Daily goodness

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:6 NLT

I once wrote in my journal about a crazy day. I re-read it recently and got re-encouraged about how God provides goodness, on such a daily basis.
But on that particular day, the goodness just kept coming.
I want to share with you that journal entry:

Thursday 21st July, 11:27am
Yesterday was such a wonderful, wonderful day.
OK- it started out early due to the pitter patter of rain on the roofs. But after that, I watched half of the X-men movie over lunch (which I couldn’t be bothered to venture out to get), so I made noodles at home and added kimchi, twas good!
Then off to work, which was OK! My boss gave me this really really yummy raisin bread that reminded me of home, and I appreciated getting free bread.


After work, went home to finish off the rest of X-men movie. Then went off to go tutor Maggie’s kids. I didn’t want to ride my scooter for fear of rain, so I decided--why not walk to the MRT (underground train) station. Walking there ended up longer than expected, slow because of the red lights, and me not being able to cross the road etc. I guess it had been a long time since I had walked to the MRT station. And just when I thought I was going to be late, I bump into Mavis! She was on her scooter! And so she asked where I was going, and told me to hop on, and she ended up riding me, just down the road, to the MRT stop! That was such a miracle!
Which meant I got to Maggie’s place on time. After tutoring her kids (actually they were pretty quick and eager to learn today!) Maggie gave me two pears--which was super nice.


Then I went back on the MRT to go to ORTV.
I was waiting at the platform when someone tapped me on the shoulder and it was Christine! Which was a super nice surprise seeing her on the off chance! 
We chatted before the next train came and for that one stop distance [then I had to get off]. It was just super sweet to see her and what a great coincidence!


Off to ORTV and it was good too, despite it just being me leading the bible study--I didn’t mind cos it was a great day! Birdy came back from Australia and came back with some kangaroo crisps--a multi-pack, And inside were packets containing many flavours, but one flavour caught my attention: it was salt and vinegar flavoured crisps--which got me super excited!! They were SO good!


Then after ORTV, Pei asked if I wanted to go buy a dress right now (she had offered a while ago to take me shopping, because I complimented her about her dresses, and asked her where she gets those amazing designs from]. So Pei asked me if I was free to go shopping, and I thought about it and agreed! So off we went! Turns out she looks for big designs then gets them tailored and altered to fit her! So that is what we did! And the amazing and crazy thing was, was that she wanted to buy me a dress as a gift! Paying for the dress, and paying for the alteration so that it fits my body! Amazing! I’m super super thankful for that!


I walked back to the train station because I decided I wanted to catch a bus directly home. I bumped into Sue and Pete on the way walking back from the train station (they were going home from ORTV), and it was nice to chat a little with them...
It was such a great day! I didn’t even get rained on when going home either!
Honestly, yesterday was such a day of blessing and I’ve only got God to thank, because it felt like God’s love and blessings were pouring down through a lot of people.
But really, yesterday felt like I had downed a bottle of Liquid Luck (from Harry Potter!!! haha).


(Then after two days I realised why...)
I was amazed when I got reminded of my blessings recently:
- My boss gave me bread > a reminder that God will always feed me.
- Mavis gave me a scooter ride to the MRT station > a reminder that God will always provide a way.
- Birdy gave me the taste of salt and vinegar > a reminder that God is sending me home, and so I can have my British fix!
- Pei gave me a dress > a reminder than God will always clothe me.
- At the ORTV bible study, we looked at Zacchaeus > because God wanted to teach the others, and more obviously me, about trusting God for money.
- Bumping into Christine, then Sue and Pete, them giving me encouragement > a reminder that God will always provide words of affirmation when I need it the most.


It was certainly a great day. That day, it felt like it was just good coincidences But it wasn’t until the day after--I got worried for the future, and got discouraged. But then I re-read the previously good day’s entry and realised God was trying to tell me something.
That whatever happens, God’s goodness and unfailing love will always be with me everyday.
And it took all day of good blessings for me to figure it out. And what’s cool was, God covered all aspects of things. From bread, to clothing, to transport, to money, to encouragement... and more!

Can’t help it, but who could not want to follow a God like that?

search me

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24 [NIV]

This above psalm is such a beautiful psalm. Actually there’s a lot of these beautiful psalms. But I think this is just one of the many.

