2010 is at an end. This year brought many fresh challenges. Some of these were met with excitement and zeal, and some were met with delight and joy, while the rest of them was met with trepidation but with big doses of grace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Through all these challenges, the Swallow hopes that she would have been more like the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow will usher in a new year and a new decade. What will 2011 bring? Whatever challenges it brings, she is confident that she can do all things through Christ who strengthens her.
JESUS, TAKE ME AS I AM (author unknown)
Jesus, take me as I am
I can come no other way
Take me deeper into You
Make my flesh life melt away
Make me like a precious stone
Crystal clear and finely honed
Life of Jesus shining through
Giving glory back to you.
Friday, 31 December 2010
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Are We There Yet?
Tomorrow night, at the first stroke of midnight, the first decade of this century will be over. Years before the start of this century, many were anxious over the Y2K bug, anticipating the disasters it would unleash. Now, over ten years later, it is old news. Memories of years past.
On Monday, while in Malaysia, the Swallow's family joined her extended family for a meal. Not knowing where the restaurant was, the journey to that location seemed long and the road seemed to stretch a long distance. From her parents' home, journeying on past her sibling's home where she was staying while in Malaysia, then on to the restaurant, the distance was keenly felt.
On the other hand, although the Swallow's journey back to Singapore took her more than five hours, it did not seem as long. The hours simply flew by because the Swallow was going home.
How does one measure time? One minute is only sixty seconds, but ask a person to wait a minute and he will feel like he has been waiting for a long time. On the road, if one does not move when the light is green, even if it is only for one or two seconds, more often than not he can be sure to hear honks from the cars behind him.
So what is ten years? Looking forward, ten years seem like a long time. Now looking back at the past decade, ten years seem to have flown past and quickly too.
At the start, a journey always seems longer than when one looks back, right? Especially when one does not know his destination. Or the estimated time of arrival. Just ask little children when they travel. Not knowing his parents' plans, "Are we there yet?" is commonly-asked question.
Although the Swallow knows where her final destination will be, she does not know at which point of the journey she is at. Thus, at this point when year 2010 leaves and year 2011 arrives, the Swallow is, like a little child, asking her heavenly Father "Are we there yet?".
Jeremiah 29 : 11 - 13 (NIV)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart."
She may not know her heavenly Father's plans for her, but the Swallow has no fear of the future because He knows!
On Monday, while in Malaysia, the Swallow's family joined her extended family for a meal. Not knowing where the restaurant was, the journey to that location seemed long and the road seemed to stretch a long distance. From her parents' home, journeying on past her sibling's home where she was staying while in Malaysia, then on to the restaurant, the distance was keenly felt.
On the other hand, although the Swallow's journey back to Singapore took her more than five hours, it did not seem as long. The hours simply flew by because the Swallow was going home.
How does one measure time? One minute is only sixty seconds, but ask a person to wait a minute and he will feel like he has been waiting for a long time. On the road, if one does not move when the light is green, even if it is only for one or two seconds, more often than not he can be sure to hear honks from the cars behind him.
So what is ten years? Looking forward, ten years seem like a long time. Now looking back at the past decade, ten years seem to have flown past and quickly too.
At the start, a journey always seems longer than when one looks back, right? Especially when one does not know his destination. Or the estimated time of arrival. Just ask little children when they travel. Not knowing his parents' plans, "Are we there yet?" is commonly-asked question.
Although the Swallow knows where her final destination will be, she does not know at which point of the journey she is at. Thus, at this point when year 2010 leaves and year 2011 arrives, the Swallow is, like a little child, asking her heavenly Father "Are we there yet?".
Jeremiah 29 : 11 - 13 (NIV)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart."
She may not know her heavenly Father's plans for her, but the Swallow has no fear of the future because He knows!
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Time to Go Home
It's time to go home. After being back in Malaysia for the past week or so, the Swallow and her family are looking forward to their return to Singapore. No matter how enjoyable a holiday, no matter how precious a time it is for a reunion with loved ones, there is no place like one's own home.
It's time to go home. Time to bid farewell until the next reunion. Time to return to the hustle and bustle of life. Time to put one's hands back into the daily grind.
It's time to go home because all in the family miss their beds...
It's time to go home. Time to bid farewell until the next reunion. Time to return to the hustle and bustle of life. Time to put one's hands back into the daily grind.
It's time to go home because all in the family miss their beds...
Saturday, 25 December 2010
An Introduction to Christmas
The Swallow's first Christmas experience was when she was at a school-going age. The Swallow's Ah Mah had brought her to stay overnight with one of Ah Mah's sisters. Not long after dropping off to sleep, her Ah Mah woke her up. Realizing that everyone in the house was awake as well, the Swallow got out of bed and saw that it was just past midnight. A sense of excitement and wonder filled her.
The Swallow's eyes darted here and there as she watched the adults hurrying around her, busy with some food preparation. The Swallow thought, "Food preparation? In the middle of the night? What was going to happen?"
Suddenly, the adults stopped all that they were doing and gathered near the entrance to the house. Then Ah Mah told the Swallow to sit on the staircase to the upper storey so that she could see better. Again the Swallow thought, "What was she going to see?"
