Here I am again about halloween. I don't know what happened to halloween in 2010 and 2011, but I did not blog about it haha. Actually, last halloween, we were so busy stuffing candies and these awesome home made tracts I must have forgotten to blog on it. I remember taking a couple of pictures of my kids' stuffing action though.
We don't celebrate halloween because I have seen too much of the dark side in the spiritual world. We have passed out tracts and candies though. But just a thought here.... the object of evil isn't intrinsically evil itself until a person who knows evil relates it to evil. Halloween can't be good when witches and wiccans sacrifice babies but halloween can be good when Christians step out in this dark night and teach that there is hope and grace even in a time like this. The days are evil whether if it's halloween or not.
Reminds me of great examples.... Jehovah's witnesses teach that objects r evil. So when they see a cross it reminds them of a pagan god so they r repulsed by the object of salvation. But to us the cross reminds us of love and ultimate sacrifice. With similar principles, they teach their kids how to "evilize" all festivals, objects, and motives.
Another example, easter... easter is a fertility god, it has nothing to do with our Lord's resurrection. But Christians throughout the years have used this pagan holiday to teach the gospel to their own children using eggs, bunnies, chicks, candies and different resurrection recipes. Yet again, Jws teach that this holiday itself is evil and no one should be honoring the fertility god when no one thinks of the fertility god when we color an egg or pass out chocolate bunnies. If a family had no upbringing about the history and evils of halloween but just trunk or treat and dressing up as something fun, is halloween an evil pagan holiday to their kids? Does dressing up and celebrating it "give more power" to the dark evil demons?
Can't Christmas also become pagan when santa becomes the object of affection in any home including a Christian home? Can't easter also become a pagan holiday when the painting of beautiful easter eggs becomes the main event of the day?
A day in itself has no power to be evil or good until a person of evil or of good grants it power to be evil or good. Look at Romans 14:14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
The book review I did back in September for "Grace based parenting" actually talked about halloween for a little. What he said really made sense. I will look for that book and quote it when I find it, but he basically said, if all we do is instill this fear of halloween into our kids and tell them what evil happens on that day, we are teaching them about the evil not about the good. They will remember what is evil and not what they can do to impact the world on a day like this. They will remember to be scared and not being about to be sent out into the world to be bold on a day or a society that is wrapped in this sort of thing!
The Chinese culture has many different festivals. I grew up celebrating each and every one of them. I remember thinking how silly the stories were but the festivals were a fun time. An excuse to get the entire family together, distant relatives and all! Do I teach my kids that all these festivals are evil just because it doesn't have Christ? Or do I bring Christ into these festivals so that they can bring Christ to their friends when no one else see Christ in them? Do I teach my kids not to participate and scare them out of action or send them into the world for action with the power of Christ?
Romans 14:5-9(ESV) One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
I wrestle with this whole chapter of Romans. No one needs to be judged of what they do with anything. That I know. I used to struggle with being legalistic about it and judged others. Not anymore at all. I went through it and grew up out of it in Christ. What I am still trying to grasp is how I can raise my kids in a way of grace not legalism about not celebrating halloween the way others do. Right now, I tell them what I learn about this. Today, I told them, for example, that a holiday is evil when a person or a group of people makes it evil. Some Christians use it to share the gospel, some hide at home. Some unbelievers choose to dress up as scary evil characters, some also choose to hide at home. Like me, before I was a Christian, I never dressed up and "trick or treat".
Here are my evolving thoughts and growing knowledge of grace on this western holiday, "halloween"
2008 - This was my blog on halloween named "and What occasion is this?"
2009 - This one was written about this same day named "Halloween - It's just not our holiday"
2011 - my husband drew and dedicated this episode of jujubee and raisin to pointing families back to Jesus at halloween. We must have printed 100 and on the back was a gospel presentation in words. We folded and stuffed it in a little bag with candy.
LORD, continue to teach me. Continue to stretch my mind because sometimes I am reading and writing but cannot comprehend. Only through Your grace will I grow in love and grace. I love You. But not enough. I want to love you more than more. Convict me and forgive me of my sins. Expand my love for You and for Your Creation. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Re-visitation
Frequent re-visitations are essential. What I mean is, when God is teaching something, go back and revisit it frequently, read it again, think about it again, pray about it again, examine your life against it again and again.
One of the heart issues I was revisiting tonight is what I had mentioned in the blog on Sept 5, 2012, just a couple of weeks ago. I wrote the verse I mentioned on the cover on my bible, and when it fades, I re-write it. I just rewrote it two nights ago actually.
I went on biblegateway, and I put different versions together and studied them. Click on this, this is what I had on my screen.
