Do not stay where the water is stale

I told myself this morning I was going to spend some time writing tonight. Glad that nothing changed and I have my own sweet time writing.

Work has been awesome. God has blessed me with a good time schedule. I have more than enough time to finish up my work without bringing my work brain back home. That leaves me to do my own personal things after work.

But what struck me to write this post were the words that was said by one of my kids. "Jana, come be my friend". Anabelle put her hands over her shoulder. Wow.. (not their real name)
Anabelle used to dislike her so much she pushes her away whenever she wants to play with her. I have 3 girls in my class and she'll whisper to the other girl not to play with her. My heart goes out for Jana each time that happens. My lao shi would tell me she's just plain jealous she's pretty. Heh. I would then pull Anabelle aside and talk with her. She would then grudgingly under my advice befriend her. When I was young, I like to be in the ‘in’ crowd too, and gossip seems juicy. But on the flip side, I have been the Jana too and I know how much it hurts. That is why when I see all this, it becomes more of a heart to heart talk than a rule to play. Kids needs someone to tell them.
Today, without me realizing when the change has taken place, Anabelle’s countenance has changed. She no longer has the despise look. Heh. She is not as strong headed as she used to be.
What touches me was when Anabelle’s mum came to thank me that her daughter has not fallen sick this year. It used to be a fortnightly thing. But what hurt me more was when I saw the tiredness in her mum’s face. She told me yesterday that her maid has left her. And emphasize a few times to her daughter “You cannot fall sick..mummy cannot take anymore leave”. What always amuses me too is that kids who’s parents are caring but yet struggling tend to have kids who do not cause much problem. The child seems to understand.
Job, ministry, or even friends takes a different level when you know that it has been ordained by god for you. There’s a spring in your step and much life flowing in there. I asked myself this question yesterday…’What do I do when I see no life in an area anymore”…(previously ie. serving) do u step out or as some say remain faithful. I think I got my answer as I wrote.
A stale water has no life in it. When you just remain in a place for the sake of numbering your days, there will be no growth in it or around it. A stale water provides stale nourishment to the trees around it bearing little or no fruit. But be where there is life, there you’ll always see a lush of beautiful trees.
I experience e most amazing thing just now. I happened to be going home at the same time with my Director in school just now. Her husband happened to be picking the son up from school just next to my home. As we were discussing about getting teachers, I got a msg from my friend whom I’ve not contacted for months since our course ended. She asked if my school needs teacher. The scary part was her son goes to the same sch as my Director! If all goes well, I’ll get a free ride to work & $500 for recommendation=D Not only that, she has mentioned to me before that she had wanted to bring her son to children church. This week she’ll be coming with her friendJMy Director asked me after she called up my friend, “Did you prayed” Errr…(no) I just smiled…My reply was, “These kind of things do happen quite often” =)
When you go about His business, he goes about yours!

I received two bags from my fren's mum today :)

I received two bags from my fren's mum today :)
1. A brown one from D&G(Large)
2. A black one from nine west (Medium)
What really amazes me is the black bag has the same cut and shape as the bag Joan was carrying on Valentine's Day from Little Match and was something I was looking for. I even told her to get it for me if she happened to be there again and if it's still available. Wow..and never would I expected it to be so similar. And it's from nine west. Heh. More than what I expected. Truly a Valentine's gift from God :) 
And the second one...I just love it. My fren's love it too. It's more beautiful than what I could imagine myself getting. In fact, the two bags I am looking for to get is a formal black bag and a bigger casual leather brown bag and I receive them both. My fren commented the bags were so 'me'. Lord, you really answers my prayer before I even prayed.
Not forgetting the red LV bag she gave me the last time. Heh~
I guess my first fruits manifestations are bags...or rather my hearts desire =) I could have bought these bags with the money I sow, but I would not have rejoice as much if I had not given and seeing the fruits come to pass. This is only the beginning. Expect greater things in the days ahead!

Sophia wisdom

I'm still a little amazed at what really happened this morning.
Yesterday, a new girl called Sophie stepped in to my class unexpectantly. Usually, I would be notify beforehand but this time nothing was told to me. Well, things dun always go as planned.
Early this morning, it suddenly dawn on me to check out her name to see if it is in line with Pastor's sermon like how it had been for my pass two child, Zoe & Isaac. And the result was 'wisdom' =) Then I remembered that Pastor did preached on wisdom and how wisdom was in Joseph's life.

That was not it. The 'scary' part was, 15mins before I left my house, I randomly pick a sermon from 2001 titled, "Christ the power and the wisdom of God". I dun have the exact date with me as it was given to me in mp3 format by my fren. It comes in the whole series of 2001. Heh. I usually dun start from the beginning when i've limited time so I randomly click to the 11min.