Everyone hushed. The Swallow hushed as well.
Then music filled the air. Quiet music that streamed through the doors. Sweet music that told of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ah Mah had, by then, brought the Swallow to Sunday School, and she had heard many stories of the Lord Jesus. There were stories of the first Christmas ever. There were stories of the wonders and miracles the Lord Jesus had performed while He was on earth. There were also stories of traditions that some Christians observe when they celebrate Christmas. The Swallow was filled with delight when she realised that she had been given a chance to observe one such tradition - listening to some Christmas carolers.
After the carolers had left, the Swallow went back to bed. Lying in bed, she thought again of all that had happened that special night. She remembered the joy she had seen reflected in the carolers' faces as they sang with all their hearts. Just before dropping off to sleep (again), she wished with all her heart that she would have a chance to be a caroler too!
The Swallow's eyes darted here and there as she watched the adults hurrying around her, busy with some food preparation. The Swallow thought, "Food preparation? In the middle of the night? What was going to happen?"
Suddenly, the adults stopped all that they were doing and gathered near the entrance to the house. Then Ah Mah told the Swallow to sit on the staircase to the upper storey so that she could see better. Again the Swallow thought, "What was she going to see?"
Everyone hushed. The Swallow hushed as well.
Then music filled the air. Quiet music that streamed through the doors. Sweet music that told of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ah Mah had, by then, brought the Swallow to Sunday School, and she had heard many stories of the Lord Jesus. There were stories of the first Christmas ever. There were stories of the wonders and miracles the Lord Jesus had performed while He was on earth. There were also stories of traditions that some Christians observe when they celebrate Christmas. The Swallow was filled with delight when she realised that she had been given a chance to observe one such tradition - listening to some Christmas carolers.
After the carolers had left, the Swallow went back to bed. Lying in bed, she thought again of all that had happened that special night. She remembered the joy she had seen reflected in the carolers' faces as they sang with all their hearts. Just before dropping off to sleep (again), she wished with all her heart that she would have a chance to be a caroler too!
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Real Reason for Christmas
What is Christmas all about?
It is about love - God's love for men.
It is about sacrificial giving - the Lord God giving to men the most precious gift on earth.
It is about reconciliation - men with God.
Christmas is about CHRIST, My All Sufficient!
WE ARE THE REASON (sang by Avalon)
As little children, we would dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find
But we never realised a Baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives.
We were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.
As the years went by, we learnt more about gifts
The giving of ourselves, and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day, a Man hung crying in the rain
Because of love, all because of love...
We were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.
I'd finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do, every word that I say
I'd be giving my all just for Him, for Him...
We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and die
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live
He is my reason to live.
Don’t you know?
Do you know the reason that He came?
O He came to save us.
When He gave His life for us
He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave everything
Everything to show us the reason to live...!
It is about love - God's love for men.
It is about sacrificial giving - the Lord God giving to men the most precious gift on earth.
It is about reconciliation - men with God.
Christmas is about CHRIST, My All Sufficient!
WE ARE THE REASON (sang by Avalon)
As little children, we would dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find
But we never realised a Baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives.
We were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.
As the years went by, we learnt more about gifts
The giving of ourselves, and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day, a Man hung crying in the rain
Because of love, all because of love...
We were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.
I'd finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do, every word that I say
I'd be giving my all just for Him, for Him...
We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and die
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live
He is my reason to live.
Don’t you know?
Do you know the reason that He came?
O He came to save us.
When He gave His life for us
He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave everything
Everything to show us the reason to live...!
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Looking Forward to Christmas
The Swallow and her family are back in Malaysia to spend Christmas with her parents and siblings. Classified as an 'annual retreat' (or almost an annual one), it is a holiday that everyone in the family as well as the extended family looks forward too for several reasons, one of which is the time to gather together to remember what Christmas is all about.
It is also a time to spend in church with fellow believers on Christmas Day, a time to exchange gifts with one another, a time to sing Christmas carols written by men of old detailing the time of old, and most importantly, a time to read God's word about the first Christmas ever and the prophesies foretold even before that time.
Isaiah 9 : 6 (NKJV)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wondeful, Counsellor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
The Swallow is looking forward to Christmas. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, it is a time to remember and rejoice that her Lord God loves her (and the world) so much that He gave to men a very precious gift in the form of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the answer to take away the gulf that exists between God and men because of sin.
May all remember the real reason for Christmas!
It is also a time to spend in church with fellow believers on Christmas Day, a time to exchange gifts with one another, a time to sing Christmas carols written by men of old detailing the time of old, and most importantly, a time to read God's word about the first Christmas ever and the prophesies foretold even before that time.
Isaiah 9 : 6 (NKJV)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wondeful, Counsellor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
The Swallow is looking forward to Christmas. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, it is a time to remember and rejoice that her Lord God loves her (and the world) so much that He gave to men a very precious gift in the form of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the answer to take away the gulf that exists between God and men because of sin.
May all remember the real reason for Christmas!
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