"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:18
The beauty of the reflection on a still lake. Did you notice?
Read this on someone's blog sharing:
"Imagine if someone were to pull a “veil” over Maroon Lake…kind of like the cover that people put over their swimming pools in the winter. The lake would miss out on her most glorious task…to reflect the glory of the majesty behind her.
Standing there today, I was struck by how well the lake was doing its job. I was also struck by how poorly I was doing mine.
The world around us will continually say that it is all about us. But it isn’t. It is all about Him.
Have you ever noticed how the three persons of the Trinity do this as well? The Son points to the Father. The Father points back to the Son. The Holy Spirit points to the Father and the Son.
Well, Job 12 tells us to learn from the creation: the animals teach us, the birds tell us, the fish inform us, and the earth will teach us…if we will listen. Today, I learned a lot from an old, non-descript mountain lake.
It convicted me. I wish I were as faithful as she."
We're are the water that reflects the wow-ness of God.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
the heart
Proverbs 4:23
" Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
"The heart is the seat and center of our identity, the essence or our total inner selves that expresses itself outwardly in word and deed." ~ Marshill Church abstract for "Proverbs: the Heart" sermon
I'm learning about my heart, that by default, it is sinful. That i do a lot of things for myself.
While i seek to teach Eliza about God, I find that i'm fall short so much. And all these seeking is turning me to God.
As parents, we're always trying to change the behavior of our child that's not good or not right. But really, it's the heart that's leading the child to behave in that particular way. The behavior is a manifestation of the heart. Same goes with us. When we do things that are destructive to ourselves or displeasing to God, the root of the issue is our heart. Fixing the outer behavior without the inner renewal isn't going to change things indefinitely.
Ezekiel 36:26
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
Jesus, is my redeemer. He renews me. He is patient. He is kind. He is the one who gives me that new heart. A new passion.
So as i live with a new heart, that's always renewed everyday in Jesus, I pray i'll grow be like Him, patient, kind, loving, wise, selfless. That i may honour Him and glorify Him. And that as i guide Eliza to find wisdom in God's word, as i turn her to realize that her heart is the wellspring of her life, she will learn about sin, God's love, God's forgiveness & grace, Jesus sacrifice and redemption...and by God's grace, she'll live as a child of God.
" Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
"The heart is the seat and center of our identity, the essence or our total inner selves that expresses itself outwardly in word and deed." ~ Marshill Church abstract for "Proverbs: the Heart" sermon
I'm learning about my heart, that by default, it is sinful. That i do a lot of things for myself.
While i seek to teach Eliza about God, I find that i'm fall short so much. And all these seeking is turning me to God.
As parents, we're always trying to change the behavior of our child that's not good or not right. But really, it's the heart that's leading the child to behave in that particular way. The behavior is a manifestation of the heart. Same goes with us. When we do things that are destructive to ourselves or displeasing to God, the root of the issue is our heart. Fixing the outer behavior without the inner renewal isn't going to change things indefinitely.
Ezekiel 36:26
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
Jesus, is my redeemer. He renews me. He is patient. He is kind. He is the one who gives me that new heart. A new passion.
So as i live with a new heart, that's always renewed everyday in Jesus, I pray i'll grow be like Him, patient, kind, loving, wise, selfless. That i may honour Him and glorify Him. And that as i guide Eliza to find wisdom in God's word, as i turn her to realize that her heart is the wellspring of her life, she will learn about sin, God's love, God's forgiveness & grace, Jesus sacrifice and redemption...and by God's grace, she'll live as a child of God.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Who is looking after your baby?
Blogger is still having problems with image uploading...so i'm still uploading texted stuff.
I read this from babylicious blog
http://figur8.net/baby/2009/08/01/whos-looking-after-your-baby/
and as a working mum (even a part-time one!), i feel so much to be able to be with my little fun and super playful Eliza everyday of the week! Of course the occasional break from her to do my stuffs and go dating with Ww will be great, still working is another different factor.
I'm believing even more that mums (which means me) should be the one taking care of her (my) own child, not anyone else for many many reasons. And the arrival of no.2 is the point where i will do so. One of the reasons is that my mil is there to take care of Eliza and if both of us is at home then it's quite redundant since i can go work and earn money. Sigh...it's a good and bad thing in a way and i really really do super appreciate her help cos she's a great (aka good) grandparent.
