Ocean will part - Hillsong

Ocean will part - Hillsong

If my heart has grown cold

There your love will unfold

As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

When I'm blind to my way

There your Spirit will pray

As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

Ocean will part, nation come

At the whisper of Your call

Hope will rise, glory shown

In my life, Your will be done

Present suffering may pass

Lord, Your mercy will last

As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

And my heart will find praise

I'll delight in Your way

As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

Our Second Birth - I

I have started reading up on Nouwen's book, titled - Our Second Birth - Christian Reflection On Death and New Life. It's Nouwen's diary entries during his Sabbatical year throughout his ministry in DayBreak. 

Want to write down some of his entries that speaks to me personally on my own little journey of solitude.

"... We talked long hours about vocation, competency, church, work, future possibilities, and so on. Most important to me was that Steve is very glad to have left his bank job and loves his studies ... I kept saying 'Be sure that you love the life you are living now, your studies, your prayers, your friendship ... Then you can trust that God will reveal to you the direction to go when the time comes. Buy don't try to know now what you only have to know a few years from now' ... Steve took a risk by embarking on a road he doesn't know much about. But I feel that it is a beautifully inspired rish, worth taking, and not in a secure but basically unsatisfying job. I am convinced that one day his decisions will bear many fruits."

This is what I read at bedtime last night. 

When God reiterates His comforts and assurance through multiple channels, then I know He is taking over. Humbly I learn to surrender all to The One who is above all. 

Coming to think about Risk-taking ... am I ready for another round of it? I am asking myself for an honest answer. 

"I am here" ... that's all I need to hear ... :)

The night with Timothy Fellowship

YAY ... 

"All papers are gone, I've been set free ... "(In the melody of Chris Tomlin's Amazing grace) ...

Handed in the paper early in the morning ... went for a whole day of appointments all around town ... still had to speak in a youth fellowship at night. I was quite tired by the time I parked my car. I was a little early, and I prayed in the car ... "A peaceful and powerful heart I grant you, go in My Name" ...

The very moment when they start their worship time (Very nice coordination with using CD to lead fellowship worship), blew me away!!! It was a rather mini-size youth fellowship with about 12 kids?! ... It was like 50 people singing altogether!! One song is from their summer camp and the other is Hillsong's "Worthy is the Lamb" in Mandarin. Oh boy! I sat in circle with this cozy group of kids. They were so responsive! I prepared for 5 pages of notes for an hour of talk, but I think I have just finished 1 page, at the most. We chatted, we asked questions, we reflected, we shared some of the life ponders as we pondered on how God created man and woman in Genesis. Such beautiful passage (well ... esp when I haven't got time to get to the fallen part yet!)!! You are just see in some of their eyes with great reflection about intimacy in their lives. 

After fellowship ... a few kidos lined up to ask questions ... to ask me to pray for them ... on some of their brokenness. Ended up, I didn't leave the building until 1045pm. Very tired, but time well spent! I love working with young folks ... full of courage, full of life, full of hope, full of beauty ... can totally see God's amazing creation in lives ... It feels soooo good to see lives crying out for God in tears ... this is what genuine lives are ... If I can choose, I'd want to work with youths forever!!! But I guess diff life stage would have a slightly diff wonders to it ... hum ...

I guess I will go back to speak for a few more times ... hope we can get to the Fallen part in Genesis next time :)

你講左多謝未？

自小媽咪就教我如果有人送左野給我，我就要講多謝 ...

我要同天父滿心感恩滿心歡喜的說一句多謝 ...

你講左多謝未？

快完成了 ...

快累死了 ...

這四個禮拜，我只會 ...

返工返工返工, 看書看書看書, 寫寫寫 ...

每天勁祈禱求每天要用的力量 ...

I am actually enjoying the work, the reading and the writing, just that I don't think my body has been taking these good stress well. Waking up in the middle of the night That's when I encounter the power of prayers of an open heart to let the Spirit guide me in going back to the home of my life ... where strength, comforts, light and hope are ...

I long to have a restful and simple Christmas to share with my family and love ones in celebration of the hope and Salvation that brought to this world through the birth of Christ ... 

Birthday prayer

Early this morning ...

came to mind the prayers of Charles de Foucauld ...

Father, I abandon myself into your hands. 

