Mother's Day: Letter from a Son to His Mother

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. (Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty) 

 Instant availability without continuous presence is probably the best role a mother can play. (Lotte Bailyn, The Woman in America)

 Dear mother,

Mother, since your love is so special and so real, I want to take a moment to tell you how I feel. You’re the best sister in the family. In the past, you had to let go of your future to take care of your schooling brothers and sisters. You’re the best daughter on the list of Malaysia Book of Records. You obeyed your parents and fear them a little less than you fear God. (Though some people may not agree but isn’t my opinion is most valuable to you?)

            You’re the best wife any man could ever want. Like the woman in the last chapter of the Book of Proverbs (31:13-27NCV), you’re indeed a wife that is ‘far more precious than jewels. ‘Likes to work with her hands are the best description of your philosophy in getting things done. By your living example; I have no problem washing my own clothes and wash dishes after every meal. You ‘get up while it is still dark (early morning) and prepare food’ for your family. When I was a kid, you would disturb my peaceful sleep and woke me up with your motherhood attitude. (Yes, even with your pink apron around your neck and kitchen ‘tool’ on your right-hand side – you rule mom!) 

Pic:http://www.baconlakerealty.com/

Though you didn’t literally ‘burns [her lamp] late into the night’ but you had shown your superhuman ability to wake up early and sleep late at night.

Though you didn’t literally ‘makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth’ but you were good with those old school sewing machine. 

Though you didn’t literally ‘makes linen clothes and sell them and provide belts to the merchants’ if there were such culture ever exist in our nation, I know you will do it!

Most of the time you ‘speak wise words’ and since you're not very good with verbal communication, amazingly your deeds ‘teaches others to be kind’. And lastly but not least, if I can interview angels to testified about you, they probably will say, She ‘watches over her family and never wastes her time.’

You’re the best mother in the universe. What today’s children called ‘abuse’, back then you called it discipline. What today’s generation called it ‘spoiled’, back then you called it love. What today’s parent called it ‘troublesome’, you gladly called it responsibility. Not only do you feed us with rice and breast milk, but you also feed us with love, obedience, faith, and integrity. The best things a mother can teach a child are ABC and prayer – you did it both. [Ps: If you had prayed for handsome children when he grows up, your prayers had been answered.]

I thank God for you to be my mother. Jesus never makes a mistake; the right mother for a troublemaker like me (and brother too). Err… if some of my writing has some errors, not accurate, or overly praise, forgive me. Above all, this remains true: there is no other mother that could give love so true, and there is not a son who could love you as I do.

 Happy Mother’s Day!

(And to all mothers around the world, this letter is for you.)

There is no such thing as a non-working mother. (Hester Mundis, Powermom)

Why my heart feel empty inside?

Picture: http://carolroque.com/emptyinside.html

If your car fuel is nearly empty, you will go to the nearest station to pump petrol. If your stomach is empty, you will satisfy it with food. If you feel empty inside, where can you find fulfillment?

 

I’m not familiar with car, simply because I don’t have one yet. But I’m familiar with food though. Why is it that some foods satisfy our hunger for a long time while others foods satisfy us only for a short time before we are hungry again? Extra size Domino’s pizza with tuna temptation sauce or vegie fiesta sauce with an aromatic blend of creamy, cheesy flavors with an unmistakable garlic zest might fill you up for long. While Gardenia’s chocolate bun only can satisfy your hunger for a while. If while reading this your saliva might spill all over your keyboard, call 1-300-888-333 for Domino’s Pizza now!

But what if you’re empty inside? Food, fuel or material things can fill physical space, but they can’t fill the space in your soul. They can satisfy you only for awhile, but your soul, oh your soul is still empty inside. We build a big house with elevator inside it, we call Joey Yap to calculate fung shui for us on where to build a mini garden but alas, we place soul alone inside. Feelings of emptiness come when you try to fill yourself with the wrong things; eventually you realize they didn’t satisfy for long.

