Isaiah 40:31

Isaiah 40:31

"But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as EAGLES

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint"

“Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages, below the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm, it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us and all of us will experience them, we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God.

The storms do not have to overcome us, we can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.”

~ Author Unknown ~

Beautiful APTS

Monte and I spent about ten months between 2000 to 2001 at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS). It was such a beautiful place. I have very fond memories of our time there. The Lord opened the door for us to be there. Those were very precious times where we experience the hand of God as fairly new married couple.

Here is a write up from APTS’s website http://www.apts.edu/index.cfm?menuid=9&parentid=7

“Asia Pacific Theological Seminary is located approximately 250 km (150 miles) north of Manila just outside Baguio City , the chief vacation city and "Summer Capital of the Philippines." The campus is situated high on the Cordillera mountain range offering unsurpassed scenic beauty.

Although the campus is located at an altitude of 1630 meters (5,300 feet) above sea level, it is just minutes away from schools, churches, and transportation facilities. Baguio City, with a population of 350,000 is served by a daily flight and regular bus service from Manila. Baguio is known for its many colleges and universities, fine restaurants, shopping malls, recreation facilities and unique local handicrafts. With its low crime rate, the area provides a comfortable and secure setting for international students.

The APTS campus is well known for its garden-like environment. Flowers abound throughout the campus and the grounds are well maintained.”

Celebrating Life

This life that our maker gives is precious. The great irony is that for many, they do all they can to prolong it. Some people may be physically ill but their determination to fight the disease is so strong they will lay their hands on the best medical help and medication in the quest to keep living. On the other end of the spectrum, there is another group of people who do not want to live and some of have taken drastic steps like committing suicide to end their lives. For the will to live is no longer there.

The Bible tells us that God has given us life and as children of the living God, we have full liberty to live life to the fullest. We look forward to each day because we long to see the hand of God in everyday living. We live to celebrate life; we live to celebrate the Lord. God strengthens and empowers us in His love. Just as God pursues us with His love, we respond by abandoning our complete being into the hand of our great and loving God.

Loving Mickey

Mickey is such a lovable dog. My mother constantly mentions that Mickey is like a gold bar to my father, in other words, Mickey means so much to him.

Here is some notable quotes on dog ownership from a website called Dogster

( http://www.dogster.com/ ).

“The psychological benefits of owning a canine are well known. A carefully trained animal companion can offer fellowship, unconditional love, and often a friendship as intimate as any human bond. Dogs can also become an integral part of the family. Indeed, most adults, when asked to recall their earliest memories, will usually mention an encounter with their dog.

Canines also assist us during crises by helping to bear our emotional and psychological baggage. This function has important physiological benefits as well. Studies show that owning a dog—or even being near one—lowers human blood pressure and decreases stress levels. Over the long term this can prevent heart disease and lower health care costs, because dog owners make fewer doctor visits. A good-natured dog can also help fight depression and loneliness—one of the reasons they are used extensively to visit nursing homes and hospitals. Considering the benefits, the relatively nominal cost of keeping a dog seems like a wise investment”

Sources:

I came upon this website called Dogster http://www.dogster.com/ . The writer of this website has an interesting write-up on the “Advantages of Dog Ownership.” http://www.dogster.com/guides/dog_health_and_care/choosing_a_dog/selecting_the_right_dog_breed/advantages_of_dog_ownership

Showering Love on them

I saw this award winning video clip on Dementia on the blog of Blogpastor . http://www.blogpastor.net

It is a heart wrenching clip. The Lord watches over all of us, even when we grow old in the coming decades, we continue to rely and lean on the arms of Jesus. And for those of us with aging parents who are showing signs of memory loss, we continue to entrust them into the hands of our loving God. We continue to love and honour them.

You may click on this link to view the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iXPHhfk_7E

The Straits Times featured an article on children who abuse their elderly parents on 22 Oct 2009. I quote: “ALMOST every evening, an elderly man would complain to the police that his family had locked him out of his house.

A case of abuse or a family at its wits' end?

It transpired that the man's family did so as he had the habit of roaming the streets aimlessly and, while in the house, switching the stove on and off. Afraid that he would set the house on fire, his family members locked him out when they went to work and let him back in when they returned home.

The police referred the man to a centre that helps victims of family violence, and a social worker there advised his family to get him medical help.

As the social worker predicted, the reason for the habits that stumped the man's family was that he had moderate dementia. Knowing this, the family supervised the man more closely, but as his condition deteriorated and they could not cope, they sent him to a nursing home.

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, highlighted this real example on Wednesday in a symposium on family violence, as he dwelt on the principles that should guide agencies tackling the 'scourge' of elderly abuse.”