The next min Pastor mentioned on Sophia wisdom! I almost fainted. Heh. How accurate can that get. Only a few mins ago, I was searching on the meaning of Sophie. And now a double confirmation of her name. I've heard of Sakal wisdom, but not on Sophia. Here's the definition from Thayers :
 sophia (G4678)
1) wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters

1. the wisdom which belongs to men
   1. spec. the varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, and summed up in maxims and proverbs
   2. the science and learning
   3. the act of interpreting dreams and always giving the sagest advice
   4. the intelligence evinced in discovering the meaning of some mysterious number or vision
   5. skill in the management of affairs
   6. devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ, skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth
   7. the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living
2. supreme intelligence, such as belongs to God
   1. to Christ
   2. the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the scriptures

I went to do a search to see where were Sophia wisdom used as compared to other definition of wisdom. Interestingly, Sophia wisdom is always associated with Jesus. The wisdom you see in proverbs and the Old Testament is mostly chokmah wisdom and never sophia wisdom.
chokmah (H2451)

1. skill (in war)
2. wisdom (in administration)
3. shrewdness, wisdom
4. wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
5. wisdom (ethical and religious)

Just saw this. Look closely and you'll see the main difference. Sophia wisdom has the mentioned of Christ that leads to godly living. The other has no mentioned of Christ but more on administering/management. The world can seek after knowledge and to some extend have wisdom or gain some with years of experience.
There's where you see a clear mark difference of a godly wise man vs wise man of the world. For example, take the story Pastor mentioned about the doctor who smokes. I believed there are doctors who are influential and has end up in top position yet still smokes. For him to be in that position, he has to have some degree of wisdom but not of one that lives a godly life. He cannot because he has not in him.
A man attains Sophia wisdom when he is full of the Holy Spirit(Acts 6:3) The Holy Spirit do not dwell in non-believer. I love the definition given of Sophia on giving the sagest advice. Only the counsel of the godly do you find true wisdom.
One of my favourite verse is also from Luke 7:35 : Sophia wisdom is justified by all her children. Ah just saw this :) You can see a family who's rich yet their children are rebellious and not walking in the ways of God. Compare one who's as equally rich, but this family the parents brings Jesus(sophia) in, the fruits which is the children is evident to all.
Luke 2:40 And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and was filled with wisdom(sophia); and the grace of God was upon him.
Aimed to finish this at 9.00 and I did! =D Ok back to my work, work and more work! Save me.  Heh. Jesus IS my wisdom :)

picture attached : darling Sophie :)

I couldn't have asked for more

The picture above was taken during one of my field trip visit to the Botanic Gardens for my assignment. It was used as one of the background layout in our presentation. My heart melt when I saw this =) This was the gal we met? It all seems so surreal.
But what really melt my heart was how God had turned everything for my good. It was my first time working with this group. It was because we had to work in groups of four and I was placed to work with them. I didn't know how it was like until the day I went out with them to the Botanic Gardens.It started of with a simple breakfast at the foodcourt but turn out to be an interesting one. The half-boiled eggs were yummy too.
A group of gracious, matured ladies or mums to be exact. Heh. That made all the difference compared to working with people younger than me in my previous assignments. I find my greatest joy in working with people who take pride and excellence in their work. However, my greatest battle is working with the bo-chap and last min group. However much you want to do wont be accomplished because they're just not running on the same frequency. Conclusion is choose the right people, partner, group to be with in life! =)
Here's a note from my group mate emailed to all of us :

Hi gals,

FINALLY, I AM DONE !!!!!

Thanks so much for YOUR patience, concern and always ever willing to lend a helping hand.

Thanks also be to GOD for giving guidance and His ever loving graciousnesses. I could not have done it without HIM !!!!

Please have a look...my heart, my soul and my spirit are all in it !!!

I'm so blessed to know and experience God even in this assignment =)

Work has been great, some conflicts here and there but we're still very forgiving people that makes us closer. God has blessed me with another assistant haha..Now i've 9 kids to 4 teachers =) I wonder why am I still feeling physically exhausted. Maybe is this age group that I've to run after.