Feelings of emptiness can come when your heart is not filled up enough for God…

Feelings of emptiness can come when you confuse accomplishment with purpose…

Feelings of emptiness can come from living without loving. ..

Feelings of emptiness can come when your main focus is accumulating wealth…

Feelings of emptiness can come when you seek satisfaction only in your work…

…Feelings of emptiness fade away when you find meaning and purpose in life when God uses you to accomplish the purpose for which He created you.*

There is a bell rings on your door post. There is a sense of gentle and loving Person is standing at the door. There is a knock in your heart today. Invite Him into your heart. Let God’s Spirit occupied your empty room. And when He came into your life, you will find true satisfaction and fulfillment.  “Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his house and eat with him, and he will eat with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

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*Quote from Divine Moments By: Ronald A. Beers, Amy E. Mason Tyndale House / 2008 / Paperback

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Day 17: Prayer in Harmony with God

“Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me.” (John 11:41-42)

“You are my Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You.” (Psalm 2:7-8 NKJV)

 A fair questions raised by Andrew Murray; How extensive is the power of prayer? How can God grant to prayer such mighty power? How can prayer be harmonized with the will of God? How can God’s sovereignty and our will – God’s liberty and ours – be reconciled?

He further explained that it is the result of the perfection of God. He writes, “Seeking answers to such questions provides the key to the very being of God in the mystery of the Holy Trinity. If God were only one Person, shut up within Himself, there could be no thought of nearness to Him or influence on Him. But in God there are three Persons: Father and Son, Who have in the Holy Spirit their living bond of unity and fellowship. When the Father gave the Son a place next to Himself as His equal and His counselor, He opened a way for prayer and its influence into the very inmost life of Deity itself.”

When we have our union with the Son, our prayer is taken up and can have ‘its influence into the very inmost of Deity itself.’ When we abide in the Son Who know the very will of God, we can have confident that our prayer in the name of Jesus is assured and will be answer. When we pray to the Father through the Son by the Spirit with faith, we can be sure that our prayer is in harmony with God’s plan.

Jesus’ prayer in John 11:42-43 was not really a petition, but thanksgiving to the Father. It shows the authenticity of His claims to be the Messiah and Son of God. “I knew that you always hear me” is the assurance of our Mediator. As for the Father, He promises that “Ask of Me, and I will give You” Andrew Murray puts it this way, “In the bosom of Deity nothing is ever done without prayer- the asking of the Son and the giving of the Father.” This is how our prayer is in harmony with God.

Let me end today’s lesson with words from Oswald Chambers;

“God always hears the prayers of His Son, and if the Son of God is formed in me the Father will always hear my prayers.”

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Note: I’m writing this article assumed that you had read my previous articles on the subject of prayer and you’re a Christian who believes about the Trinity. If you’re not, all these articles might make no sense to you.

References:

1.      The message of Prayer by Tim Chester

2.      MacArthur’s Bible Study

3.      The Trinity by Rose publishing

A Living Hope (1 Peter 1)

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine.” (1 Peter 1:6-7b NLT)

About A.D. 65 the Christian faith had grown so dramatically that it was becoming a treat to the Roman Empire. Believers were persecuted for their faith and had forced to flee to Roman provinces ‘of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia’ (1:1). Don’t know where it was? Well, it’s today Turkey. So Peter, the apostle of Jesus, writes letters on encouragement to believers who are suffering persecution because of their faith. They have been facing all kinds of difficulties, from physical harm, to slander and insults.

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Do not be surprise that the world hate you, if you’re devoted to Christ. Jesus said “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.” (John 15:18-19 The Message) Because of this hatred, the world today had persecuted Christians all over the world.

Frontline Faith organization in their newsletter (March/April 2011) reports that:

“Dozens of Christians from the tiny Afghan church have been move homes due to subsequent death threats…”

“Nigeria… two thousand Christians lost their lives in riots with extremists…”

“Lao Officials arrest 11 Christians for ‘holding a secret meeting’…”

“… at least 60 Iranian believers arrested since Christmas…”

“10 Christians were arrested in Tehran while meeting in a house on 26^th December…”

“Blast kills 21 outside Church in Alexandria, Egypt as congregants were leaving a New Year’s Eve Mass celebration.”