In the last block, the Chinese version, it says, "Lazy man admire from afar but can't ever achieve; those who put all their might into hard work are promised prosperity." Sounds like a Chinese proverb!! ;) It says what it means and means what it says. The word admire, gives a longing for whatever they try to achieve. Also, the second part gives "umph" to the hard work. It's like triple hard work. Then, the word promised, it's gives me a "wow, finally, satisfaction is here" feeling. I love this version and how I translated it, hahaha.
Now look at Holman Christian, the slacker, here, is someone who just mopes and sits around doing nothing, even though it sounds like he knows what he should be doing. Well, he gets nothing! The ones who are diligent are satisfied, whatever they need or want to accomplish.
How about ESV? I wonder if the original language had the word "pneuma" or what in it? It says soul. But, I get it. It's deeper. It's not about material. Not about things. As I blogged on Sept 5, I crave to have spiritual things done, and when I don't work hard to get them, my SOUL feels like failure, like confused, I feel unrest.
NASB is similar to ESV.... except for the word FAT at the end LOL made me think food instead. Maybe soul food. Food for the our eternal spirit. God's Word. Jesus did say, "Man does not live by bread alone." We shall grow spiritually with spiritually food.
NIV uses the word appetite. It made me think food right away too. Everyone has an appetite for either worldliness or godliness. We have to choose what to work hard at. If we choose worldliness, we will never be filled in spiritually. There will never be enough when we are lazy at working toward godliness. Ecc5:10
I have been working slowly towards discerning what God wants me to be doing VS my own wants. I want to have a good appetite for working towards the right things, not empty things that don't matter to Him. May all of us strive for a godly appetite for spiritual growth, and never give up desiring it with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
LORD, You are my God, continue to teach me through this verse. I can't get enough of You and what wisdom You have for me. Use me, humble me, teach me, direct me, help me to always glorify you in everything I do. Focus my eyes on You and what You have called me to do and who You have called me to be. Give me strength to not seek human praise and ignore human jeer, but to turn my gaze upon You. Thank You Lord for giving me abundant life I never dreamed I would have. Truly, You know what's best for me. In Jesus' name I pray to You. AMEN.
One of the heart issues I was revisiting tonight is what I had mentioned in the blog on Sept 5, 2012, just a couple of weeks ago. I wrote the verse I mentioned on the cover on my bible, and when it fades, I re-write it. I just rewrote it two nights ago actually.
I went on biblegateway, and I put different versions together and studied them. Click on this, this is what I had on my screen.
In the last block, the Chinese version, it says, "Lazy man admire from afar but can't ever achieve; those who put all their might into hard work are promised prosperity." Sounds like a Chinese proverb!! ;) It says what it means and means what it says. The word admire, gives a longing for whatever they try to achieve. Also, the second part gives "umph" to the hard work. It's like triple hard work. Then, the word promised, it's gives me a "wow, finally, satisfaction is here" feeling. I love this version and how I translated it, hahaha.
Now look at Holman Christian, the slacker, here, is someone who just mopes and sits around doing nothing, even though it sounds like he knows what he should be doing. Well, he gets nothing! The ones who are diligent are satisfied, whatever they need or want to accomplish.
How about ESV? I wonder if the original language had the word "pneuma" or what in it? It says soul. But, I get it. It's deeper. It's not about material. Not about things. As I blogged on Sept 5, I crave to have spiritual things done, and when I don't work hard to get them, my SOUL feels like failure, like confused, I feel unrest.
NASB is similar to ESV.... except for the word FAT at the end LOL made me think food instead. Maybe soul food. Food for the our eternal spirit. God's Word. Jesus did say, "Man does not live by bread alone." We shall grow spiritually with spiritually food.
NIV uses the word appetite. It made me think food right away too. Everyone has an appetite for either worldliness or godliness. We have to choose what to work hard at. If we choose worldliness, we will never be filled in spiritually. There will never be enough when we are lazy at working toward godliness. Ecc5:10
I have been working slowly towards discerning what God wants me to be doing VS my own wants. I want to have a good appetite for working towards the right things, not empty things that don't matter to Him. May all of us strive for a godly appetite for spiritual growth, and never give up desiring it with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
LORD, You are my God, continue to teach me through this verse. I can't get enough of You and what wisdom You have for me. Use me, humble me, teach me, direct me, help me to always glorify you in everything I do. Focus my eyes on You and what You have called me to do and who You have called me to be. Give me strength to not seek human praise and ignore human jeer, but to turn my gaze upon You. Thank You Lord for giving me abundant life I never dreamed I would have. Truly, You know what's best for me. In Jesus' name I pray to You. AMEN.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Music to my ear
It's been a long long time since I woke up to Hanon.
I have woken up to them practicing a little song. But not Hanon yet.
I grew up waking up to my mother teaching piano. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, I'd hear my mom's students play classical music and technique exercises.
This morning at 8, I woke up to a familiar sound. I was a little confused, but as I awoke, I realized Isaac was practicing Hanon #1 by himself. It was truly music to my ears. My eyes opened wide and I propped up going, huh? I tried to figure out if it was Abigail or Isaac. Out of curiosity, I went to the living room and found out I was right. :)
It was a very sweet moment.