Do with me whatever you will.

Whatever you may do, I thank you.

I am ready for all, accept all. 

Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures. 

Into your hands I commend my spirit. 

I offer it to you with all the love that is in my heart. 

For I love you, Lord, and so want to give myself,

to surrender myself into your hands,

without reserve and with boundless confidence, 

for you are my Father.

(I hope I didn't miss a word there)

Said this prayer in my heart with much trepidation and deepest joy, as I celebrate grace upon me for the past 31 years. 

Abandoning oneself is like a free fall, but when you know what you are abandoning yourself into ... what shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?

If the free fall is abandoning yourself into the guidance of God and His grace, isn't it safer than walking on my feet with my own strength? 

... that's by birthday prayer ... Thanks Lord for this prayer. 

每天每刻獻上為你

If my heart has a bulletin board ... 

I am definitely sure God has put the following sticky notes on it over the past 10 years ... 

"Long, come and be my servant"

"In my Name, I called you to be a counsellor for my people ... "

"Long, I torn you apart for I will rebuild you to bring glory to my Name"

"Don't be afraid, just keep going ... ask for strength you need each day, I will give you whatever you ask in my Name"

"You will be a blessing to many broken souls ..."

"Pray for those whom I called you to pray for ... "

"Long, honor my calling for you"

... every step of the way, God would put a sticky note on my bulletin board ... 

This song has been playing in my heart for the past little while. The minor key in this song ... just fits so perfectly with the lyrics ... and it became my prayers to our Lord ... 

神，你聖潔，當得尊貴，內心歡呼拍掌，今我全屬你，我的主，

神，你帶領，恩典經過，內心感恩喝采，今獻上為你，屬於主，

我要每天每刻都讚頌，你是神，你施恩典，你手相牽，令我滿有信心，

我要每天每刻都讚頌，你是神，獻出一生，交於主你手中。

Yup, I will this song onto my Lord's bulletin board! and this ... 

God, You are super duper truper gruper good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Healing work in mission

When I got up this morning, I felt dizzy ... after taking half a bottle of chicken essence ... off I went to worship.

It's church's annual mission conference this weekend. Oh boy, the message was so strong. It's nothing like those hard-sell 'go go go mission' but such a motivational sharing by Rev. Wong. He started off the message by sharing a story of how his heart was moved in seeing brokenness is people's lives ... and his basic mentality about mission is to have a compassionate heart to minister to those who are so wounded and bring them to Christ for healing. After all, healing is a huge part of mission work. OH BOY ...

God keeps on knocking and knocking my heart ... same question came to my mind. Ken and I exchanged eye contact and surely God has spoken to our hearts in the same way. We will keep on praying in where God will lead down the road in serving in His Kingdom together. All these messages lately have been ... pointing to the same direction ... 

Father, Your calling in my life has become my identity somehow ... and that I will yield for you to take the lead in this whole ... 'thing' ...

a short post, but gotta note this down before I head back to my papers ... 

My genograms and His Grace

Tonight, as I was sitting down at my desk, I suddenly want to draw a genogram to help me think ... 

I didn't draw a full-blown version, but as I was drawing ... a question came to mind "Am I drawing my genogram as who I am today? Or, as who I was ..." 

This question shocked me. 

... this question means ... I have changed ... my family have changed ...

... all by His grace alone ...

... Then ...

I remember when I 1st drew my genogram in my family counselling class, burst out in tears all the way and I couldn't finish my assignment. 'cause then, I realized how broken my family was and even so ... the side where I had to draw my biological dad's side was totally blank ... not that I didn't want to draw ... but I realized how little I knew about dad...so little to a point I wondered if I ever had a dad. 

... Now ...

Over the years, I guess God tenderly listened to my tearful prayers ... I guess God took what I said in my prayers very mindfully ... I realized how much God has done in my life and family over the years ... As least, my dad's side in the genogram is no longer completely blank. I keep asking God to mend the wounds. 

Lord, I am  about 6 months away from finishing this degree. If it is of your use, please help me to finish it well for Your Glory. I just simply trust that if You need to use this ... you will carry me through for the last few classes. 

Lord, I am a year away from starting a new family ... I pray that Your grace and guidance are all along the way. Ken and I will to yield for your intervention in our lives together ...

Father, I am weak, but you are strong ... 

