LAMBS

I had the best time visiting the farm in Gold Coast, Australia last month.  My favorite part was feeding, holding, and playing with the animals (lambs, koalas, kangaroos, cows, and dogs).

Today, out of all the animals, I'm writing about the lamb (baby sheep).  I read online recently that a sheep mother sometimes dies while giving birth to a little lamb.  Additionally, sometimes a sheep mother would give birth to a stillborn lamb.  So what the ranchers would do is to match up the orphan lamb with the sheep mother who had the stillborn lamb.

However, this match up effort wouldn't come easy.  The sheep mother wouldn't accept the orphan lamb because she can identify that it's not her own lamb just by sniffing its smell.  As a result, the ranchers would first smear the stillborn lamb's blood on the orphan lamb before giving this orphan lamb to the sheep mother.  Since the sheep mother could smell the blood of her own lamb, she would then take this orphan lamb, nurse it, and feed it.

For me, this story is a lot like my salvation story.  I was born wretched and sinful as a human; so unworthy to come before the Holy God.  But there was The Lamb of God who died on the cross for me to give me salvation and mercy.  With His blood He covered me and made me worthy and acceptable before the Lord.  I am glad I was found.  I am glad to be His own daughter.

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the previous blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." -- 1 Peter 1:18-19.

How about you?  Are you an orphan lamb?  May this be a blessing.

RACHEL HSU

I'm an Aunty again.  My very bestfriend, Evelyn, just gave birth to her second child yesterday (Nov. 12, 2009).  It's a girl.  Her name is Rachel Hsu.

Rachel was supposed to be due on Nov. 9.  However, by Nov. 11, Evelyn displayed no sign of giving birth at all.  So when we talked on the phone that day, I was telling Evelyn that I would be praying for Baby Rachel to come out by the next day (Nov. 12).  That way, on my last day's visit to Indiana next month (Dec. 12), I will still get a chance to celebrate Rachel's 1st month birthday.

No news from Evelyn yesterday.  So I thought that Rachel's still in.  I gave up my hope to celebrate her birthday next month.  But wait a minute, this morning, Evelyn emailed me to tell me that the baby was out yesterday.  Evelyn said that, "I guess your prayer's answered, Yanny."  HAHAHA.  I'm happy.  Very happy for her.  And I'm happy that I get to help Evelyn on Rachel's 1st month birthday "celebration" next month.

One more thing I want to share with you about Rachel is that how Evelyn decided to name her Rachel.  When we were in college and living together, Evelyn and I would come home, heat up dinner, and watch Friends while eating our dinner.  That's our daily relaxation together.  We always remember that.  It's a sweet memory.  Couple months ago, Evelyn sent me a card to tell me how much she treasured our friendship.  She also told me that she would name her baby girl Rachel because that's her favorite character in the Friends sitcom that we used to watch together in the past.  :-)

My prayer is that this little Baby Rachel would grow to be a beautiful and obedient daughter just like her mom.  And that she will grow to be a child who fears the Lord and His Sovereignty.

THE POWER BEHIND ME

About 2 months ago when my Small Group started the OMTL challenge, I have decided that if I have only 1 month to live, I want to be happier at work.  Here is what I blogged in September.  

As I prayed for an inspiration from God on how I could be happier, He whispered to me that I could start from being nice to everyone.  As much as we cannot change the situation and the people around us, we can always start from within.  So, I didn't argue back with God nor give Him any objection.  I had a very firm belief that He can make me happier at work.

I knew there's this one person at work whom I felt very negative towards.  This very same person was the reason why coming to work would be such a great burden for me.  So for the challenge, I prayed that God would enable me to put more effort on mending my relationship with this person.  

 It was a slow but steady work in progress.  My other co-worker told me that she used to be in a similar situation like me before (in her previous job).  She was treated unfairly and discriminated.  A strong Christian that she is, she prayed harder than ever before.  Every morning when she came in to work, she would touch the discriminating person's chair and pray.

So I did something similar.  Every morning, I would hover over the person's name on my AIM list and pray.  As I continued to pray for my challenge, God let me see what I had not been able to see because all this time I had been busy judging and hating what the person did and said.  I had been putting the person's offenses against me under the microscope while neglecting one or two great intention towards me.  How can we love someone if we're busy hating that person, right?

God had let me experience what I needed.  As God removed the hurt pin from my heart .. one-by-one .. day-by-day .. He restored each with a pinch of joy.  So today, with a great joy, I can tell you that I am happier at work.

As far as the person, this person is no longer with my group.  A little bit over a month into my OMTL challenge, this person was moved to a different group within the company.  But there you have it.  That's what God taught me in the one month of my One Month to Live challenge.

A challenge ahead of me is never as great as the Power behind me.

May this be a blessing!            

A WONDERFUL JEWEL

The story is told of a king who had a wonderful jewel.  He would gaze on it often.  Wondering at its beauty.

One day, something startled him.  And he dropped the jewel causing it to fall.  As he picked it up from the hard stone floor, the King noticed that the jewel now had a deep crack in it.  He sent messengers out to find a craftsman who could repair it.  But, no one came forward.

Finally after a very long search, he found an old jeweler who said he could repair the jewel.  But that the King would have to promise to give him free reign in his work.

With no other options, the King assented.  The old craftsman set up his workshop and worked continuously for many days.  Finally he emerged and showed the King the jewel.

There in the jewel, the old man had worked the lines of the crack into the pattern of an exquisite flower that appeared deep inside the precious stone.  The King gasped and realized that the crack itself had led to the jewel becoming even more precious.

