Seeing What Eyes Can't

I stand six steps from the bed's edge. My arms extended. Hands open. On the bed, Sara- all four years of her- crouches, poised like a playful kitten. She's going to jump. But she's not ready. I'm too close.

"Back more, Daddy," she stands and dares.

I dramatically comply, confessing admiration for her courage. After two giant steps I stop. "More?" I ask.

"Yes!" Sara squeals, hopping on the bed.

With each step she laughs and claps and motions for more. When I'm on the other side of the canyon, when I'm beyond reach of mortal man, when I am a tiny figure on the horizon, she stops me. "There, stop there."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," she shouts. I extend my arms. Once again she crouches, then springs. Superman without cape. Skydiver without chute. Only her heart flies higher than her body. In the airborne instant her only hope is her father. If he proves weal, she'll fall. If he proves cruel, she'll crash. If he proves forgetful, she'll tumble on the hard floor.

But such fear she does not know, for her father she does. She trusts him. Four years under the same roof have convinced her he is reliable. He is not superhuman, but he is strong. He is not holy, but he is good. He's not brilliant, but he doesn't have to be to remember to catch his child when she jumps.

And so she flies.

And so she soars.

And so he catches her and the two rejoice at the wedding of her trust and his faithfulness.

***

I sit a few feet from a man on death row. Jewish by birth. Tentmaker by trade. Apostle by calling. His days are marked. I'm curious about what bolsters this man as he nears his execution. So I ask some questions.

Do you have family, Paul? I have none.

What about your health? My body is beaten and tired.

What do you own? I have my parchments. My pen. A cloak.

And your reputation? Well, its not much. I'm a heretic to some, a maverick to others.

Do you have friends? I do, but even some of them have turned back.

Any awards? Not on earth.

Then what do you have, Paul? No belongings. No family. Criticized by some. Mocked by others. What do you have, Paul? What do you have that matters?

I sit back quietly and watch. Paul rolls his hand into a fist. He looks at it. I look at it. What is he holding? What does he have?

He extends his hand so I can see. As I lean forward, he opens his fingers. I peer at his palm. It's empty.

I have my faith. It's all I have. But it's all I need. I have kept the faith.

Paul leans back against the wall of his cell and smiles. And I lean back against another and stare into the face of a man who has learned that there is more to life than meets the eye.

For that's what faith is. Faith is trusting what the eye can't see.

Eyes see the prowling lion. Faith sees Daniel's angel.

Eyes see the storms. Faith sees Noah's rainbow.

Eyes see giants. Faith sees Canaan.

Your eyes see your faults. Your faith sees your Savior.

Your eyes see your guilt. Your faith sees his blood.

Your eyes see your grave. Your faith sees a city whose builder and maker is God.

Your eyes look in the mirror and see a sinner, a failure, a promise-breaker. But by faith you look in the mirror and see a robed prodigal bearing the ring of grace on your finger and the kiss of your Father on your face.

"God's power is very great for those who believe," Paul taught.

"That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead" (Ephesian 1:19-20)

Next time you wonder if God can catch you, read that verse. The very arms that defeated death are the arms awaiting you.

And next time you wonder if you will survive the jump, think of Sara and me. If a flesh-and-bone-headed dad like me can catch his child, don't you think your eternal Father can catch you?

-Max Lucado

(When God Whispers Your Name)

Like A CHUI...

My skin is in a very chui state right now.

SCREAM MY LUNGS OUT.

God I pray that it will be fine after this period and that there won't be any scar!

God Give, And Take Away

Yesterday, I was grieving over the fact that I had lost my Ipod shuffle. I prayed and asked God hoping that He will surprise me. Indeed, God surprised me! Guess what, He spoke: " I give and take away."

I was like: whattttttt?

And He continued: I give and take away. Remember, I provided for you everything on this Earth. NOTHING belongs to you! It all came from me. Btw, this Ipod doesn't belongs to you in the first place. Just like how all these possessions you had don't belongs to you.

Me: *silence*

Use Me As You Will

God I may not have a beautiful voice, neither am I one who is able to follow in beat.

But Lord, if You choose me, I am willing to go.

Prepare me to do the mighty works of Yours.

Use me as You will.

