R.I.P. Annie: Find Happiness, Cherish the Past, Move On (End of 'Letters to Annie' Series)

Dear Annie,

It’s been two years since you passed away and it was one of the hardest times that I have ever experienced in my life. At that time, I was completely lost, unable to express what had just happened to those who are close to me, and refused to allow the process of healing begin by closing myself off from everyone around me.

I know that you will never read this letter… but I which our daughter will. Now that you’re gone. Dealing with your death changed me forever, and the second I accepted that was the second I found the strength to live the life I had always dreamed of. I will never be ashamed of my (our) past. It was part of the wounds that makes my life beautiful. I will not give up! Losing you is a painful reminder that life is way too short and precious to be sad all the time. I have found someone else. She is beautiful and she loves the Lord deeply. I know that you would want nothing more than for me to be happy — not the day-to-day-getting-by-content-happy – but truly happy. With her, I have joy!

When you’re gone, I used to tell myself, “Keep yourself busy.” I did. But now I realised that keeping myself busy doing something that doesn’t make me happy only made me more miserable. It didn’t make the time go by faster — it made each day seem more and more meaningless. So, I keep myself busy taking the time to figure out what it is that I love to do and what God would want me to do. Even though you’re gone, God is here with me. He is my hope – my only hope! I’m grateful that God never leave me. And that is most important than continuously missing you. Is this not the perfect time for me to live with purpose? To motivate myself, embrace my newfound strength and take a chance to wake up every morning grateful? What makes me happy? God! Annabel, our daughter! Family! Friends! Colleagues! And her.

I appreciate our time together. Memories and conversations that we had. But I will move on. I must move on. I’m moving on. I learned that through these struggles (in the past) build my character. My experiences make me unique. I will not be ashamed of our past but from now on, I savour the present and I will only look at the future – with God and His Spirit. With our daughter and someone new.

                                    Regards,

Richard

[To read all of the precious Letters to Annie, click HERE]

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Letters to Annie: Keep a Clear Conscience

Dear Annie,

            Sorry for this late reply to your previous letter. Life has been hard for me these few days. I was discouraged by my own sinful thoughts that lead to guilty conscious. But don’t worry… I’m okay now, Christ in His Word have encouraged me greatly.

            It has been said that character is what we are when nobody is watching. How true. When we do things that we know aren’t right, we try to hide them from our families, friends and loved ones. But even then, God is watching. I was tormented by my own guilty conscious. Oh how glad, joy and content I am now when I obey God’s commandments of repentance and seek for His grace and forgiveness upon me. What a joy!

            A clear conscience is one of the rewards we earn when we obey God’s Word and follow His will. “God has revealed Himself in man’s conscience,” writes Billy Graham, “Conscience has been described as the light of the soul.” I wants to be able to say like Paul: “Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbours in everything I do” (Acts 24:16). I learned now – relearned, in fact – if I sincerely wish to walk with Christ, I should follow His commandments. Love express in obedience. When I do, my character will take care of itself… and I won’t need to look over my shoulder to see who, besides God, is watching.

Thank you dear for praying for me.

Long to be with you again, sharing our lives in Christ together.

Love,

Rich

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Letters to Annie: Make the Most of Your Talent(s), Dance!

Dear Annie,

            I remember how much you like to dance. When I asked you the other day, what brings you joy? Your answer is: “Dancing before the Lord.” That was your ministry. How your movements and the rhythm of the music become one when you dance; how you used your hands and feet to worship the Lord; your heart soar to the heaven with praise and thanksgiving – I remember all. You’re beautiful then, you’re beautiful now.

            But since you’re no more student but working adult already, I would like to encourage you to keep using your God-given talents, especially your dancing gift. Like what Paul said to Timothy, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you” (1 Timothy 4:14). God has given you talents, keep using it my dear. “In the great orchestra we call life,” writes Max Lucado, “you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely.” Or do you remember the old adage: What we are is God’s gift to us, what we become is our gift to God.

            I understand that sometime our society and the pressure of lifestyle today, they may encourage us to do otherwise. We face countless temptations to squander our time, resources and talents. I’m struggle with all of these too. I think we should be keenly aware of the inevitable distractions that can waste our time, our energy and our opportunities. You and I know that every day of our lives, we have a choice to make: to nurture our talents or to neglect them. My dear Annie, let us nurture our talents and gifts! God will reward us and expand our opportunities to serve Him. As we serve Him, we receive His infinite joy, peace and grace even in the midst of our troubles and busyness.

Would you dance again? Oh, value the talent that God has given you, nourish it, make it grow, and share it with the world. The best way to say “Thank You” for God’s gifts is to use them.