Barnabas Fund: Hope and Aid for the Persecuted Church magazine (March/April 2011) also reports that:

“A mother was jailed in Germany in February 2010 for refusing to send her 9 years old son to school for sex education lessons.”

“A Spanish Christian TV network was fined 100,000 Euros by the government in July 2010 for running a series of adverts promoting the family and opposing alternative lifestyles.”

“In February 2009 a Christian foster carer in the UK was struck off because she allowed a …… teenager in her care to convert to Christianity.”

Persecutions are all over the world. Malaysia is also under persecuted. Underground. Undercover. Even as we breathe, someone breathe their last.  As we open our house’s gate, someone is locked inside iron bars. When we raise our voices singing praise, someone hide and worship in the cold of the night. If you truly live on God’s terms, the world is going to hate you. The only way to live without any persecution is to live “on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own.”

“Pure gold put in the fire comes out it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.” (1 Peter 1 The Message)

 If you are being scorned or mocked by others including your own family because of your faith in God, rejected because you’re decided to make a U-Turn in your life, and ignored by society because you try to live a godly life… take heart. Be glad for these are just for ‘a little while’. By enduring persecution, you show that your faith and trust in God is real. Pray for them, pray for yourself and pray for me that during the time of difficulties, may God will strengthen our faith. In Jesus we have a living hope.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)

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‘’Shy-shy’’ Cat

May I see any hand, held high because the understanding of this term ‘’shy-shy’’ cat? I bet most of the Asian ladies have this personality. They would rather stay hungry or thirsty while going out for a date with a guy than asking for it. Well, I was not raised up with this mind-set. With the additional credit of my closed relationship with my dad, I can ask for anything. YES, anything! 

Unfortunately, most of the time, my dad wont fulfilled it maybe because it is out of his budget-line or he just do not want me to have it. He has to play his role as real dad ok. As the chains of my desire flows, I would usually do my ‘’puss in the cat’’ face to my aunt then present to her my wish-lists. She is my mom’s elder sister, married to a British man, up to now, I’m still her ‘’baby’’ which leads to my home-pet-name ‘’Bibi’’. From these minor details about her, you can understand how she could afford to get me anything from anywhere. 

One of my favorites gift from her, was a set of navy or cheerleaders uniform, I can’t really recalled the pattern, but I know it was yellow. She got it for me from Singapore. As the joy filled me when I received the gift; she dropped me sad news. She had to leave Malaysia to follow her husband to Yorkshire, London. Years after years of separation with my aunt, I have to lives under my mom’s control. Since I was 5 years old, I didn’t have closed relationship with her because she was busy nursing my sick sister. I grew up maturely faster and full of ego because of her ‘’dictatorship’’. Therefore, I always have problem to ask anything from her. It’s like she the boss, I’m the accountant, my role is just calculating the business profit not spending it… hehe.

 ‘’shy-shy’’ cat attitude here I can say like ask or talk or ‘’beating around the bush’’ kind of attitude. Take for example; cat, it usually purr-ing and rubbing its fur round and round against our leg to ask for food. This attitude influenced my attitude in praying for my needs. I always scared to ask in details for my heart’s desire to God. It’s all because of my respect to God too much. I believe He has given me abundance blessings every day because He is my Heavenly Father, the creator of heaven and earth, the source of all love, send His only son to the earth to pay for my sins, why should I ask for more when He already knows my need? Why should I ask for an A’s for my economic subject when He has already got a successful career for me in future no matter what is my result? Why should I ask for the fuel price to be decrease when He has provided me a car to transport people to church? Why should I ask for his blessing upon my current relationship with a guy by mentioning the guy’s name in my prayer when I know God has chosen my life path or partner? 