Feeling a little eerie tonight ...

代禱

近日，常常在腦海浮現的urge就是為身邊的人禱告 ...

世界上太多人被各樣的經歷torture, 

我沒什麼可以做到，

但我卻能為他們祈禱，

我深信要deliever他們的不是我，

卻是神。

After all, 我總覺得在苦難中經歷神其實是多寶貴 ...

我就要安靜的聽聽聖靈要我如何為我身邊的人禱告 ...

And it is interesting how God draws me intimately to Him through prayers ...

It's just like the passage that we focused on in my online class last week ... in John 15. 

If it wasn't God's loving forgiveness and grace, I would not have such privilege to be in an intimate closeness in my friendship with God. (p.s. I wrestled and argued with God too at time!!!)

... 我不再稱你們為僕人，因為僕人不知道主人所作的事；我已經稱你們為朋友了，因為我從我父那裡聽見的一切，都已經告訴你們了。不是你們揀選了我，而是我揀選了你們，並且分派你們去結果子，就是結常存的果子，使你們奉我的名，無論向父求甚麼，他必定賜給你們 ... 

What a lesson that God has been teaching me about prayers ... 

God is so good ...

Yup ... that's the song keeps playing in my head all these weeks ...

I learnt this song when I was in grade 9 sunday school ... and I remember how our fellowship counsellor shared this song with us when I was 22 (??) ... 

As simple as such ... God is so good ... God is so good ... God is so good, He's so good to me ...

A love that we undeserved but graciously given ... thanks Dad :)

You are not guilty anymore ...

Then each went to his own home ... but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he saw down to teach them.

The teacher of the law and Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to jesus, made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, 

"Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?!"

... but Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finder.

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her"

... Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time ...

the older ones first ...

until only Jesus was left ...

with the woman still standing there.

Jesus straightened up and asked her, 

"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," She said.

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared.

"Go now and leave your life of sin."

This is the forgiving Grace of God ... Repent ... and leave your sins ... embrace the freedom in Christ that you have never experienced before.

還有390日 - 影相日

哈哈，對呀對呀，上個禮拜影左相 lu ...

<-- 因為，要用手機偷影，所以，quality也是這樣吧！！

其實，影相開心之餘，我同亞Ken也上左一課信心的功課呢。A week before the photoshooting day, the wedding shop owner called us and asked if we want to take the picture within 24 hours, as the forecast said it would rain on the day that we booked for photoshoot. 

Ken and I went for a little field trip in the park we were planning to take our pictures. As we walked, we prayed aloud to God and trusted that whatever He provides on the day we originally booked, we would have happily take that as a gift. It sounds stupid, but somehow, we both felt even it turns out to be a cloudy (unless it's a thunderstorm) day, we would still do our happy pictures. 

We turned down that offer and trusted in our Lord. But it's true scary, as we were following the weather forecast, it said it would have 100% rain. OOPS! there were moments when I turned to Ken and said "Opppps ... dim suen dim suen". Ken would say "Hey, where's the faith!?" ... We kept on trusting ...

2 days before that photoshooting ... hahaha ... the forecast suddenly said "0% rain, cloudless, sunny, +13C" ... hahaha ... God is good ...

During the whole day taking outdoor pictures ... Ken and I kept looking up to the cloudless blue sky thanking God for the smallest thing that He prepared. It was such a warm day in the midst of the chilly autumn weather. We can't ask for more ...

Throughout the whole day, I kept having a saying in my head "Long, you and Ken have to have this kind of faith in the path ahead of you. I will always prepare the best for you ..."

The next morning, I was prompt with a scary question since the moment I opened my eyes on my bed ... (will be continued ...) 

White Horse

As I was leading worship tonight ... I kept on praying for a pure worshipful spirit in each of our soul. When I looked at our choir standing at the back

... a glimpse of  snapshots of how our life stories unfolded and tears shed as our fellowship grows over the months and years,

... a glimpse of snapshot of a friend whom I have known for years, grew together, served together, offered our lives together to God to use, but severely attacked by many tribulations in life, struggling to find his identity as a man ... after all, his identity in Christ, 

... bondage and chains holding Christ followers back from experiencing freedom and peace in Christ ...