Long to see you dance,

Rich

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie, Keep Studying God's Word

Dear Annie,

            As you desires to focus on your career and family, as a friend, now, I wants to encourage you to read and study the Word of God to equip and strengthen your faith as your pursue these goals. The Word of God determine the quality of your decisions, the quality of your life and the direction of your faith. Never neglect His guidance.

            Martin Luther once said: “I study the Bible as I gather apples. Frist, I shake the whole tree that the ripest might fall. Then I shake each limb; I share each branch and every twig. Then, I look under every leaf.” Can you imagine he’s doing it? Must be funny and at time – very determine. As much as I wants to encourage you dear Annie, you – and only you – must decide whether God’s Word will be a bright spotlight that guides your path every day or a tiny nightlight that occasionally flickers in the dark. The decision to study the Bible (or not) is an important choice; how you choose to use your Bible will have a profound impact today and your future.

            When you said you want to focus on your career and family, I respect that, just don’t neglect God’s Word okay. Read, study and meditate on it daily. “[Man] must not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” said Jesus when he was tempted.  God’s Word is the roadmap to success, spiritual abundance and weapon to fight temptations. Make it your roadmap as you pursue your career. God’s wisdom can be a light to guide your steps. Claim it as your light today, tomorrow, and every day of your life – and then walk confidently in the footsteps of God’s only begotten Son. Psalm 119 claims, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Make the psalmist heart desire, yours.

I miss you.

Friend,

Rich

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Letters to Annie: Don’t Worry about Others’ Opinions

Dear Annie,

            Love, I just want to share with you this story…

            A variation on one of Aesop’s fables tells of a wise man whose son was ashamed to leave the house because he thought other people would think him ugly. The father told him that he shouldn’t worry so much what other people though, and to follow his own mind and heart. To make the point, the father asked his son to join him on his trips to the market over the next few days.

On the first day, the father rode the donkey, and the child walked alongside. As they travelled they could hear passersby criticizing the father for making a small child walk in the heat of the day.

On the second day, the child rode the donkey, while the father walked alongside him. This time people commented about how disrespectful the child was for making an old man walk while he rode in comfort.

On the third day they entered the market, both walking alongside the donkey. They heard the people saying how stupid they were: “Do they not know that donkeys are for riding?”

The following day, both father and son rode on the donkey, and people expressed their indignation about how cruel they were to burden the animal in such a way.

On the fifth day they carried the donkey on their backs. Everyone in the market laughed and ridiculed them.

The wise man then turned to his son and said: “You see, regardless of what you do, there’ll always be people who will disapprove. Therefore, don’t worry about others’ opinions, and do what you think is just and right.”

I think you might need this: Annie, if you are constantly worried about what other people think, you will never get to where you need to go in life. You are going to have to do things that don’t always meet people’s standards. You will come into situations where you have to put your pride, and your reputation on the line to get what God wants you to have in life. If you are constantly worried about what people are thinking, you will never have the will to do what’s right. God’s approval matters the most; while people’s approval will expired soon.

I love you,

Rich

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Let's Attend Church Together

Dear Annie,

            I miss you so much. There is no line and internet coverage here, so I write a letter to you. It’s been awhile, I don’t know what to say at first, but surely, what come to my mind first is this: I love you.

Annie, I think it’s time for us to get more serious in our relationships. I don’t mean that we’re not serious before, but I think that we should start discussing more deeply about our faith and probably we should start attending church together. Someone once says: “Christians are like coals of a fire. Together they grow – apart they grow cold.” I don’t want to just grow old with you. I want to glow in Christ together with you.

We live in a world that is teeming with temptations and distractions – a world where good and evil struggle in a constant battle to win our hearts and souls. Our challenge, my sweet Annie, of course, is to ensure that we cast our lot on the side of God. One way to ensure that we do so is by the practice of regular, purposeful worship in the church (And outside church buildings too). When we worship God faithfully and fervently, we are blessed. When we fail to worship God, for whatever reason – our busyness, distant or works – we forfeit the spiritual gifts that He intends for us. “We are co-workers in God’s service” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Thus, as we start to attend church together, we should make an effort to serve Him in the church.