In Luke 11:1-11, the most popular verse is verse 2-4 which is the Lord’s prayer then goes down to verse 9-10  where God tells us just ‘’Ask u will receives, Seek, u will find, Knock and the door will be opened to you’’ Then jumped to the next verse on 11 to 13 about the Father in heaven as how our earthly father always give us great needs when we ask. I can say I am very familiar and strong hold with all this verses, however, nobody has reminded me about verse 8: ‘’he (suppose be our friend) will not get up and give you bread (in the middle of the night) because you are his friend, yet he will get up and give you EVERYTHING you need because YOU ARE NOT ASHAMED TO KEEP ON ASKING’’

The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend:
"Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15)

There is no longer be any barriers to make us feel ashamed to ask from our Mighty  God, He is our friend, friend talk about everything in details and no secret are hidden. Not only the firm relationship we have in Him would guaranteed us an answered prayer but He said ‘’ TO KEEP ON ASKING’’

p/s I burst into tears after reading the verse. I kneeled upon Him without any constructive poetic prayer points but I pour out my ‘’scribbled hearts-diary’’ unto His holy friendly hand and end it beautifully with confidence saying ‘through Jesus name I ask all this, Amen’’

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Priscilla Andrew is from Miri, Sarawak. She's a daddy girl, so we might assume that she's quite a tough young lady. She loves to quote, ''Look at the world with your heart not with your head'' Writing on Being a Woman doesn't mean she's there already, this is a long term process. But along the way; she's learning and that's when this note come into written words.

When St. Anger round Your Neck

It is human to be angry. The last time I remember being angry was when I’m waiting for forever at counter in a supermarket. It happens frequently when I wait for train to come. Angry visits me when someone tells me that I’m wrong, when things doesn’t happen the way I want it to be, when I talk and nobody would listen and even small things such as when I couldn’t find my favorite Wise Cottage fried potato at 7-Eleven around my area. The problem is not because angry had visited us quite often. Invited or not, he’ll come. But the problem here is that we choose to open the door and let him stay for a night or two. (Without our realization, he had been there for months or even years.)

Picture from Metallica's album St.Anger

Alvin Ung* said, “Yeah, I’m getting angry about all the ways that I can’t control anger!” Not all anger is destructive. Control anger with right motives can help us to restore relationships, fight justice, or battle evil. Harris Ibrahim from Saya anak Bangsa Malaysia once asked his audiences: “Don’t you feel anger arouse from you when you see that this nation in distress?” Anger is not necessary destructive but anger expressed in the emotion of angry is danger.

But never the less, anger is often a reaction to our pride being hurt. Anger is a defense mechanism to protect our ego. Anger freezes our reason to think. Angry when someone confronted you about your sinful actions. Angry when rejected by someone you loved. Angry when you were ignored by your friends, colleagues, parents or your boss. Like I said, they visits you… do you invite him in? Are you the one who opened the door for him to enter? Did you said to him ‘stay here for awhile’?

Here are some ‘bodyguards’ that you can employ to protect your house from anger's visits:

Bodyguard #1: Prayer

He is the chief officer to overcoming your anger. I found out that it is hard to stay angry at someone when you are praying for that person.

Bodyguard #2: Confession

I have no problem confessed my feeling to someone I love but to confess my anger toward someone I hate, that could be a problematic. Embarrassment? Yes. Possibility of being ridiculed? Hell, yes. Being released from guilt? Amen. Nothing can haunt you more than the feeling of guilt toward someone. Confession is like showing anger ‘my house is not available for you, good bye.’

Bodyguard #3: Forgiveness

This is hard. Really. One of my ways to give forgiveness toward others is to remember someone that had forgiven me in the past. My mother forgives me hundreds of times before. My teachers/lecturers forgive me billions times before for misbehave in classroom. God of the universe always forgive me trillions times before. If I were forgiven, why should I delay to forgive others? 

Bodyguard #4: Reconciliation

Have you been in this situation before? You want him/her to tell you first that he/she is sorry. But on the other side, he/she is waiting for you to say it first. In the end, nobody say anything and Mr. Anger continue to outburst into flame? Reconciliation becomes possible only when someone makes the first move: a hand extended, a phone call, a flower (if it still work), or a word spoken “I’m sorry”.

