When I Grow Up, I Wanna Be Like a Grown-Up :)

Recently, we had a blast celebrating my nephew's first birthday at Jollibee! I enjoyed it a lot (maybe too much!) that I told my family that I would want a Jollibee birthday party for myself this year. I started calculating the cost and working on my guest list (I tell you, it was oh-so-difficult to keep it at 50 - made me feel grateful for my many friends, relatives and loved ones!).

I want a Jollibee birthday party this year to remind me that I am no longer a child but I can always be child-like and young at heart. Age tells me I'm growing old (ouch!) and I hope the experiences that come with the numbers have helped me grow up, too.

These are just some of the things I've learned a grown-up should be like (and sometimes I still see myself reverting back to childhood or my growing up years when I reflect on them):

1. You think less of yourself and what other people say about you. It's what you can still become, the grace to be grateful for who you are, and how you can enrich the lives of those around you that matter more.
2. You learn that love is not a feeling but a decision - a conscious will to be patient, kind, not envious, not proud, not self-seeking, not easily angered, and to forgive when wronged...that as long as you are loving, you will always have hope, you will keep trusting, and you will persevere. That's why, saying "I love You" comes with a great responsibility.
3. You realize what you truly value and align your every move accordingly: the person you'll marry, the friends you'll keep, the direction your career will have, and the way you spend your time. 
4. You gain more courage - not to do all things, but to do the things that are right - with love as the motivation (read number 2 again)
5. You enjoy the present but you live it with the future in mind because every decision and action you make at present contributes to shaping your future. You even go beyond the future for you know in your heart, you're meant to live forever. So you focus more on things that will matter in eternity.
6. You can let go of the past because you believe in the beauty of the future! You develop the ability to accept things even when they don't match your expectations because time and time again, life teaches you that not everything will go your way as you imagine it. But our confident assurance is that, God's will is good, pleasing and perfect! We can always be excited about tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow and all the tomorrows after that!
7. You ask yourself deep questions that enable you to genuinely know what you love doing, what you are designed to pour out your life on...and you feel the desire to pursue it. And pursue it, you will!
8. You are able to see and feel people's heart better. In your relationships, you want to go beyond the superficial - you want to learn what makes them happy, what makes them sad, what cheers them up, what excites them, what keeps them going, who they love and why, and many more about who they genuinely are!
9. You treasure the real riches - time, words, relationships, lessons learned, maturity, and above all, GOD. You know and experience that HE makes life truly life! And when the rubber hits the road, HE shows Himself more than enough! What a sweet way to be swept away! 

My list isn't very exhaustive..I'm still a student in the school of maturity. And most of the time, to grow up entails going through tough experiences. It is when you've been through something that hit you strongly (both happily or painfully) that you grow - maybe a bit..then a little bit more..then a little bit more..till you wake up one morning and you can tell yourself, you've somehow grown up.

Don't just grow old, grow up! 

When I grow up, I wanna be like a grown-up, but definitely someone who still finds partying with Jollibee soooo awesome :)

SELAH (Pause and Calmly Think)

I love Saturdays!

It’s usually one of the highlights of my week. It gives me more time to sleep in, rest, read, reflect, pray, write, or just hang around and wait for what the no-agenda day has in store for me: could be an unplanned date with friends, time to curl up with a book, a lazy day with my computer (facebooking, chatting, blogging), opportunity for baking and cooking experiments and for a bit of cleaning up, or could be a space to just enjoy the warmth and silence of home.

Saturdays mean rest for me.

But this week (while away from home on a work-related travel), I’ve been learning about a different kind of rest. One that does not just happen on a Saturday, but the kind that truly gives you a break any time of day and week!

Have you encountered the word, “selah”?  It’s actually a musical term that signifies a pause or an interlude. I have come across this word several times while reading the book of Psalms. I consulted Google and discovered more about it - Selah is to:

• stop and listen
• weigh and value
• hang
• worship (in Aramaic)
• break
• reflect and understand
• pause and calmly think of that! (as written in the Amplified Bible)

I have a very active mind. My imagination can go really out of control – to my disadvantage sometimes. I worry a lot – most often about things that are not true or never will be true. In a sense, my mind is noisy, thus making my heart restless. But this week, I’ve seen how my heart longs to have the Selah it needs:

To stop and listen. I’m here in busy and noisy Bangkok. But it’s such a sweet surprise to be having a meeting in a guest home that offers quiet rest amidst chirping birds and trees that make a rain-like sound. It’s so easy to ignore this nature-produced music, in the same way that we could miss God’s still small voice if we are not attentive. To hear Him, we need to quiet our minds and hearts and kill the nagging sound of worries, paranoia, fears, disappointments, and sadness. Then, really listen…and hear. He has so much to say.

