A year filled with God's goodness

Shiok Sendiri Posting :p

2011 is a tough year to my family and career. I still remember I had my very first day of 2011 in hospital. After a month of my op, my dad's turn. All of sudden, he enter hospital due to mild stroke. Later on my mum's turn. While I thought all the bad things were away from my family, mum told us that she wish to divorce with dad. They quarrel and the situation seem like no turning point. And then my career crisis. 

Well, it might start with all bad things but my God end my year with his goodness. I thank God for preserving my life. I never plan to do a check up in hospital and had an operation. My cysts burst. Doctor said I might lost my life once those toxic fluid circular through out my body. The op just happened on time. 

Besides me, dad become the first mild stroke patient in Island Hospital to be healed in the shortest time. It only took two months for dad to gain back his 95% energy. I remember while his in hospital, he can't even talk and walk. Carry a pillow is an impossible mission to him. According to doctor, such condition need a least six to eight months to recover. In the second weeks, a pastor came to my house and pray for dad. Dad have a very good sleep on that night. Before pastor leave, he told David that dad will be healed on the very second day. No one take this word seriously. On the second day early morning, I heard dad crying. He manage to carry a pillow and walk slowly without a support. This is my second time seeing dad cry. From that days onward, we can see God healing hand upon dad. And now he can drive, carry heavy stuff, hiking etc. 

Dad cut down his work load after the stroke. To our amaze, his business profit increase amazingly.I start to understand while God want us to rest. Because at the moment we rest, God work for us. He provide beyond our needs. Thanks

Mum's leg healed without op. She can even walk longer than me and Nikki while we were in Hong Kong. We were so worry about mum condition that she can't walk too much hence I cut down a lot of places to be visited in Hong Kong. End up me and Nikki cried as our leg sprain and tired. Mum's feel nothing! funny.

Dad and mum issue resolved. After the incident, our family are closer to each other. I can see dad changing, he cares about this family more than I expected. While mum suffer for depression, he is the one who stay beside her. The act of love touch me and I really salute dad for his patience, commitment, responsibility and love toward us. 

While I wonder about my work, seeking answer am I suitable in sales line, God open another door for me. The reason I choose to stay in sales is because I able to meet up different people and opportunity. My new job scope are slightly similar to sales but can stay away from all dirty money and lying.

Lord thank you. What can I say about all these ?

A year filled with God's goodness :)

The stone manger

We are probably familiar with the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The Bible says that when the time had come, Mary “brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger”. (Luke 2:6–7) But have we ever wondered why the angel told the shepherds that the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger was a “sign”?

Like most of us I grew up seeing Christmas cards of Jesus “asleep on the hay” in a wooden manger. Wooden legs in the shape of a large X with the bed a wooded-sided V. Is it possible Jesus’ manger was wooden? I think so. Is it likely? I think not.

Wood as a commodity for things like mangers, tables, etc. was rare in Galilee. The word teknon used for Joseph’s and Jesus’ occupation in Matthew 13:35 and Mark 6:3 is a matter of debate. (We get our word “technical” from this term.) Were these men “carpenters” or “stone masons”? Because the greater Nazareth area is not a forested area, but has many stone quarries, it is most likely Joseph and Jesus worked with stone, not with wood.

Stone mangers, troughs to feed animals, were common in Israel in the 1st century. When Mary wrapped her newborn son in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, he was in a solid, secure structure - a stone manger !

But why was that a sign? Because if we have seen the empty tomb of Jesus at a place called The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, we would have noticed that the place where His body was laid, inside a tomb hewn out of rock, resembles a stone trough. The Bible says that after Jesus’ crucifixion and death, Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb hewn out of a rock. (Mark 15:43–46)

Yea! There is the similarities, right? Wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger, baby Jesus would one day be wrapped in linen and laid in a tomb. That was the sign the angel was referring to. It pointed to Jesus’ death.

Jesus was the only child in all of humanity born to die. Once I realize that, I realize how much God loves me. Yahweh gave up His Son for that one purpose, and that His Son willingly came for that one purpose — to die for your sins and mine.

I can never imagine living a life knowing that I am just qualifying myself to die on the cross to save the world! How about you? And that was the life that Jesus lived. He lived to die, so that we might live and enjoy life abundantly today!

Quoted from Joseph Prince's daily devotion.

We are the reason

A sister taught me one of the way to refresh myself about Jesus' love by watching The Passion. Ha..indeed, it works! This year Christmas, I'm kind of look forward. No other special reason to make me think like that. Just simply hopes that it will be a meaningful celebration. Not so about carolling, gifts or party, just a session to remind myself the reason Yahweh sent His only Son, Jesus to this world 2000 years ago- the most and ever perfect Christmas Gift from God.

We are the reason that He gave His life. How wonderful is this love. So unbelievable and yet it is so true. 

Dear Lord, thank you for this Gift.

edited by my bro..good job Daniel.