I have woken up to them practicing a little song. But not Hanon yet.
I grew up waking up to my mother teaching piano. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, I'd hear my mom's students play classical music and technique exercises.
This morning at 8, I woke up to a familiar sound. I was a little confused, but as I awoke, I realized Isaac was practicing Hanon #1 by himself. It was truly music to my ears. My eyes opened wide and I propped up going, huh? I tried to figure out if it was Abigail or Isaac. Out of curiosity, I went to the living room and found out I was right. :)
It was a very sweet moment.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A Mama's struggles
My struggles as a mother have not come from my kids' misbehavior or weird conduct. It has come from my own childhood. Whatever I was struggling with then, I still struggle with now. The way I was wired then, is the way I am still wired now. My struggles as a mother still come from the ways I saw my parents acted and reacted. Yes, I am a new creation in Christ. Yes, I have gone through the renewing of my mind. Yes, I have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus. My struggles as a mother come as I realize that I have to go through these steps each and every day to ensure the purity, sanity, and sanctity of my mind, heart, and soul.
Truth? It's tough! My normal childhood in the world was not normal at all. My childhood was not just in the word, but of the world. Going to temples and worshiping statues were a norm. The yelling and screaming ending with a talk of divorce every night was a norm. A depressed suicidal childhood was a norm. These things followed me into pre-adulthood and magnified as I found myself unprepared for adulthood, so I played pretend.
Dare. The dare was to stop playing pretend. The falsehood that chained me to its bones had me think that I was somehow doing all right. When I met Jesus in my car, I was immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit. Confronted with endless grace, I knew I couldn't lie to the face of the living God.
Difference? Hope. My struggles of laziness, longing for more of God, an untamed tongue, unsubmissive heart, wild thoughts.... have only one hope. JESUS. I am thankful Jesus has cut my chains to my old self but I am not perfect. When Paul said "Therefore" in Romans 12:1, he was addressing the remnants of Israel. Last verse in chapter 11 says God has bound everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them ALL. So "in view of God's mercy," we have to offer our tongue, our minds, our hearts, our ears, our eyes, our feet, our laughter, our tears, our happiness, our anger, our sufferings, as a "living sacrifice." Our worship to the one true hope, one true God, is the ways we treat and employ the bodies God has given us.
Charge. The charge is for ultimate holiness. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world," Paul says. What pattern? The patterns of infidelity, idolatry, speech, jealousy, hatred, Christian feminism, self righteousness, love of money. On top of that, Paul added, "but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Renewed by God's Word, His righteousness, His kindness, His grace, His mercy, His submissiveness,.... everything that stands opposite to this world! Everything that the world cannot do without His help.
THEN! Then, I will be able to "test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
My struggles as a mother has not ended, but it HAS an end. :) It is a victorious end and it lies at the foot of the cross, in the blood of Christ, by the grace of God.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1,2
Truth? It's tough! My normal childhood in the world was not normal at all. My childhood was not just in the word, but of the world. Going to temples and worshiping statues were a norm. The yelling and screaming ending with a talk of divorce every night was a norm. A depressed suicidal childhood was a norm. These things followed me into pre-adulthood and magnified as I found myself unprepared for adulthood, so I played pretend.
Dare. The dare was to stop playing pretend. The falsehood that chained me to its bones had me think that I was somehow doing all right. When I met Jesus in my car, I was immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit. Confronted with endless grace, I knew I couldn't lie to the face of the living God.
Difference? Hope. My struggles of laziness, longing for more of God, an untamed tongue, unsubmissive heart, wild thoughts.... have only one hope. JESUS. I am thankful Jesus has cut my chains to my old self but I am not perfect. When Paul said "Therefore" in Romans 12:1, he was addressing the remnants of Israel. Last verse in chapter 11 says God has bound everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them ALL. So "in view of God's mercy," we have to offer our tongue, our minds, our hearts, our ears, our eyes, our feet, our laughter, our tears, our happiness, our anger, our sufferings, as a "living sacrifice." Our worship to the one true hope, one true God, is the ways we treat and employ the bodies God has given us.
Charge. The charge is for ultimate holiness. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world," Paul says. What pattern? The patterns of infidelity, idolatry, speech, jealousy, hatred, Christian feminism, self righteousness, love of money. On top of that, Paul added, "but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Renewed by God's Word, His righteousness, His kindness, His grace, His mercy, His submissiveness,.... everything that stands opposite to this world! Everything that the world cannot do without His help.
THEN! Then, I will be able to "test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
My struggles as a mother has not ended, but it HAS an end. :) It is a victorious end and it lies at the foot of the cross, in the blood of Christ, by the grace of God.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1,2
Friday, July 8, 2011
Genderless classrooms....?!
