Have you counted your blessings lately?

Taiwan JiaYi City -

This old lady is 89 years old, her husband passed away early in life.
Her only son lost his life in a tragic accident and the only family she has left is the daughter-in-law.

But, the only person she calls family doesn't want her.

Her daughter-in-law bought 2 tiny garages for the her to live in,
and never came back again.

孝 (Filial Respect) is an important virtue of Chinese people. Since primary school we have been taught countless lessons within school curriculum to obey our parents and be reminded of what great selfless love they have for us in raising up us and protecting us from harm.

The tiger is evil but it does not eat its young. Remember that saying?

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." - Ephesians 61-3

In today's society, there seems to be more ME than anybody else; our love for self bypasses everything, even the almighty God who created us and commanded His love toward us.

I am not happy
This isn't enough for ME
Why ME?
Why is this happening ME?
I want this
God doesn't love ME
No one loves ME

Notice a pattern?

Are you starting to find that YOU are no longer satisfying YOURSELF? Why not take a step back, remove yourself from the equation and start counting your blessings. I have eyes to see, legs to travel and hands to do things for God.

And please, don't forget to tell your parents you love them.

Fear no man's frown

The first week of Sept30in30 was like eating a piece of cake. Delicious to the taste buds, easy on the stomach.

No one rejected me, no one made me feel like I had 3 eyes going around harassing people.

"This isn't too bad... in fact, this is great!" Lah Dee Dah while skipping through the streets of Perth handing out tracts. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't being proud, I just thought smooth sail lasts forever.

Then in the second week my test begins:

"I'm from a baptist church, I DON'T need this." Rejection number one.

"I got this 2 weeks ago, NOT interested." Rejection number two.

"Er, got this last year, no thanks." Rejection number three.

"She doesn't want it, NEITHER do I." Rejection number four.

"HEY! (chasing me down the isle) I WON'T be needing this, you might want to give this to someone else." Rejection number five.

"Nah, NOT for me." Rejection number six.

"Um, NO." Rejection number seven, eight, nine, ten...

...and counting.

But I thank God because it is also the week that God gave me the greatest strength to overcome my petty doubts and inabilities. He answered prayers, performed miracle, renewed my tiring soul and filled me with the Holy Spirit to soldier on each day carrying out the great commission.

Each day God shows me more and more of who I truly am inside. I used to think that I didn't have a problem. If I had a problem, it's other people's problem that there is a problem.

How unspeakably obnoxiously proud!! I can't bare thinking just how God thought of me at that stage. I believe there is plenty more of what God needs to show me and He is revealing them to me one by one, changing me step by step. I thank God for His grace and mercy because out of love He is patient in moulding me to be more like Christ.

Today something happened that I need to thank God for. Something which made me cry but I know God wants me to know I am on the right track. If I'm being tempted and persecuted for righteousness' sake, Satan has a lot to worry about.

Lord, please pour me with your grace that I may bare it for Christ's sake.

"And, oh, dear brothers, who are engaged in winning souls, let me say to you, by the memories of all these good men who have gone before you, and who were counted eccentric, fear no man's frown, and court no man's smile, but say the right thing and the true, and say it as best you can, and ask God's help that you may say it so that you may make men feel it, even though you sting them into anger; for blessed shall that man be who has discharged his conscience before the living God. Do not sacrifice your hearers' souls to your own reputations. Be fools for Christ's sake, if need be, that you may gain the careless ones."
- Charles H. Spurgeon.

Mission Participation!

Day 10, Sept 30in30

Tracting meets a bottleneck.

How do you evangelise without leaving the house all day?
What if you didn't need to go out neither feel like going out?

Hmm...

Most probably can't.

Admitting defeat to God gave me great strength to put on a thick jacket and venture out into the cold for a night walk. I thank God for a like-minded brother who in my weakness is able to encourage me towards God's strength. In plain English speak, he came along for the little stroll with his portion of tracts :)

1. Sally:
At first, we walked around in the cold without a single person in sight. Imagine our delight when 2 girls appeared out of nowhere walking towards us on the other side of the road.

Thinking that it's now or never, I started to cross the street. As I approach closer, Chinese dialect come into ear as one of the girl talks audibly into the mobile. “This is for you," I offered in Chinese. "Ah?” Replied Sally who wasn't on the phone.

"So, have you guys been shopping?" I asked, pointing to bags of groceries,

"Yeah, just a little" Said Sally.

More talks led me to discover that they’d both just arrived from China 3 days ago. Sally also mentioned that she used to believe in Jesus for a period of time along with her grandma.

"Do you mind me asking why you stopped believing?" I said,

"Because they moved away." She replied.

