My second-half Life

"Looking for simple but spiritually fruitful life. Striving for God's destiny and plan on ME." is always my motto. From time to time, my inner voice will speak out.

The following web-site strikes me and want to share with my Power-Puff girls to think a step beyond bothering ourselves with our career and our family. What else should we pursue beyond?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/momsense/2007/002/6.22.html

Last Sunday, Pandora invited me to organise a Book-worm Club for our regional K5 children who like reading or organize a workshop to promote their writing interests partly to reinforce their peer group in Church. And partly to evangelize their schoolmates..... I am eager to step up to use my writing and editing skills and love in reading, along with my passion for the involvement in the next generation in church.

Thriving: Getting Started on Growth Goals
• Focus on an area of passion or interest. Grow in something you like. (to write and to read and to learn with an open heart)
• Work on small steps and specific milestones rather than huge growth goals. You can always add to your growth goals as you achieve your milestones.(to write 3 morning-pages daily to drill up my patience and preseverance.)
• Don't focus on too many areas of your life at once. Growth is a process. (reserve our time-off and serve God with a smiling heart)
• Find someone who shares your interest so you can participate in growth together. (this Book-Fan Club is a igniting idea to me)
• Consider choosing an area of growth that is not related to your role as a mom. (to out-reach other working professionals and being a BTL)
• Look for free or inexpensive resources. Public libraries, community colleges and local service agencies may have free or inexpensive resources to get you started. (my weekly schedule-HKCL is my second office.)
• Start learning about an area of interest and use that knowledge as a springboard for growth. (Colour therapy)
• Be open-minded in your pursuit of thriving. Your passions may change over time. Your interest in politics may have changed from local issues to global ones or visa versa.

Psalm 102-our strength and our refreshment

God is really seeing our heart and will reward us if we cherish a pure heart.....

In viewing one of our PowerPuff girls is sick, I intentionally chose Psalm 102 with a view to brightening and cheering up Connie, but she is unable to join our trio morning Qt. VL & I continue with this Psalm and we are much empowered by God in return in digging up the scriptures bit by bit.

I must record my gratitude without hesitation:-

1. Thanks God that we have Bible to record HIS truth and HIS words and thank for many, many people (our ancestors) spending life-time in translating, orgainising, proof-reading...... chapter by chapter and thus compiling this Bible. Because Bible, God's words can inspire us and will continue to insight our next, next , next generation..... How wonderful it is so accomplished even though when my days are consumed (Psalm 102:3) and like a shadow (Psalm 102:11) ! "This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord." Psalm 102:18
2. We, people, are apt to be anticipating rewards upon doing good and wondering why good things happen to bad people and groan. Bad people reserve being punished - it is not fair. But 人在做,天在看 . "For HE looked down from the height of HIS sancturay; From heaven the LORD viewed the earth...." Psalm 102:19 We just set our priority list and focus our full attention to serve God with pleasure and believe HIM to judge everybody by what one's done. Distinguish clearly what the sphere of influence and the sphere of concern. My focus will be oriented to God's promise - Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
3. Last but not the least - "God, you are same, And Your years will have no end." Psalm 102:27 "I am the Alpha and are the Omega!" Revelation 1:8 Being an abandoned woman, I am especially touched and easily perceived the impact of this commitment. It is really powerful and I will recall and remind myself through my walk through God since my birth or even beyond and how HE has been instiling this promise to me even when I declined to proclaim HIM as MY LORD & MY HEAVENLY FATHER.

Be my prayer to thank God for HIS eternal love and preserve my everlasting love towards HIM as well. May the children of YOUR servants will continue and their descendants will be established before YOU. I pray in the name of my Lord, Jesus, YOUR beloved Son. Amen!!!!

wonderful BBQ-sweet memory

We thank God for the wonderful weather, cosy place, fresh seafood, meat & cool drinks, fresh & colourful fruits, close relationship, sharing joy and electronic games for the kids.

Thanks for Stanley's & Yanky's preparing the meat & hospitality.....

We all enjoyed much. Let's see our smiling faces after several enjoyable hours.

One of our PowerPuff Girls is sick. She needs your care, love, prayer.... and more rest.

Connie is back from her tiresome business trip for almost a month. But she is sick now as experienced in the previous trips....
Come on girls, do pray for her health in God's protection and she grasps the fullest rest and recovers very soon physically. God please leads her spirit and supports her with love and care, too.
It is time to rest & reserve ourselves more for God. "Be rest, and know that I'm the Lord." Psalm 46:10

Building up a character takes time

Upon completing Deuteronomy and nearly completing Exodus in parallel, I really appreciate how God takes time in building a character like Moses.

At the beginning, I see that Moses being no different from me or any ordinary man in any corner of this world, timid, wondering & wandering, even being entanlged with his own busyness (in family or in work). But God chose him because of his heart. Moses is a legend since his adventurous birth. He was chosen by God & was delegated a mission "the salvation of his tribe from being slavery". He was not conceiving any trace of such an idea and was astonished when being told of this Mission. What in his mind flashing at that moment: running away from this and kept on asking God, "WHY ME? NO, I'M TOTALLY INCAPABLE - DUMB I AM! I'M NOT AN ORATOR! HOW DARE CAN I PERSUADE THE PHARAOH TO SET MY PEOPLE FREE? "

At the end of Deuteronomy, I see that a very different Moses being reformed & reborn by God. This is the very man and one of noble men who can talk to God face-to-face. This inspires me to think what ......

struggles between spiritual & real worlds

We QT again over the phone, & mediate with Psalm 4 & feel contented with God's promise & giving.
4:4 要戰戰兢兢，不再犯罪；在臥房寂靜時，沉思默想。
4:7 但你賜給我的喜樂遠勝過五榖豐登、美酒滿溢的享受。
4:8 我一躺下來，安然進入夢鄉；上主啊，只有你能保守我安全。

VL shared her daily struggles in office and somehow torn by the struggles in commercial setting Vs being a disciple.