I think it’s beautiful because it is completely something a humble person would honestly say to God, in their prayer time.

It’s saying to God that He needs to search us, as in to examine us and know what’s in our hearts.

It’s praying boldly that we want God to test us and to know our anxious thoughts [or whatever is in our thoughts].

And to see if there is anything offensive – which needs to also be addressed.

And through this, to continue to be led to His way, forever.

I think it’s a great prayer or psalm. Something to say to God.

Many times we just go to God without speaking with honesty about what’s going on in our hearts.

Every day there is actually something that we need to come clean to God about.

So a simple prayer for God to search us, know our hearts, test us, know our thoughts, and to see if there’s anything niggling at our minds, hearts and us.

There’s something everyday, because we aren’t perfect and we will always fall short of the glory of God [because we’re sinners, we WILL let God down]. But once you’ve established that, and through sanctification [knowing we can’t change but only God can change us, through His Grace and blood, in order to become holy THROUGH Him.]

I like it because it’s not only like a prayer to God; but it can also be a reminder that God is all knowing, but we should still come before Him, humbly. It’s a reminder to US that we need God. We DO offend Him, and acknowledging that we offend Him causes us to deal with the issues between us and God.

It’s reminding us that we can easily fool ourselves into believing we’re good. But the truth is, God knows us better than what we know of ourselves. So for God to search us, is reminding us that we need to be under close scrutiny from God. We need to be truly examined. And with that we can humbly walk with Christ, being led in His way.

I like this verse. Join with me to meditate using this psalm. 

Conversations

“Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.”
Colossians 4:6 NLT

I majored in English language studies. Not learning English as a second language. But looking at the history of language, the way people talk, why we use certain words, how men and women communicate, how toddlers/children learn how to talk, communication and conflict. It was bordering on psychology and anthropology, yet also overlapping to communication studies, body language and spacial stuff.
I actually enjoyed my degree, it was interesting. But I honestly don’t think I’m the greatest communicator. Yes I know all about it. But it doesn’t make me great at it.

The interesting thing is, though we may have a hard time communicating with one another, God can still use us to speak (or not speak!) To share stories, to encourage, to witness to, to bond with one another through quality time.
I can kind of relate to Moses, in that Moses had a speech impediment.
Wow! Ansy has a speech impediment?
Only a little! Sometimes I stutter, but it’s nothing someone would consider a huge problem.
I stutter when nervous, only stutter a little. And when I’m really nervous [like when I’ve thought about what to say, and am waiting my turn to share it to the scaryish group] my voice sounds different.
But I liked how God still used Moses to be a leader and to change the history of the Israelite slaves.

Which brings us back to the above verse. It's not how good or bad you are at talking. As long as you glorify God though your words, by default it can be gracious and effective, offering a right answer for everyone. And to glorify God, you need to ask yourselves “Is what I’m saying about ______ glorifying to God?” “Is this edifying?” (edifying meaning to strengthen and encourage each other and building them up).

Recently at a social gathering, a friend had invited a friend to join us. You automatically knew she was a non-believer, by the way she spoke-words of pain and hurt, explicit words, words that would tear someone down, words that innocent children wouldn’t know what it meant, words that would make any mother cover her child’s ears.
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” James 3:10 (NIV)
It can really make a difference when you meet someone who has language that is pleasant, praising, and just gentle without curses. It really makes a different.

Or let’s not get into swearing. Something as basic as gossip can be far from gracious and effective [in the positive sense!]

In my degree we came to a conclusion that communication can tear someone down, or raise them up. Tearing someone down can spiral deeper and deeper, ending up being a continuous cycle into the deep abyss (or something worse, it can end physically dangerous). Whereas when you raise someone up through words-it can have such a massive positive effect.

It’s a good reminder to be on your guard to have decent conversations, seasoned with good flavours, rather than flavours that can knock someone out. KO style.

thanksgiving and praises

Psalm 95:2
"Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to Him.”


I challenge you today, to think about things you want to thank God for.
Maybe today was a bad day. Perhaps you can thank God that it didn’t end up too bad.
Maybe today was a good day, easy to find something to thank God for.
Maybe today you said goodbye to someone, in fact we need to thank God for friendship?
Maybe today you had an answered prayer, all the more reason to praise God.
Maybe today someone did a huge favour for you, yay for people helping you.
Or maybe today you were down. All the more reason to be singing to Him, turning the despair into praises.