To weigh and value. We make plans and life sometimes happens totally different from our hopes and expectations. How do we respond? To rest is to let every circumstance fade in the glowing light of God’s will. We measure our experiences against the weight of the wonderful plans that God has for us. Then, we realize that our momentary troubles mean nothing compared to the surpassing value of having God in our lives. His presence and promises far outweigh anything that this life could throw at us. We fix our eyes on Him. We rest our hearts in His and trust His good, pleasing and perfect will.

To hang and just worship. Have you been in situations that felt like you’re against the wall? You don’t know what to do. No more space for another step – it’s dead end! You’re left hanging. That’s a “selah moment”. While you’re there hanging and helpless, just worship. Think about who God has been, is and will be to you. Let go of the need to move and let God move mightily on your behalf. You’ll realize that being left hanging can be turned into restful waiting for God to intervene and remove you from where you are.

It’s Saturday today. I slept in, read a bit, reflected on my week, prayed, went online, and wrote this. This afternoon, I plan to go out, eat and shop. It will be noisy and crowded outside but I’ll keep my mind and my heart on Selah mode.

Rest happens in the heart in full trust, complete reliance and confident leaning upon the Lord. In our hearts, God is there. Wherever God is, we can find rest.

Selah: pause and calmly think of that!

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." – Exodus 33:14

OUCH! (Pruned to Blossom)

Pruning (transitive verb)

• To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of a plant, for example, to improve shape or growth.
• To rid, clear of, or remove anything superfluous or undesirable.

Pruning is a gardening process needed for a tree or a plant to grow in health and shape. This is a truth that is at times associated when a person growing in God experiences tests and difficulties.

Of course, plants don’t get hurt (do they?!). But in “real life”, when something is cut off or removed, there is always pain involved. The degree of pain can be proportionate to the extent by which the thing that is being removed has grown on a person.

But why do some things (which, more often, we find desirable, comforting or giving us happiness) need to be taken away from us? Similar to what happens when pruning is done, this process – no matter how painful it seems – causes GROWTH, BEAUTY, and FRUITFULNESS.

Growth. Every gardener knows that for a tree to grow, it will need some (sometimes serious) cutting of branches that are already dead. For our own good, God cuts away parts of our lives that drain us of energy we need to focus on Him and what He wants us to do. Are there things that take most of our time, resources and attention to the point that we already compromise what should belong to God? Surely, these things will soon go through some pruning. But God’s intention is not to hurt us or deprive us in any way. He wants us to grow…and grow we will!

Beauty. For a plant to remain in good shape, pruning is also done. This takes the form of trimming unnecessary leaves that make a tree look dull and lifeless. Are there aspects of our character that do not reflect God’s breath-taking beauty? It can be the way we manage our emotions, how we demonstrate patience, our attitude when conflict arises, or how we value our relationships. As a woman, one of my favorite encouragements from the Bible is to have that unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. God has been teaching me to be calm, trust and rely on Him completely and sit still as I rest in His unfailing love amidst confusions and difficulties. This takes some painful trimming of things that make me worry, restless and unsettled. And all because God wants me to bloom in beauty!

Fruitfulness. After a pruning process, a tree bears much fruit. According to the Iowa State University Reiman Gardens horticultural brochure, Pruning Grapevines, “The purpose of pruning is to obtain maximum yields of high quality grapes and to allow adequate vegetative growth for the following season.”  A painful experience can actually be the preparation we need for an upcoming season of fruitfulness. It should then make us excited! We are being pruned now so we can be fruitful soon!

Are you going through a tough, painful time right now? Be of good cheer! As you abide in God, the Master Gardener, and trust His process, you are on your way to blossoming growth, beauty and fruitfulness. Listen and obey when He asks you to let go of things that keep you from His purposes and your ultimate good. He knows and does what's best.

As we go through seasons of pruning, I pray for the grace and strength to fully yield to God’s work in us as He steadies our hearts for what He has secured for us - all in His good, pleasing and perfect will. The best is yet to come! :)

"But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father." John 15:7-8, NLT

Sakura

We all have those "shallow but heart-deep dreams". They may take the form of simple and childish things we wanna experience in life. Some might even be close to impossible. But they definitely hold a greater and special meaning to us - could be a reminder of God's love, a sign of His promise or a proof that God indeed hears and answers prayers.