Love, every day provides opportunities to put God where He belongs: at the center of our lives and our relationships. When we do so, we worship not just with our words, but also with deeds, and that’s as it should be. I pray and I insist [as your man] that Christ comes first. Always first. I read your shared post on Facebook: “Nothing will bring two hearts closer than two hearts after the heart of God.” Cool! How true! As I read the Scriptures, I can be sure that God really loves His church and that’s where His heart is. Where there are Christian fellowships, there is “the heart of God.” So dear, to “bring two hearts closer” – mine and yours – we should start attending and be involved in church together. This is not the only way, for sure, but it is the best way J

Hug 

Your man,

Richard

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Letters to Annie: Place a High Value on Your God-given Gifts

Dear Annie,

            You’re kind and most honest woman I ever know (Yes, I saw your flaws as you had seen mine. But it’s okay). There is not a single moment where I ever doubt your love for me and every words you said to me really encourage me a lot. Thank you for supporting me in the ministry. Thank you for being so committed in our relationship. Thank you for not giving up.

   

            Dear, I have to tell you this: You’re very talented woman. Even though you can’t compose words like I do (you said), you can do decorations very creatively. And much more. You, and every Christ followers, are a unique blend of talents, skills, and gifts – that you may consciously and unconsciously know of – which makes you an indispensable member of the body of Christ. Zig Ziglar said it nicely, “You are the only person on earth who can use your ability.” So use it!

            Face it, Annie, you’ve got an array of talents that need to be refined. Don’t waste it. Use it all for God’s glory. I’m doing what the Apostle Paul was doing to Timothy: “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6). All people possess special gifts – bestowed from the Father above – and you are no exception. You have God-given gifts, so use it my dear love. Don’t keep it for yourself. Your gift(s) is no guarantee of success; it must be cultivated – by you – or it will go used… and God’s gift to you will be squandered.

            Today, as you read this, can we both make a New Year resolution to ourselves that we will earnestly seek to discover the talents and/or cultivate God’s gifts to us? Yes? Yeah! Let’s nourish those talents and make them grow. Then, let us promise also to share our gifts with the world for as long as God gives us the power and opportunities to do so. After all, my angel Annie, the best way to say “Thank You” for God’s gifts is to use them.

Assignment: Between this letter and the next, lets us take time to think about ways we can convert our talents into results. I’ll call you soon and ask about this okay…

Give thanks to God by giving back to Him and use our talents for Him. Amen.

I love you even more!

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Be Content and Grateful, Don't Be Trapped by Envy

Dear Annie,

            I miss you… Today I have to remind myself that I shouldn’t be envious of other couple’s intimacy and romance by comparing our long-distance relationship with theirs. I’m sorry because I felt that way. I want to be honest with you. I was struggling about it. Thank God because He strengthen me through His Word: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud” (1 Corinthians 13:4). God’s love in us doesn’t make us envy of others. I prayed about it and God have replaced my envious heart, that demonic-inspired envious to contentment and gratitude. It’s true when Charles Swindoll says, “When you worry about what you don’t have, you won’t be able to enjoy what you do have.” For a moment I forget that I got you! I love you! I thank God for every moment that we have together.

            Dear love, because we’re frail, imperfect human beings, we are sometimes envious of others. But God’s Word warns us that envy is sin. Thus, we must guard ourselves against the natural tendency to feel resentment and jealously when other people experience good fortune or great relationships. As believers, Annie, you and I, we have absolutely no reason to be envious of any people or couple on earth [Yeah!]. After all, as Christians we are already recipients of the greatest gift in all creation: God’s grace. We have been promised the gift of eternal life through God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and we must count that gift as our most precious possession. When we trust God and submit our relationship under Christ lordship, obedient to God’s Word – we have the greatest relationship of ALL! The unbelievers should be envious of us instead.

            Rather than succumbing to the sin of envy (like I was), we should focus on the marvellous things that God has done for us. And we must refrain from preoccupying ourselves with the blessings that God has chosen to give others. Dave Ramsey wisely said, “Contentment comes when we develop an attitude of gratitude for the important things we do have in our lives that we tend to take for granted if we have our eyes staring longingly at our neighbour’s stuff.” Our relationship is unique from everyone else. So we shouldn’t compare and envious of others. We must start counting our blessings and let others count theirs. It’s a godly way to live!

I surely learned this: feeling of envy will rob me of happiness and peace.

I will not allow myself to be robbed! You too, okay? We’re unique couple :)

You’re God’s gift to me,

I love you so much,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Be Determined to Overcome the World

Dear Annie,

            Yesterday I had a dream. The dream was very weird for me, I never had one like this before. Maybe it’s a warning or simply a reminder for me (and I share it with you here): I was swallowed by the world, sucked into a dark matter, and buried in the earth deep. Everything is crowded around me and my vision slowly dim. This dream reminds me of 1 John 2:15-17, but particularly verse 15, “Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father.”

            Annie, my love, we live in the world, but we should not worship it – yet at every turn, or so it seems, we are tempted to do otherwise. I want to be success, I want to be known and I want to appear great to the world but not consume by the things of God! Billy Graham asked, “The world’s sewage system threatens to contaminate the stream of Christian thought. Is the world shaping your mind, or is Christ?”

