Keep running

When i read newspaper, i actually enjoy reading the obituary page.

Not because i enjoy seeing so many people dead but there is something on that page that never failed to caught my eyes.

I read how those that passed away touched the lives of people around them when they were alive through all the poems and short notes.

I also looked at their age, how many childrens they have and most importantly - their faith while alive.

I will get very encouraged when the one i saw is child of God knowing this person is rejoicing in heaven by faith.

And one particular verse that always being quoted is 2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, i have finished the race, i have kept the faith.

This verse spoke so much to me even though am very much alive now. And i can understand why this verse is so popular to be put together with the obituary. I'll break the verse into 3 parts where the 1st says, "i have fought the good fight." Life on earth is like a war everyday. We are not on war with human but with the spirit. We just need to continue fighting to the very end. Yes, we will fall and stumble from time to time but we have God to fight alongside. The victory is already in hand when Jesus died so, fear not.

Most of the time, we get injured during the battle and some might even leave deep scars in our hearts. But we are not to be discouraged as each hurt and scar are precious in God's eyes. There are battles where we need to lose in order to win more battles in life.

2nd part says, "i have finished the race." Yes, life is like running on a long track which only God knows where is the finishing line. We need to keep on running and running. There will be time when the track is not smooth at all ... it's like going uphill and there will be time when the track is so smooth ... but God wants us to continue running.

God put people in our lives to run this race together with us. Of course there will be some who ran faster and some slower or some even left us when we stumble. Some will cheer and some will jeer, but never give up. Some will have shorter race to complete and some will be longer. Whatever race you are in, keep running my friend as i'll run with you, wait for you and together we will finish this race.

3rd part says, "i have kept the faith.". What is faith? Faith is believing in something you cannot see. It's not easy to keep the faith when things are out of control .... i know this very well. During trying and challenging moments, faith is very much shaken. I can only pray to God for mercy and grace. But you know what? We gotta keep the faith regardless of season we are in. Ask God for that supernatural understanding and ability and He will provide. That is why it says God is forever faithful even when we are so faithless.

Things always happen for a reason which we often failed to see it until God reveals it to us. To have faith is the ability to say, "God, i don't know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But if you still want me to carry, i will do it"

It meant so much to be able to put that verse on someone's obituary when the day comes. It shows how obedient that person was by his/her perseverence. And i believe God will surely say, "You good and faithful servant" and welcome him/her with a big warm hug in heaven.

L

Man .. what is my dream man

I've been bombarded with typical questions by really alot of people recently - not sure they are purely concern why am still single todate or want to see whether they "fit" my description of man or simply being busybody.

Whatever your reason is, I'm going to answer you not verbally but in written so that it actually stick into your brain & mind and you'll actually stop asking :)

So, what is my dream man? Or what is my taste when comes to man.

Well, below is my laundry list and feel free to make your own checklist if you are interested.

1) Love Jesus above all else. Of course fanatic maniac are out from my list. Got to have balance in life though.

2) Courage. Very important because that makes a man a man. Very sad to say most men i met, lack of courage or don't have at all. They talked big but when asked for clarity, they suddenly turned into "chicken". The worst is do not have courage to even confess when they like someone - super pathetic.

3) Stable. Has to be stable financially and emotionally. No doubt this is year 2009 and i have a stable income and job, but i still need my man to be financially stable. I can't imagine i have to pay everything on my own and worst, support him financially. I may sound mean over here but i just want to be real. I'm leading a pretty comfortable lifestyle now and i don't mind spending RM50 for a meal and travel yearly. Can u imagine if i need to reverse my lifestyle coz my man is poor?

Emotionally stable is extremely important too. Emo man is like so sissy especially the ones that can't control themselves well. Women is already emo enough and plus another emo man? My man has to be someone that can give me the shoulder to cry on and not the opposite. He just got to be strong. Don't get me wrong. He can have emotions coz he is human too but not the emo emo type.

4) Gentleman. Hmnnnn ... this is saddest part. I think i'm more gentleman than most men i met. I opened doors for them when they rushed to squeeze in, i let them walk 1st coz they just do not know how to line up, i waited for friends to enter lift before speeding off in my car to make sure they are safe and etc. One thing i observe, being gentleman is something u are born with. Coz some might argue this can be learnt, well you can try. But it does look stupid to me when you try so darn hard to be gentleman by doing big stuff just to show it but simple things in front of you, you just missed it. And that counts coz i pay attention to details :)

5) Know how to carry himself well. This can be how he dress up and communicate. I strongly believe what you wear actually reflects your personalities. You don't have to dress to kill but pleaseee .. dress accordingly. Childrens wear children clothes, teens wear teen clothes so adults please wear adult clothes. Whether you are man or boy, i can tell by what you're wearing. Communication is equally important. It tells how mature u are and you can't pretend in this area. So, think before you talk coz 90% of time, am turned off after 5 mins conversation - too quick to judge huh? :)

To be frank ... the list can go on and on and on ... but above should be good enough to make you guys out there shake your head. I don't have to write longer coz if you can't even fulfil the basic 5, what else you want to know?

Anyway, i dare to put up those 5 coz i "think" i myself as a lady fulfilled it. It will be so irony if my man can't keep up to that. I may be able to accept who you are ... but can you as a man?