Explaining to her that nothing stops her from believing again and perhaps it’s God’s work that we met each other, she seemed interested in visiting CYPG. I extended the invitation once again, she then asked how to get to our church by bus so I offered to drive them. She was happy and said that if her friend is willing to go, she’ll contact me.

2. Candy:
At IGA I gave another tract to an Asian girl walking by herself.

"I've received this before!" She said, a little amazed.

"REEAAALLY?" MORE amazed than her for sure!

"Yeah really, at Curtin Uni back in July. I read the first few pages but couldn't really understand, can you explain it to me?" She asked.

Amazing. God is Amazing.

Explained to her what the tract is about, invited her to Friday Y180 but unfortunately she has a lot of assessments this month thus won't be free until October. Candy also shared some of the struggles she's currently facing being away from her family so I offered my help if she ever needs any. In the end we agreed to catch up for coffee/dinner once she's finished her assignments.

I gave her my mobile number but in my carelessness it was the old Optus number which was cancelled few years ago. Upon realising my mistake (1 hour too late), I rang that number to ask the current owner if anyone had called. I was greeted with a message bank and my heart sank right to the bottom. In desperation I prayed for God's forgiveness and help. Knowing this is the will of God as He is not willing that any should perish, I prayed for God to allow our paths to cross again; either myself or other Christians as long as God reaches to her. I also told my brother what had happened.

The next day he asked me to guess who he met today.

"Dunno" I said, disinterested.

Showing me Candy’s mobile number on his phone I was left speechless. “Wha? How? Who? Why? When? TELLLL MEEEEE!” Interest level suddenly went through the roof.

He bumped into her at Curtin library, remembering what I’d done, he said hi and told her my mistake - unfortunately She was in a hurry to leave so my brother asked her what was wrong.

“I left my electronic dictionary in the last lecture, it’s really expensive...”

Picking up her obvious distress my brother accompanied her to the lecture room but there was a lesson going on. He entered into the room and announced his intentions to which the lecturer asked him to wait till the class is over. Suddenly someone inside the room stood up and asked if he’s looking for this, holding up a small electronic devise.

Candy was overjoyed having found the electronic dictionary; she said she’s really glad bumping into him.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it... but... CAN I HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER??”

Hehe, official path-crossing point :)

On Day 11, Sept 30in30, I learnt that serving God can't be dreamt from sitting in a chair. Our participation is needed to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Like what Gav said, “I couldn’t have planned this even if I tried”,

It could only mean one thing:

ALL glory to God!

Simply love

"Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew him not.

Beloved,
now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that,
when he shall appear, we shall be like him;
for we shall see him as he is."

1 John 3:1-2

Indeed, what manner of love God bestowed upon us, that while we were yet His enermies, He sent His only begotten son to take the punishment of our iniquities AND adopted us as His children.

Thank you God for your love for me, help me I pray to be more like You.

Day One of Sept 30in30 [2008]

September 1st is ending in 26 minutes

The first day of Sept 30in30 has been so memorable. I remember looking forward to today so much that it actually feels surreal being in it. A bit like a kid being given a candy and she doesn't know where to start.

Early this morning armed with...


my friend and I drove up to Kings Park for some much needed exercise. This week we made a commitment to exercise and study. Being lazy was not an option.

Two activities on our mind were:
1. conquer the Kakoda Trail
2. climb the DNA Towers



The Kakoda Trail was actually not as bad as we'd thought! For our fitness level (or lack there of), the trail took just 15 minutes to complete and 10 minutes collapsing on the side of the road to recover. Jacob's Ladder was definitely more physically challenging than Kakoda Trail. A part of me was disappointed at the shortness of the trail while the other part delighted within. Less muscle soreness tomorrow is alright with me.

Early morning Kings Park

Climbing up the DNA Tower didn't take much effort at all, within minutes we were at the lookout, taking in beautiful sights of the world that God has made.

Vast green tree-tops which extend into the horizon, blue calm waters as well as gentle wind make us in awe of God's majesty. Being surrounded by evidences of God's existence almost brought a tear to my eye, reminds me of the hymn This is my Father's world

"...in the rustling grass I hear Him pass; He speaks to me everywhere...

Track BP3601 was given out at the DNA Towers. Just as we were about to leave, a middle aged couple got out of their car and walked towards us.

"Hey there," nods man.
"Hi! Are you exercising too? Nice weather isn't it? Here, this is for you." says Julia
"Oh! Thanks!" replies man,
"You are welcome, enjoy your day!" says Julia.

Track BP3601 exchanged hands. Thank God for the opportunity, thank God for giving me courage, my Father knows that I am weak and I'm so glad that He is strong.

"...God is the ruler yet."