            The 21^st century world we live in is a noisy, distracting place, a place that offers countless temptations and dangers. Isn’t it, Annie? The world seems to cry, ‘Worship me with your time, your money, your energy, your thoughts, and your life!’ It swallow, suck and bury us slowly into the deep of the earth. But if we are wise and faithful, we won’t fall prey to that temptation. “Nothing is more foolish than a security build upon the world and its promises,” claimed Matthew Henry, “for they are all vanity and a lie.”

            C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you will get neither.” That’s good advice. You’re likely to hit what you aim at, so aim high… aim at heaven. Be consumed with the things of God. “He who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17). The world’s power to distract, detour, and destroy is formidable. Thankfully, God’s power is even greater. “[We] win the victory over the world by means of our faith. Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5).

Thank you dear for taking your time to read this letter. I hope it will be a good reminder for us both. I love you so much that I pray you would love God and to do his will more than the things of the world. Have faith and keep on believing in Jesus, the Son of God, the One Who unite us together.

I miss you,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Your Circumstances Changes but God Does Not

Don't cry, I'm here for you. Be strong. The Lord is your rock.

Dear Annie,

            Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. Sometime things happened in our lives, changes that we can’t avoid and promises that people can’t keep. I want you to know that your circumstances change but God does not. My dear love, we live in a world that is always changing, but we worship a God that never changes – thank goodness! That means that we can be comforted in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father is the rock that simple cannot be moved. Annie, look at the Scripture, read Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my saviour; my God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold.” Your circumstances change but God, “my rock,” does not. God declares: “I am the Lord, I do not change!” So, be strong.

            The next time you face difficult circumstances, tough times, unfair treatment, or a broken relationship with others, remember that somethings never change – things like the love that you feel in your heart for your family and friends and (I hope) for me… and ultimately the love that God feels for you. “God does not give us everything we want,” write Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “but He does fulfil all His promises as He leads us along the best and straight paths to Himself.” So, Annie, instead of worrying too much about life’s inevitable challenges, focus your energies on finding solutions. Plus, I’m here for you, to encourage and support you in anyhow possible. I love you. Have faith in your own God-given abilities, do your best to solve your problems, and dear… leave the rest up to God.

The God who spoke still speaks.

He comes into our world.

He comes into your world.

He comes to do what you can’t.

Annie, be strong!

Akui liveng Ikak,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Take Your Concerns to God (Thank You for Asking about Psalm 55:22)

Dear Annie,

            I miss you. Our distances somewhat makes our relationships grow stronger. I really believe that. But then again, I will see you soon. Can’t wait! Yesterday you asked me what Psalm 55:22 mean, well, in short: take your concerns to God. “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you: He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

            Annie, the Bible promises this: tough times are temporary but God’s love is not – God’s love endures forever. So what does that mean to you and me personally? Just this: from time to time, everybody faces disappointments and broken relationships (maybe friendships or with family members) – so will you. And when tough times arrive, God always stands ready to protect you and to heal you. Your task, my dear one, is straightforward: You must share your burdens with Him. What kind of burden? Any burden. But take note as Corrie ten Boom observed, “Any concern that is too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.” Those are comforting words for me, especially during difficult days. Smile.

            Whatever the size of your challenges, remember Psalm 55:22, God is big enough to handle them. Ask for Him to help you today, with faith and with fervour. Instead of turning things over in your mind, turn them over to God in prayer. Instead of worrying about your next decision, ask God to lead the way. “Cast your burden upon the Lord” the One who cannot be shaken, and rest assured that He always hears your prayers and “He will sustain you.” As for “the righteous,” you must keep your personal relationship with God alive. Keep on believe in the Son, Jesus Christ and sustain your faith with the Word of God every day. And don’t neglect to practise good deeds and love your neighbours. For the righteous are saved by grace through faith, faith that produce godly deeds and actions.

Thank you for asking me about Psalm 55:22. I appreciate it. I learned and encouraged by the Word myself. I commend your thirst to know about the truth. Let us claim all of God’s promises in the Bible such as this one. Our sins, our worries, our lives – we may cast them all on Him. So dear, what’s your response to this verse? Oh ya, read the whole chapter of Psalm 55 for its context, okay? So, I’ll wait for your reply soon.

Aku sayau ka nuan,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Praise and Worship God Every Day (Not Just on Sundays)

Pic is taken from: roswashere.wordpress.com

“When I look at my boyfriend I see a man after God's own heart. 

He prays for me. He prays with me and he encourages me to pray more.”