Slowly a very stern image anchored in my heart ...

a picture of a white horse ran quickly, with authority and force, in the darkness ... breaking metal chains after chains (some were rusted and some were shinny) that were entangled ... the white horse ran and ran ... it turned into such a glorious light as it travelled to a green pasture ... no longer I saw the horse, but the light ... the light was very warm and bright ...

Without plan ...

... God gave me tears to cry and to pray for those who are entangled ... 

and I read  

我們坐在黑暗中，死陰裡，被困苦和鐵鍊捆綁 ... 

... on and on ... 

我回家也趕快告訴Ken這些事，他也用同一句話回應

「Satan好不笨，會去attack D 越來越走得近上帝，行的近光明的人 ...」

求上帝憐憫 ...

John 2:1-11

I must mark this down before I head to bed ...

Though there's a lot of works required from my online course in the gospel of John ... it has been a fruitful so far ... I have to write down some of my thoughts along the way ... gotta make it short ...as I am already quite tired after studying for many many hours today ... my eyes blurred

"... when the wine was gone, 

Jesus' mother said to him, 'They have no more wine.'

'Dear woman, why do you involve me?' Jesus replied 'My time has not yet come.'

His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'" John 3:3-5

Why the mother of Jesus brought this to Jesus' attention ... we don't know ... At this stage there is no indication why Mary expected Jesus to do anything, but his answer to her and her comment to the servants indicated that she thought he would do something to solve this. We don't know if she expected a miracle. We don't know what she expected, and we don't know why she expected anything at all. 

... but what she did .... 

... was to bring the situation to Jesus; and she has complete confidence that he will do something ...

... and that was how the 1st sign took place in the gospel of John in Cana ...

... makes me wonder ... am I praying having such a full confidence that God will intervene? I guess my faith would sometimes swing to the other side of the pendulum of easily giving in to accept the fact that things are ... in fact, God could intervene at His will that let not forget that ...

Reminds me of the serenity prayers ...

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; 

courage to change the things I can; 

and wisdom to know the difference" ... 

There is a higher throne

This is another song that keeps playing in my mind lately ...

This is such a heavenly song ... 

A foretaste of what it is like in heaven praising our Lord in eternity ...

How good it is to worship our Lord ... 

Worshipping Him in quietness, in calm and sunny days, and in stormy nights ... 

 

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty

Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music

There is a higher throne

Than all this world has known,

Where faithful ones from ev'ry tongue

Will one day come.

Before the Son we'll stand,

Made faultless through the Lamb;

Believing hearts find promised grace—

Salvation comes.

REFRAIN

Hear heaven's voices sing;

Their thund'rous anthem rings

Through em'rald courts and sapphire skies.

Their praises rise.

All glory, wisdom, pow'r,

Strength, thanks, and honor are

To God our King, who reigns on high

Forevermore.

And there we'll find our home,

Our life before the throne;

We'll honor Him in perfect song

Where we belong.

He'll wipe each tear-stained eye

As thirst and hunger die.

The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King;

We'll reign with Him.

A pray for simplicity

Lord,

I praise you for how simple your love is for me. 

I thank you for things and tribulations that you allowed in my life. 

Hurdles from yesterday became strength for me today ...

Father, I beg for your enduring strength in my to finish off my degree which I dedicate of your use. If this is still the path you want me to walk on, please anchor your affirmation in me. "The song' came to me in just perfect timing again ... 

as I grow, you taught me how to choose, how to make choices that pleases your own eyes. Father, I pray for a heart of simplicity in me so that I can completely surrender myself in your Hands and abandon my dreams and desire in You. 

Grant me a simple heart trusting that my today and my tomorrow are in Your creative hands. 

Grant me a simple heart surrender ability and talents to you when I feel most capable.

Grant me a simple heart trusting that you creativity will lead me out of the maze when I feel like being trapped in one.

As I am learning to keep in pace with Your spirit, grant me a simple heart to love and to follow You ... 

Grant me a simple trust in You when things just don't make sense in my limited knowledge. 

Dad ... may my soul dwells in You ...

Love, Long 

The hope that saved me

Life is filled with things that carry us away from fully abandoning and surrendering ourselves to Our Saviour. The road is narrow ...

At times, we hold onto our sense of self so tight that we worship our needs and that 

At times, we are overwhelmed with detours that jolt our faith in Christ and filled our soul with doubts.  