MUST READ ARTICLE
"Have you heard about the recent report from Sweden about the staff of a preschool no longer using pronouns like "he" or "she" when referring to students? It's another example of what happens when marriage is redefined to include same-sex couples.
The preschool's approach to gender is a reflection of Sweden's national school curriculum that includes the mission of breaking down gender roles. For example, when playing "house," teachers suggest students role play with two or three taking the role of "mom."
These attempts at social engineering—impacting kids directly—aren't just happening overseas. An Oakland elementary school recently spent two days on "Gender Spectrum Diversity Training." Their reading list for second and third graders includes My Princess Boy and 10,000 Dresses, in which boy characters wear tiaras and magical dresses."
nothing more to say...... LORD have mercy on us and our next generations to come.
"Have you heard about the recent report from Sweden about the staff of a preschool no longer using pronouns like "he" or "she" when referring to students? It's another example of what happens when marriage is redefined to include same-sex couples.
The preschool's approach to gender is a reflection of Sweden's national school curriculum that includes the mission of breaking down gender roles. For example, when playing "house," teachers suggest students role play with two or three taking the role of "mom."
These attempts at social engineering—impacting kids directly—aren't just happening overseas. An Oakland elementary school recently spent two days on "Gender Spectrum Diversity Training." Their reading list for second and third graders includes My Princess Boy and 10,000 Dresses, in which boy characters wear tiaras and magical dresses."
nothing more to say...... LORD have mercy on us and our next generations to come.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Isaac's 4 tomorrow!
Im so proud of my little boy! God has gifted him in so many ways and has blessed him with so much. He is going to be like his daddy, a godly man after God's own heart. A few weeks ago, he was out at the clothes line with me helping me with laundry, ......
I asked him: what do you want to be when you grow up?
Isaac: I wanna be a firefighter.... and I want to build a house on the solid rock.
Me: Yeah? That's great. I am so glad to hear.
Isaac: Yes, and I want Abigail to build her house right next to mine.
Me: Why?
Isaac: because I love her. I love both of my sisters so much.
Me: Awww! you are one sweet boy.
Isaac: And I want your house to be next to mine too. So we can be close together.
Me: I want you to be close too! But what if your wife wants to live close to her parents which is far away?
Isaac: then I will give her the directions for her to drive there.
Me: but what if she wants to move close to her parents?
Isaac: mommy, if she wasn't a godly wife i wouldn't have married her.
To me, that was one of the deepest conversations I had with him. He has learned that a wife is to be submissive to her husband. Now when he is married, his number priority might be different and would not be to live close to us. But in his little mind, he knows that his responsibility is to make the big decisions and to lead his family with godliness. He blows my mind! And I thank You God for continuing to mold him and teach him through life, us, his sisters, and Your word.
Another conversation happened today when I rocked him at bedtime. (no i don't rock my kids to sleep still. the kids just take turns being "questioned" every night hahaha) anyway, he told me he was bullied at VBS. when i picked them up from VBS, abigail had told me she played with him which was weird because they were in different classes. as the story unfolds, i found out she was the only one brought out of her class for a little to play with isaac who was supposedly grouchy. the grouchiness came from the bullying. he told me the kids didn't want to play with him. so of course, i asked him if he took turns, if he tried to share, if he asked to play, if he did this or that... he basically said he would go to kids and they would turn around and play somewhere else! he told phill that he was "left alone". : ( what else could i feel but sad and heart broken? anyway i told him i know how he feels because i grew up in that environment where classmates bullied and didn't want to play with me. and i also told him that Jesus knows how he feels because after Judas gave him a kiss, all of His friends ran away and He suffered and died alone. Isaac is a good sport, still smiling as we talked. but he admitted he was sad. i told him he has to believe God is sovereign, that He has allowed this to happen so that he can share in Jesus' sufferings and so he would have compassion on other kids when they are "left alone".
I don't know why he was "left alone" but I do know that God uses everything to draw us close to Him. I know teaching Isaac all this will make an eternal difference in his life. I, too, have to believe that God is sovereign and has allowed this in his life. It's gonna be okay.
So.... I told him tomorrow is a new day, thanked Abigail for being a loving big sister, and kissed them good night. We have a week of celebrations planned for his birthday and we can't wait!!!
I asked him: what do you want to be when you grow up?
Isaac: I wanna be a firefighter.... and I want to build a house on the solid rock.
Me: Yeah? That's great. I am so glad to hear.
Isaac: Yes, and I want Abigail to build her house right next to mine.
Me: Why?
Isaac: because I love her. I love both of my sisters so much.
Me: Awww! you are one sweet boy.
Isaac: And I want your house to be next to mine too. So we can be close together.
Me: I want you to be close too! But what if your wife wants to live close to her parents which is far away?
Isaac: then I will give her the directions for her to drive there.
Me: but what if she wants to move close to her parents?
