Knowing God as a Father

There are many way we can know God. In the past, I imagine that God is someone who sits on His Throne in a far away universe. Again, along the course of my life, I see Him as the one who wearing a Big Crown of gold and diamond with a very serious face. I address Him as formal as I could be due to a deep respect. Sometime, I imagining that God is like a policeman, who eagerly waits for me to make a mistake. I got it all wrong. I got a wrong image of God. The best image that we could give to God beside the Savior is as a loving Father.

When we view Him as a Father, we know that He is for us. Out of love He may discipline us and at the same time, out of love He wants to forgive us for every mistake that we have made.

My father was working as a construction worker. He came from a middle class family (a little bit lower) and a very hardworking man. Along with my adorable mother, they raised us with a loving care as humanly as possible. Father would wake up early in morning to work and provide every basic need for his children; clothes, food, shelter, transportation and the most precious of all- time. When he discipline us (what spoiled modern children today categorized it as 'abuse'), we know 3 things well. 1st, it was our own fault and we deserved it; 2nd, every mistake have to be punish; and 3rd, he loves us. This is the act of my imperfect father on earth, how much more, then, will our perfect Father in Heaven loves us.

I'm aware that some of you may have a negative image of your earthly father. He could be cruel, abusive, unloving, irresponsible etc. Do not let their mistakes change your view on God. 'I the LORD do not change.' (Malachi 3:6). Yesterday, today and tomorrow - He is our Father in Heaven.

As a youth serving in a local Anglican St. Margaret Chapel in Kuching*, the elders always 'force' us to remember the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Now I'm gratefully thanks to them for without this extra kick we won't remember a thing about the Scripture. When 'force' slowly became a pleasure and 'memories' melted then became a prayer, the image of God will never be the same; 

"Apai kami tik di Serga..." (Iban version for, 'Our Father in heaven...') now became a sweet smelling fragrant toward Heaven's Throne.

Oh, every breath that calling Him 'Father' will find that He is close to us. He is near as father to his child. A new openness to and relationship with God. It is never a human achievement but by grace alone- the gift of God. This might shock some of you as you reading this; Jesus is the ultimate loving Father.  

Do you want to experience this?

"See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God's children- and so, in fact, we are." (TEV 1 John 3:1) ... WE ARE.

 

*for my international readers, Kuching is a city in The Land of the Hornbills, Sarawak, Malaysia. A place like no other, simply because I grow up there.

Week 30: Success isn’t one-sided

'Positive thinking won't let you do anything. But it will help you do everything better than negative thinking will." Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar, 85 years old, selling and personal achievement and motivational speaker constant message is that success requires full engagement and hard work. When combine with an unshakable positive attitude and character, success is inevitable. In article by Erin Casey about him in Success Magazine (August 2010), she outlines 3 of Ziglar's tried-and-true strategies together with some explanations which I have simplified.

1) Live a Balanced, Focused Life

Ziglar says there are 8 basic things people want to feel successful, "People want to be happy, healthy, reasonably prosperous and secure; they want to have friends, peace of mind, good family relationships and hope." He continues, "You are here for reason. That purpose is to get everything out of you that is humanly possible so you can make your contributions to mankind." Focus on what you want not what you don’t want.

2) Take a (Mental) Bath Every Day

We are easily motivated to start a life-improvement project, but staying motivated takes work. People frequently complain that the effects of motivational seminars, books and audios don't last. His response: "Neither does bathing; that's why we recommend it daily". [May I add something profound here? The effects of Sermons, Camps and Christian Seminars don't last too. That's why we need to read the Scriptures and attend all the above continually. At time Holy Spirit will lead your way, but never neglect the reading of Scriptures.] Read and listen to a positive, inspiring or motivational message. 'You can change what you are; you can change where you are, by changing what goes into your mind.'

3) Help Others get what they Want

Erin Casey summaries Zig Ziglar's comment: Commit today to become others-focused. With your spouse, your children, your prospect and your peers, keep the question, "How can I help you?" as a primary focus in the relationship.

I would like to end this note with 3 questions. Zig Ziglar said, "People want to be happy, healthy, reasonably prosperous and secure; they want to have friends, peace of mind, good family relationships and hope." Take a moment and ask yourself these questions:

If I earn millions of dollars, but destroy my health in the process, is that success?

If I become the best in my industry, but neglect my family and friends, is that success?

If I acquire great wealth and notoriety, but compromise my integrity and faith (in Christ), is that success?

The answer to all three questions is ‘No’, success isn’t one-sided. 

Part 1: Message before Valentine's Day - Sex is sacred!