Dear Annie,

            Happy Sunday morning! I’m sure you’ll look great and beautiful at church service later. Oh, how I wish I can be there with you in person. To worship God and fellowship together with you. Good news, I will be coming to meet you next month dear. I love you deeply!

            I’ve been thinking about this theme of worship lately, my dear Annie. The Bible verse that keeps ringing in my mind is Matthew 4:10, “Worship the Lord your God and… serve Him only.” As if the Lord is saying to me – to us – that if we want to enjoy a better life and better relationships we must enjoy God by worshiping Him seven days a week, not just on Sundays. Billy Graham puts it this way: “We are never more fulfilled than when our longing for God is met by His presence in our lives.”

            God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and an important part of that plan includes the time that we set aside for praise and worship Him. Every life, including ours, is based upon some form of worship. The question is not whether we will worship, but what we worship. Andrew Murray has a suggestion: “Each time, before you intercede, be quiet and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!” If we choose to worship God, we will receive a bountiful harvest of joy, peace, and abundance. But if we distance ourselves from God by foolishly worshiping earthly possessions and personal gratification, we’re making a huge mistake.

            Right after I thought of these things about worship, my love Annie, I resolute to worship God today and every day. To worship Him with sincerity and thanksgiving. To write His name on my heart and rest assured that He, too, has written my name on His. Isn’t that awesome?! Your name is also on His. Ah yes, worship is not meant to be boxed up in a church building on Sunday morning only. On the contrary, praise and worship should be woven into the very fabric of our lives. So I ask myself: do I take time each day to worship my Father in Heaven, or do I wait until Sunday morning to praise Him for His blessings? My answer to this question every day will, in large part, determine the quality and direction of my life. I know that when I worship God with all my heart (or not), it will affect not just my relationship with God, but also the way I treat others, especially you, my dear. I want to be the best boyfriend for you. Let’s worship God accordingly.  

Btw: Dear, reading the Word of God is also part of worship. Don’t forget to eat this Food.

Everything else can wait, but don’t neglect this ya.

Again, Happy Sunday morning! J

Akui nyalam ika,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Choose Wise Role Models

Dear Annie,

            It’s been awhile since I write any letter to you. I’m sorry. I’ve been very busy lately with the student ministry and my writings. My books will be published next year. I’ll be back to see you soon and celebrate together this achievement with thanksgivings and prayer together. It will be fun! Oh, Annie, during one of the retreat last month, I have made a decision to share our good news of romantic relationship with one of my well-trusted colleagues. We talked man-to-man and I asked for his advice and wise counselling. He also guide me in my journey as Christ follower and leader to young people. I consider him as my mentor. Maybe I will introduce him to you soon dear.

            Early of this year, I realized of how important it is for us to have and choose wise role models. To effectively strengthen our faith and our relationships, we have to choose role models whose faith in God is strong. The Bible encourage us: “Spend time with the wise and you will become wise” (Proverbs 13:20). Never think that we can guide our own lives without the help of others; and never thought that we’re too spiritual that we don’t need any guidance.

Annie, we need role models. When we emulate godly people, we become a more godly person ourselves. But not just anyone, we must choose wisely. “Do not open you heart to every man,” writes Thomas A’ Kempis, “but discuss your affairs with one who is wise and who fears God.” We should seek out mentors, who, by their words and their presence, make us a better person and a better Christian. Howard Hendricks pointed out that “the effective mentor strives to help a man or woman discover what they can be in Christ and then holds them accountable to become that person.”

            Today, if you don’t have any role models, as a gift to yourself, select from your friends, church members and family members, a mentor whose judgment you trust. A mentor don’t have to be perfect (nobody is perfect, after all) or flawless or a very influential person. But he or she must be a mature Christian, growing disciple, wise in applying the Word into actions, well thought of inside and outside the Church and reverent fear of the Lord. Choose your spiritual mentor or mentors. Choose your friends wisely too. Bill Hybels assured that “God often keeps us on the path by guiding us through the counsel of friends and trusted spiritual advisors”.

Listen carefully to your mentor’s advice and be willing to accept that advice, even if accepting it requires effort or pain, or both. Remember, their advice is not flawless or absolute and may sometime impractical and may not have all of the answers. But by all mean consider your mentor or mentors to be God’s gift to you. Ask, listen, and learn. As for any other God’s gifts, use this gift for the glory of Christ’s Kingdom. I pray you’ll have wise role models to follow.

I’ll try my best to be your spiritual mentor,

And you’ll somehow be my mentor in the area of my weaknesses.

But above all let both of us choose Lord Jesus Christ as our Supreme Role Model.

