To love is to give

Just a thought while having my breakfast =)
The measure of time and money you are willing to give to someone is the measure of how much you love them.
Imagine someone dear to you, how much are you willing to buy for him/her. Did the amount hurts. Not really. Maybe even your inheritance you may haha~
Now think of a common friend for her birthday present. Is there a natural limitation?
How about giving to God?
The woman in the Bible that gave up all she has loved Him much. Like a beloved would.
I'm learning this principle. May He enlarge my heart.
To love is to give.

Draw near to Him

I came home wanting so much to quickly settle down and hopefully spend some time alone with Him. I miss those times where I just lie down on my bed reading my Bible and book and hear Him speak to me so clearly. Sometimes feeling Him so close to me. It's been so busy lately that I hardly get time for it. The times that I lie down, it is already time for bed and my eyes just naturally close thereafter =)
I asked him for a book to read just now. Most of the time, I would randomly pick one and let Him do the selection for me. Somehow, it always ends up to be a pretty good choice. Not knowing what it was, I pick this one with the title, "Becoming a Woman Who Listens to God" by Sharon Jaynes.  
The passage that was quoted by her was taken from A.W.Tozer 'In The Pursuit of God' gave me a warmth feeling to what the Lord is speaking to me and probably a good start before I spend the rest of my time with Him. Chew on it =)

It is important that we get still to wait on God. And it is best that we get alone, preferably with our Bible outspread before us. Then if we will we may draw near to God and begin to hear Him speak to us in our hearts. I think for the average person the progression will be something like this : First a sound as of a Presence walking the garden. Then a voice, more intelligible, but still far from clear. Then the happy moment when the Spirit begins to illuminate the Scriptures, and that which had been only a sound, or at best a voice, now becomes an intelligible work, warm and intimate and clear as the word of a dear friend.

I realised in my own personal walk, when we take time to draw near to Him, His Presence is so evident and His voice so clear. A shortcut to me many times, is to resort to books and article as an 'input' for my quiet time or extending my understanding of things. But what truly helps me know Him intimately as someone close to me are the times where I get quiet before Him and open up the Bible before me. I remember His words of love spoken to me during these moments. His Presence was tangible and that what makes me remember most.

What can tithing ...% more do to you

I had an interesting thought just now on tithing...
Ever wonder if tithing more will have any effect on your blessings? I used to think I understood. Only until just now I saw the big significance of it.
Recently, I started giving *% more of my salary to tithing instead of my usual 10% monthly to tithe minus the offering. *% may not be a lot in %, but in amount it really did meant a lot to me. I dunno about you, but I actually calculate it and wonder to myself if it makes any difference to the things I receive as a gift. I could have not tithe and use the money to buy the gift instead. Cant imagine I had such evil thought yeah haha..
But when I started to make a check list on the blessings I receive in this period of one month : a piano to play in school and at home, a chance to be filmed plus a $152 'We will rock you' musical play, a monitor, two pairs of shoes and my fav coffee...good times =) and these are the ones I remember...I calculated the total amount of how much all these would cost in money value, I was amazed myself at this 'discovery' Heh.. Minus the piano at school, it could have been at least 7 times more of the extra amount I gave. How easy for us to have overlooked the blessings that comes along the way and pay much more attention to the amount we give away in tithing/tithing more.
I find the similarities too in all the incidence when I took out about 5 times more to give for offering on Sundays. Something good always follows.
I love how King David says it in 2 Samuel 24:24-25, I won't offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing...Then the Lord answered his prayer for the country, and the disease in Israel stopped."
$50 may not mean much to a working adult, but to a student it is his wage for the week. For him to drop that amount into the offering bag would cost him everything for that week. And that is the way the Lord sees tithe. How much does it mean to you is a measure of the harvest you are wanting to see. Trust Him. Trust His Word and sow in faith.

2 free pairs of shoes :)

I received a call from my in charge on Saturday and the first thought that came to my mind when I saw her name appeared on my phone was, "Why would she call me on a Saturday?"
"Is everything ok" was my first responds to her.
"What's your shoe size?", "Shoe size?" haha..
She was at a Charles and Keith ware house sales then with her daughter.
This morning, I asked her if she manage to get anything. She said she bought two pairs for me and is giving them to me =) I'm just amazed. Not only at the fact that she's giving it to me but because the gift was a shoe.Heh. I'm someone who doesn't like to shop for shoes. Clothes yes, but I'll only buy a pair of shoes when I really feel like a need for change. Never would I have imagined someone from work blessing me with it. Maybe because I was wearing the same pair of slippers to work everyday haha~
She made me feel so loved this morning. Just at the thought that she thought of me at that very moment. I dun think it was because I wear the same slippers everyday, we all do =) but by giving it to me she showed me that she cared. Both her daughter and her didn't manage to get any but end up only buying for me.
My boss gave her stack of favourite coffee to me before she left for holiday. It was the white coffee that I introduced to her. And just when she gave, mine had just finished.
Little acts of love means much to someone. It did to me. It made my day =)

God is Love

Shirmane was telling me on tues how she miss working with me upstairs with the babies. I told her in return, how nice it would be if she was downstairs conducting classes with me for the toddlers.
The next day, I heard her voice as I step into the building. "Boy, this girl sure sings very loud". I walked into my room and saw her! Both our faces lit up. We were both so happy that we gave each other a hug in the midst of another chinese teacher. Haha. The boss saw her carrying one of the toddlers in the morning and decided to let her try out with the toddlers. Yesterday, she msg me to tell me she's downstairs with me for good =D
Despite the joy, my body started to ache all over and fell sick yesterday. I knew I couldn't go on like this esp with my night classes the next day, so I went over to my boss office to ask her for a half day leave. She asked me what sickness I have and I just told her I needed rest...my body is breaking down =) It's been awhile since I had an afternoon nap and it feels so good =) woke up feeling much better. The transition period was not something easy for me esp with the toddlers. But thank god i'm getting used to it already.
I had one of my best times today. I led the group with the other 3 teachers in a circle for singing. Today was a little different as my boss decided to forward their sleeping time so that everyone would be sleeping at the same time. Instead of keeping them awake, their eyes started to close one by one but not fully close after about 5 songs. Like how you try to stay awake for Pastor's sermon at times =) The sight was so funny. Cant imagine how Pastor must have felt. We had such a good time laughing at their expression till I teared. Even when I think of them now it still brings a smile to my face.
Just caught this. It takes God to be able to love the whole world. A new parent would tell you how they never knew they could love someone so much only until the baby came along. How about the one who has four kids? It's the love for the one child that bears more love for the other. With only 12 toddlers under my care, I love them so very much individually. Everyday I come home feeling loved like never before. Imagine our Father loving billion of us, He must be so filled with Love =) For God not to love us, He cannot. For Him to love us, He has to be Love himself. For God is Love.