I have a number of this kind of dreams. One of them is to walk along a road with cherry blossoms around. I have imagined the scene many times before. I saw myself singing praises to God while smiling my sweetest! I would dream of being swept away by the flowers' lovely scent - the cool breeze touches my face and my eyes reflect the whitish-pinkish color of the flowers as I enjoy the dream-come-true walk!

And this dream recently did come true! But my experience was quite far from how I imagined it would be. It wasn't like the picture-perfect, one-for-the-Hollywood scenes I created in my mind. I couldn't even describe it as beautiful. I walked along a road with cherry blossom TREES around - without the flowers. I had a glimpse of the flowers but only saw them in their most dry state already.

glimpses of cherry blossoms - they waited for me! :)

But still, it was an answered prayer! Oh wait, a MIRACLE even! The season of cherry blossoms lasts for three to seven days. This year in Seoul, the flowers fully blossomed on the third week of April. I came on the first week of May. It was actually already impossible to see even remnants of the flowers. So, the walk was even more meaningful for me. God performed a miracle to make it happen! Awwwww, so sweet! We walk by faith, not by sight :)

Sakura (its popular Japanese name) blooms sooo magnificently - but it is extreme beauty that quickly fades away. The flower is richly symbolic and the very few days that it blossoms is the much awaited highlight of the spring season. It signals a new start, a breathtakingly gorgeous beginning!

Much like the life we have. A song says we're like flowers quickly fading - here today, gone tomorrow. Sakura  reminds us that we're called to bloom with all our strength and beauty - that is to live life to the full, with passion and purpose - with the days God has given us. Do not let God-given moments pass you by:

• Savor God's love through life's beauty everyday 
• Be strong in every trial, knowing we have a great God who keeps His promises
• Don't miss the chance to express love in different ways when God gives the opportunity
• Be generous with appreciation. You'll never know how life-giving it could be to some people around you
• Trust without wavering and hope without doubting
• Some things may be difficult to do but always give and do your best
• Love with all your heart - completely and passionately - and do not let fear keep you from giving and experiencing love
• Know and obey God's will in everything - big or small. I couldn't think of a better way to live and enjoy life than that.

Like the cherry blossoms, make your life and presence felt and so evident in this world. When it's your season, bloom, shine, and blossom with all your beauty and might!

The Engagement Ring

I have always wondered how an engagement ring would look on my finger. Will I get an expensive one or a “cheap yet priceless” kind? Will it have a diamond or a pink-colored precious stone? Will I ever get to wear one? I sure hope so!

Just like a lot of women, I have dreamed of a perfect wedding, too. But as time passes by and I grow up, I find myself praying more for the marriage and my future husband and kids, rather than the wedding or the engagement ring.

Five nights ago, God showed me, through a dream, how an engagement ring would look on my finger. 

Here’s the scene: My father handed a gorgeous tiny gift box to me. I opened it and was most delighted to have found an ENGAGEMENT RING! I immediately wore it but my ring finger got wounded…it bled – several drops of crimson-red blood! As I was still wearing the ring with my finger bleeding, my eyes turned to see an open big box with so many engagement rings. I frantically searched through it hoping to find another ring. Then, I woke up.

I asked a number of my Godly friends what the dream could possibly mean. They had different interpretations. Somehow, I was still looking for more. I knew God was telling me something and I was so eager to finally unveil the message from that dream.

Earlier, I was having a conversation with Ate Zen-y (wife of our Lead Pastor). I was sharing with her what God has been teaching me in this season of my life. And then we talked about the dream. I was telling her that I have been sensing in my heart that the vivid picture of the blood on my ring finger presents an important message.

Then, came this: the ring on my finger with the blood reminded me of what it took to demonstrate real love – the sacrifice of my Lord and Savior Jesus on the cross. He is a gift – given by the Father…out of His great love for us.

A lot of times, I don’t seem to remember that. When I go through tough times, I want to be assured that I am loved. I frantically look for ways to satisfy that need and rely on people, situations and even things. And most often, these fail me. Then, I get lonely and disappointed. Why search through a box of engagement rings when I’m already wearing one, bought at a price I would never be able to pay – the blood of Jesus shed for the forgiveness of my sins and so that I could live an abundant life.

And when I’m in that deepest valley of sadness, I realize that every low point, every down moment, every gloomy time,each time I just couldn't cheer myself up  – these are invitations to a sweet time with God. They point the way to God’s intimate and warm embrace. And there, you are secured. You know without a doubt, YOU ARE LOVED.