Me, too, in planning the finance. I confront some struggles and I opt for a godly way - to pay the debt to my brothers instead of saving up for my family's use in future (even though my contract will expire early next year). But I believe that God will protect & provides.
I love Isaiah 30:15 to 26 which inspire a lot.....

30:15 至高的上主─以色列神聖的上帝對他的子民說：「回來吧，安心信靠我，你們就得安全；鎮靜等待我，你們就有力量。」但是你們不願意。
30:16 你們想用快馬逃脫敵人的追趕。不錯，你們必須逃亡。你們以為自己的馬夠快了，可是敵人的馬比你們的更快。
30:17 縱使你們有一千人，只要看見一個敵人，你們就奔逃；只要有五個敵人，你們就全軍覆沒。你們的軍隊完了，只剩下山頂上孤零零的一根旗桿。
30:18 但是上主還在等待；他等著要施恩給你們。他要憐憫你們，因為上主是公正的上帝。信靠他的人多麼幸福啊！上帝要賜福給他的子民
30:19 耶路撒冷的居民哪，不要再哭泣啦。上主是慈愛的；你們向他求援，他就答應。
30:20 主要使你們忍飢捱餓，但是他仍在一旁教導你們，你們用不著尋找。
30:21 假如你們徬徨路上，偏左或偏右，你們會聽到背後有聲音對你們說：「這是正路，走上去吧！」
30:22 你們要把鍍過金或鑲過銀的偶像當垃圾扔掉，大聲喊：「去你的吧！」
30:23 你們撒種的時候，上主要降雨，使種子生長，而且使你們豐收；你們的牛群會有寬廣的草原。
30:24 替你們耕犁的牛和驢會有最好的飼料。
30:25 你們的敵人被屠殺，他們的堡壘倒塌的時候，你們的大山小山都要湧出泉水。
30:26 月亮要像太陽那樣光亮；太陽的光要比以前明亮七倍，好像七天的光在一天放射出來。在上主包紮他子民傷口、醫治他們病患時，這些事都要發生。

To keep our QT momentum complete, I advise continue with Psalm 5 which is a day prayer while Psalm 4 is a night prayer. So they complement us daily in a complete momentum.

Shepherding our kids

My children are growing bigger and more independent. They enjoy more & more time with their peers in anticipation. But as a parent, I also love to see my children enjoy special time between themselves. So I suggest this idea - a special time between themselves like our precious moment as "Tuesdays with Merry". My idea ignites my child who will like try to reserve a special time slot with her sister.

On 13 March, Tuesday, they kicked off their first dating. I gave them $20 each hoping that they would pool up the money to enjoy together. They have spent more than 2 hours together -- enjoying tea in MacDonald & doing the craft and writing the cards....

They sent me a lovely card, a magnet (craft) for their father.

This is a 融冰之旅!

Discover the momentum

Though VL was not feeling well this morning and called for the cancellation of QT on phone, Connie was out of town, I ,myself, was entangled by the appointments and chores, keeping the tie with God is the momentum I would like to keep.

Psalm 4 - Imitating David's prayer at night
VL, let's pray together here:-

Father, when I call you, give me answers, Lord, take my side! Once, in a tight place, you gave me room; Now I'm in trouble, alone with you again: grace me! hear me!

Look at this: look who got picked by Lord, my Father! HE listens the split second I call to him.

Complain if you must, but don't lash out. Keep my mouth shut, and let my heart do the talking. Build my case before God and wait for HIS verdict.

Why am I hungry for more? "More, more, more, more.... I have God's more-than-enough... More joy in one ordinary day than others get in all their shopping sprees and other worldly lust. At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep. For you, My Father, have put my life back together. I will be refreshed and restructured the next day and every other day.

Humility builds up love

Psalm 25:6-7
Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Remember, not the sinsof my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.

Loving God is not only a slogan, but an action, "love" is a verb. Love must be in action. Love is unconditional. A wealthy young man came to Jesus & asked for the way to eternity. (Mark 10) In reply, Jesus answered him, to sell out all his wealth and to follow HIM despite that he has pursued all the 10 Commandments. But the man went away in misery.

The 10 Commandments - I didn't comply with before conversion nor even was aware of them. Luckily, my Lord sees my repentance and brokenness. He comforted me with HIS words and promise and his Laws.

Vivian & I read this Psalm verse by verse. I noted that the following message appears four times out of 22 verses. Really impressive.
The LORD will instruct the one who fear HIM in the way chosen for him.
Psalm 25:4, 8, 12, 14. The last 2 strike me a lot:
Who is theman that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. (Psalm 25:12)
The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant know to them.
(Psalm 25:14)

With Lord, we fear nothing because HE has led me the way. But how to listen to Lord's words?

James 4:6 & 4:8 are my conviction and my way.