What is Christmas? Nobody denies that Christmas is a Christian religious holiday in celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, nowadays, I found that people celebrate the coming of Santa more than Jesus on Christmas. Also, in this liberal modern view, "Happy Holidays" or "Happy Christmas" seems more acceptable than "Merry Christmas". Where is this all going to lead us in the future?
"Therefore keep watch because you don't know when the owner of the house will come back - whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows or at dawn" (Mark 13:35)
Paying Other's Debts
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
After finishing a Sunday school one day, many children were still in the room, each was playing their own games / crafts. Some of them just left without cleaning up their own mess. Knowing that the room would be used for a meeting soon, I asked the children who were still there to clean up. And one of them grumbled, and said to me, "I wasn't the one making that mess!" And I just replied to him, "We should help each other. So, let's clean it together." Easy for me to say at that moment, for I was not in his shoes. Since then, I kept on thinking of what I did / said to that child. It was clearly not fair for him. But it seems like the only choice I got, since I did not know exactly who else were there playing before.
If I knew whose mess it was, would I look for the child and ask him/her to come and clean? I might, but what if the child already left? Should I just clean it myself? Though it was only papers, crayons, cards, and other things that could easily be done by myself in 5 minutes. But, as a teacher, I felt I need to teach them some responsibilities, such us cleaning and helping others, which the child turned out to be unhappy about.
Later on, I had a similar situation at work. In my workplace, we share almost everything, such as tables, computers, all of the office tools, such as scissors, markers, etc, and not to mention we must share tasks, which lots of them are not clearly divided, since there are many cases that need immediate actions. And often time when that case happens, it can't wait for the person in charge to do it, and someone must do it immediately. I usually follow the Nike trademark - JUST DO IT - no matter how much tasks I already have in hand. Though, if I look at others, I would be very reluctant, and do it involuntarily. I found that many of them just like to do whatever they need at that moment, and left it wherever they want. If it's about leaving their drinks, papers, bins, and other stuff all over the place, I can't blame it all on them, for I do those things too some times, and forgot to place them back in where they belong. And others had to clean up what I left off. However, many days I grumbled to myself, not knowing what to do. In that kind of situation, I remember that boy at my church, and how he must have felt.
In some cases, others are probably really wrong. Yet, what I do is merely focusing on their wrongs, and thinking of my own rights. This wouldn't solve the problem even if I keep on doing the right thing, by doing extra works that others supposed to do. I found this just add into my self-righteousness, and makes me feel even more miserable. But if I stop doing what I have been doing, and "take it easy" as others do, I am just being ignorant, and not only I wrong myself, but also others, e.g. the patients who can't do much but solely depend on people like me, to work together with other staff to help them get better.
Just now, as I read again a passage in C.S.Lewis book, Mere Christianity, chapter 4, The Perfect Penitent, it reminds me to the fact that "Christ was killed for us, that His death has washed out our sins...The one most people have heard is... the one about our being let off because Christ has volunteered to bear a punishment instead of us. Now on the face of it that is a very silly theory. If God was prepared to let us off, why on earth did He not do so? And what possible point could there be in punishing an innocent person instead? ... it is a matter of common experience that, when one person has got himself into a hole, the trouble of getting him out usually falls on a kind friend...."
Lord, please keep my eyes upon You, You alone, whenever I face a hard time like this, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
If I knew whose mess it was, would I look for the child and ask him/her to come and clean? I might, but what if the child already left? Should I just clean it myself? Though it was only papers, crayons, cards, and other things that could easily be done by myself in 5 minutes. But, as a teacher, I felt I need to teach them some responsibilities, such us cleaning and helping others, which the child turned out to be unhappy about.
Later on, I had a similar situation at work. In my workplace, we share almost everything, such as tables, computers, all of the office tools, such as scissors, markers, etc, and not to mention we must share tasks, which lots of them are not clearly divided, since there are many cases that need immediate actions. And often time when that case happens, it can't wait for the person in charge to do it, and someone must do it immediately. I usually follow the Nike trademark - JUST DO IT - no matter how much tasks I already have in hand. Though, if I look at others, I would be very reluctant, and do it involuntarily. I found that many of them just like to do whatever they need at that moment, and left it wherever they want. If it's about leaving their drinks, papers, bins, and other stuff all over the place, I can't blame it all on them, for I do those things too some times, and forgot to place them back in where they belong. And others had to clean up what I left off. However, many days I grumbled to myself, not knowing what to do. In that kind of situation, I remember that boy at my church, and how he must have felt.
In some cases, others are probably really wrong. Yet, what I do is merely focusing on their wrongs, and thinking of my own rights. This wouldn't solve the problem even if I keep on doing the right thing, by doing extra works that others supposed to do. I found this just add into my self-righteousness, and makes me feel even more miserable. But if I stop doing what I have been doing, and "take it easy" as others do, I am just being ignorant, and not only I wrong myself, but also others, e.g. the patients who can't do much but solely depend on people like me, to work together with other staff to help them get better.
