Living Out the Name

Our Bible study on last Friday was on Ephesians 4. The book we're using started off with a story of the great world conqueror, Alexander the Great. It shares about how one day he was inspecting his troops, when he came across a soldier, shabbily dressed. He asked this soldier, "What is your name?" The soldier replied, "Alexander". WIthout missing a beat, the great warrior and strategist stepped forward and said to the trembling infantryman, "Either change your ways or change your name!"

The story hit me. I carry the name of Christ as a christian, but am I leading a life worthy of my calling? Do i draw others nearer or pull them farther away from Christ? We had an interesting discussion on that. I guess we're all work-in-progress. But hopefully, we're progressing forward in our faith and our testimony.. =)

Today, our church had the privilege to have Aunty Merrilyn share Gods word with us. She had so much to share about her stories of missions in Nepal and China. She reminded us that we are the carriers of God's love. We are but jars of clay, worthless, insignificant, carrying treasures immeasurable, invaluable - the gospel of Christ, the message of redemption. She exhorted us to put on God's shoes, not ours, but GOD'S shoes of preparation of the gospel of peace. That everywhere we went, we would exude Christ' fragrance and love, bringing and drawing people to Him.

Aunty Merrilyn was the OCF Resource person, and had touched countless lives through her mission work in China, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and through her ministry in the OCF, and through her pastoral ministry in AACC, Adelaide.So many people call her mum, God-ma, Didi (sister).

Later on, i had the opportunity to have lunch with Aunty Merrilyn. Now, this is one life truly sold out for Christ. As i sat with her, listening to the stories of her travels, the people she has led to Christ, the things God has done in and through her, i was just astounded.. I could imagine myself like Mary sitting at the Lord's feet just soaking in everything. Aunty Merrilyn reminds me that she is only a vessel used by God, as ordinary as you can get, but to me, she's amazing. She epitomises faith and love; and when she said she's a representative of Christ, she didn't mince her words.

At 65, her memory is amazing. She remembered the things she prayed for me during our last church camp in PD. She asked me how have things progressed since then. She wrote a scripture letter for me, prophetic, i believe, as she said it's God's word for me for this season in my life. When I told her that she inspires me through her life, her love and her faith, she smiled. It has been a tough journey for her, but she's just so fired up for Christ, she's more than prepared to give everything she has and is to the Lord.

Each time i meet, speak, listen and see Aunty Merrilyn, i am reminded all over again, that life on earth is short, and i should live it fully for my God, leaving a legacy for His Kingdom, making my life count for eternity.

You Speak..

Last Friday, i stepped in last minute to lead bible study on Ephesians 3. It was an interesting bible study for me personally. Just earlier that week, a sister asked me about the purpose of life - as a Christian. It was a tough question, as she went through some moments of doubt. As i pored over the passage and some commentaries, it was as if the passage was meant for her. The answers to her questions were jumping from the passage. From this, I have come to realise the reality of God's word being true, alive and relevant.

Further, it was an interesting Greek lesson for me and our CG, as we learnt to appreciate the significance of the meaning of the Greek words used by Paul. It conveyed a richer and deeper meaning to his message. The common English phrases seem diluted and paled in comparison to the purposeful grammar and vocabulary used in the Greek terms.

Paul starts of Ephesians 3 with great excitement that a mystery has been revealed - that God's grace and love was for everyone - Jews and Gentiles. Salvation by grace was available to everybody who believes that Jesus is the truth, the way and the life.

Paul then prays for 4 things, which John Stott calls a "prayer staircase".

(i) He prays that we would be strengthened in our inner man. - That we would understand the power of the Holy Spirit, and the power that we can tap into.

(ii) He prays that Christ will be more at home in our hearts. - That we would give Christ full control over our hearts and lives.

(iii) He prays that our roots would grow deep into the soil of God's love. - Here the Greek words "Rizow" - meaning 'to take root', and "Themeliow" meaning 'grounded & to lay a foundation' are used. That we may understand the full dimension of God's love for us.

(iv) Finally he prays that we may live life to the fullest and be filled with God's power. The abundant Christian life is ours for the taking.

As a staircase, we will not stay on top of the staircase all the time. There are bound to be moments when we move down the stairs. When doubts surface, when worries creep in, when sin knocks us down a rung or two.. It's so lovely when Paul ends this chapter in doxology, in praise and thankfulness to God for all that He has done, and all that He continues to do in and through us.

To that dear sister of mine, i pray that you will continue discover and experience God's great love - the width, the length, the height, the depth of His love for you.

Feast for the tummy, the eyes and the heart..

Thanks to AirAsia, over the Deepavali holidays, we managed to sneak in a short holiday to Sandakan, Sabah to visit my best buddy, Rowena. I've known her for 9 years already, but embarassingly, this is the first time i'm visiting her home in Sandakan.. =)

Honestly, this trip deserves at least 3 blog-posts to adequately describe our wonderful trip there..

Firstly, it was truly a feast for our tummies - Yong Yi & I were treated to the best culinary delights and seafood dishes Sandakan could offer. Rowena pre-warned me twice about the sumptuous food she'd be feeding me with.. =) But it was really over-whelming.. =)



Uncle Alex (Rowena's dad), was quite a joker with many stories to tell.. It was a real joy to meet him for the first time. While Aunty Patricia, (Rowena's mum) was our tourist-cum-foodie guide. She fed us so much, accompanied us to Sepilok, and introduced us to the many Sandakan specialty food and even made us her very own triffle, which was simply delicious.



Why feast of the eyes, you ask? Sandakan is famous for it's wildlife sanctuaries - like the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation centre. Whilst there, we also had the opportunity to travel via a gravel road to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. You can view the many trigger happy shots i took (too many to post) in my picasa web album . Again, like my previous posts, i am amazed at the uniqueness of each creature that God created. He could have very well made all monkeys alike - same mouth, nose, tail, but NO.. not our creative Creator God. He had to make each one unique, special, beautiful, purposeful..



And finally feast of the heart.. Whilst YY caught up on his rest and sleep on the last day, Rowena and i had some time to catch up and chat.. Something that we haven't had the chance to do much in the past few years. It was nice, to reminisce the good-ol-days, remembering the things we experienced in college and Uni, our favourite foods and favourite 'makan' haunts, our favourite song to dance to in our little dorm room, our fond memories of birthdays and walks in the parks, our final year torture of thesis, the sleepless nights, and exhilaration of finally graduating.

It was sweet and touching, just reflecting on how things have changed and not, how life has turned out thus far for each of us.. It was sweet and touching to know that in all facets and circumstances of life, we could always share our heart to each other -- through the toughest moments, and the happiest moments. It was sweet and touching to know that such God-given friendships go beyond distance and time. This friendship is one where we could just pick up from where we last left off.. knowing that we are thought of often, and always held in each others' heart. It was sweet and touching to know that in such friendships we could each be ourselves, hair down and souls bare.


*Row, I truly truly thank God for you. =)
*B, next day, you're coming along too so that the 3 musketeers get to party together.. =)