The Grandiose Wedding

Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.

(Revelation 19:7, NIV)

The world turns her eyes once again on the royal wedding. I thought it was just a while ago, the grand wedding was featured in every media coverage for a long period. I was just a young girl. The most talked about occasion on the lips of romantic people. That were the parents of the latest royal newlyweds, Prince William and his beau. Now the glamour belongs to their son and his beautiful wife.

Wedding – some like it simple. Many plan for the grandest occasion. Once in a lifetime. I don’t know about guys. Girls dream of the most romantic do. The dress – oh, that dream dress. I remember my own search for the ideal dress I wished for, and I never really found it here in this part of the world. I only drooled over it in magazines. I managed to settle and made peace with one and wore it on my wedding day. Yes, I was being complimented. My mum-in-law loved it. There was a whole lot of preparation to think through and about together with my fiancé then, and some major decisions with our parents. It was a tedious process of getting ready for just that one day.

The constant reminder to me was not to lose joy in the elaborate process and not to lose focus on the more crucial part – the marriage, the relationship. My fiancé and I talked through a lot of things during our courtship and some of these issues were discussed with greater intensity when we attended pre-marital counselling. The entire preparation entails great effort and deliberate thoughts and actions. My perfectionism and creative side longed for many aesthetic details which I eventually let go due to lack of budget. Nevertheless, it still turned out to be a grand do. The best part of it all, was not all the aesthetic fringes. It was the preparation of the spirit. That moment of standing in the presence of God and worshipping him as he joined me and the man whom I love was an indescribable unity. Simply awesome.

Great rejoicing and gladness filled the air. Weddings – what a glorious occasion! I cannot help it but to think of the Grandest of all weddings. My limited mind cannot imagine the grandiose feeling nor atmosphere of Christ coming back for his Bride. Are you ready?

The verse today urges us to rejoice and be glad, to set the tone to glorify him. We should be ready, but are we? Here is an imagery of our intimate relationship with Christ. How will we look like, be like, when he comes? Are we looking into the important details of preparation? Or losing track concentrating on the insignificant fringes? Is our heart cleansed and excited to welcome the grandiose occasion?

This is a constant personal challenge to me. I urge you to think through and get ready. Be the most beautiful bride, set apart for our Glorious Groom.

Glorious Lord, make ready my heart and spirit as I await the Day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bring the Best Gift with You Into the New Year

Christmas isn't Christmas till it happens in your heart.

Jingle jangle, jingle jangle...is the music till ringing in your heart? The Christmas do is over. We have crossed into a new year. Time waits for no one. Whether we are ready or not, it is here - a brand new year! A fresh beginning. So where is Christ in this new year? How true many remember him, talk about him, sing of him during the hyped up year end holiday each year. I hope we haven't packed him into the closet together with the Christmas tree and ornaments.

I can't forget the moment Ashton swiftly grabbed the gift from my opened palm as I showed Nat the pretty little bronze earrings I got for my sister. He cheekily ran off with excitement as Nat ran after him. I was sure Nat would do the job well in returning me the gift so I can wrap it up nicely for a dear one on Christmas. She took the boy back to me but we only found one side of the pair. The frantic search began. The boy couldn't had possibly lost that earring. I looked high and low. Then I walked the trail from one room to the next. The anxiety increased. I crawled through the path again looking intensely for that tiny thing. Every now and then, I asked the boy, "Where is it?" and he would replied, "There!" There? Where?

You bet. I did pray. I asked God to help me find and I was pretty sure it would be found. Simply because I knew God answers prayers. Afterall, this is a Christmas gift for my sister. It is important. It is not a selfish prayer. As I searched and prayed continuously, a small voice broke through and rang in my heart that there is one gift I need to treasure most - Jesus. I should pursue Jesus endlessly like I embarked on this frantic search. And that I should present this Gift to as many people as I can because this is the best. Through this Gift comes many gifts. What you want him to be, He will be because God is "I AM WHO I AM".

I still haven't found the earring. A friend joked that she should do a treasure hunt. If she finds it, she can have the gift. My sister insisted she takes the other side anyway. So I gave it to her and I prayed she too will find the fulfillment in Christ every time she looks at the incomplete pair.

Do you have the Gift? Where is your Gift?
I hope you didn't leave him under the unkept Christmas tree or tugged in a box in the closet. Or confined in the Christmas songs, or even the Christmas story and sermon you heard.