Babylicious wrote that "While his grandparents might have, I strongly believe in the cycles of life. Grandparents have done their dues as parents and should not have to parent their grandchildren. Grandparents should have the liberty of enjoying the all the delights of their grandchildren, not having to take charge of raising them. Goodness knows that should I be blessed with grandchildren, I intend to do exactly that."
I really thank God that i have a great boss who was thoughtful enough to grant me a 3-day work week to spend more time with cute Eliza and without that i would have missed out a lot.
Motherhood really changes us women in unexpected ways. Not completely but in some ways. I still ain't that best domestic goddess (i'm not a great housekeeper..and i am lazy enough not to do housework until the house demands it. i don't like vacumming & mopping the floor.) I guess it rewired me inside to be attuned to lil Eliza...despite all the hit and misses but who else will be the better person who will worry, chart, pray, love, persevere, visionize, play, adore, sacrifice for Eliza as much as Ww & me?
No wonder mums know us best.
I read this from babylicious blog
http://figur8.net/baby/2009/08/01/whos-looking-after-your-baby/
and as a working mum (even a part-time one!), i feel so much to be able to be with my little fun and super playful Eliza everyday of the week! Of course the occasional break from her to do my stuffs and go dating with Ww will be great, still working is another different factor.
I'm believing even more that mums (which means me) should be the one taking care of her (my) own child, not anyone else for many many reasons. And the arrival of no.2 is the point where i will do so. One of the reasons is that my mil is there to take care of Eliza and if both of us is at home then it's quite redundant since i can go work and earn money. Sigh...it's a good and bad thing in a way and i really really do super appreciate her help cos she's a great (aka good) grandparent.
Babylicious wrote that "While his grandparents might have, I strongly believe in the cycles of life. Grandparents have done their dues as parents and should not have to parent their grandchildren. Grandparents should have the liberty of enjoying the all the delights of their grandchildren, not having to take charge of raising them. Goodness knows that should I be blessed with grandchildren, I intend to do exactly that."
I really thank God that i have a great boss who was thoughtful enough to grant me a 3-day work week to spend more time with cute Eliza and without that i would have missed out a lot.
Motherhood really changes us women in unexpected ways. Not completely but in some ways. I still ain't that best domestic goddess (i'm not a great housekeeper..and i am lazy enough not to do housework until the house demands it. i don't like vacumming & mopping the floor.) I guess it rewired me inside to be attuned to lil Eliza...despite all the hit and misses but who else will be the better person who will worry, chart, pray, love, persevere, visionize, play, adore, sacrifice for Eliza as much as Ww & me?
No wonder mums know us best.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Focus on the Family - Bringing home baby
while we're praying and trying for a baby next year this article is one of the most helpful and i think balanced on the advise regarding how to prepare the elder child for a new baby.
"So, how would you feel if your husband
brought home another woman?
Believe it or not, that’s how many kids
may feel when a new baby arrives home
from the hospital.
When young kids struggle with jealousy
over a new baby in the house, there
are some things you can do to reassure
them they haven’t been replaced.
First, start preparing them during your
pregnancy, and make them feel a part of it.
Tell them how much you’re going to
need their help with the new baby.
Second, make sure your older children
are part of the new baby pictures in
the hospital room.
Dad should have a gift for them to
give to their new little brother or sister.
Next, remind them of all the things
they can do that the baby is too little for,
like feeding themselves, or staying up a
little later before bedtime.
And finally, when your family makes
over the baby, make sure they remember
that you have other kids as well."
God willing :)
"So, how would you feel if your husband
brought home another woman?
Believe it or not, that’s how many kids
may feel when a new baby arrives home
from the hospital.
When young kids struggle with jealousy
over a new baby in the house, there
are some things you can do to reassure
them they haven’t been replaced.
First, start preparing them during your
pregnancy, and make them feel a part of it.
Tell them how much you’re going to
need their help with the new baby.
Second, make sure your older children
are part of the new baby pictures in
the hospital room.
Dad should have a gift for them to
give to their new little brother or sister.
Next, remind them of all the things
they can do that the baby is too little for,
like feeding themselves, or staying up a
little later before bedtime.