Bodyguard #5: The Word of God

If prayer is the chief officer, then the Word of God is above all, the chairman of the Bodyguard’s company. Invites him in. Filled your house with His Word:

“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.” (James 1:19-20)

 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun goes down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)

…and many more you can find it in His Word.

THINK BIG “Don’t let the sun goes down on your anger”,

START SMALL Pray, confess, forgive, reconcile, and saturated your soul with His Word

GO DEEP Remain in the One who say ‘Peace be with you”; anger cannot stand too long if you invite Jesus into your house first.

 

 *quote from R.Paul Stevens & Alvin Ung, Taking Your Soul to Work pg.38

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Week 42: People - Learn to Love them

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” (Theodore Roosevelt)

“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudice, and motivated by pride and vanity.” (Dale Carnegie)

“See people not for what they can do for you, see people for what they worth; they worth the Blood of the Son of Man.” (Richard Angelus)

People skills are important if you want to live in this world. It’s obvious if you realized that no matter where you go, with some minor exceptions – you will meet people. Some people may irritate you. Some may bring more harm than security. But some people may bring joy to you so you treasure them. It is important for us to cultivate people skills and learned to connect with others as effectively as possible. Along my journey to connect with others, I still have my own difficulties. Therefore, I committed to develop this valuable habit to love people day by day (It's hard). Here are some lessons that I learned along the way. I hope that it will be helpful for you to apply in your encounter with people.

People are generally lonely; give them a sense of community

I grew up in a village where there is strong sense of community within our neighborhood. People know each other because there’s no wall between houses, no gate of separation and there’s no secret between families. I once attended a church service in the city, everything is so difference. There is no one to welcome me. I was standing for 1 hour and nobody notice my present. It was a horrible experience for me.
People are generally lonely. Whenever possible, try to identify them in your community and treat them well. Don’t just hang around with your friends (or particular group of people) all the time. Try to identify the lonely, stranger and outcast around you. Show them that they are welcome, give them support and hospitality anyway possible. Who know, someday you might be the one who left out - lonely.


People need someone to believe in them

John H. Spalding noted, “Those who believe in our ability do more than stimulate us. They create for us an atmosphere in which it becomes easier to succeed.” My friend Allan was an alcoholic and faithful smoker just like me. When he realized that I had stopped those old habits, he asked me for help. “It’s hard to stop,” he complained. I told him, “If I can do it, you can do it too. I believe someday you will break these useless habits man.” After 3 months, he did it! It’s amazing what people can do if you just make them think more highly of themselves. John C. Maxwell writes, “Believing in people before they have proved themselves is the key to motivating people to reach their potential.”

Treat people like a human being.

Sometime it’s easy for us to forget that people are a human being just like you and I. We have the same basic needs. People need to be understood, to be loved. Add value to them. Motivate them to win. Give them hope. It is said that people can live 40 days without food, 4 days without water, 4 minutes without air, 4 seconds without hope.


Show respect towards others.

Les Giblin said “You can’t make the other fellow feel important in your presence if you secretly feel that he is a nobody”. Never treat others differences based on their status, race, or religious background. Just because someone using a Perodua Kancil and you’re using BMW 5 Series Sedan on the road, it doesn’t mean that you’re the ‘King’ on the road. We cannot expect people to respect us if we don’t first give respect to others.

Focus on others instead of yourself

Question: what can you give them without benefiting yourself? Often we love to give because we expect something in return. When others didn’t treat us the way we treat them, we frustrated. Try not to focus on what you can get when you help others. Those who focus on others soon learned that there’s a joy in their heart and a peace of mind - knowing that God will bless them in secret.

Jesus die for people

This is a powerful fact that can help you to value people more than what they are. Jesus did not come to earth, die on the cross and rose from the grave for a bunch of chimpanzee or Orang Utan; He came because He sees the value of people for who they are. He came for me, you and others. Do you believe this? For those who believe, the Scripture had something important to tell you, “…we have hope set on the Living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
 

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.