::Shine::

God's faithfulness shines through.

The Light of the world calls us. Answer the call.

Be a light.

Guarding Your Post

I came back from playing soccer yesterday evening with a valuable lesson.

Do you know the power of one? One out-of-tune string causes a guitar to sound bad. One musician with stomach upset can cause a song to be played in a slower tempo. One bad statement can hurt someone for a lifetime. One bad thought leads to a thousand crimes. One letter of appreciate lifts up one's spirit...

In the body of Christ, we are one body. Unfortunately, a body consist of many parts. Some like to play rock and roll, some like it jazzy and smooth. Some prefer playing A minor rather than a C major. Some goalkeepers like to play outfield. Some likes to play the off-side trap, some prefer playing it safe. Some like to hold the ball longer, some like to play the direct ball. Some like to sing the same song a thousand times, some just can't stand it after the 3rd time. Some like to be in the lime-light, some insist they're too ugly to be on camera.

We are all made with different temperaments. God intended it to be that way. We can't all be the same person. Imagine everyone having your name and looking just like you... God created everyone to be unique and different for a purpose, and no one can do that thing that you're created to do better than you!! One could have many different gifts, but everyone should only focus only on the things that the God has called them to do. "But coach, I can play so much better as the right winger. Let him play defence." Sometimes we feel we can lead better than our leader, preach better than our pastor, sing better than that back-up singer, play the electric guitar better than punk dude... And it could be true sometimes. But there can only be so many wingers and strikers, you stay and guard your post. You're playing for the team, you're playing for the Coach. So just stay and guard your post. Let others learn to do their part.

Let there be only one voice shouting the instructions, one captain leading the flow, one coach making the shots. You stay and guard your post.

Stuck...

In this journey of running with a God-given dream, or even our walk with the Dream-Giver, we often get stuck in some place... Somehow we become lost and confused, unsure of the road ahead or which path to take, or we just simply go blank... We know what the ultimate goal is, we know how to get there... At lease we though we did... And so we plan and we plan and we plan, but now we find ourselves caught in between our past and our future...

This time is the time to make a choice - shall we quit and give up the dream? Or shall we wait for the light that brings hope? Shall we get frustrated with our imcompetence? Or shall we continue to look to the Everlasting? Shall we drift away from our course, or shall we wait for HOPE?

As we are now here, stuck in a moment that we can't get out of, in the middle of running with a God-given dream or writing a script, I've concluded that we have probably strayed away from the source of Life. Maybe it's time to run back into the arms of rest and comfort, to regain our original identity by casting away our masks and laying down our crowns and our know-hows... To just know and be known all over again... To trust and lean not on our own strength... Sometimes we forget who ultimately and rightfully deserves to be in control.

And so as this runner / script writer gets stuck in this place where there are no words left to pen down and no story line to work with, I am reminded that the Dream-Giver is still waiting to be a part of this dream and this script-writing team... Oh boy, how could we miss that?? What a bummer... This time and the next, I must remember to remain stuck to the One who has stuck with this runner, this dreamer...

Back to the Basics

For the past few mornings, I've had an opportunity to jog around my neighbourhood. I've always wanted to develop this habit of waking up early and going for a prayer-jog around my neighbourhood. It's just that I've been unwilling to kick my late nights... I thank God for making things easier for me. Now I know how great it feels, I won't want to be miss these mornings again.

One thing I find strange though. Despite the fresh air and just a 15-minute run, I find myself tired and my body is unwilling to run further... But I play soccer, man!! I'm a soccer player, the type that works hard and plays smart. I could run all over the football field for 1 and a half hours, but I can't run for 5 minutes more?

I guess in a game, I get all hyped up by the desire to win, the passion to be a team player, the adrenaline rush of creating a flow... Jogging though, whell, it's important and necessary for building up stamina for the real game. Yes, a well trained stamina sustains you through the extra time and protects you from injuries... All professionals spend much amount of time for warm up, building muscles, increasing stamina... They have to go through lots of practices and trainings. You skip training, and you're not included in the squad. But it's just some boring routine, coach... There's no one there to cheer you on, no one appaulding your fancy skills, no one admiring the strong muscles of your legs... It's just you and your training, and thus, a lack of drive and motivation... We prefer to go straight onto the field and showcase our talents, get appreciated and feel loved.

