Are we ready?

“You also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:40

We always live as if there will be a next day awaiting us. But what if it never comes? 3 and a half months has since passed with numerous earthquakes. Just this week alone in America, there were reports of about 30 hurricanes and it was also raining hail stones. Not to mention the situation in Middle East has never been messier than before. Morality level has dipped so much that it has become a drag to read the paper. In the Bible, Matthew 24 lists down the signs of the end time. As of now, many signs have been witnessed by this generation. Just as the dark clouds gathered, we know very well to discern that it will be raining any time. But it is an irony that what is happening in the world doesn’t seems to be an indication to us that we do not have much time left. Since there is no realization of the truth of the matter, we will also not be prepared for it. It is the same with exam, we will only prepare for it when the date is nearing. But why is it that with all that is happening in this world, we seems to be unmoved? Jesus clearly specified that His return will be unknown to us. But He instructed us to be ready regardless. With the signs pointing to His coming anytime possible, are we ready? Will we have any regrets if He is to come for us now?

The importance of our conscience

“David was conscience-stricken…” I Sam 24:5

The scenario here is one of great advantage to David. Here is King Saul in the cave, the man who is after his life relieving himself not knowing that he was giving David the opportunity to take his life. Putting an end to Saul’s life will finally give David the “break” from this relentless pursue of his enemy. A pursue that makes no sense to him as he did nothing wrong to be pursue for. Many times in life, isn’t this how we feel? We are blamed or wronged for the things that we did not do and the accusations just kept pursuing us. We just grow tired of it and when the opportunity arises for us to jump back at the opposition, we will grab it. Can you imagine what it must have felt like for David? He must be thinking to himself, “Yes, I am finally free from all these burdensome pursue!” But he was conscience-stricken and did not do so. This gives us a picture of how important our consciences are for us. It is our consciences that keep us from doing wrong. It is thus of high importance that we keep our conscience clear. If we allow our conscience to be smear, we will in soon time loose the sensitivity of it. It is the same as the car, if we do not clean the windscreen of the car, it will only get more and more dirty and we will be unable to drive in the right direction and will only get into an accident in time to come. God uses our conscience to speak to us. Keep our conscience clear!

There is a Way

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life."
John 14:6

You say love is just a word, just four letters in a row.

Just a thing that people say, or they never tell you so.
And you use every excuse, to let nobody in.
Now this cloud you bring around, has become your only friend.

And everybody saying that it's going to go away, but it don't go.
And everybody's telling you one day it's going to change,
but you don't know, if it's really going to end.
But there is a way, there is a spark,
there is a hope that you can hold on to.
There is a lifeline come to the rescue,
just like a hand that's waiting for you.
And if you believe in this I promise that you won't be alone.
There is a way, the truth and the life, and the way.

But if love became a man, if the word had flesh and bone.
Would you recognize His face, if He came to bring you home.
You think you're all alone, gotta do it on your own riding solo.
Is there someone you can call, when you stumble and fall?
Cause you don't know, if you'll be getting up again.

There is a way, there is a spark,
there is a hope that you can hold on to.
There is a lifeline come to the rescue,
just like a hand that's waiting for you.
And if you believe in this I promise that you won't be alone.
There is a way, the truth and the life, and the way.

Don't you think your life's worth saving?
Don't you know that love's amazing?
Don't you want to lay your troubles down?
Lay them down.

If I thought love was just a word, I might feel the same way too.
But there's so much more than that, and it's waiting here for you.

There is a way, there is a spark,
there is a hope that you can hold on to.
There is a lifeline come to the rescue,
just like a hand that's waiting for you.
And if you believe in this I promise that you won't be alone.
There is a way,
there is a way,
there is a way.
(Truth and the life and the way.)
Come on, there is a way.
(Truth and the life and the way.)
(Truth and the life and the way.)
There is a way,
there is a way.
(Truth and the life and the way.)
There is a way.
(Truth and the life and the way.)
Ooooh, there is a way back home.
(Truth and the life and the way.)

What Christmas means?

"A timeless truth which will remains in my heart regardless of where I am or what I do because His love remains the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever!"