Isaac: mommy, if she wasn't a godly wife i wouldn't have married her.
To me, that was one of the deepest conversations I had with him. He has learned that a wife is to be submissive to her husband. Now when he is married, his number priority might be different and would not be to live close to us. But in his little mind, he knows that his responsibility is to make the big decisions and to lead his family with godliness. He blows my mind! And I thank You God for continuing to mold him and teach him through life, us, his sisters, and Your word.
Another conversation happened today when I rocked him at bedtime. (no i don't rock my kids to sleep still. the kids just take turns being "questioned" every night hahaha) anyway, he told me he was bullied at VBS. when i picked them up from VBS, abigail had told me she played with him which was weird because they were in different classes. as the story unfolds, i found out she was the only one brought out of her class for a little to play with isaac who was supposedly grouchy. the grouchiness came from the bullying. he told me the kids didn't want to play with him. so of course, i asked him if he took turns, if he tried to share, if he asked to play, if he did this or that... he basically said he would go to kids and they would turn around and play somewhere else! he told phill that he was "left alone". : ( what else could i feel but sad and heart broken? anyway i told him i know how he feels because i grew up in that environment where classmates bullied and didn't want to play with me. and i also told him that Jesus knows how he feels because after Judas gave him a kiss, all of His friends ran away and He suffered and died alone. Isaac is a good sport, still smiling as we talked. but he admitted he was sad. i told him he has to believe God is sovereign, that He has allowed this to happen so that he can share in Jesus' sufferings and so he would have compassion on other kids when they are "left alone".
I don't know why he was "left alone" but I do know that God uses everything to draw us close to Him. I know teaching Isaac all this will make an eternal difference in his life. I, too, have to believe that God is sovereign and has allowed this in his life. It's gonna be okay.
So.... I told him tomorrow is a new day, thanked Abigail for being a loving big sister, and kissed them good night. We have a week of celebrations planned for his birthday and we can't wait!!!
LORD, thank You for blessing us with Isaac. He is full of love, sweetness, kindness, generosity, righteousness, mischief, energy, talent, boy-ness, ideas, and questions! You have made him, he is Yours, continue to grow him, mold him, teach him, love him, protect him, and humble him through everyone and everything. May Your will be done in his life. In Your name I pray AMEN.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
funny funny
you had to be there:
isaac points to a big blanket - "this is a blanky"... points to a small blanket - "but this is a blanky boo... because it's not big. it's small".. points to another small one -"this is a blanky boo too because it's small like the other one."
esther points to my chin - "chin" then my eyes - "eyes...." then she pauses... "your eyes are big... one two fee five seven..."
hahahaha should i be concerned???? she so funny
isaac points to a big blanket - "this is a blanky"... points to a small blanket - "but this is a blanky boo... because it's not big. it's small".. points to another small one -"this is a blanky boo too because it's small like the other one."
esther points to my chin - "chin" then my eyes - "eyes...." then she pauses... "your eyes are big... one two fee five seven..."
hahahaha should i be concerned???? she so funny
Monday, May 9, 2011
daddyvotional 5 :)
My kids were so funny!! Thanks Honey!
fast forward to 3:23 for the kids' video for mother's day!
my answers: 1. sushi 2. mango 3. 29 4. trampoline or swimming 5. yellow 6. to smell - gardenias or to look at - tulips.
fast forward to 3:23 for the kids' video for mother's day!
my answers: 1. sushi 2. mango 3. 29 4. trampoline or swimming 5. yellow 6. to smell - gardenias or to look at - tulips.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Golgotha - The Skull
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 89 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” 13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. 1617 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19, New International Version, ©2011)
and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19, New International Version, ©2011)
Abigail spent 2 hours building her "castle." But what she doesn't know is what God can do with the gifts He gave her. She might have meant for it to be a castle, but God meant it for something else. May her hands be anointed to glorify Him and to preach the good news to all. I can't wait to see what she will be and how she will glorify God with her gifts as she grows in her faith, wisdom, and age.
Lord God, thank You for your sacrifice and thank You for the hope You gave us by Your resurrection. May You continue to expand Your Kingdom and establish Your Kingship in our hearts and in this family. We confess our sins as imperfect parents. You know I have anger issues, idleness in some areas of my life, a prideful heart, and selfish ambitions. Please continue to transform those areas and may the Holy Spirit continue to consume me from the inside out. I also ask for Your mercies as we raise our children. I will say it again, they are Yours. Help us to continue giving and dedicating them unto You. Thank You that You have great and awesome plans for our children and that Your plans for them will always surpass our plans for them. Thank You for Your promises to extend Your mercy to the generations. Please help us LORD to build this legacy to surrender all unto Jesus and to declare Your LORDship over this family line. We will continue to put Your blood over our door posts and teach our children to do so. By Your mercy and grace, we are victors over death and sin. In Jesus' awesome name. AMEN.