And finally, when your family makes
over the baby, make sure they remember
that you have other kids as well."
God willing :)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Breakfasts
I simply adore breakfasts. the best part of my holidays (when i do go) is the hotel's buffet breakfast. Ironically, all i need is a wide spread of eggs, ham/bacon, sausages, lots of bread and butter, orange juice, maybe bread pudding, maybe baked beans...that's about it.
I love Chubby Hubby's recent post of the french toast recipe...one day i'll try to make it. remind me.
Best spiked french toast
and oh..this is good too sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato
check the blog for the delicious photos. :) oh delicious breakfasts!
I love Chubby Hubby's recent post of the french toast recipe...one day i'll try to make it. remind me.
Best spiked french toast
and oh..this is good too sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato
check the blog for the delicious photos. :) oh delicious breakfasts!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
TV and the kids
For a loongest time, i never read anything (except all the marketing stuff from those who are trying to sell the dvds) that says that TV can be good for kids. After all, American PDs recommend no more than 2hrs of TV for kids under 2.
Hmm...Considering Eliza watches about 1hr of Baby Signing Time/Elmo a day, plus the accidental TV she sees when the adults are watching tv...i wonder if it works up to 2hrs. My FIL auto turns on the tv when he comes home, even when he's not watching it. And i kinda brought it up to Ww recently that if he's not watching, then don't let Eliza watch. Especially if there's news or shows that are violent in nature. He watches mostly those travel/news/taiwan entertainment which is usually quite ok though. Still.
Somehow reading this article is quote helpful in some ways "Does television really rot kids' brains?" , ok it's more like relieving.
So it's not so bad after all, considering the tv Eliza watches are those educational ones. And i'm really glad to see her learn sign language through the DVDS and through that there're lots of other things everyone in the household can relate with because we ALL watch BSL as well.
So TV, used in a wise manner, isn't so bad after all? is it?
Hmm...Considering Eliza watches about 1hr of Baby Signing Time/Elmo a day, plus the accidental TV she sees when the adults are watching tv...i wonder if it works up to 2hrs. My FIL auto turns on the tv when he comes home, even when he's not watching it. And i kinda brought it up to Ww recently that if he's not watching, then don't let Eliza watch. Especially if there's news or shows that are violent in nature. He watches mostly those travel/news/taiwan entertainment which is usually quite ok though. Still.
Somehow reading this article is quote helpful in some ways "Does television really rot kids' brains?" , ok it's more like relieving.
So it's not so bad after all, considering the tv Eliza watches are those educational ones. And i'm really glad to see her learn sign language through the DVDS and through that there're lots of other things everyone in the household can relate with because we ALL watch BSL as well.
So TV, used in a wise manner, isn't so bad after all? is it?
Monday, July 06, 2009
The Hidden Wholeness
About a month ago, we bought some books from Amazon and Ww bought quite a bulk of them...most of them has been in the wish list for at least a year. Quite a number of books are from this author Parker J. Palmer whose books sell at an average of $40-$50 here. It's all under $20 at Amazon, and even with shipping, it's only half the price.
We were sharing about some thoughts and this quote he shared from the book "The Hidden Wholeness" felt too good not to share
"The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure;
the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair;
the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring:
these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings.
If we refuse to hold them in hoeps of living without doubt despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.
But in the spring we are reminded that human nature, like nature herself, can hold opposites together as paradoxes, resulting in a more capacious and generous life."
I shall read this book soon.
We were sharing about some thoughts and this quote he shared from the book "The Hidden Wholeness" felt too good not to share
"The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure;
the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair;
the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring:
these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings.
If we refuse to hold them in hoeps of living without doubt despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.
But in the spring we are reminded that human nature, like nature herself, can hold opposites together as paradoxes, resulting in a more capacious and generous life."
I shall read this book soon.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Learning to parent
Really if only there was parenting school. But there isn't and the only parenting school we had was when we were kids and our parents parent us. Then again, we're also trying not to do things our parents did.
And i think i mentioned before that knowledge does not equate wisdom. While i read lots and lots of books on parenting, from basic baby care to cooking baby food to building character, it's only knowledge. As a new mum (not that brand new but still every day is my first with my sweet girl), we are learning how to parent better, working on the ways we talk and interact with our little one, learning to grow together as a family that honours God.