Having Christmas at a different place doesn’t really make Christmas any different I supposed. That is if the meaning of Christmas has a special place in your heart. Sad to say, it didn’t snow since the 9th of December so I didn’t get to try out what it is like to have a white Christmas. I did go out for a walk in the afternoon to feel the winter breeze and the ambience of Christmas. The Christmas lightings at Shibuya, Daikyuyama and Shinjuku were pretty but it was still a little disappointing. To add to it, Christmas day isn’t a public holiday here in Japan.

I spent this Christmas Eve having dinner with my host family and close friend's family after which, we attended a church service. After all, Christmas is a time of sharing and most importantly, the day of remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ who being God was born in the form of the human being to be with us which explained why He is also called Emmanuel. This is so that many through Him can come to have a loving relationship with God. For it is through Christ that Many Are Saved which explains why it is known as Christ.M.A.S. For it is written:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

The existence of Christ is not only written in the Living Word of God, the Bible. It is also recorded in the books of history. However, what draws me to Him is that Christ came down to die for us, sinners so that His blood can cleanse us from all our sins. Not because we deserve it but solely because of His unconditional love for us. To me, this is already beyond what I can image for the love shown is indeed the greatest love ever exhibited!

As a friend, this is my way of sharing my love with you and to give you my best wishes that you too may come to a loving relationship with God! May the peace of Christmas be with you next Christmas wherever you are and whatever you do. God bless!

P.S. The above is written on Christmas of 2002 when I was in Japan. Hope you had a Blessed Christmas!

The First Snow

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Psalms 19:1-2

I couldn’t really remember what I was doing then but I knew I had a busy day. I was rushing from one place to another as I had two appointments side by side. It was good to be able to reach home before it started pouring. By the time I was home, all I wanted to do was to have a good hot shower as I could feel the fatigue after traveling out in the cold weather. I thought I will sleep earlier than usual but I didn’t as the weather forecast reported it will snow in the middle of the night. But the truth is the weather forecast reported the same yesterday and it didn’t. Once bitten twice shy? It didn’t work on me as I foolishly sat by the side of my bed reading at 1 plus in the middle of the night in the hope of catching the first glimpse of snow.

In the stillness of the night, out of a sudden, the mobile buzzed. It was my phone’s message tone. It was a message from my friend asking me a question, “Have you seen snow before?”. I rushed to the window and to my delight saw white little fakes flowing down from the darkness of the night. The first snow I got to see in life.

I can’t help but to open the window so as to get a better view of the snow from heaven. It was freezing cold indeed but I couldn’t care less anymore as it was snowing. A view or should I say an experience I have never ever had before as I grew up in Singapore. I stretched out my hand to reach for the white flakes that were falling slowly to the ground. Those that landed on my hand melted eventually but those that were left on the sleeve of my sweater took a while before it melted away. I reached for my camera to try to capture the scene but it was just too cold that the camera lens had frozen. So, all I can do was to give up and enjoy the beautiful sight of seeing the pure white snow flowing down in the midst of the darkness. There was just peace and serenity in the midst of it all.

I woke up to the morning light and the very first thing I did was to rush to the window to see if the snow had stopped. To my surprise, it had not but the scene before me was even much more graceful as the rooftop of the houses had been covered with layers of white snow. The snow continued to flow shiftily to the ground in the midst of the sunray. It was totally different from the night, as the day drew a picture of heavenly grace. Like angels with wing dancing in the midst of the clouds. At that instance, I cannot help but to stand in awe of the creation of God! It was then I realized, “How wonderful indeed it is to be alive!”.

It is not even the mid of December and it is known in Tokyo that it will only snow in January. It has really been years since it snowed in Tokyo in the month of December. However, miracles do happen. Even if it is a short while, a miracle is still a miracle to those who bear hopes and believe.

It snowed for a day in Tokyo, on the 9th of December in the year 2002. This is the day which I got to encounter my first snow.

An Eye for an Eye?

"If it is always an eye for an eye, then we will never get out of it, WILL WE?"
Mr. Michael Puhaindran, whose wife was a victim
of a Terrorist Attack

"Vengeance for Vengeance, will only continue in a vicious cycle."

-In Forgiveness, There is Healing-
ray or rei

In the Stream of Dalylight

What do you see when you look into the still water?

Learn to Still your Heart
Take Time to Reflect