Bring the best Gift with you into this new year and experience the fullness of his indescribable love, peace and joy.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV)

Endless Mess

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

(Psalm 103:8, NIV)

My days are filled with cleaning. One after another. Yet the house never seem to be clean or in the “order” I classify as order.
Laundry – never seem to finish. When I thought I just cleared the laundry basket, to see it been filled again.
Dishes – quite the same too. Although the girls have been helping but I still have uncleared sink throughout the day.
What happened to spotless floor? Nay, my doctor and nurses’ friends told me to forget about clean floors once babies arrived. One even suggested I wear carpet shoes so that I will not feel the dust. The baby won't die from some dirt. But my melancholy self thought the more I have to clean up to ensure my babies have clean floor to roam around. Babies – you know they are so susceptible to illnesses. But they MESS UP ALL THE TIME.

My baby was wriggling hard to get away while I was trying to get his bum cleaned up. This is the umpteenth time for the day. I hooked him with my left arm and did a quick wash but clean enough to satisfy me. You’ll be amazed at how much energy the little one possessed. It is quite a workout for me daily. Before I could sigh a relief of getting the task done, he wriggled and crawled off. I went after him to find that he just pee on the floor! And when I finished with that, I stepped on biscuits crumbs. “That could wait…” I thought. Then the five year-old called for help in cleaning up some mess. I rushed off, stepped on a toy which squeaked back at me. I moved the toys to clear the path way. My eyes caught another pile of mess which called for attention. “Not now,” I whispered in my heart. I moved the baby to the bedroom to get him ready for nap. He protested and slipped off from my arms. His sister’s clothes’ shelf attracted him. That’s his new “play area” – simply enjoys pulling the garments off, one by one. The list can go on forever. My heart beat faster and I could feel a rush of my blood. My energy level was diminishing. I was about to sigh and give out a loud scream to God when His Spirit whispered to me, “I am also always cleaning up."

How true! God is in a cleaning business. How many times have I messed up – the words I said, my action and reaction towards people and situations, decisions made, negative thoughts, and ill feelings; and He patiently cleaned up my mess. Instead of striking a hard blow on me, He administered His dose of merciful love. Instead of saying, “Look at you again,” He helped me through without shame and guilt and gave me a clean slate.

Human race is messed up. God in His grace and mercy is cleaning us up all the time. When He is done with one area, He still has many more to deal with us. What a comfort to know He is slow to anger, otherwise we will all be wiped out from his presence!

Do you have anything which requires some divine cleaning? Acknowledge your need of the Divine Helper. Allow Him to clean you up even if it hurts. Don’t struggle and wriggle off his clutch. Stay put as He gently and patiently does the cleaning process. Sometimes it may hurt more because of the consequences we have to bear but trust in His abounding love. He doesn’t jeer but cheer us on.

Loving Father, I come…with this…...(specify your mess). Clean me up. Grant me grace to go through it and soothe where it hurts. I trust You. Thank You for being patient with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the Comfort of My Father’s Arms

As a mother comforts her child,
So will I comfort you…...

(Isaiah 66:13, NIV)

Finally my baby settled into dreamland. The sight of a sleeping baby in a calm state is simply speechless. All the squirming and cries eased into a lovely sort of stillness and peace…right in my arms. I can now slow down for a while before he awakes to explore again. He just turned one year-old. So much had happened in the short one year – growing from a tiny helpless babe to an inquisitive little creature engaging in endless explorations and discoveries.

Gratitude filled my heart as I reflected on the past year. On the table, a photo of another baby with a big smile brought a flood of memories of more than a decade ago. They look so alike though of the opposite sex. She was my firstborn. People say to me, “It must be easy for you. It’s your fourth round now.” Is motherhood ever easy? I wonder.

In a world of significance equals success, where does this vocation fit into the picture? Yet no one can deny that “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world” – an extract from the 1800s poem by William Ross Wallace. Wallace recognized the preeminent force in the maternal contribution throughout the generations. And we all know with power comes responsibility. I will never forget the very first time I held my firstborn. Tears flowed. I was struck with ambivalence – unspeakable joy mingled with an overwhelming anxiety. Suddenly I was thrust with an enormous responsibility – a life! So fragile yet so full of potentials.

Amongst many things, the years of mothering are spent comforting the child in one way or another. Right from birth, the infant is comforted in the arms of the mother – being nursed and soothed. Then there are the pains and challenges of growing up as the years go by. How many times we run back to mama’s arms when things don’t go right? Somehow, we find consolation in her. Mother is the icon of comfort.