            Akui nyalam ikak,

Richard

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Letters to Annie: Keep Your Heart Pure

Dear Annie,

            Remember you said you love a man who love God more that he can’t look elsewhere but God thus remain faithful to you? To tell you the truth, I feel the pressure. Ha2 But then it is a good and godly pressure because I tend to love you more than God himself, and that is not just the ultimate sin against God but I believe that it is the cause of unfaithfulness in any relationships. For the reminder, I thank you. I honestly appreciate it. I love you more today.

            Annie, I also want to remind you (and myself) about this: You’re near and dear to God. He loves you more than you can imagine, and He wants the very best for you. And one more thing: God wants you to guard your heart. I read in Titus 1:15 that “Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled.” It is not enough to keep our minds and bodies pure but our hearts also. Luci Swindoll writes, “Those whose hearts are pure are the temples of the Holy Spirit.”

            Keep your heart pure. Every day we’re faced with choices… lots of them. You can do the right thing, or not. You can tell the truth, or not. You can be kind and generous and obedient, or not. “Spiritual truth is discernible only to a pure heart, not to a keen intellect,” reminds Oswald Chambers, “It is not a question of profundity of intellect, but of purity of heart.” As you know very well Annie, the world today offer us countless opportunities to let down our guard and, by doing so, let the devil do his dirty works. Be watchful and obedient to God. I think the best way to guard your heart is by giving it to your Heavenly Father – it is safe with Him. Amen.

Annie, accept God’s love, and love God in return.

God loves you for who you are, not because of the things you’ve done.

Even though mine is not equal to God’s everlasting love…

In my humanity, I love you very much.

I miss to hear your voice,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie:Trust God's Plans and Leave Our Present and Future Relationships to Him

Dear Annie,

            Can I ask you one thing, why you always say “God’s plan for us” in all of your letters to me? I’m a motivational readers and self-help bookers that always emphasis on human strengths and our ability to change our destiny, why you use the phrase “God’s plan”? (Is it because you’re influenced by Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember novel?) At first, I’m not easy with the idea of “God’s plan” and I’m troubled by it because I have my own plan… So I searched the Scripture and after one week… I was convince that God really do have a good plan for our lives.

            The Bible makes it clear: God have a plan – a very big and good plan – and we’re (in fact all the redeemed sinners) are important parts of that plan. “You will teach me how to live a holy life,” write the Psalmist praising God, “Being with you will fill me with joy; and your right hand I will find pleasure forever” (Psalm 16:11). But here is the catch: God won’t force His plans upon us; we got to figure things out for ourselves… or not. Not figure it alone but with Him. C.S. Lewis puts it this way: “I don’t doubt that the Holy Spirit guides your decisions from within when you make them with the intention of pleasing God. The error would be to think that He speaks only within, whereas in reality He speaks also through Scripture, the Church, Christian friends, and books.”

            Annie, as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should ask ourselves this question: “How closely can I make my plans match God’s plans?” and “Is our relationship is following or according to God’s plan?” I find that the more closely we manage to follow the path that God intends for our lives, the better. So if we have questions or concerns about our relationships, we must first take them to God in prayer. If we have trouble with planning for the future together, in which we will, we must consult God as we establish our priorities. Annie, thank you for always whispers “God’s plan” to my ears. As we trust the present and the future in God’s plan, we must turn every concern over to our Heavenly Father, and sincerely seek His guidance – prayerfully, earnestly, and often.

I like this quote by Elisabeth Elliot: “The God who orchestrates the universe has a good many things to consider that have not occurred to me, and it is well that I leave them to Him.” What a wise counsel!

Thank you dear Annie, my love.

I love you for always say “God’s plan for us”.

I love you for who you are.

In God’s plan we trust,

Richard

Amen?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Make the Decision to Abstain from Sex Before Married

Young girls, wait; Young boys, self-control.

Dear Annie,

            I miss you. And I love you even more today. It’s funny how I end up loving you with all my heart now. In my past relationships, I’ve been a jerk and made lots of mistakes that I will never ever repeat it again in the future. To tell you the truth, if the Holy Spirit doesn’t touched my heart and if my God-given conscience about sex outside marriage doesn’t stopped my youthful passion when I was young boy many years ago, I might cause a girl pregnant. Or two. I was that bad. Only God can save someone like me. God’s grace alone. I hope you still love me…

            The decision to have sex before I get married – or the decision to abstain from it – is a choice that will most certainly impact the rest of my life. To do or not to do. I know you knew about this too. That decision, Annie, will play an important role in the way we see ourselves, and the way we view relationships with each other. And if we not reminding ourselves and stand firm in God’s Word, our decision to have sex before married might result in an unexpected “surprise” pregnancy. Let’s not contribute to the statistics.

