Freedom vs Destined

I still remember my bible study teacher once told me a story that I would never forget...

If you were to lead an ant back to its nest...how will you show it its way in order that it will reach its nest safely? The common way is to watch the ant as it crawls...you will let it has its own route but when you see that it's heading to a danger spot, you'll intervene by using your finger,slightly push it back to the right track...however, though the ant will choose a long,not the straight forward road, you will not force it to walk by using the ONLY way as long as it reaches the nest safely...

It's a description used to describe the confusion between our destined that is determined by God while at the same time, God gives us freedom to choose... it's a paradox..in one hand, our life is destined by God (whether to be saved or else ) but in another hand, he gives us freedom to choose to follow him or not...

I once asked..what else to choose if all these have been planned by him far ahead, far before I was borned? But now I understand the wonders of His hand.. to be chosen to know Him...it's by His grace that we are chosen, given the privilege to know Him, we are saved. Freedom is given as we run the race till the end...freedom to choose among various ways, various routes...but the destination is still the same..God intervenes when we are heading to a dead end, He is there to bring us out, to lead us back to the right track...

We always ask the same question : If God loves us, why does he allow pain to happen in our lives? If God loves us, why does he not save all of us whom he has created? If God loves us, why why and why???

I would ask...if man has no choice but to follow ONE law, ONE way..no freedom... will you feel you are loved? If you were tied around your neck and carried along the way, having no freedom to choose how you want your way to be, will you say that you are being loved?

In fact, if God would give us a chance to choose whether to follow Him or our ways... I assure you that none of us will choose to follow Him.. think again...none will choose to follow Him...if God is not there to intervene in our lives, none would like to follow Him... be thankful if God chooses to intervene in your life, be thankful that He chooses to show you the right way...be thankful...

He has the power not to choose us because the Creator always has the right to choose how to deal with what he has created, He can choose to use it or on another hand, he can choose not to care about it... we are His creatures, He is our Creator...it is by His grace that He allows His name to be heard by you... Be grateful because He chooses to show Himself to you on this earth..be grateful that your life is full with sweet and sour memories...not everyone has the privilege to hear His story...be grateful and give thanks...

A confession to make

Lord I confess that I have wandered
Far from Your purpose and plan
And willingly walk in the wrong direction
I've disobeyed your commands
Father forgive me
Spirit come lead me
Back to the way, back to the truth
Back to the foot of the cross

Show me the ancient paths
Lead me along eternal highways
I want to walk in the ways of Jesus
I want to enter your rest
Show me the ancient paths
Lead me along eternal highways
I want to follow the footsteps of Jesus
I want to enter your rest

The story of 3 years+3 hour =lasting memories

My convocation just passed last week. I had a great time resting and also sharing my joy with my family members and friends. 3 years in UM... I think God does not only put me in the place just to complete my studies but most importantly to teach me how to live my life esp continue be a light for him until he takes me home one day.

Sometimes it's hard to express my gratitude on things that happen in my life whether it's good or bad but everything comes with His purpose to mold me to be more like Christ. I cherish the time of gathering with Christians in campus..how we've struggled through bad moments and how we've celebrated the joy that happens in campus....

However..campus is not only a place where I've grown spiritually but also in all other areas... meeting up with friends, learning to be a person that strive to please God in all that I do. I thank God for all the friends that I've met, that have accompanied me throughout my life in campus, bringing joy to my life that has become great memories that I can hardly forget....

3 years in kl... I've stayed with my lovely housemates that still continue keeping in touch... i miss every seconds that we spent no matter in teasing each other, caring or learning to stay together under one roof... carrying our house theme " live harmoniously..." i miss them alot ...

3 years...away from Ipoh... recalling the hard times my parents have gone through just to make sure that their children are able to survive outside the comfort zone... providing their best not only financially but continue to show their love and care through phone calls..taking action in travelling down to kl to meet us and providing the best in accommodation, education and also whatever they can... and more and more...to pray for us, praying for our safety and also our closeness with God... thanking them for being my parents...my graduation is for them... it's not for myself but for them...

Phew...using 3 years to complete my degree while convocation only lasted for a day (or maybe just 3 hours??).. thanks for those who came and celebrate this joyous moment... thanks for being part of my life..making my life colourful in all ways.. thank you....

Learn to be lonely (Phantom of the Opera)

Child of the wilderness
Born into emptiness
Learn to be lonely
Learn to find your way in darkness
Who will be there for you
Comfort and care for you
Learn to be lonely
Learn to be your one companion
Never dreamed out in the world
There are arms to hold you?
You've always known
Your heart was on its own
So laugh in your loneliness
Child of the wilderness
Learn to be lonely
Learn how to love life that is lived alone
Learn to be lonely
Life can be lived
Life can be loved
Alone


The songs of Phantom of the Opera keep playing in my mind for the past few weeks. I searched back my CD collections and start to listen to the songs I like most-- The Phantom of The Opera. I love the ending song- 'Learn to be lonely'.

It speaks right into everyone's heart. It is undeniable that we have to learn to be lonely. Stepping into working world lets me discover that there are difference when I was studying compare to working now. People are more willing to share their thoughts and feelings while studying compare to working. We become more secretive and try to keep everything to ourselves, scared to expose our true self.

But God asks us to be true in our Christian life, to live every second that brings honour to Him. I know that I'm not alone in Christ. However, there are thousands and millions of people out there who live their life being lonely not only physically but emotionally.

Disappointments come, hardships occur... God says that it is through all these, we know how blessed we are and how God has brought and will bring us through. I can see problems as a way of God bringing me one step closer to knowing him. But, to those who don't understand.. disappointment is purely discouragement in their lives.

The call is there, to learn to serve and not to be served; to learn to comfort and not to be comforted; to learn to be a good listener to others..to learn to respect people... to learn to understand and be patient..to learn to be humble...

I pray that I may not be a Sunday Christian... but God may use me in my daily life to touch other's life. I want to be a living testimony... the road is narrow, hardship comes, disappointment appears but it's worth traveling when God is beside me always..

Be courageous, be strong.. my heart, my soul and my mind...do learn to listen to God's voice...may His peace surrounds you.. may you find joy in serving Him...

CHEERS!! :)

My thoughts...

My life, God's way... it's always good to reflect back the thoughts that once were in my mind, a commitment to God to live my life to the fullest to honor Him in all I do. Two months of stepping into a working world, I didn't regret taking this step to continue to serve God and obey Him in my daily life. No doubt, it is hard and there is still a long way to go.

I love my job a lot; not because it is an easy task. Indeed, it is a challenging one that uncertainties await me once i step into my office. God assures me that he has a purpose in putting me there. A Christian is a christian wherever he goes, whatever he does...not only on Sunday, but everyday, every second, we are God's children, His ambassadors. We should not be carrying a mask but to be a true self whether in church or outside the battle field.

I love my colleagues, everyone of us has different characters, unique in our own ways. Just like a church, we must work as a body. People may not see the importance of working as a body--a body built up by different parts,given different functions yet heading towards a same purpose. Indeed, it is always easy to speak than to do..yet, that is what I prayed--that God may lead, he may guide and he controls the situation. Bad things may come but it is only when we have gone through bad moments then only we know how to appreciate and give thanks for the blessings that come our way.