Ok, i hope by posting this up, it helps to answer all your 'wondering/assumptions/doubts/etc'. It is not meant to hurt anyone or to even give hint to anyone coz am not that "chicken". It is purely my own defination of my dream man based on my own standard.

P/S : Just wonder this kind of man exist or not ... sigh

L

Love ... love with all you have

Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'. This is the first and greatest commandment (Matt 22:37-38)

Came across this particular verse during my QT yesterday and again was reminded when i had the 1:1 with a friend.

Yes, this is the greatest commandment from God. This is the highest learning, the most challenging command and the most fulfilling act to do.

I wonder and ponder how to love God with ALL my heart, ALL my soul and ALL my mind. All simply means ALL - everything, 100%. I questioned myself how much i really love God when i say i love Him.

God says you can't serve 2 masters. It's either Him or the other. When you love someone, it's always about that person, right? So, when you love God, is it always about God or something/someone else?

God loves us so much even when we don't even know Him. We don't exist by ourselves and let's be real here. He created us for eternity and not for this time on earth only. Therefore, stock up your treasure in heaven and not on earth where you can't bring it along with you.

It's an honor to be loved by God. It is the highest achievement in life where you can't buy it with any amount of money. We are sinners yet God sent His son to die for us. We don't deserve any of this ... no matter what we do or say ... we just don't deserve what Jesus has done on the cross for us.

God's love sustained me thru all these while esp when i was at the lowest pit of my life. His love is forever real and renewed every morning. God was never 1st in my life before this even though i know & love Him. It's always ... i repeat always about someone else, my work and rubbish activities that overtook God. But you know what? God cares and loves me to the extend when i was there alone, broken and crushed, He carried me and wiped my tears away.

So, do you think God deserves the best from us? Is it a fair request from Him to command us to love Him with all heart, soul, mind and strength while we can? Well, make use the brain that God graciously gave us to think and ponder over and over again. Then act to it :)

L

If you never ......

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I am a Healer?

If you never had to pray, how would you know that I am a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?

If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I am a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I am a forgiver?

If you knew all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?

If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue

If you never were broken, how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering, how would you know what I went through?

If you never went through the fire, how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?

If you had all power, how would you learn to depend on me?

Above message ministered to me so much so that i want to share with everyone of you. I know many asked if God so real and loving, why He still allowed certain things to happen.

Well, i hope above message somehow rather able to open your spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear what you need to know.

In every situation and season in our lives, God is there whether you know or not. God is the unseen guest at every meal and silent listener to every conversation.

Don't think He don't know when you cried alone, He knows and every tear is like a diamond in His hands. I believe it breaks His heart too when our hearts are broken.

Friends, God is forever faithful even when we are faithless. Can you see His hands extending towards you to hold you forever?

L

Stock check

Time for stock check as i'm moving into Q2 of 2009.

Let me check my status versus the new year resolutions that i wrote somewhere early Jan.

Hmnnnn ... these what i wrote:-

1) Put on weight ... errrr maybe another 5kg? or 8kg? Tell me gals ... how many kg huh?

Stock check - Eeerrrr ... i think i managed to put on ~1.5kg to 2kg so far. My weight still not stable as it goes up and down. Been doing my very best and in fact taking below supplements .... yaya ... go ahead and laugh.

2) Tone up my shapeless body ... sigh .. this is torturing esp when you have a personal coach that lovessss to "pump it up" all the time to make ur veins come out.

Stock check - Yesss ... can see the shape of my arms but need to be careful coz dun want to end up looking like Madonna. Wanna see photos of my arms? Go and dig urself :) Tummy hmmnnn ... can see the lines dee but nothing to be brag about coz i hate abs training.

3) Spend more time learning & putting things into actions for God.

Stock check - Yes also but i believe i can improve. I'm getting so much in love with God's word and it's so amazing seeing Him speaking to me thru it. At times, when i was ministering to others, i myself was being ministered. God indeed is awesome and getting more real in my life.

4) Spend meaningful moments with family & friends as you know ..... hehe

Stock check - Guilty of this. Again, i believe i can improve in this area. No excuses ... just guilty.

5) Continue to walk by faith and let the past go.

Stock check - Amen to this. Indeed God is forever gracious and mercy when comes to this area. All glory to Him my friends. I encountered breakthrough in my life and thru all the trying circumstances, God was there. I can testify not even a second in my life, He left me alone. Yes, He allowed me to grief, experienced great sorrow to death, how it feels to be hurt and betrayed and very important - what does it take to really forgive someone that hurt you the most.

Letting go is not easy but doable with the strength of the Lord. Letting go does not mean you forget the past but letting go is to enjoy the freedom from bondages that holding u down. Letting go is to move forward, letting go is the ability to forgive and bless that particular person and importantly, letting go is not to let the past haunt you down.

Yes, i still feel sad and sorrow whenever the past came to mind. I acknowledge that am feeling like this is simply because am just a normal human. I have the love that God put in me the day He created me. This is just me .. the Linda Low that you guys and gals know. But hey, God allowed all these to happen to make me a stronger and better person for Him.

L