Before writing this post, I Google up some facts about Valentine; here is my finding. Top 10 Surprising Facts about Valentine’s Day  

1. Women spend half as much as men
2. Condom sales are highest on Valentine’s Day 
3. March and pregnancy tests go Hand-in-Hand 
4. Florists make a killing (by increasing the price) around Valentine’s Day. 
5. Millions purchase Valentines for their pets (especially for single people) 
6. Women don’t need men on Valentine’s Day (???) 
7. Romance is only a tiny part of valentine’s Day 
8. Women prefer cards to flowers 
9. Flowers are a man’s best friend 
10. In Japan, men receive more Valentines

 When I was young and dangerous, I never heard about the seventh commandment: ‘You shall not commit adultery’. 1^st I hate English, 2^nd I don’t read Bible and 3^rd what it has to do with me? But as I’m growing into maturity, despite many mistakes in life, I’ve learned that sex is sacred.

Dr. James I. Packer, in his book I want to be Christian, reminds us that sex is for marriage and for marriage only and marriage must be seen as a relationship of lifelong fidelity. Some misuse of sex (cheap sex) he said is due to longing for short-term excitement, for relief from mental and physical tension, or loneliness or boredom, etc. Today, our society is been bombarded by some irresponsible people who inject negative influences from media to stimulate our minds with unhealthy images such as pornography, etc.

The fact that ‘Condom sales are highest on Valentine’s Day’ (25% higher) and ‘March and pregnancy tests go Hand-in-Hand’ is on the list above shows that there are people out there who misinterpret that Valentine's Day = Sex’s Day.

As for young men and women out there (no more boys and girls) let us remember that there is an increasing rate of sex outside marriage, baby dumping, sexual abuse and prostitute globally. Even here in Malaysia, cases for such a crime due to ‘mistake’ are shamefully destroyed our society. Never such cases happen so drastically like this before. Let’s keep sex as a sacred matter. Just like what Peter Paris quote in his blog sesamamu, ‘Cinta sejati setia menunggu' Indeed, TRUE LOVE WAITS.  

Can you wait? 

  

"Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship." (http://www.lifeway.com/tlw/)

 For Part 2, click HERE

I look at the Heart (1 Samuel 16)

Israel first king, Saul, persistently disobeyed God. Prophet Samuel was so disappointed with Saul and refused to see him any longer. (Merajuk lah?) Samuel was filled with grieved and the Lord said to him not to be sad. The Lord instructed him,

"Get some olive oil and go to Bethlehem, to a man named Jesse, because I have chosen one of his sons to be king".

 

He went to Bethlehem for the Lord had assured him, "... I will tell you what to do. You will anoint as king the man I tell you to." and there he met Jesse and his sons.

When Samuel saw Jesse's son Eliab, maybe he was equivalent to Jung Ji-Hoon a.k.a. Rain a Korean singer; tall and handsome, he said to himself, "This man standing here in the Lord's presence is surely the one He has chosen."

I don't know how they communicate, but surely Samuel was close enough to the Lord when he heard Him said, "Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him because I do not judge as man judges. Man looks at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart."

Samuel was humbled. Then Jesse presented seven of his sons, but none was chosen. "No, the Lord hasn't chosen any of these.” Samuel said on behalf of the Lord.

I can imagine that all of Jesse's son were face down, disappointed. Like those who when for American Idol audition, but instead of hearing Paula Abdul's 'Yes', they hear solid "No" from Simon Cowell.

Only after Samuel pressed Jesse did the elder shepherd acknowledge that he had another son. "There is still the youngest...".”Tell him to come here", replied Samuel. Few minutes later (could be hours later), a handsome, ruddy, healthy young man, and his eyes sparkled. The Lord said to Samuel, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

His name is David. A multiple talented man. A king, the most honored in the entire nation's history. A man after God's heart.

There are many lessons we can learn from this chapter. A single note couldn't contain the richness of a portion of this Scriptures. But I just want to highlight the uniqueness of our God. When today's generations judge us by how much money do we have, how big your car or house is, pretty or handsome or tall and measure us by 'success' ruler. God remind us today:

"I do not judge as man judges. Man looks at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart."

Hebrew ancient writer writes, 'Do not compliment a person on his good looks. On the other hand, do not look down on someone who is unattractive. Compared to most flying things, a bee is very small, but the honey it makes is the sweetest of foods.'

Week 29: Integrity - my Words, my Talk and my Walk

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

With integrity you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide. With integrity you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt. With fear and guilt removed you are free to be and do your best. (Zig Ziglar)

About 10 years ago, I'm facing such a challenging moment: a test of integrity. It was a critical moment, nobody was there. My mother already went to work and brother will only coming back home after 1 hour. It was a critical moment. I promised to my mother that I won't take more than 3 pieces of fried chicken. But you see... nobody was there. Our house is too small and it was not necessary for my mother to put security camera on our kitchen hall. It was a critical moment indeed.

