14th June 2009

Today's service is very good for me. it seems to target all that's going through my mind.

Thank God for every little thing. When we are slightly sick, there's a tendency to pray to God for it, worse blame God for it. But do we thank God for the days that we are not sick? rarely. so, make the effort. thank for everything he has given us.

But why are we sick? did God create sickness? no. did god create traffic jams? no. so why are there such things to harm us? God loves to see us grow strong and big. we are pre-ordinated to be more in image of jesus. think of sickness and traffic jams as means of putting us through the mill. God had not created such things as he will never seek to harm us. but he will make use of everything, including things that harm us, to help us. surely, anyone had heard of incidents when a slight delay resulted in more fortune that misfortune.

This reminds me of an old chinese story of Sai Wong. Sai Wong was a person who rear horses. one day, one of his horse ran away. friends comforted him, but he say we'll see how it goes. then his horse returned with a whole herd of wild horses. his friends congrat him, but he say we'll see how it goes. when his son went to ride one of the wild horses, it threw him off and broke his leg. friends comforted him, but he say we'll see how it goes. there was a conscript for young men into war. due to the broken leg, the son could not be conscripted. You see? due the the loss of one horse, SaiWong managed to save his son. what more can you say other than this is a miracle of God?

Sometimes, we were put through alot of trials. Paster Mark went through alot before he became a pastor. due to his experiences, there are believer who called up only wanting to talk to him. why? because he has gone through what they are going through. Paster Mark is at the same time familiar with the chinese customs.

Genesis 45:7
But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Romans 5:1-5
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Amen.