My journey...

Soul Action was our Community project "event" for the year. Putting our worship to God in action. Giving the glory back to Him. The highlight of the event was that we went to a marginalised and poorer community to help them clean up their place. We did not do much to the place. Unclog their drains and attempted to paint their corridors. I am not surprised that they are dirty again. But the longer lasting impression that we did was in the hearts of the people. Both of the participants and of the people in the community. They will remember a bunch of Christians going into the place they call home and help them clean up. Going into their drains (literally) to clean their filth. Playing with their children and lavishing them with gifts.

I am reminded from the conference that we are doing this not because we have pity on them for the condition that they are in. Not because we feel that we are better than them in our living standards but because we see them as God sees them. His precious creation and we want to bless them and share some of the love of God. Be God's hands and feet reached out to them. To let them know that they are loved and not forgotten and not wanting anything in return. Without strings attached.

The highlight for my day was to see the children working together with our youth. To see the youth being so accepting of them. At the end of the day, there are a few children who came to me to "salam" (act of appreciation). My heart melted. Just one day of showing them love and they are so responsive and appreciative. There are so many needs out there. Of course we cannot meet them all but sometimes, we can make a difference to just one person by our obedience to God. Just showing a little love goes a long way.



It reminds me of the story of the man with the star fish. I am sure it has been circulated in the internet. And it goes something like this. A man was walking along the beach and there was a lot of star fishes that has been washed ashore. He began to pick them up one by one and throw them back into the sea so that they will not die of dehydration or of being out of water. Another guy comes along and said to the man, what difference is that going to make. There are so many star fishes on the shore. Surely you cannot throw them all back in. Then the man picked up one star fish and threw it into the sea and said "I made a difference to that one". Picked up another and said "I made a difference to that one too".

There were many people who came from the community that we were serving that day but I am sure it made a difference to at least one soul. I know that Daddy in heaven was smilling down at us on that day. It is not that we want to teach them to be clean and to take care of the cleanliness of the place from now on because that probably will not happen but we want them to know that they are loved and that they matter to at least this group of people who care to go to them.

Have you ever seen a painter a work? He begins with a sketch of what he wants to paint. But it is only he who will know what the finish product will look like. No one else could imagine what he sees in his head. Then he begin to slowly mix the colors to his perfection and slowly starts to add layers of colors to the canvas. Initially it may not seem much of a picture. Just blobs of paints here and there. Then as time goes by, the picture becomes clearer and clearer. We begin to behold the beauty of the master piece that is in the mind of the painter. Then when it is complete, everything becomes clear and beautiful.

God is the master painter in our life. Each step that we take in our life completes a part of the whole picture that He has in mind for us. At times, we will not see where our journey fits in the whole picture and we may even think that it is not suppose to be cause it makes the picture looks kinda weird. But as we journey along with the master painter, He will begin to paint the picture of our life like He intended it to be. He has that picture since the begining of time. He has thought of every color and every detail in the journey of our life. He will complete that which He started. He may not reveal to us what the finish product will look like but that is our adventure with Him. Together the master piece is created. Together the colors are added on. Slowly, you will begin to see the big picture. The completed picture but there is no short cut. You have to go through the journey in your life to see it.We may be anxious to see the finish product but patience is a virtue. We need to trust in our creator. Our master painter that His master piece will indeed be a unique piece of work.

Each step I take in life
Though I seem to strife
Given to the creator of this life
Creates a masterpiece with my life

Hiding place. Place of security. Place of comfort. You need a hiding place when you are running away from your enemies. Like David running away from King Saul. He went into hiding. A place where you do not want others to find you. Hiding place could also mean a place where you just want to be alone. Where you find comfort in staying in that place. Not wanting to interact with others. Hiding place is a safe place. You do not need to take any major risks. Hiding place could also be a place where you hide when you have done something wrong.

I was contemplating about hiding place on Sunday during worship. I told God "If you are my hiding place, won't I be running away from my problems. Not going anywhere but just wanted to go in hiding and not face my problems? If I keep running to you for comfort, won't I be wanting to stay in the dark?" To me, hiding place was a dark place where it is not visible to others so that they could not see you.

My God is good. He answered me straight away. During altar call, Pat came to me and said that God told her to tell me this... "He is my hiding place (could you imagine my jaw dropped when I hear that word.. hiding place). His hiding place is not a dark and dim place. It cannot be because God is there and God is light. But in the comfort of His presence His light will reveal the intents of my heart and cause me to see more clearly what I could not see before".

His hiding place is a place of healing and a place where we learn to become more like Jesus. His image in us become more and more evident. In this journey in life, being in His hiding place is not just running away from our enemies or hiding our shame or being in a dark place to be away from people. But to be in His hiding place is to behold Him. To admit our weakness and to embrace His strength. For Him to reveal the secrets of our hearts. So that His light could shine into the dark places in our heart. Then we can be made more and more into His likeness. God is also love. His hiding place must be a place of love. Without condemnation.

You are my hiding place.

Saw this movie "mistress of spices" today. Interesting movie. About an indian lady who have given her life to spices. She has some rules to follow in this life that she has chosen. In return, she does "miracles" with the spices. They work magic for her customers. She has some sort of a prophetic gifting when she obeyed the rules of the spices but if she disobey, the spices works against her. She could not step foot out of this spice shop which she runs and she cannot touch another human skin. Cannot fall in love. Told you it is an interesting movie. She ended up liking this guy (not very good looking also)and the spices got angry with her and causes her customers to be angry at her. Then she did the unthinkable, she step foot out of her shop in disguise of helping someone but actually going on a date with this man. She was terrified of disobeying the spices but she did. At the end, she tried to burn herself to show her devotion to the spices. Bazaar movie.

It reminds me of some people in the church. How many are trapped in the tradition and the "rules" of the church. They serve the church instead of the living God. They live their whole lives serving and upholding the traditions and becomes "super spiritual". Trapped in their own fears of being out of line in case they loose the "presence of God" or the "favor of God". Just like this mistress of spice being dominated by the spice, some church dominates the lives of the people. Giving them a false picture of what life on earth is suppose to be. Making people to live in unreachable expectations of themselves. Everything that they do are controlled by the church. Afraid to make any sudden moves. Causing people to live in this pretense of what a perfect "christian" should be.

Is there a perfect Christian? Is that why there are so many who are hurt by the church and so many in living in sin and hiding it. Afraid to go for help because of shame. Fear that they will be rejected by the church because afterall they should have "perfect" life. Shame because they are not living the life that they should be? We are all sinners saved by grace and our salvation is a journey. Who says we need to be perfect to be accepted? Tradition that we have been serving? Religion that we are trying to hold on to? The institute that we call church family?

What is community where there is no love?
What is unity where there is no mercy?
Each seem to be seeking for things above
but the truth they do not see

Hearts that are broken
Lives that needs mending
Words t hat are not spoken
Even silence seems deafening

Love that is not felt
Help that is not given
Silent cries of the people
just goes on unspoken

Where is the love we are to extend
A community where people can depend
Giving grace as God intends
Where people no longer need to pretend