Sometimes i catch myself doing things or saying things i realize i should not be doing/saying. Or i find myself lapsing into laziness and selfishness.
It's quite a soul searching journey isn't it? God somehow hands us this task of guiding a new life and yet this new life also guides us to search our inner self.
Eliza is teaching me
- patience :
and i thought i am a very patient person. but when things don't go the way i had planned to be cos she doesn't want to sleep or eat or do this or that (as most toddlers do), i'm naturally at the end of my patience. To the extent that i lose sight of the whole task at hand or fail to realize why she acts the way she did and scold her unnecessarily. It's not that i don't discipline her when needed but sometimes i just want things to go the way i had planned and she didn't follow to plan and i 'force' her to do it (esp the nappping part).
- honesty :
you know how often our parents will tell us if we do this we'll get this or do this and then do not fulfill them (i find that i forget to do some things i tell Eliza i'll do :S not a good excuse but i'm trying to make sure i do what i say )?
Or they'll coerce us and use scare tactics on us to make us do what they want us to do, even if it's a good task? (my sil uses that on her boys and recently Ww & I decided that we won't use like things like 'momo' or 'scary' stuff to unnecessarily scare her into our control)
- play :
interestingly daddies seem to be 'funner'. Ww's more ridiculous and lame and rough with his play with her, which is really quite fun and i'm glad that the june holiday week we had as a little family and these two days while daddy is on MC, they have more time to bond with each other, such that Eliza wanted Ww to put her to nap instead of my mil! anyway, it's being just fun that's fun
And i think i mentioned before that knowledge does not equate wisdom. While i read lots and lots of books on parenting, from basic baby care to cooking baby food to building character, it's only knowledge. As a new mum (not that brand new but still every day is my first with my sweet girl), we are learning how to parent better, working on the ways we talk and interact with our little one, learning to grow together as a family that honours God.
Sometimes i catch myself doing things or saying things i realize i should not be doing/saying. Or i find myself lapsing into laziness and selfishness.
It's quite a soul searching journey isn't it? God somehow hands us this task of guiding a new life and yet this new life also guides us to search our inner self.
Eliza is teaching me
- patience :
and i thought i am a very patient person. but when things don't go the way i had planned to be cos she doesn't want to sleep or eat or do this or that (as most toddlers do), i'm naturally at the end of my patience. To the extent that i lose sight of the whole task at hand or fail to realize why she acts the way she did and scold her unnecessarily. It's not that i don't discipline her when needed but sometimes i just want things to go the way i had planned and she didn't follow to plan and i 'force' her to do it (esp the nappping part).
- honesty :
you know how often our parents will tell us if we do this we'll get this or do this and then do not fulfill them (i find that i forget to do some things i tell Eliza i'll do :S not a good excuse but i'm trying to make sure i do what i say )?
Or they'll coerce us and use scare tactics on us to make us do what they want us to do, even if it's a good task? (my sil uses that on her boys and recently Ww & I decided that we won't use like things like 'momo' or 'scary' stuff to unnecessarily scare her into our control)
- play :
interestingly daddies seem to be 'funner'. Ww's more ridiculous and lame and rough with his play with her, which is really quite fun and i'm glad that the june holiday week we had as a little family and these two days while daddy is on MC, they have more time to bond with each other, such that Eliza wanted Ww to put her to nap instead of my mil! anyway, it's being just fun that's fun
Thursday, May 28, 2009
On discovering and being discovered by God
Honestly speaking, for at least 2 years i haven't been & felt consistent with God.
I still believe...something that I am very sure about. I loved worshipping God cos it was the closest that i got to Him. I prayed but they were, what i felt, shallow...or in my terms, not deep enough, not reflected enough, not close enough.
I felt like i hung on the belief that God understands my deepest needs and answers them, and while my brain is so scattered and distracted, that belief helped me not to go deeper.