Whatever day you’ve had, turn it into psalms of praises to God.
It’s a good feeling when one swaps one bad thing and God changes it for good.
It’s a good feeling when one brings a good thing and God makes it even better.

Lifting up praises to God is one thing we were inclined and born to do.
And one thing we will definitely do in heaven.
But here on earth we have a tendency to forget to praise Him, and wallow in despair.

I know I have a tendency to wallow in self pity, and when feeling down you just want to listen to songs that mirror that. It can get so dangerous. Instead, listening to songs that have praising God lyrics can be very beneficial and remind us all of God’s amazing power, love and faithfulness.

In good times and bad times, praise Him.
We spend too much time in our days thinking about the bad negative things, and we forget to thank God for our blessings.
We spend too much time taking credit for things, but really, we need to thank God for all He gives us, or helps us with.

In good times and bad, let’s sing psalms of praise to Him, offering thanksgiving to the One who so freely blesses us abundantly.

Preparing an answer

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

I looked at some other versions to explain the “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord”, as this can be hard to actually understand. Other versions say:

NLT: "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life”

ESV: “but in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy,”

KJV, NKJV, NASB etc, all use the words: “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts”

God’s word translation: “But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord”

And most of the other translations are similar to the ones above.

Interesting, isn’t it?

And the word “Sanctify” in the dictionary is basically, to make holy, purify and make it free from sin, to entitle it with respect and honour that it deserves.

So, in simple modern day terms, we need to put Christ as Lord in our hearts, with respect and honour, free from sin and to honour Him as a holy being.

The second part is simple. 

To be prepared to give an account for what you believe in. 

Explain why you have the hope in Christ.

Being ready to give an answer to their questions as they wonder about what you believe in.

And to do this with gentleness and respect. [there’s more in verse 16 too, go check it out!]

It’s a good verse to be reminded of.

I remember when I had first become a Christian. I remember someone asking me about it, and I can honestly say I didn’t know how to answer. Simply because I wasn’t prepared.

Kind of how at an interview, the interviewer asks you a really really hard question that totally throws you. Like completely.

And you either don’t know how to answer, or you try and explain [or blab in my case], but you fail to be correct. In verse 16 it does tell us we need to be careful so as to not cause them to speak ill of you.

Which is exactly why, in cases like interviews or someone asking you about your faith -- you need to know your stuff and be prepared to give an answer.

But fear not. With plenty of practises at interviews, or through time, people always ask you about why you believe, you end up knowing what to say, or what not to say. 

But all in all, it certainly does help to have your heart focused on Jesus, as Christ your Lord, as a holy being.

And if that’s the case, you can’t really go wrong!

Is it genuine?

Matthew 6:1
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

That verse is dead on when it comes to warning us not to be all braggy and showy in front of people.
That is exactly why you shouldn’t just view someone based on their actions and the way they are in public.
What you see is not necessarily what you get.

In the past couple of months I’ve been traveling around and staying for a little with friends here and there.
Seeing them at home in their natural habitat is different from seeing them out in the public, say at church being the prime example.
Seeing how they interact with people, how they react to this bad situation, how they are at ease at home and rather uptight out in the public.
Seeing them relax vs be close to melting point.
It’s all very different.

But what always used to make me think, and it still does, was what that bible passage says. Actually the following few verses in chapter 6 of Matthew. All the way up to verse 18. Everything we do in secret will be rewarded in heaven.

Which was why when I first became a Christian, and I thought to myself, I should start with the book of Genesis, then when I reached Leviticus, it got too hard, so then I decided I should read Matthew. Then I came across chapter 6. And it made me all the more shy about praying in public. Why should I pray out loud in public for all to hear? Why should I practice being a Christian in front of people if people will think I’m braggy?

I think it took me a while to understand the meaning of this passage.
And here’s what I learnt [and will always continue to learn about this]:

The passage tells us not to be showy offy. Like the Pharisees.
A “Sunday Christian”. Someone who is only a Christian on Sunday. And then gradually throughout the week, slips back into his/her old ways and habits. But when in front of people, gives off a persona of someone who is a Christian, all holy and righteous and look at me, and my big super holy nose.