I'm growing more in love with my kids. I wish sometimes they never grow up. I only get to spend max 6 months with a child. Just found out the new girl that'll be coming to my class next week is called Vera with the meaning, "Faith" & "Truth". Just these pass two days I've been reading on truth and it's actually saved in my draft waiting to be post. Guess I will now. The last two ones, Zoe & Isaac, names that Pastor happened to preached in his sermon has been 'supernatural' kids. No crying since the first day. Never happened before since I started work here. Isaac's mum shared to me that she waited for ten years before he came. This child is really precious. Today he came running to my lap and placed his head on it :) The joy of working with little ones.
Another amazing thing was when I stepped out of my room and heard my landlord's son playing the song, "Jesus I believe in you". I always wonder will he ever grow out of his rebellious attitude and secular songs. Why doesn't his dad put on Christian music for him. It's so good to see that he's listening to it now by himself in his own quiet moments. Even after an hour later, it was still the same song =) I guess, each takes it's own journey of growth. I believe he'll be a renewed person soon.
I'll be taking a day off tomorrow to recover back all my loss hours of sleep =) since MC is out of my boss vocabulary. Aiming not to take MC the whole year and get my $200 haha...hope it work out. It'll be a miracle then. Heh~

To Be Understood, Truth Must Be Lived

For a long time I have believed that truth, to be understood must be lived; that Bible doctrine is wholly ineffective until it has been digested and assimilated by the total life, I have held this to be an important element in the preaching of the Old Testament prophets, and I have felt it to be near to the heart of the moral teaching of our Lord jesus Christ. I admit that this belief has made me a little lonely, for not many of my Christian brethen share it with me. While I have not heard anyone deny the truth outright, few have seen fit to teach it with anything approaching emphasis. And by silence a man reveal his belief as surely as by argument.
This is one of those truths which at first may appear dull and colourless, but far from being tame and weak, this truth is of tremendous importance to all of us. While not to my knowledge formulated as a tenet in the creed of any church or school of religious though, it nevertheless stands as a great divide to separate those who think rightly about the faith of Christ from those who think carelessly about it.
The essence of my belief is that there is a difference, a vast difference, between fact and truth. Truth in the scriptures is more than a fact. A fact may be detached, impersonal, cold and totally disassociated from life. Truth on the other hand, is warm, living and spiritual. A theological fact may be held in the mind for a lifetime without its having any positive effect upon the moral character; but truth is creative, saying, transforming, and it always changes the one who receives it into a humbler and holier man.
At what point, then, does a theological fact become for the one who holds it a life-giving truth? At the point where obedience begins. When faith gains the consent of the will to make an irrevocable committal to Christ as Lord, truth begins its saving, illuminating work; and not one moment before.
In His conflict with the religious textualists of His day our Lord often uttered short statements that serve as keys to unlock vast and precious storehouses of truth. In the gospel according to John these may be found in something amounting to profusion. One such is found in John 7:"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself"(verse 17). A.T. Robertson, in his Word Pictures in the New Testament, explains "he shall know" as being " experimental knowledge form willingness to do God's will." Then he quotes Westcott : If there be no sympathy there can be no understanding.
Obviously these words of Christ were understood by the great British biblical scholar Westcott and the brilliant American expositor Robertson as teaching that truth can be understood only by the mind that has surrendered to it. The average evangelical Bible teacher today finds such a radical interpretation too revolutionary to be comfortable and so just ignores it.
We must be willing to obey if we would know the rue inner meaning of the teachings of Christ and the apostles. I believe this view prevailed in every revival that ever came to the church during her long history. Indeed a revival church may be distinguished from a dead one by the attitude of its members toward the truth. The dead church holds to the shell of truth without surrendering the will to it, while the church that wills to do God's will is immediately blessed with a visitation of spiritual powers.
Theological facts are like the altar of Elijah on Carmelbefore the fire came, correct, properly laid out, but altogether cold. When the heart makes the ultimate surrender, the fire falls and true facts are transmuted into spiritual truth that transforms, enlightens, sanctifies. The church or the individual that is Bible taught without being Spirit taught (and there are many of them) has simply failed to see that truth lies deeper than the theological statement of it.
Truth cannot aid us until we become participator of it. We only possess what we experience. St. Gregory of Sinai, who lived in the fourteenth century, taught that understanding and participation were inseparable in the spiritual life. "He who seeks to understand commandments without fulfilling commandments, and to acquire such understanding through learning and reading, is like a man who takes a shadow fro truth. For the understanding of truth is given to those who have become participators in truth ( who have tasted it through living). Those who are not participants in truth and are not initiated therein, when they seek this understanding, draw it from a distorted wisdom. Of such men the apostle says 'the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit' even though they boast of their knowledge of truth."
Here is a simple but neglected doctrine that should be restores to its rightful place in the thinking and teaching of the church. It would work wonders.

The Incredible Christian, A.W Tozer