When the slightest sense of hopelessness knocks at our hearts, we easily let it into our hearts ...

that's when it starts to turn corrosive that eats up our sense of Hope ...

How easily we choose to forget about the Hope that He has installed for us through the Salvation ...

His hope saved and delivered me ...

Elpis ...

... is the greek word for HOPE. (as in 1 Peter 1:3 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you.) 

... Nothing is more strengthening than knowing that there's is a hope in the midst of suffering and hardships. Our Hope is rooted in Christ ... and not myself ... and that changed my life. 

... this is still the word in my heart, if one day God allows my dream to come into live. 

Thanks to lo-sai brother for this song ... tears washed away the sense of hopelessness ... and slowly filled with a sense of strength that calms my heart.

"There is a hope that burns within my heart,

that gives me strength for ev'ry passing day;

a glimpse of glory now revealed in meager part,

yet drives all doubt away:

I stand in Christ, with sins forgiv'n;

and Christ in me, the hope of heav'n!

My highest calling and my deepest joy,

to make His will my home."

"There is a hope that lifts my weary head,

a consolation strong against despair,

That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,

I find the Saviour there!

Through present suff'rings, future's fear, 

He whispers "courage" in my ear.

For I am safe in everlasting arms,

And they will lead me home."

"There is a hope that stands the test of time,

That lifts my eyes beyond the beck'ning grave,

To see the matchless beauty of a day divine

when I behold His face!

When suff'rings cease and sorrows die,

And ev'ry longing satisfied.

Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,

For I am truly home."

Missing pieces

There was a piece of me went missing for 24 years ...

A piece that was meant to be where I find could my security ...

A piece that was meant to be where I could put my trust in ...

That piece was gone due to some wrongful decisions in his life ...

There were days as I was growing up that I wanted to look for that missing piece ... 

but I didn't have the courage.

There were days when I grieved for the loss for that piece ...

Years gone by without that missing piece ...

A picture with a missing piece started to become the perfect picture ...

God transformed my life through that empty spot in my life ... a place deeply yearning for love, for acceptance, for loyalty, for protection ...

It was through that missing piece that I humble come before our Lord ...

As God knows that I am above to step into another stage of my life and journey with Him ... 

He simply knows I needed to mend that missing piece ...

He made things happened that way He wanted to ...

Streams of healing tears mended the wounds ...

As I reflect, how much I thank the important people in my life who raised me up with extraordinary love and patience ... 

Although one part of me was missing ... 

but God gave me so much more ...

'cause He loves me and He knows what I needed to walk through those growing years ... 

This has been a Psalm that comforts me ...

Psalms 146:8-10

"... the Lord gives sight to the blind, 

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, 

the Lord loves the righteous. 

The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, 

but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 

The Lord reign forever, you God, O Zion, 

for all generations. 

Praise the Lord." 

If Our Lord desires to use His story through me, I am ready ... just show me the way to reach out to the wounded ... My Father, hear my prayers ... 

Thank you to all my angels for prayers and care ... love you all :) 

Our God is in control!

That's how I survived last week ...

黑猩猩懂擁抱親吻減壓 (明報) 06月 18日 星期三 05:10AM
【明報專訊】
英國 科學家研究發現，黑猩猩遇襲感到痛楚時，得到同伴上前擁抱或親吻以表安慰，可替受害的猩猩紓緩壓力。
利物浦 約翰摩爾斯大學人類學及生態學進化研究中心的弗雷澤（Orlaith N. Fraser）博士說﹕「安慰的方法通常是一個吻或擁抱。假如猩猩用吻安撫，會將張大了的嘴巴壓到對方身上，一般會吻頭或背。若擁抱的話，牠們會用雙臂攬對方。」她指出，當猩猩獲得安慰後，會做出搔癢或自我理毛等紓壓動作。安慰行為通常在發生衝突後出現，其他情很少見。

___________________________________

Wanted to blog how the drama with God went ... but been too busy this week with work, school and meetingssss ... 

When I saw this forwarded post by a dear friend ... it simple depicted how I survived through last week. Our Lord is good. Angels around me and from many parts of this world sent prayers and hugs over ... 

I mean it ... Our Lord is Good ... I mean ... REALLY good ... I mean ... REALLY REALLY good!