Lord God, thank You for your sacrifice and thank You for the hope You gave us by Your resurrection. May You continue to expand Your Kingdom and establish Your Kingship in our hearts and in this family. We confess our sins as imperfect parents. You know I have anger issues, idleness in some areas of my life, a prideful heart, and selfish ambitions. Please continue to transform those areas and may the Holy Spirit continue to consume me from the inside out. I also ask for Your mercies as we raise our children. I will say it again, they are Yours. Help us to continue giving and dedicating them unto You. Thank You that You have great and awesome plans for our children and that Your plans for them will always surpass our plans for them. Thank You for Your promises to extend Your mercy to the generations. Please help us LORD to build this legacy to surrender all unto Jesus and to declare Your LORDship over this family line. We will continue to put Your blood over our door posts and teach our children to do so. By Your mercy and grace, we are victors over death and sin. In Jesus' awesome name. AMEN.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
A step UP
Phill had been doing "daddy tapes" for the kids for when he's not home. We started about two years ago i think and these tapes are hard to make and the quality is horrible. With savvy technology, he is now able to produce a video for the kids. Here's the first episode!
And here's a footage of my kids watching it:
Lord continue to help us raise these kids in Your path. Remind us always that they are all Yours and that Your hands are upon them. Remind us of the Hope we have in You and to lift them up to You often. Be gracious to us. AMEN.
And here's a footage of my kids watching it:
Lord continue to help us raise these kids in Your path. Remind us always that they are all Yours and that Your hands are upon them. Remind us of the Hope we have in You and to lift them up to You often. Be gracious to us. AMEN.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas
The simple nativity story and the history of the line of David still amaze me. the 200+ prophecies that were fulfilled and unfolding even before Jesus was born and died on the cross are still overwhelming every time i read about them. I want to keep it that way for myself and also for my family, and also for my children's families. My desire for my children and my children's children is that they will keep these holy days set apart to honor the One true God, not traditions, idols, people, or things. We really did quite a bit. Just tonight we made a book out of 8 coloring pages and the older two took turns telling each page. The most impressive thing about this is that both of them didn't just make up stuff from the coloring page but cited bible verse after bible verse about Jesus' birth from the books of Matthew and Luke. I truly enjoyed this project. We do not have presents under tree, and no, we are not stingy scrooges or anything, but rather kept the Jesus tree to be something special too. We got them gifts but spread it out to different days. Although on Christmas Day, we did hide them in different places of the house and had a treasure hunt and the kids had a blast. No, we don't do santa. he makes me physically sick. Again, growing up in Hong Kong in a family who worshiped idols and ancestors, I see him just like I see baal. Nothing special, just another idol. I am NEVER going to let anything or anyone steal Him glory ESPecially on holy days such as His Birth and His Resurrection. Jesus deserves the spot light in my heart, in my home, and in the raising of the next generations. He never gets the spotlight like this any other time! and I will keep it that way for Him especially to my children. I want my children to learn to love and serve: the poor, the sick, the confused, the drunk, the homeless, the dying, the lost, the enraged, the orphaned, the ugly, the unwanted, the old, the hungry, the wasted, ..... the ones who no one want to get near... especially on these holy days, to give of themselves instead of getting what they can out of it.
Oh Lord my God, thank You for all You have redeemed in our lives. You are a great and living God who saves. You have won the battle and given us new lives. You have the ultimate sovereignty in our lives and are merciful to Your servant and her children. Lord, continue to raise up a generation who will combat for their Kingdom brothers and sisters from my household. Bless my children and children's children and so forth and bless my relationships with all of them. Help us pass down a legacy and the torch of faith to them. Rain down Your mercy and grace on us. We surrender our will for yours, our desires for yours, and our hearts for yours. Continue to transform and mold us and our children. Let Your Holy Spirit and His work be evident in our lives. Unite us in Spirit, mind, and soul. Use us for Your Kingdom Work and protect us from the Evil One. In Your precious Son, Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.
Oh Lord my God, thank You for all You have redeemed in our lives. You are a great and living God who saves. You have won the battle and given us new lives. You have the ultimate sovereignty in our lives and are merciful to Your servant and her children. Lord, continue to raise up a generation who will combat for their Kingdom brothers and sisters from my household. Bless my children and children's children and so forth and bless my relationships with all of them. Help us pass down a legacy and the torch of faith to them. Rain down Your mercy and grace on us. We surrender our will for yours, our desires for yours, and our hearts for yours. Continue to transform and mold us and our children. Let Your Holy Spirit and His work be evident in our lives. Unite us in Spirit, mind, and soul. Use us for Your Kingdom Work and protect us from the Evil One. In Your precious Son, Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
prayer for abigail
"I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. " -1 Tim. 2:9-10
my 5 year old loves to be a girl... something that i struggle to identify with. i love being female but i am definitely far from being "girly". im into competitive sports and not into makeup. im not afraid of what people think of me, not into dressing up, and not into jewelry. does that make me less of a woman? no. not at all. God made me this way, to balance everyone around me and God made my daughter this way to balance me out. i pray for the Lord to bless my relationship with her and for me to encourage her to become a woman who fears the Lord.