The female gender is born with the maternal instinct. Irrespective of age and married status, we are gifted to nurture. I watched my own daughters grow. From a tiny tot to preteens now, they naturally have this nurturing behaviour in their play as well as their relationship in the family. So don’t take lightly this inborn trait nor underestimate the power to nurture – whether your own children or spiritual children.

I always believe God extends extra portion of grace to mothers. In the course of nurturing, we are constantly drained from every aspect. We have to receive in order to give…and there’s where Isaiah 66:13 comforts me whenever I feel my energy sapping. Personally, in this season, I am always shifting gears – caring for a baby’s physical needs, to a kindergartener’s inquisitiveness, and to preteens’ emotional development. By nightfall, my tank is empty. In the mentioned verse, the picture of God is painted as a “mother” to his people. That image gives us the feel of gentleness and loving comfort. We have to learn to run into His arms and be rested there. God is the Ultimate Comforter and He fills us afresh the moment we are rested in His arms. Present our burdens, cares and worries. Express our joy and pain. Hear His heartbeat as we rest upon Him.

Today is Mother’s Day. As we reflect on our own role, let us remember to give thanks for the honour to have the power to nurture and be a source of comfort. Perhaps you are thinking of your relationship with your own mum – whether good or bad, give thanks too! There are always the open arms of our Father whenever you need a place of comfort. Don’t stop running into His arms of love because He promises, “…so will I comfort you…”

Loving Father, how good it is to know You are always present in time of need. Thank You for Your open arms. I will run to you - always. Receive me and refresh me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Song from Heaven

He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.

(Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)

The gentle whispers of the wind gradually turned into pitter patter of the rain. The soothing sound of the rattling rain water broke the silence of the morning. Within a short moment an outpour of rain created such an upbeat of music. My children and I rushed out to our porch and watched the unfolding drama from heaven. Our eyes switched from one point to another as we followed the trail of rainwater from every possible angle. The various sound effects of the rain water as it hit different materials on earth awaken our visual and auditory senses in the sleepy morning. Baby Ashton really loves the sight of rain. Every time it rains, he gets excited and we will take him to the window to watch the rainfall. Other times, we would get him out and let him touch the cool water as it trickled down the porch. He would smile and giggled. We were simply enjoying the nature’s song. My girls couldn’t stand still. Their body began to sway and move to the heavenly music. They jumped in joy and excitement as they wore their raincoat and danced with the umbrella under the pouring rain. Talk about dancing with joy in the presence of God…here we were caught in such a wondrous time. What a delightful sight! What a melody! A perfect symphony.

A sense of joy and vibrancy flooded my tired spirit as I listened to the most powerful music – the rhythm of the falling rain. God spoke right into my inner man as the song of heaven rained down. Nothing beats God’s song – not any in our world of great music.

I used to love to sing to the song, Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain by the Cascades, popularized in the 1960s. Not that I am that old but I was enjoying songs my parents listened to then. I sang because I love the music but the lyrics were just the desperate cries of some hopeless guy:

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain,
Telling me just what a fool I've been.
I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain,
And let me be alone again…

Rain, please tell me, now does that seem fair
For her to steal my heart away when she don't care
I can't love another, when my heart's somewhere far away.

Generally, people see rain in a gloomy mood and associate it with sad situation. In this 60s hit, rain is called as judge in this sad song. As he listened to the rhythm of the rain, he bathed himself in hopelessness and calling out to the rain, the created element - for justice. Love songs yield to most girls and women. We all sing love songs one time or another. The rhythm of the falling rain is a love song especially sent from heaven from the Lover of our soul. As I listened, I hear his refreshing love notes playing, his power resounding. A certain peace and calmness rested on me as God showered his love passionately. Zephaniah 3:17 has been one of the many meaningful verses to me. In many moments of distress it comforted me, knowing that God delighted in me and actually sang over me. As a mum, I find it easy to identify to the picture of being cuddled and rejoiced over with singing – just like what I do with all my distressed babies. My singing would soothe them and calm them down. Yet this time I saw from a different light from the same scripture verse. The song was not mellowed. In fact, so upbeat to cause such merry dancing. What a glorious heavenly song!

The next time it rains, listen for His voice of love and let your worries and cares be washed away. Or simply be thrilled by the wonder of His amazing love and His shouts of joy over you.

Oh Maker of Heaven and Earth, what a great feeling to know You love me so much. Thank You for taking such delight in me and calming me with Your songs of love. Indeed, I am blessed to be able to experience You in the most natural way. Open all my senses to know and encounter You daily in Your powerful manifestations through nature. I say thanks again!! I am learning to listen to You in the rhythm of daily life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.