The moral of the story is that we often feel that we are broken; and that everybody else is better than us.  No one has been created perfect by God for a reason -- so that God can do wonders with our brokenness.  We were created by God uniquely and to make a history.

May this be a blessing!

GRATITUDE OUT OF FAITH

This past Thursday, I suddenly developed fever at night.  When I woke up in the morning, I felt nausea and went straight to the bathroom to vomit.  I didn't feel good.  My boss told me to call in sick for the day.  So I obeyed him.

Later that day, I went to the hospital.  The doctor told me that I was having a stomach flu.  She explained that after series of vomiting, I should expect series of diarrhea.  Once I've passed that series, all virus are out; and I should be well.

Of course her analysis was right.  All day on Friday, I vomited constantly.  All day on Saturday, I kept going to the bathroom.  Even this morning at 5AM, I still went.

So today is the first time being back at Church after 4 weeks.  Pastor Stephen Hosea talked about "Gratitude out of Faith" based on the 10 lepers story (Luke 17:11-19).  When Pastor Hosea opened his sermon with introduction, I prayed again saying, "Dear Lord, I'm thankful to be able to come to the Church this morning.  I know I haven't been feeling well.  I know the service is only at the beginning.  We still have the Holy Communion, OCC performance, Prayer Walk briefing, and Christmas meeting.  I rest my health onto Your hands in the next few hours.  Amen."

And guess what?  I felt no pain in my stomach.  I didn't need to go to the bathroom during the time I was at Church.  God held my health in His hands so dearly.  He has the right timing for everything.  As I opened my apartment door, the pain started to happen again.  Praise the LORD, I was home already.

Give thanks always and in all things.  :-) 

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

A man slowly looked up.  This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of lie.  Her coat was new.  She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.  His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.

"Leave me alone," he growled.  To his amazement, the woman continued standing.  She was smiling - her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically.  "I've just come from dining with the president.  Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader.  Suddenly the mane felt a gentle hand under his arm.  "What are you doing, Lady?" the man asked angrily.  "I said to leave me alone."

Just then a policeman came up.  "Is there any problem, Ma'am?" he asked.

"No problem here, Officer," the woman answered.  "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet.  Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head.  "That's old Jack.  He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years.  What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked.  "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?"  the homeless man resisted.  "I don't want to go in there!"  Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.

"Let me go, Officer.  I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the Officer answered.  "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner.  It was the middle morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch not yet arrived.

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table.  "What's going on here, Officer?" he asked.  "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!"  the manager replied angrily.  "Having a person like that here is bad for business."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin.  "See, Lady.  I told you so.  Now if you'll let me go.  I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled.  "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently.  "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a good amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

"I, Sir, am Penelope Eddy, President and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again, "I thought that might make a difference."

She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh.  "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, Officer?"

"No, thanks, Ma'am," the officer replied.  "I'm on duty."

"Then perhaps a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, Ma'am.  That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, Officer."

The Officer watched him walk away, "You certainly put him in his place."

"That was not my intent.  Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this," the woman said.

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest.  She stared at him intently.  "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes.  "I think so - I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said.

"Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the Officer said questioningly.  he couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry."

"I was just out of college," the woman began.  "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything.  Finally, I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment.  I walked the streets for days.  It was February and I was cold and nearly starving.  I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile.  "Now I remember," he said.  "I was behind the serving counter.  You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat.  I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued.  "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over the corner table and enjoy it.  I was afraid that you would get into trouble.  Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash registers, I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got my job that very afternoon.  I worked my way up.  Eventually, I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered."  She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.

"When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to Mr. Lyons.  He's the personnel director of my company.  I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office."

She smiled.  "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet.  If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes.  "How can I ever thank you?" he asked.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered.  "To God goes the glory.  He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the Officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.  "That you for your help, Officer."

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered.  "Thank you.  I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget.  And thank you for the coffee."

Have a wonderful day.  May God bless you always and don't forget that when you "case your break upon the waters," you never know how it will be returned to you.  God is so big He can cover the whole world with His love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go.  Only 1 of 2 things will happen.  Either He'll catch you when you fall or He'll teach you how to fly.

The power of one sentence!  God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor.

Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing!

The task ahead of me is never as great as the power behind me!  

CRACKED BUCKET

I heard this story from an online story teller.  It's very inspirational.

This story is about an old grandma.  Everyday, this grandma travels down the hill to get some water.  She uses a pole with a bucket hanging on each end.  While one bucket is in a perfect condition, the other bucket is cracked.  For many years, the grandma can only take home a bucket and a half because half of the water in the cracked bucket would pour out along the way before she makes it home.

As the perfect bucket feels happy to have helped grandma carry the whole load, the cracked bucket is sad.  The cracked bucket tells grandma to find a new bucket to replace it.

Having heard the cracked bucket's disappointment, grandma took the cracked bucket to the path she normally takes to get to the river from her home.  She shows the cracked bucket the beautiful flowers that grow along the path.

Grandma tells the cracked bucket that she knows about the cracked bucket's flaw.  However, instead of giving up on the situation, she has been taking advantage of that.  She planted seeds along the path.  Thus, as she carries the cracked bucket each day, the water that pours out of it will water the seeds.  In turn, these seeds have grown into beautiful flowers for her to take home and sell each day.  If it isn't because of the cracked bucket, the grandma wouldn't have had such a wonderful journey collecting water.

The moral of the story is that everyone has flaws.  It is the imperfectness that makes each one of us unique.

Remember that all of us are cracked buckets.  However, our God can miraculously turn this imperfectness into a wonderful blessing to others through us.  Nothing will be wasted in God's hands.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -- John 10:10

May this be a blessing!!!