My amazing God, thank You for Abigail. Continue to bless our relationship and teach me to guide her into godly womanhood. Continue to work in her heart and reveal Your plans to her. Let Your Holy Spirit work and break her heart of her sins and the world's sins. Open her eyes to the spiritual realms and bless her with gifts that You want her to use for the Kingdom. Help us remember that she is Yours. I ask this is Your Son's name, AMEN.
my 5 year old loves to be a girl... something that i struggle to identify with. i love being female but i am definitely far from being "girly". im into competitive sports and not into makeup. im not afraid of what people think of me, not into dressing up, and not into jewelry. does that make me less of a woman? no. not at all. God made me this way, to balance everyone around me and God made my daughter this way to balance me out. i pray for the Lord to bless my relationship with her and for me to encourage her to become a woman who fears the Lord.
My amazing God, thank You for Abigail. Continue to bless our relationship and teach me to guide her into godly womanhood. Continue to work in her heart and reveal Your plans to her. Let Your Holy Spirit work and break her heart of her sins and the world's sins. Open her eyes to the spiritual realms and bless her with gifts that You want her to use for the Kingdom. Help us remember that she is Yours. I ask this is Your Son's name, AMEN.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Abigail is turning 5 tomorrow
God we praise You for Abigail. Her heart is full of beauty, love, and maturity. Lord continue to reveal Your plans for her life to her and open her eyes to the spiritual realms. Let Your Holy Spirit shine in her life and transform her heart continually. Help her to commit herself to You every morning and rest in You every night. I pray that You will guide her footsteps and that she will choose to draw close to You. Prosper her future with Your blessings in her ministries and relationships. Be with her husband and let her husband be a man of God. I pray that her husband's parents will also raise him in You and Your word. That he will know You at a young age and dedicate his life to Your Kingdom and people. Bless their ministry, their marriage, their children, and their grandchildren. Bless my relationship with Abigail and let me continue bonding with her. Let me shine Your light and teach her what a godly woman's heart is like. Lord we need Your help and it's through Your grace that we are able to mentor her and love her. Bring a mentor into her life who has a heart for Abigail and a mature friend who will hold her accountable in the faith. I pray that Abigail will bond also with her mentor in a way that she will trust her words and follow her example in the Lord. I pray that Abigail will find a friend who she can love and correct and be corrected through challenges and learning. Strengthen the bonds between Abigail, Isaac and Esther. Help them love each other and help Abigail to set a godly example for them. Use them to challenge her and mold her into the woman You want her to be. Bless Phill and Abigail's relationship as she grows up into a young lady. Help Phill to love her, protect her, cherish her, teach her, and honor her. As Abigail look as Phill, let Yourself shine through him. Let Your Spirit guide his words, actions, eye contacts, and emotions. Thank You Lord for her. Thank You that You first loved her. Thank You for letting us love her. I lift her little soul to You and dedicate her again and again to You. She is Yours. We love You Lord. AMEN.
isaac the goober
2 days ago after watching a mtv of gofish's "stories of the bible" he said, "mommy i liked the girls dancing more than the boys because of their long hair"
yesterday he said, "i wanna hold esther" so phill put esther on his lap. he said "when esther grows up, i will marry her" and after a couple more minutes he said, "esther is growing, my legs are starting to hurt!"
today: "mommy when i use my singing voice, i sound like a girl (gur without the r)"
oh he's precious. God thank You for Isaac and help us to raise him up as a soldier of Your Kingdom. AMEN.
yesterday he said, "i wanna hold esther" so phill put esther on his lap. he said "when esther grows up, i will marry her" and after a couple more minutes he said, "esther is growing, my legs are starting to hurt!"
today: "mommy when i use my singing voice, i sound like a girl (gur without the r)"
oh he's precious. God thank You for Isaac and help us to raise him up as a soldier of Your Kingdom. AMEN.
Friday, November 19, 2010
a little surprised
i was just doing the nighttime routine with esther and isaac since abigail is at the wmc with daddy. they took their showers, got dried, got their pjs on, and got ready for bible reading.
isaac chose the story of daniel and the lions first, then usually abigail gets to choose the 2nd one but since she wasn't here, isaac got to. he chose Jesus on the cross. when i got to the part about Jesus being nailed on the cross, isaac asked, "whyyyy????" with a sad face. and it's normal. he asks that every time. so i said, "why do you think?" so he answered, "because of our sins" i said, "whose?" he said, "everybody's" so i explained, "isaac, even if you were the only person on earth with sin, He would still have gone on the cross and died for you." isaac said, "will God be with me?" me "only if you believe in your heart that He is the Lord and Savior" and he said.... "i doooo...." not with an excited voice, but a yearning attitude. so i said, "well then ask Him to be your Lord and Savior" and there, isaac prayed and asked "Jesus I want you to be my Lord and Savior. (then i helped) come in my heart and help me to obey."