            Annie, as for me personally, I’ve face many temptations. The decision to consciously abstain from sex before married was a very important and hard decision for me. It was a great struggle for me as I’m not always ‘godly’ all the time. Even if I’m good with conducts, my thoughts were sinful. So I looked to God for help. Only He can gives me wisdom to make a decision that might just change the direction of my life. “Happy is the person who finds wisdom,” proclaimed the wise man, “the one who gets understanding” (Proverbs 3:13). As J.I. Packer writes, “The fruit of wisdom is Christlikeness, peace, humility, and love. And, the root of it is faith in Christ as the manifested wisdom of God.”

So I say, I will not have sex until I’m married! I must trust the inner voice of my conscience. I should be obedient to the teaching of God’s Word. I respect God, myself and you. You’re precious to me Annie. You’re my love one as much as you’re God’s special daughter. I write this to you because I want you to know my stand (and I trust we have the same conviction about no sex outside marriage) and because, if in the future I behave improper in regard to sexual boundaries, you may remind me of my commitment. And if necessary, slap my face hard, very hard so that I can be reminded of God’s wrath against those who disobey Him.

I love you…

I love you…

I love you…

I can wait…

                                                            May God’s strength empowered us,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Don't Indulge in Gossips

Dear Annie,

I’m sorry for the things that people said about me that might hurt your feelings. It’s not entirely true. I’ll explain to you when I get the chance to see you face-to-face. I know you trust me, and I hope it will never change. As for now, I would like you to don’t indulge yourself in gossips especially about me… Let’s pray about this. “We are in a continual battle with the spiritual forces of evil,” write Shirley Dobson, “but we will triumph when we yield to God’s leading and call on His powerful presence in prayer.”

Face it Annie, gossip is bad – and the Bible clearly tells us that gossip is wrong. “A useless person causes trouble, and a gossip ruins friendships” (Proverbs 16:28). Don’t listen to them! I learned the hard way that: when we say things that we don’t want other people to know we said, we’re being somewhat dishonest, but if the things we say aren’t true, we’re being very dishonest. Either way, we have done something that we may regret later, especially when the other person finds out. Never let gossips break our relationship, never entertained it!

I also learned that as much I don’t want you to listen to other’s gossips, I myself have to discipline myself to not to gossip about others as well. Let’s do ourselves a big God-size favour: don’t gossip. It’s a waste of words, and it’s the wrong thing to do – both to listen and to spread it. We’ll feel better about ourselves if we don’t gossip (and other people will feel better about us, too). So let both of us not to do it, listen to it and spread it.

I love you. Believe me about this.

Let us build this relationship with trust and truth.

I love you. Annie, let us – Don’t indulge in gossip.

Hope to see you soon and explained everything to you…

I miss you,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Put Faith Above Feelings

Dear Annie,

Knowing you as proved to me that there’s still friendship and honesty in the world. You are the best friend and a lover any one can have! Knowing someone as sincere and honest as you has made my faith in the future grow. Now that disbelieve seems to be taking over our lives, to know there are people like you makes all the problems look smaller. It’s great to be your boyfriend and friend and to be able to look in your eyes and see a mix of serenity and hope. For me, this fairly recent relationship is something I consider to be sacred already. It makes me have faith again. Thank you Annie for loving me.

As much as I love you, this feeling can come and go. Faith is, however, much better. Let us have faith in each other and most importantly, faith in God. “Now the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). This teaches that we should live by faith in God. “We are to live by faith, not feelings,” said Kay Arthur. Yet sometimes Annie, despite our best intentions, negative feelings can rob us of the peace and abundance that would otherwise be ours through Christ. When anger or jealousy or doubt or anxiety separates us from the spiritual blessings that God has in store, we must rethink our priorities and renew our faith.

Annie, and I want to tell myself: We must place faith above feelings. Human emotions are highly variable, decidedly unpredictable, and very sad to say – often unreliable. Our emotions are like weather, only far more fickle. So we must learn to live by faith, not by the ups and downs of our own emotional roller coasters.

Annie, remember our last night conversation? Have faith. Sometime during this day, you will probably be gripped by a strong negative emotion (I love you for who you are). Distrust it. Reign it in. And turn it over to God. Your emotions will inevitably change; God will not. So trust Him completely as you watch your feelings slowly evaporate into thin air – which, of course, they will. Helen Keller, blind early of her life, writes, “It gives me a deep, comforting sense that ‘things seen are temporal and things unseen are eternal.’”

I love you: that is both faith (that we going to be together) and affection (at this moment) for you.

But more than that, God loves you. Have faith in Him and live by faith.