"If I take extra one piece, my brother wouldn't know. In fact, he won't know that our dinner is fried chicken." I said to me, myself and I. Myself said to me, "Come on. This is your chance." I tempted me, "Take it quick! Nobody will know about it.” Then, me reasoned to myself and I, "Yes, you are right. Forget about your promise and your principle of life, what's the different if I just take extra one piece."

            In everyday life, we will always be dealing with challenges and difficulties that require our integrity. Integrity means integrated around principles. It means wholeness, oneness, and seamlessness. In living a Christian life, integrity is important; our principles must be based on the Scriptures.

            For example, "Do not steal" (Exodus 20:15) When nobody see: spouse is out, parent are away, boss is not in the office, housemates are out for dinner etc. and that temptation appear, that opportunities are right before our eyes... would you still be truthful to God's command, His principle, 'Do not steal'? If yes, you have shown integrity both toward men and most especially toward our only audience in this stage of life, Father in Heaven. A word of caution: We show integrity not because we want to be Christian, but because we are Christian, we should show integrity.

3 verses I would like to quotes from Stephen R. Covey, Everyday Greatness:

Solid Integrity - Integrity includes consistency and an unwavering adherence to values and beliefs.

Standing on Principle - Standing on principle involves holding firm to what you feel to be right. How firmly are your feet planted?

Private moments - Integrity's greatest victories are won in those private moments when no one else would know.

In critical moment, in time of challenge and controversy, during private moments; what would you do? (…between ‘fried chicken’ and principle). Would you still hold firm to the principle that was taught to you in the Scripture?

P.s: As I write this, I challenge myself to do the same. That's the risk a writer should take. If my writing doesn't match with my walk, I have a big problem. 

What was the Best Time of your Life?

[Author: Unknown  with minor modification]

It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning 30. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.

My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was 79 years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn't full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning 30. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas's age, so I asked him, "What was the best time of your life?"

Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, "Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question:
"When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.
"When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.
"When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life."When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.

Unauthorized Picture...

"During World War II, my wife and I had to hide to save our lives. When we were together and safe, that was the best time of my life. When we came to Malaysia and started a family, that was the best time of my life. When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.

"And now, Joe, I am 79 years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life."

 I love what Joel Osteen said:

"To live your best life now, you must learn to trust God’s timing, you may not think He’s working, but you can be sure that right now, behind the scenes, God is arranging all the pieces to come together to work out His plan for your life."

Your best time of your life could be at where you are now!

P.s: I heard that this story had come out in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Two is better than one

There is a song by Boys like Girls feat Taylor Swift, called ‘Two is better than one’. It is true? Are two is better than one?

Last Thursday, I went to Putrajaya with my friends from UKM campus for friendship outing. The plan was to go kayaking (which I didn’t play) and cycling. For cycling we went to Botani Park. We get to choose either using normal or 2-seater bicycle. I’m craving to ride 2-seater bicycle but, to cut the story short… I end up using normal bicycle instead.

Because Botani Park is quite huge and that was the first time I went there, after 5 minutes cycling with a reasonable amount of confident, I said to myself, a self declarations: I’M LOST!  At that moment, above song comes to mind: Two is better than one. I realized that lost in the middle of no way is not good (of course) especially alone.

From the movie Twilight; when vampires want to attack Bella, Edward Cullen placed her on top of a mountain (hill?) so that they cannot sense her smell. If you watch the movie (don’t deny it), Jacob Black also want to protect her from the enemies. There was a scene, I thought it was funny, when Bella was near death from cold and the only way for her to survive was to get body heated from Jacob a hot-blooded werewolf. What could a cold-blooded vampire boyfriend like Edward do? He ends up watching her under the arm of someone else’s.

Forget about the romantic part, just think of the extremely cold weather and you’re alone. In that moment of desperate… isn’t two is better than one?

Normally, in relationship we want to have the other person. No one like to be alone, be with others. Sharpen your people skills and trying to mix with others. “Loneliness is the first thing which God’s eye named not good” (John Milton refers to Genesis 2:18) In the case of Adam, God had provide woman for him. In our case of relationship with others, God will also provide the most valuable resource in the world- people for us.

If you have found one, you’re rich! A companion can offer assistance, comfort, and defense. Don’t loose them, treasures them. If you have found none, maybe it’s time to open your eyes wider for they are near and  here all this while.

 “Are two is better than one?” is our question today. King Solomon replied;

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

In simple English, he said, ‘Yes’.