So i get by with prayer, with reading short snips of spiritual/religious books. But i didn't find myself growing closer to God, i didn't find myself knowing Him more and more. While having a new baby who has grown into a curious and cute toddler, i do depend much on His grace & blessings to help us get by. It's especially with challenging tasks, like praying for her to get well, praying for her to learn this and that, praying for her to sleep better etc. I'm not saying that it's not good to pray for these things, it is very necessary. But i was not connected to God. I found God as my requests-pillar. Lord, help me this...Lord help me that. I have not thought hard enough on how i can demonstrate Him in my life, how i can worship Him. Maybe i'm going too much into the nitty gritty stuff but i wish i'm much clearer life than letting things go by me.
Few months back i chanced on a link a friend put on facebook to a sermon on Ecclesiastics by Mark Discholl from MarsHill Church. And i started listening to it, and was so impacted by the sermons that i continued to listen to it (you can check out the website for more sermons on the books of the bible). I'll listen to it at work and 1hr out of the 8.5hrs isn't too bad cos i don't think too much when i'm drafting or rendering images, so i can concentrate on listening.
Recently, i've been listening to the sermon series on Doctorine and God knocked really hard at my door in one of the sermons about worship. It was about who we worship, that if we're not worshipping God, we're worshipping something else; it can be our spouse, our kid/s, the internet, the tv, money, work etc... It's not a type of sermon i have never heard before, but this one convicted me. And i thought about how much time i gave to reading His Word, how much time i gave to really having a conversation with Him as i discover Him in His Word.
It's a stuggle i continue to have, it's my battle i will continue to fight. I have started on reading Proverbs few weeks back...and i'm only at Chapter 8 (you can guess that i've only opened the bible to read 8 times so far). My task isn't too big. Just read a chapter, pick a verse to write, and find out more, then pray. But it's a battle i'll continue to struggle with cos i'll choose many things over this. Yet, inside me, the Holy Spirit continues to nudge me and convicts me. Inside me, that desire to know God and draw close to Him is there. It's like the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. Yet i will press on till one day i'll break free and find that freedom. God helps. and He's wonderful.
I still believe...something that I am very sure about. I loved worshipping God cos it was the closest that i got to Him. I prayed but they were, what i felt, shallow...or in my terms, not deep enough, not reflected enough, not close enough.
I felt like i hung on the belief that God understands my deepest needs and answers them, and while my brain is so scattered and distracted, that belief helped me not to go deeper.
So i get by with prayer, with reading short snips of spiritual/religious books. But i didn't find myself growing closer to God, i didn't find myself knowing Him more and more. While having a new baby who has grown into a curious and cute toddler, i do depend much on His grace & blessings to help us get by. It's especially with challenging tasks, like praying for her to get well, praying for her to learn this and that, praying for her to sleep better etc. I'm not saying that it's not good to pray for these things, it is very necessary. But i was not connected to God. I found God as my requests-pillar. Lord, help me this...Lord help me that. I have not thought hard enough on how i can demonstrate Him in my life, how i can worship Him. Maybe i'm going too much into the nitty gritty stuff but i wish i'm much clearer life than letting things go by me.
Few months back i chanced on a link a friend put on facebook to a sermon on Ecclesiastics by Mark Discholl from MarsHill Church. And i started listening to it, and was so impacted by the sermons that i continued to listen to it (you can check out the website for more sermons on the books of the bible). I'll listen to it at work and 1hr out of the 8.5hrs isn't too bad cos i don't think too much when i'm drafting or rendering images, so i can concentrate on listening.
Recently, i've been listening to the sermon series on Doctorine and God knocked really hard at my door in one of the sermons about worship. It was about who we worship, that if we're not worshipping God, we're worshipping something else; it can be our spouse, our kid/s, the internet, the tv, money, work etc... It's not a type of sermon i have never heard before, but this one convicted me. And i thought about how much time i gave to reading His Word, how much time i gave to really having a conversation with Him as i discover Him in His Word.
It's a stuggle i continue to have, it's my battle i will continue to fight. I have started on reading Proverbs few weeks back...and i'm only at Chapter 8 (you can guess that i've only opened the bible to read 8 times so far). My task isn't too big. Just read a chapter, pick a verse to write, and find out more, then pray. But it's a battle i'll continue to struggle with cos i'll choose many things over this. Yet, inside me, the Holy Spirit continues to nudge me and convicts me. Inside me, that desire to know God and draw close to Him is there. It's like the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. Yet i will press on till one day i'll break free and find that freedom. God helps. and He's wonderful.