Yes, we should practice what is being preached. And we should practice what we preach. And practice what we believe.

The difference is, behind closed doors, we need to still pray in secret, do righteous things in secret, fast in secret. And not to make a spectacle about it.
And so through time, this becomes a good discipline, so much so it becomes part of your daily life, pretty much ingrained... that it then goes out with you into the open. And it becomes part of your character, a righteous character trait.

And so when people do view you at home, or observe you when you’re not looking [or you're blatantly not on stage for all to see], you are genuine.
Your goodness is genuine. And that you’re not a hypocrite. But you’re the real deal.

But what happens behind closed doors is between you and God.

Is your faith for show? Or is it genuine?
In front of people, you’re in the light.
But when you’re alone, are you in the light with God? Or are you hidden in the dark? Not being the light??
Are you really genuine? Is what you believe and say you believe genuine?

I guess only God knows. And you too.

in waiting

Romans 12:12 
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.


As simple as the author wrote, it’s a simple matter of a fact statement. But there is an element of challenge to it.

How far, just how far, would YOU go for your friends?
So you’re going to meet up with a friend. Say, by the train station exit. You get there, about 2-5 minutes early. And you wait. You look at your watch, it’s now the time that you and friend agreed to meet. You look around, and see no sign of friend. Then 10 minutes pass, still no show. 15 minutes, 20, then 30. Sure in this day and age, there are things like mobile phones: a quick phone call to see where your friend is, or a text message just in case your friend is driving. But what if your friend doesn’t have a phone? Or forgot the phone? Or the mobile ran out of battery? Or nobody is picking up the phone?
Would you still wait? Would you still stand there waiting after 30 minutes? 45 minutes? And hour? Even still, no form of communication?
How far would you go, in terms of waiting?

I’ve asked this question to a few of my friends. Most would give it 30 minutes, some an hour. You also have to take into consideration how close of a friend this friend was.
Some say that if this friend is well-known for having issues with punctuality, they’d expect that from them.
Others say that if this has happened on many occasions, just to you... then that friend is just disrespecting you, disrespecting your time. Doesn’t respect this friendship. Expects you to keep waiting [with no communication, on their part, though they could communicate, they just don't....]
You would be unforgiving, wouldn’t you?
In theory, you say you’d be ok, but if this has actually happened to you, after an hour or maybe two hours of waiting... you certainly grow very annoyed.

What about waiting on God? How long can you wait for?

You asked God, in prayer, for something.
Maybe it was for God to heal someone’s mother--who has been in a coma for several years.
Maybe you asked God to bless you with a spouse.
Maybe you asked God to provide a way for you to go on to the mission field.
Maybe you asked God to save the family members and to receive salvation.
Maybe you asked God to bless you with a baby.
Maybe you just want the time to pass by quickly so you can hurry up and not wait around for this special day to happen etc.
Whatever it is, our patience is certainly tested.

Then you see someone else healed, yet that other person is not.
You attend someone’s wedding, perhaps that person getting married is in their 30s or 40s.
You learn about someone getting funding and being sent off within 6 months to the mission field, absolutely everything falling in to place.
Several thousand people believe, yet your family still don’t.
Suddenly there’s a baby boom and everyone around you is having babies.
etc.

Sure, our patience is tested even more, when you see that God is answering prayers for other people, but just not answering YOUR prayers.
How annoyed does that make you feel? Jealous much? sure!

Yet in the bible, we are STILL told to be joyful in hope. Not hope begrudgingly. Not “I hope so... but bleh” type of hope. It’s to be joyful IN hope. Have hope that is positive and joyful.

We are STILL told to be patient in affliction. Nobody likes waiting around. Affliction meaning times of distress, grief, bad times, misery, sickness etc. just generally negative times. And through this, be patient  because things can only get better.

And lastly. Faithful in prayer. Continue to be faithfully praying, in communication to God.
Like keep calling that friend up when you’re waiting for them.
Keep calling on God, keep talking.

He might be telling you that you need to wait, He’s coming. But if you don’t communicate with Him, you won’t know what He’s telling you.

Patience IS a virtue, yes. Virtue as a good thing, righteous thing.
But praying faithfully and joyful hope, is like the cream-of-the-crop icing on a righteous and delicious cake.