The Lord is my Designer

The Lord is my Designer, I shall not doubt His talent.
He surrounds me with His creations,
He leads me into new inspirations,
He restores my mind.
He guides me into creating God-fearing works for His glory's sake.

Even though I walk in an epoch of art abuse, egoism and depravation,
I will fear no evil, for You are here with me;
Your Word and Your Light, they guide me.

You prepare a masterpiece before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my mind with honor;
My sketchbook overflows.
Surely creativity and wisdom will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the Lord's ingenuity forever.

- Janice Grace Pek

The Lord is my Art Therapist

The Lord is my Art Therapist, I shall not lose focus.
He surrounds me with artworks and art materials in a garden,
He leads me into understanding and peace,
He restores my soul.
He lead my hands into holy creations,
and mind into wise righteousness for His glory's sake.

Even though I walk in an epoch of deviation and despair,
I will fear no evil and pain, for You are here with me;
Your art guides me, Your therapy comforts me.

You prepare an art exhibition before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my soul with honor;
My art gallery overflows.
Surely creativity and wisdom will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the Lord's lucidity forever.

- Janice Grace Pek

Wake up, you blessed one

Initially, it was ambiguous whether it was part of His plan.
Fear of humiliation prevented me from finding out.

Obviously, He wanted me to take the step in finding out because he actually has a purpose - to eliminate 'fear of humiliation' or 'self-consciousness' from my character traits.

I thank You for Your prompts and the courage You provided.
Thankfully, this can now be put behind me.

My dignity is intact because I behaved how Your child should be - loving and friendly, especially to Your own family.

It is not my fault if there are family members who choose to disobey and sin against You by treating me (who is Your child and their sister) with disdain.

I tried to unite the group. But as you have given free will to all creation, they get to choose obedience or disobedience. Kindness or haughtiness to their sister.

Seriously, some very blessed people should wake up, before He take their blessings away. The rich will be poor, and the poor will be rich, is what the Book says.

It is our hope for it to function.
But it is Your will whether it ultimately will.

Variety is pleasing and necessary

I know of a young guy who owns a drinks stall in a neighbourhood food market near my place.

It is obvious that he is educated when you interact with him.

People who interact with him are usually left wondering why an educated, upbeat and amiably sociable young chap is shackling himself within a small drinks stall in a food market.

There is a family from my church who stays nearby too and also frequents that guy's stall too, who is obviously on pretty good terms with him as well.

You feel like the whole market loves that helpful, sociable and amiable guy, ranging from the patrons, to his fellow market stallholders to the cleaning staff.

Christians can't help but wonder if he is a believer too. Whether he's a believer or not, a thought dawned on me.

I thought, "Indeed, we can serve Him and His community wherever we are because that is His original plan anyway - His plan to have everyone created uniquely and serving uniquely".

Why is everyone striving to be a doctor and lawyer when some of them are immensely and obviously a talented pianist, enthusiastic painter, compassionate caregiver, or a meticulous mathematician?

Since when did doctors and lawyers become the only 'practical' professions around? Since when did humans cease needing comfort (counselors), cease needing the expressions of emotions, thoughts and ideas (artists) and cease needing education (teachers)? I can go on droning.

Other than the issue of impracticality of having the whole world doctoring each other or debating law with each other, it is also emotionally/mentally unbearable to live in a world without musicians, artists, teachers, engineers, counselors, therapists or even businessmen.

What would happen to the human body if every organ decides to be a brain or heart?

Shawn Li adds this on: "To add on, Jesus was a carpenter."

Enable us for You

Now to You who is able to do immeasurably above all that we ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within us, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Thank You, for Your faithful character that never changes, providing us hope in a hopeless world.

Vegetation Stewardship

The environment is also under our stewardship since Genesis 1:28-30 says that we rule over the "fish", the "birds", "seed-bearing plant", etc.

The following two sites are more on the vegetation aspect, though.

http://sec.org.sg/
"...educate, inspire and assist individuals, business organizations and environmental groups to care for and protect the environment"

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
"We conserve, create, sustain and enhance the green infrastructure of our Garden City."

For the community's welfare

"A cobbler, a smith, a farmer, each has the work and office of his trade, and yet they are all alike consecrated priests and bishops, and everyone by means of his own work and office must benefit and serve every other, that in this way many kinds of work may be done for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the community, even as the members of a body serve one another".

- Martin Luther

5 Levels or 1 Level?

"Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none."
- Benjamin Franklin

But Jesus loved everyone 100%, equally.

Shift of Focus

I came across an article that teaches you how to be happy.
I summarized it into 7 points.

1. Force yourself to smile and laugh.
2. Make something.
3. Keep a list of things you appreciate.
4. Start a project.
5. Go through your address book and meet up with old friends.
6. Physical Exercise
7. Choose to be happy.

Ironically, if I actually continue doing 5 out of 7 of the above-mentioned suggestions, I might actually become depressed and maniacal really soon enough.

Maybe all we need is a shift of focus.

"The Paradox of Our Age"

By Dr. Bob Moorehead

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men and small character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Dr. Bob Moorehead is former pastor of Seattle's Overlake Christian Church. The essay appeared in 'Words Aptly Spoken,' Dr. Moorehead's 1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts.

Interested in Mission Work?

For whoever interested in Mission Work.

Sharing the gospel:
www.asianoutreach.org

Community Work, without gospel-sharing:
www.worldvision.org.sg

Housing for the Impoverished:
www.habitatforhumanity.org

Training Youths for Mission Work:
www.sif.org.sg

Psalty's Big Comeback!

Christians might find this video hilarious.
Do you remember Psalty?
Our friend from Sunday School days?
(:

Pastor Rick Warren did this video with his church, Saddleback Church.
Yes, the huge church and the author of 'The Purpose-Driven Life'.