Through seasons that keep changing, God's unfailing, unchanging love remains our hiding place, our home.

 "My child, give ME your heart, and let your eyes observe My ways." Proverbs 23:26

A Boaz-Kind-of-Man (A Ruth-Wannabe's Insights on Biblical Manhood)

This will be my first attempt at writing about men - a topic I'm definitely not an expert at :)

As I was reading one of my favorite books in the Bible (the book of Ruth), I found myself jotting down notes not about Ruth's character and how to be like her, but about Boaz and some glimpses of what a Godly man should be. 

Anyway, I believe that what I've learned is meant to be shared. So, if you are a man reading this. I pray that you are (or are already in the process of becoming) just like Boaz. And if you are a woman reading this, may you see (and perhaps, help pray for and  bring out) the Boaz-kind-of-man in the men God has placed in your life.

A Boaz-Kind-of-Man....

• Showers a Ruth-kind-of-woman with favors that bless not only her, but the people she loves, as well. (Ruth 2:8-10 and 14)

• Takes notice of a Godly woman and finds ways to get to know her more, beyond the physical. (Ruth 2:5)

• Looks at a woman's faithfulness to God and commitment to people God has placed in her life. He speaks words of encouragement and comfort in a way that honors a woman, without the intention to get her affection prematurely. (Ruth 2:11-12)

• Is not concerned about putting his best foot forward to impress a woman. And, if needed, he even does things in secret for the best interest of and to help others. (Ruth 2:15-16)

• Knows how to appreciate a woman for all she is and for all she has done and makes an effort to reward that appropriately. (Ruth 3:10-11)

• Does not sit and just hang around when something important needs to be settled. He gives himself no rest until he does what God is nudging him to do - whatever it takes, no matter the cost. This eases women of so much worries and confusions. In order to protect a woman, he strives to be certain, clear and consistent (Ruth 3:18)

• Is a man of faith, integrity and God-led actions. He does the right things in a way that restores, enriches, and blesses a woman. (Ruth 4)

Disclaimer: I'm not a theologian nor a Bible-student so this may not  be exhaustive. Please see this more as personal insights on Biblical manhood from a woman who prays that she would be just like Ruth - faithful, committed, and obedient to the Lord.

Gaze Deeper

Gaze [geiz]) - to look steadily, intently, and with fixed attention. (from the freedictionary.com)

Gazing is much more than looking or staring. It’s done with wonder, fascination, awe, and admiration. It cannot just happen – it has to be deliberate. The eyes stare or look. Gaze involves and engages the heart.

This week, as we are taking time to remember (in a special way) what our Savior Jesus Christ has done for us, I send you an invitation: Let’s GAZE DEEPER.

We exercise faith when we trust God to answer our prayers. Going beyond waiting for our hopes to be fulfilled and our dreams to come true, may we enjoy every step and embrace His unchangeable faithfulness, until we realize He is indeed all that we need. Only HIM satisfies.  

Deeper than having sentimental gush over His love for us, I pray that God will enable us to grasp (the best way we can, with our limited minds) the pain and sacrifice it cost Him to demonstrate that love. May we never take lightly what should make us offer all and fall head-over-heels in love with Him each day.  

Stronger than just getting emotional and teary-eyed when we pray or worship, let our unwavering faith and complete obedience prove our love for Him. As we get encouragement from His Word, may it go beyond just a “feel-good-reading time”. I pray that its truth will pierce our hearts and go through every fiber of who we are…change us, mold us, conform us to what is most pleasing to Him.  

Far from being just good people, may God reveal what LOVE really means through our relationships: patience in the most irritating situations; kindness to those who don’t deserve it and don’t care at all; rejoicing when the truth wins out, even if it causes us pain; constantly hoping, keeping the faith and persevering in times that are beyond challenging. And being able to do all these not because we’re good but only because of the GRACE God generously supplies. May His grace never stop amazing us!  

And above all – more than just enjoying life and feeling blessed for what we are receiving from God, I pray that we will ever be grateful for the most precious gift of all time – JESUS. When we have Him, we have more than enough!

As I begin to gaze deeper, I am seeing that I could never go too deep enough to fathom how great God’s love is! Could it be that He really makes the thirst unquenchable and the hunger unsatisfiable so He could have more of us and enjoy a relationship with us all the days of our lives and beyond? He really delights in us that much, huh?

I am in awe! And so, I’ll keep gazing deeper :)


"My child, give Me your heart, and LET YOUR EYES observe My ways." - Proverbs 23:26, NRSV