"tell Him you believe He is God and that Jesus is His Son, that He rose from the dead and can wash away your sins. ask him to help you love Him, His word, and others. ask him to help you set a good example for your sisters" and all this isaac was able to verbalize all of it personally to God. i then prayed a blessing over his life and went on to brush his teeth.
isaac's only turned 3 years old this past June. i know he wanted to do that. and i am documenting this down for him and for all to see. i am just... haha... a little surprised! pleasantly surprised. :)
Our Father God, Most high King, You are so GOOD! Thank You that You have given me affirmation about my children. That obediently raising them in You and in Your word will bring our family salvation and joy. I thank You for letting Isaac understand parts of Your salvation message tonight. I thank You that this little boy You blessed us with has a heart to follow You. God continue to help us guide our children to You and show them Your heart, love, joy, suffering, and Spirit. Let us not lead them into sin but to salvation. Help us to parent by grace and not by law. Bless our children with passionate hearts for Your Kingdom and Your people, godly wisdom to make godly decisions, and deep unshakable personal faith that will be contagious to everyone around them. I receive your promises for me and my family and I trust in You alone. God may our lives glorify Your awesome name. AMEN.
isaac chose the story of daniel and the lions first, then usually abigail gets to choose the 2nd one but since she wasn't here, isaac got to. he chose Jesus on the cross. when i got to the part about Jesus being nailed on the cross, isaac asked, "whyyyy????" with a sad face. and it's normal. he asks that every time. so i said, "why do you think?" so he answered, "because of our sins" i said, "whose?" he said, "everybody's" so i explained, "isaac, even if you were the only person on earth with sin, He would still have gone on the cross and died for you." isaac said, "will God be with me?" me "only if you believe in your heart that He is the Lord and Savior" and he said.... "i doooo...." not with an excited voice, but a yearning attitude. so i said, "well then ask Him to be your Lord and Savior" and there, isaac prayed and asked "Jesus I want you to be my Lord and Savior. (then i helped) come in my heart and help me to obey."
"tell Him you believe He is God and that Jesus is His Son, that He rose from the dead and can wash away your sins. ask him to help you love Him, His word, and others. ask him to help you set a good example for your sisters" and all this isaac was able to verbalize all of it personally to God. i then prayed a blessing over his life and went on to brush his teeth.
isaac's only turned 3 years old this past June. i know he wanted to do that. and i am documenting this down for him and for all to see. i am just... haha... a little surprised! pleasantly surprised. :)
Our Father God, Most high King, You are so GOOD! Thank You that You have given me affirmation about my children. That obediently raising them in You and in Your word will bring our family salvation and joy. I thank You for letting Isaac understand parts of Your salvation message tonight. I thank You that this little boy You blessed us with has a heart to follow You. God continue to help us guide our children to You and show them Your heart, love, joy, suffering, and Spirit. Let us not lead them into sin but to salvation. Help us to parent by grace and not by law. Bless our children with passionate hearts for Your Kingdom and Your people, godly wisdom to make godly decisions, and deep unshakable personal faith that will be contagious to everyone around them. I receive your promises for me and my family and I trust in You alone. God may our lives glorify Your awesome name. AMEN.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Spiritual Warfare
I know I haven't blogged in a couple of months. So much going on! But here's the plan for Sept.
week 1, 3: do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong. for like the grass they will wither away. trust in the Lord and do good.
week 2, 4: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
________________________________
Don't like it but engaged in it actively from the moment I believed that Jesus is Lord of my life. This is just one of my favorite books from the Bible that reminds me to be drastically different from the world and not buy in their evil schemes.
Lord, continue to give me discernment for the things You don't want me to meddle in. Continue to give me a heart of reconciliation. Continue to help me rear our children in the umbrella of Your grace. Help me stay away from the fruitless deeds of this world and give me a love for the lost continually. In Your Son's name. AMEN.
week 1, 3: do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong. for like the grass they will wither away. trust in the Lord and do good.
week 2, 4: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
________________________________
Don't like it but engaged in it actively from the moment I believed that Jesus is Lord of my life. This is just one of my favorite books from the Bible that reminds me to be drastically different from the world and not buy in their evil schemes.
Ephesians 5
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.a]">[a] 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
________________________________Lord, continue to give me discernment for the things You don't want me to meddle in. Continue to give me a heart of reconciliation. Continue to help me rear our children in the umbrella of Your grace. Help me stay away from the fruitless deeds of this world and give me a love for the lost continually. In Your Son's name. AMEN.
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