Do Good Without Expecting Anything In Return

As I was waiting for bus 985 yesterday, I began to ponder. My mind wandered to this conversation I had with one of my lg member. We were discussing on the issue regarding friendship. I remember that was a conversation for her. However, as I was waiting at the berth, I realized that it was for me as well. We all have good friend(s), and unknowingly, we will place expectations on them, especially the times we did something for them. Believe it or not, when a similar situation happens to us, we expect our good friend(s) to do the same for us. And if they don't, we will begin to doubt this friendship and wonder what are we to them. However, the Bible clearly stated that we ought to do good without expecting anything in return. Which means, we should not put expectations on them each time when we do good to them. Or else, we might end up being disappointed or upset. Instead, being in a friendship, we should serve them joyfully.

The Choice

I choose love...

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy...

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problems as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that i may live.

I choose patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is to long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness...

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before i boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness...

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my word. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness...

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If i raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only of myself.

I choose self-control...

I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. To these I commit my day. If i succeed, I will give thanks. If i fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

From this book When God Whispers Your Name

( Max Lucado)

Sweet September

1 september 2011
Birthday card for Pinfen.
"Heartbeat"
The heartbeat of God is people.
To love others, to serve others and to give others.





11 september 2011
A card for Lumei.
"A Good Shepherd"
When God reminded me of how I should honor my leaders.







17 september 2011
Birthday card for Gilbert.
Thinking of what I should draw for gilbert and these thoughts came into my mind.
Serving your country knowing that God is always with you.
Press on and press through even though it is hard.
1 sameul 17:45
"Facing the Giants."

18 september 2011

A card for a good friend of mine who is leaving for cambodia to impact people lives for God.

A friend whom reminded me of chicken.

While drawing this, this phrase comes into my mind.

" I am small, but I have a big GOD."

MAXIMS

Pray all the time. If necessary, use words.

Sacrilege is to feel guilt for sins forgiven.

God forgets the past. Imitate Him.

Freed I've often regretted. Generosity- never.

Never miss a chance to read a child a story.

Pursue forgiveness, not innocence.

Be doubly kind to the people who bring you food or park your car.

In buying a gift to your wife, practicality can be more expensive than extravagance.

Don't ask God to do what you want. Ask God to do what is right.

Nails didn't hold God to a cross. Love did.

You'll give up on yourself before God will.

Know answered prayer when you see it, don't give up when you don't.

Flattery is fancy dishonesty.

The right heart with the wrong creed is better than the right creed with the wrong heart.

We treat others as we perceive God is treating us.

Sometimes the most godly thing we can do is take a day off.

Faith in the future begets power in the present.

No one is useless to God. No one.

Conflict is inevitable. Combat is optional.

You will never forgive anyone more than God has already forgiven you.

Succeed in what matters.

You'll regret opening your mouth. You'll rarely regret keeping it shut.

To see sin without grace is despair. To see grace without sin is arrogance. To see them in tandem is conversion.

Faith is the grit in the soul that puts the dare into dreams.

God doesn't keep a clock.

Never underestimate a gesture of affection.

When Jesus went home, he left the front door open.

To sum it up:

As soon as you can, pay your debts.

As long as you can, give the benefit of the doubt.

As much as you can, give thanks. He's already given us more than we deserve.

- Max Lucado

( When God whispers your name)

Attitude of Worship

But the time is coming- indeed it's here now- when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

Confession Box

Allow me to confess to you guys.

I have to scream it out or else I will just die of suffocation and intoxication.

I'm madly and crazily in love with MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER!

Just in case you guys have no idea of who he is, I shall present a brief biography of him on his behalf.

I guess he is mostly recognise as the young genius Dr. Spencer Reid in the CBS television show Criminal Minds. ( btw, this is my all time favourite show) I really find him very talented (and thats what I like about him).

If I'm not wrong, he just hit his 30s a year ago and the reason why I find him talented is because he is not just an actor but also a film director, a sketch artist and a fashion model. He might not have the most awesome hot looking face, but still, he attracted me in his own ways.

Never Quit

I'm gonna seek You

And I'm gonna find You

I'm gonna keep Knocking

And I'm gonna keep Banging.

I'm not going to quit this way, not like this!

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

Today I felt different during worship experience.

It seems like I'm in a roller coaster ride, battling with my emotions and thoughts.

Many words are stuck, or perhaps hidden in my throat.

It is just very hard to explain how i felt at that moment.

Even right now, I just couldn't explain how I felt at that moment.