Father has so clearly demonstrated His love for us in Jesus. How can we do less than to give something in return? But what can we give? What gift is worthy, or can fully express our gratitude? We can continue to give Him our songs, and we will. We can continue to gather in His name to remind each other of His marvelous grace, and we will. But what God desires is something else… something more than from each of us. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Christmas isn’t Christmas till it happens in your heart.
Somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts;
So give your heart to Jesus,
You’ll discover when you do that it’s Christmas,
really Christmas for you.
Jesus brings warmth like a winter fire,
a light like a candle’s glory;
He’s waiting now to come inside as
He did so long ago.
Jesus brings gifts of truth and life and
makes them bloom and grow.
So welcome Him with a song of joy and when He comes you’ll know
that Christmas, really Christmas for you!

Weight Watcher?

Overheard – while sorting out the pictures I took during the holidays. This picture was on the screen….

Rachel said to Chris, “Every time I see your big tummy, I feel very much relieved.”

Oop.. should I feel much, much, much relieved just by looking at this picture?

From the bathroom of the hotel that we had just checked in …

Rachel said to Chris, “You stand on this scale. Is this your normal weight?”

Chris said, “It’s about ten kilos less than my normal weight.”

Rachel said, “Urgh…, I thought I have lost so much weight and was so happy about it.”

The sweet-17 has been watching very closely on her weight lately. What’s up?