                        You don’t have to understand everything,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Don't Let Your Problems Get You Down

Like Wonder Woman, Be Strong!

Dear Annie,

            I noticed that you’re having bad moods lately. Yes, problems come and go. I will see you soon okay and we going to talk about it face-to-face. Though we’re separate hundreds miles away, I try my best to be there when you need me. If not physically, then through phone calls. All of us face those occasional days when things don’t happened the way we want it to be or when relationships around us went through brokenness, arguments and pain. But, when we find ourselves overtaken by the frustrations of life, we must catch ourselves, take a deep breath, and lift our thoughts upward. A.W. Tozer wisely advise: “Keep your feet on the ground, but let your heart soar as high as it will. Refuse to be average or to surrender to the chill of your spiritual environment.”

            Although we must occasionally struggle to rise above the distractions and disappointments of tough times (or probably tough relationships), we need never struggle alone. We are for one another. Or better, God is here – eternally and faithfully, with infinite patience and love. “People who do what is right may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all” (Psalm 34:19). And I believe our friends, family members, and maybe close colleagues are also willing to help us restore perspective and peace to our souls. “The first step in solving a problem,” write John Peter Flynn, “is to tell someone about it.” Our only action is to let them.

            Remember I told you to be optimistic about life? Well, I want to add to that. Be a realistic optimist. Your attitude toward the future will help create your future. So think realistically about yourself and your situation while making a conscious effort to focus on hopes, not fears; on self-growth, not stumbling blocks; on God’s sovereign power, not present problems. My Annie, don’t let your problems get you down!

Here are some of my favourite quotes that help to restore my perspective when I’m having difficult times. I hope it can help you too: “He who can’t endure the bad will not live to see the good” (Yiddish Proverbs); “The worst thing in your life may contain seeds of the best. When you can see crisis as an opportunity, your life becomes not easier, but more satisfying” (Joe Kogel); “Storms make trees take deeper roots” (Claude McDonald); “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows” (Helen Keller); “The human capacity to fight back will always astonish doctors and philosophers. It seems, indeed, that there are no circumstances so bad and no obstacles so big that man cannot conquer them” (Jean Tetreau); “Every problem contains within itself the seeds of its own solution” (Edward Somers); etc. You can have all my quotation books when you marry me!

My love, this is a trustworthy saying: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Don’t let your problems get you down. Let God cares for you.

I miss you. You look prettier when you smile you know [laugh]!

I love you Annie.

Most genius and supportive boyfriend ever,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Let's Build a Relationship that Will Last

Dear Annie,

            I’m not as romantic as you thought I’m, but I want to be. People always accused me as insensitive, maybe that’s true in some sense. And definitely I’m one of those who have been in relationship failures for so many times. I’m learning to understand and seek to improve myself from my mistakes. And then I met you… An ordinary beginning, something that would have been forgotten had it been anyone but you, Annie. But as I started a conversation with you that day, I knew before I closed my eyes to sleep that night, you was the one I could spend the rest of my life looking for but never find again. Now I’m started to miss you deeply even as I write this letter.

            So I asked myself this question: Do I want to build a relationship that lasts? Yes, with you! Then a thought came to my mind, I believe it is from the Holy Spirit – a reminder and a command – I (and you too) must start by making Lord Jesus Christ the cornerstone of my (our) relationships. It’s not that we want Him to be Lord, but to acknowledge that He is Lord and He will be the cornerstone, the centre, everything in our relationships. Because in order for us to always be in love we must draw love from its source – God. “Let us love one another, because love come from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God… for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). Love-God kind of love; brother and sister in Christ kind of love; and loving one another kind of love.

            Annie, I understand now that God does not intend for us to experience mediocre relationships; He created us for far greater things. Building lasting relationships, I learned, requires not just love but compassion, wisdom, empathy, kindness, respect, trust and forgiveness – yes – lots of forgiveness. “[God] showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven” (1 John 4:9-10). Because we are redeemed-sinners living in imperfect world, we will sinning against God and each other in the future. Therefore we must ready to repent from our sins and we need lots of forgiveness as shown by God to us. Lotssss of forgiveeeenessss. Love and forgiveness is always together.

Sounds like a lot of work, right? Well my dear, I think God gives us high demand on lasting relationships is because God is in the business of everlasting lives. He wants the best, and we must give our best. Because God knows that we are capable of doing that work, and because He knows that the fruits of our labour of love will enrich our lives in the end.

As for me, I want to live a life that puts Jesus in the centre of everything.

I want to become the man that can lead and influence you to know God more.

Built to last? Let God be the cornerstone in our relationships.

I love you,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.