God, help me to focus on the basics - leaning on Your strength, resting in Your presence, knowing Your words and doing only the things You asked of me in Your timing. Help to die to myself and be less concerned with the cheers and acknowlegdement of men, which are momentary. Keep my eyes focused on the everlasting... Let my run be an overflow of my walk with You. I want to live my life for the Dream-Giver, not the dream...

Lost and Found

Have you ever lost your ID? Do you have any idea how much they charge you for a new one these days? RM40!! RM40!! Punishing people for being careless, ok lah... but what about those who got robbed? What if you're from out of town, and all you have has just been stolen? You won't have any money to go and get a new ID, for one. And you can't renew your ATM cards too because you have to have a temporary ID issued by the government for which you have to pay RM40, which you don't have because you just got robbed and you can't get a new ATM card... What are you going to do??

No man is an island. No man can be an island. Say you're that poor guy who just got robbed... Probably some kind people or the police would let you use their phones to call home. But what if no one from your hometown is willing to come down and lend you RM40? Some may pity you and suggest transferring money into your bank account, but you don't have access to it so what's the use...

Losing your identity card is just like losing your identity. Your faithful serving bank won't acknowledge you = your money won't acknowledge you, your government who works for your good won't acknowledge you... oh, what more when you lose all your money? So many more people won't even turn their eyes toward you... So who can you turn to for help?

Do you know someone who loves you so much so that person is willing to lay aside everything at hand just to assist you – meeting your needs, walking with you through it all and till you get back on your feet – even though it was your own carelessness that led you into the mess in the first place? Is there someone in your life who's willing to love your unconditionally? Do you know for sure?

I know for sure that the Dream-giver would never leave me nor forsake me. Sometimes I carelessly misplace my identity, loose my footing, and fall away from the track He chose for me. Sometimes I fail to hold on to this identity which He gave me whenever I get rejected, discouraged, dishonoured, disgraced... Sometimes I just throw this identity away because I think I deserve better and I think I know what's best for me and I prefer something more tangible – like money or my identity card. But the Dream-giver never ceases to hope and to love. He's there for me – ALL THE TIME.

And so in this times when I'm without an identity card and access to my bank account, I've learned to cling on to things that are far more valuable. I'm reminded of how deeply I'm loved, how much I'm forgiven, and how important relationships are. I've lost some, but gained much, much more.

So who am I without my identity card?

I am LOVED.

Birthday Wish

Jolene, my friend since childhood, is celebrating her 21st birthday today. She invited me to attend her birthday and requested me to give a birthday wish. I suppose it'll be in front of everyone... I don't know how is it going to be like tonight, but here's what I intend to wish Jolene. And the same I wish to all those who will pass through this blogspot of mine. May you experience, know, and truly understanding the Unfailing Love.



I wish you love.

Not the love that buys chocolates and flowers on Valentine’s, but a love that knows and treasures your worth on a daily basis.

Not the love that demands love in return, but a love that is unconditional.

Not the love that runs and flees in times of trouble, but a love that never leaves and never forsakes.

Not the love that varies or fluctuate depending on moods or situations, but a love that stays on no matter what you do or how much make-up you put on and how long it took for you to put them on and how ghostly looking it might make you…

I wish you love.

I wish you love,

A love that’s kind & patience;

A love that doesn’t envy or boast;

A love that doesn't keep score but is ever forgiving;

A love that does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

A love that always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

A love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I wish you love that never fails.


Is it possible to find such in love in a friend, a father, a mother? Is it possible to give such love? I leave that for you to ponder. Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve. I wish for you to find that love. Live by that love – give, receive, and share – and you shall live a fulfilled life.