Just now, as I read again a passage in C.S.Lewis book, Mere Christianity, chapter 4, The Perfect Penitent, it reminds me to the fact that "Christ was killed for us, that His death has washed out our sins...The one most people have heard is... the one about our being let off because Christ has volunteered to bear a punishment instead of us. Now on the face of it that is a very silly theory. If God was prepared to let us off, why on earth did He not do so? And what possible point could there be in punishing an innocent person instead? ... it is a matter of common experience that, when one person has got himself into a hole, the trouble of getting him out usually falls on a kind friend...."
Lord, please keep my eyes upon You, You alone, whenever I face a hard time like this, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
When You Have Nothing To Say...
Monday, December 8, 2014
Dear Diary,
There were many times I had wanted to write something, to share with you here. However, it only went half way, unfinished, and stored in the draft folder. Do you have anyone else who also has unfinished overdue writings in their drafts? Yet, I don't feel like deleting them - who knows that one day I would touch any of them again and finish it, for it does bother me seeing things are only half-way done. One of the reasons is I didn't know the solution to what was troubling me - and still don't know. Well, it's true that most of the time I write here is to pour out my heart, especially during my downtime.
Well, do you think I am an unhappy person because I always complain, talk about negative things of myself and others? At times, when I watch movies or read other people's blog, I found some of them are always so cheerful, can make others smile and even laugh. Even at a difficult time, they are still able to speak with hope and cherish others. Is it possible for one person to always be so upbeat like that, even without a slight of negativity found in them? If so, I really want to become that kind of person. Anyone knows the secret recipe for this??? Please, tell me.
There was a devoted Christian who posted something like, "Be positive!" or "Think positively!" or "Avoid negative people!" on her facebook awhile ago. When I read that, my first thought was that how should someone always be positive when the negative often is unavoidable? Is it by simply ignoring the bad? Isn't that just being narrow-minded?!?! And what about people who are more negative than positive, as myself, for instant? There is no way for people like me to live then, for there is no hope in it.
Furthermore, my husband once taught me the danger of the modern philosophy, which says "there is no good without the bad." Meaning that good must exist together with bad; or in other words, that God and Devil exist together at the same time, e.g. the concept of Yin Yang. But according to the Bible, God and Devil do not exist together at the same time. The Devil is actually the fallen angel. So, the good is always good. And, good and bad do not mix together. As what Jesus taught in His parable about the end of age, "Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn" - Matthew 13:30.
Going back to the original issue, how to be a person of hope?
Now, I remember this Bible verse that Apostle Paul wrote for the people in Philippi:
"Rejoice in the Lord always ... Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ... I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4
Now that Christmas is coming, may we prepare our hearts to celebrate His coming as our Savior. For He came to die for us, His creatures whom He loves.
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There were many times I had wanted to write something, to share with you here. However, it only went half way, unfinished, and stored in the draft folder. Do you have anyone else who also has unfinished overdue writings in their drafts? Yet, I don't feel like deleting them - who knows that one day I would touch any of them again and finish it, for it does bother me seeing things are only half-way done. One of the reasons is I didn't know the solution to what was troubling me - and still don't know. Well, it's true that most of the time I write here is to pour out my heart, especially during my downtime.
Well, do you think I am an unhappy person because I always complain, talk about negative things of myself and others? At times, when I watch movies or read other people's blog, I found some of them are always so cheerful, can make others smile and even laugh. Even at a difficult time, they are still able to speak with hope and cherish others. Is it possible for one person to always be so upbeat like that, even without a slight of negativity found in them? If so, I really want to become that kind of person. Anyone knows the secret recipe for this??? Please, tell me.
There was a devoted Christian who posted something like, "Be positive!" or "Think positively!" or "Avoid negative people!" on her facebook awhile ago. When I read that, my first thought was that how should someone always be positive when the negative often is unavoidable? Is it by simply ignoring the bad? Isn't that just being narrow-minded?!?! And what about people who are more negative than positive, as myself, for instant? There is no way for people like me to live then, for there is no hope in it.
Furthermore, my husband once taught me the danger of the modern philosophy, which says "there is no good without the bad." Meaning that good must exist together with bad; or in other words, that God and Devil exist together at the same time, e.g. the concept of Yin Yang. But according to the Bible, God and Devil do not exist together at the same time. The Devil is actually the fallen angel. So, the good is always good. And, good and bad do not mix together. As what Jesus taught in His parable about the end of age, "Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn" - Matthew 13:30.
Going back to the original issue, how to be a person of hope?
Now, I remember this Bible verse that Apostle Paul wrote for the people in Philippi:
"Rejoice in the Lord always ... Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ... I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4
Now that Christmas is coming, may we prepare our hearts to celebrate His coming as our Savior. For He came to die for us, His creatures whom He loves.
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| "Merry Christmas!" :) |
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