I do not think we should be quick to throw stones at the abusers. They may be challenged by the stress in life, some having the need to raise their children and look after the needs of their elderly parents. What can be helpful is for us to understand that one day we will all grow old and some of us may be struck with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. We will then be at the receiving end of such cruel treatment.

We allow God to help us to love our elderly parents who may display some behaviour that they could not help. With love, patience and perseverance, the Lord’s love will flow through us to touch our elderly people.

Love will Find a Way

On 24 May last year, I blogged on how a sister in Christ was praying desperately for his son who had drifted away from God, see http://jeefong.blogspot.com/2008/05/come-home.html

Recently while in conversion with another person, I learned that the son of the dear lady is showing signs of wanting to come back to the Lord. Love will find away. God loves us too much to leave us alone. His heart yearns for His children and He wants to give us the best. The tender heart of God reaches out to all who call upon Him.

Needless Pain

Yesterday Monte and I took time out to pray at the beautiful MacRitchie forest trail. We have always enjoyed prayer walking. Times of prayer are precious moments that we pull ourselves away from the hustle and bustle of life to commune with our maker. We serve a great and mighty God. He is not bound by space and time. We are limited and He is limitless, strong, powerful and awesome. When we pray, the Lord blesses us.  He spares us from needless pain.  When we come to the foot of the cross, our burdens and needs fall away.  The Lord strengthens us from within. We have a friend in Jesus, a friend who is closer than a brother. He shoulders our every pain, fear, despair, disappointment, sadness, frustration and disillusionment. He does not stop there. He fills us with hope, courage, strength, resilience, grace and unending mercies.

He is Lovely

He is Lovely

I can see that you love Jesus first

It's plain to me

And that you sit close and hear His heartbeat

for in your eyes I see shining love

That speak so clear

And I can hear them saying so sweetly

He is lovely, He is holy

Gave supremely, that all men might see

He is gentle, tender hearted

Risen Saviour, He is God

Master maker, life creator

Come and dwell in me

That my heart may know Your tender mercy

Shine through me that all may see

Your love so full and free

And I'll declare Your praise through endless ages

He is lovely, He is holy

Gave supremely, that all men might see

He is gently, tender hearted

Risen Saviour, He is God

The beauty and glory of the risen King is beyond comparison. As we draw closer to the Lord, His loveliness melts away our bitterness and ugliness. His tenderness and graciousness shows us His unending love and mercy. He rules and reigns in all that call upon His great name. He reigns supreme, a God so mighty and yet so meek. We will praise and worship our awesome God for all eternity. 

Lead Me to the Rock

Lead Me to the Rock

When my heart is overwhelmed

Hear my cry, give heed to my prayers

And my eyes are dimmed with tears

O Father, make them clear

From the end of the earth

When my heart is fainting

Let me know that you have heard

Lead me into safety

And lead me to the Rock, the Rock that is higher

Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I

Lead me to the Rock, the Rock that is higher

Higher than I

You O Lord have been for me

A refuge from my enemies

Let me live within Your strength

In the shelter of Your wings

Life is not a bed of roses but the good news is that God in His mercy leads us on to savour all that life entails. The good and bad times, the highs and the lows, the beautiful and the ugly, the exhilarating and the deadness. A vibrant life awaits all who are willing to embark on this amazing life God has for each of us. The Bible is narrative; full of stories. God is continuing to write the story of our life. He alone knows our future and as we abandon ourselves completely to His loving care, we are constantly enveloped by His amazing love. Even the toughest times of our life, the Lord comes through for us. At times our life may seem like it is spiralling out of control but God is always with us. He leads us to Himself, the rock of our salvation. He leads us to the Rock that is higher than I.

Cherish the Treasure

Lord, we are mere mortal beings who are unworthy and undeserving of all that you have freely given to us, yet You choose to pour Your precious Spirit into our lives. This treasure in us that money cannot buy, so precious and priceless.  Without Your presence in us, we will never last another minute.  We need You, We need Your tender mercies.  We receive grace and strength to live for another day.

You have made us Your habitation, knowing that we are vulnerable to fall or fail along the way. Yet You believe in us and work Your purposes through us.  Break us, mould us and work in and through us this day.  We surrender completely to You.

This Doctor Cares

About a week ago, I brought my mother to National University Hospital for an appointment with the eye specialist due to her upcoming cataract surgery. While in consultation with a male doctor, twice he patted my mother on her shoulders along with a smile. He brought much reassurance to my mother that day. This doctor sees many patients on a typical day, what touches me was the effort he took to bring comfort and reassurance to his patients.  With his little gesture, I can tell that this doctor cares.