20170321: Rainbow@ Holland V! Titus 3:4 Kindness, Love and Mercy of God

21/3/17! Hey I caught this double rainbow at HV!

Titus 3:4 "But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared..."

As I turned out from Jelita Cold Storage heading home on this fateful day, 21/3/17, right in front of me on this road ...this awesome rainbow STARED at me!

Yes, it was a double one!  And it happened in red dot after one double one too was sighted by many last sep.  So 6 mths later, another one was sighted by many!

Rainbow chaser I am! What a joy to behold one!

EACH TIME I see one, I am reminded of His Covenant of Love.

Lovely song " I feel my Saviour's Love"

And I am reminded of Titus 3:4...as this rainbow appeared that evening..

"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us not because of righteousness we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

Reflections

Did I feel the warmth and beckoning of this rainbow sighting? Yes I did!
And this song resonates in my heart through the voices of these kids!

1. I feel my Savior’s love
In all the world around me.
His Spirit warms my soul
Through ev’rything I see.

2. I feel my Savior’s love;
Its gentleness enfolds me,
And when I kneel to pray,
My heart is filled with peace.

3. I feel my Savior’s love
And know that he will bless me.
I offer him my heart;
My shepherd he will be.

4. I’ll share my Savior’s love
By serving others freely.
In serving I am blessed.
In giving I receive.

Chorus
He knows I will follow him,
Give all my life to him.
I feel my Savior’s love,
The love he freely gives me.

20170311- Gunung Pulai Climb!..Ps24:3

Ps24:3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?

On 11/3/2017, some of us decided to do a mountain climb! Sudden interest after visiting Kulai twice this month and stumble upon Gunung Pulai base mountain after a wrong turn!

One thing for sure- this wooden rod or staff given to us in 2015? was so useful for this mountain climbing!

 We started at 10:15am from the base of the mountain..
We reached the top at about past noon. And made it to the base back about 2:50pm (all in about 3.5hours of walking....and panting perhaps for some especially towards the summit last leg where the gradient of slope was about 40 degrees at some turns..)

 
 Remembered the insect repellent but forgotten to put sun block! Even though the weather was still quite cool with surrounding greens! UV!!!

 So we did made it to the top and back! So proud of my 71 year old sister who met this challenge!

Gunang Pulai was not as scenic as the Castle Rock mountain we climbed last Sep in Albany.  However it was more cardio work out this time for us even though it was a tarmac road and not the jungle trek.  We were wondering why? Perhaps the weather made all the difference? Also in terms of distance and hours, Pulai was definitely more challenging!

http://asahengathers.blogspot.sg/2016/09/20160913-amazing-as-of-albany.html?m=0


Reflections

The highlight of this climb was when we were at the Peak. Unfortunately, none of us could read the signs in Malay.  It was a restricted area which 2 pax wandered unknowingly into. One of them happened to a stranger we met on the way up the mountain.  It was quite a scene to hear loud commotions where we were sight seeing.  Then before we knew it, we witnessed an unforgettable motorbike chase scene (like from the movie!).  Two soldiers interrogated in intensity fro "trespassing"! Who would not have been frightened?! With one carrying an AK rifle?
LOL.  And then a sad tale of the account of the person involved in the situation while we descended down.

What a memory of Gunung Pulai! Next trip perhaps we will try the jungle trail instead!

Mountain Thots...
I never enjoyed climbing uphill. Not my cup of tea.  Give me tennis or table tennis anytime! Nevertheless, quite proud that I did 2 mountain climbs within a year.  

Ps 24:3 "Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?"

If my elderly sister can make it to this task, I am sure many others too can do it!

Do we need clean hands and a pure heart to do so? or one that does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false?

I guess by my own merit I cannot.  But with the grace & mercy of the Lord who has picked me up once from the miry clay, forgiven me as I turned away from my own sinful way, I can ascend the hill of the LORD.

Moses (Deut32:49), Jonathan ( 1 Sam 14:8113) and Elijah (1 Kings 18:42) - all these men did a mountain climb as commanded by the Lord during their time. Because they sought the Lord .

So may we too be always reminded the mountains before us.  Despite whatever challenges the climb may be, may we be always seeking Him, Seeking His face. That is perhaps all we need to do in this very epoch time!

20170303: Matt 26:36 Garden of Gethsemane - The pain and suffering?

Matt 26:39" My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will"

Recently, one of the loved ones in my family suffering from cancer experienced not only intensity but also heightened frequency of the pain in this last few weeks post CNY.  Helpless watch.

Perhaps this passage in the famous Garden of Gethsemane became more alive to me than before.  About the pain and suffering that our Lord Jesus Christ had to endure- knowing that it would have to come to pass.  

Even Jesus experienced "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful even unto death"

Three times - He asked..."If it be possible...or if this cup may not pass away from me..."..."Not as I will, but your will...your will be done"

Gethsemane , Jesus loves me 

So he went willingly to Gethsemane

He felt all that was sad, wicked or bad

All the pain we would ever know

While his friends were asleep

He fought to keep

His promise made long ago

The hardest thing that ever was done

The greatest pain that ever was known

The biggest battle that ever was won

This was done by Jesus

The fight was won by Jesus

Gethsemane, Jesus loves me

So He gives His gift to me, From Gethsemane

Reflections

One of the names of Yahweh is that of Jehovah Rapha - the Lord who heals

For a terminal patient fighting between the line of life and death, freedom from pain vs the imprisonment of suffering of pain and drugs - there lies a question : If Jesus is who He said to be - the One who heals, why can't He take away this pain right now? When O When O Lord, will I be healed from this disease?

For us bystanders in witness of loved ones going through such trying times, what would our prayers be? For healing despite of the downward trend of the physical sight of the loved ones? 

The words of this song Gethsemane says it all.  

Despite knowing the Lord in this earthly pilgrimage, all of us will still have to journey to another better place that He had already prepared for us.  The day He conquered sin and death on the cross at Calvary.

His pre-death experience in agony with sweats of blood in prayer - even He asked if that pain could be taken away from Him.  But yet in His obedience, He submitted to not his own will, but that of His Father's will be done.

Why? So that you and I can enjoy the eternal life offered by Him on that cross.

No amount of vitamins, or MLM anti-ageing products will help our aging body of mortality.  Ps 90 says that our life is 70, if not 80. 

We submit to that eventuality of physical death.

But death o death where do you sting?

Not to those who know the Chief Shepherd.  Those who hear His voice.

Yea, we look to the Heavenly dwelling where He has prepared for us.

In Revelation, where He would wipe away our tears.

Till then....my Lord, may your mercy and grace be always with us.

Thank you for your love.  Your gift from Gethsemane.