Love

I wonder if you ever are at a loss of words, and in awe when you look at God’s works in your life. I mean…it’s incredible that I’ve been away from home for almost a year now, 11 months to be exact. I had no idea what my life was going to be like when I set out for this journey. It’s been surprise after surprise. When looking back, not even one moment is to be regretted, even the worst ones. God uses every single opportunity to mature me. I feel like I’m such an old lady now thinking how many storms I’ve been through just in a year. I remember having a honeymoon feast during my first few months here and I also remember being drowned in the sea of remorse, sorrow and hopeless depression. I thought I wouldn’t even pull through, that I would simply sink into the bottom of it all and wouldn’t even rise again. But God’s mercy….oh, His goodness and mercy nourish me and bring back my life.

I’d gone through a biggest storm yet these past couple of months. There were a lot of feelings and attitudes in those days: uselessness, helplessness, hopelessness, self-loathsome, doubts, depression and emptiness. I was wondering if this storm would stop tearing me down when slowly a light of dawn radiated through the darkened sky. After that, a revelation after another surfaces and brings clear understanding to my confused mind.

Love is among those revelations. The song “Jesus loves me” I’m listening to now takes on a new perspective tonight. I’m being brought back to many moments in the past that reveal so much of His love in my life…even the broken relationship with my ex-boyfriend or my dad’s sudden death. Without those things in the past, I wouldn’t be who I am…here…today. I’m humbled to realize that I am truly and passionately loved. My dear friend told me in his last e-mail that I am loved but it was impossible to feel so in those rainy days. Now it’s like…the sun rises in my heart again. I don’t need to try to find facts, proofs or evidence to justify Jesus’ love; nor do I have to force myself to be happy because…I truly am. It’s amazing to be God’s beloved.

“His love is the essence of who He is, which enables us to love Him in return. When we know His love, we don’t need explanations” – A quote from a book called “British Columbia”. It is love that makes the world revolves around itself and orbits the sun. It is love, which is originated from God that sacredly holds to its true meaning. Jesus loves us violently from head to toe. It’s incredible to comprehend such love. It is already powerful enough for a man to love another woman…but to imagine a “person” loves the whole world, which at present has about 6.781,000,000 or more people, not including the older generations that passed away and the ones that are to come. How much love can it be gushed out of a person if he isn’t the source of love himself?

So willing and ready to love is Jesus. Yet what He has received is nowhere near happiness. Pain we bring Him by our rejections and pride. But Jesus’ love teaches me another lesson – that love isn’t an accomplishment of a task…to win someone’s heart by verbal persuasion. It is a quiet joy to extend the exuberant affection and good will to another being despite their fallen nature. In another word, love is sufficient in itself. My question is “are we willing to experience the most arduous pleasure of loving by risking our lives in the others and allowing others to risk in ours when love is already there? Are we ready to give and receive this love, of which its foundation traces back to the existence of the very first Person to teach us what it truly means to love?

I was reading in Romans 1 the other day. Paul stated in verse 14 that he is “a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise”. Then he declared in verse 15 that he is “ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also”. It was a puzzle to me how on earth Paul could be indebted to those people. But a tint of glowing light dawned on the hazy me – because of God’s love for him, he was indebted to Him for the sake of the Gospel. People who are still trapped in the line of Adam are awaiting to hear of God’s love in their lives. Surely, if we reason among ourselves, we owe these folks nothing (unless you borrow their money ;) ) BUT we owe their precious souls to God.

Recently, my heart has been burdened with vulnerable people. It’s another revelation I received. My goal in life is to become a full-time missionary but I’ve never known what kind of work I’d like to be involved. This past Tuesday, while I was driving in the mountains with a team, my heart was roused when I thought of taking care of people in need; those who are abandoned, left out…those who are on the edge of society…those who are ignored and overlooked. I think of Mother Teresa and her sacrificial love but I’m not sure if I have that much of qualities like she does. The thought of sick and dying people still scare me. The smell of medicine and the hovering presence of death are still haunting me from time to time. Could I become a nurse? Talking about stuttering Moses, unimportant, shy David, bullying and persecuting Saul and uneducated disciples! That looks, to me, far from any possibility of becoming real.

However, the next thought rolled in and halted my difficult breathing from shock, for it seems there’s more potential than the former thought – writing. I was reading a novel when it slowly appeared to me that the author of this novel had wrote this long time ago…yet the book presently conveys the heart of its message to me so distinctly in the 19th century. It encourages me to keep walking and trusting God. Though she’s probably dead by now, she left me, a younger generation, a legacy. And I hope I could do exactly just like that. After all, one is barely recognized after death anyway. Why don’t leave something worth remembering…something that would bring encouragement or a change to someone’s life?

Love doesn’t probably mean doing “good” things only but doing something “radically” and “differently”. Love gives us power to perform an act that can shock the bewildered world. Love humbles us to go an extra mile. Love breaks the wall of selfishness and allows us to think of others first. Love sustains us with courage to have mercy on those who hate us. Love rebukes evils. Love does not compromise. It is fierce and strong-willed when it comes to protecting its lovers. Love prevails.

Love, such a short word but is so powerful that one’s life cannot be the same when encounters with love. I am not the same since the day I received Love into my life. Yea, the fighting will continue since I’m still living in the flesh but…

“Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me He who died. Heaven’s gates are open wide.
He will wash away my sin. Let this little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so.

For God so loves the world that He gave His only Son.
Jesus loves me. He loves me…this I know.”

Beloved of God, remember always that nothing can separate us from the love of God. You are loved. That’s the fact. Though you may try to reject Him or explain Him away with your logics, His love remains the same…always.

Looking Through the Veil

I had an opportunity to travel to Chiang-Rai and step my feet into the soil of Burma this past week with a group of Indians. Things could never be more interesting.

In my whole life, the closest contact I've had with Indian is the movie "Slumdog Millionaire". India and its culture seem very vague to me. Though I heard of people going to India, watched a bit of their "run-across-the-mountains" videos, had some Indian food, I never got to interact to one. So living with a group of 6 authentic Indians for 3 days this past week was beyond my expectation and wild imagination.

Indians have very distinct features. Their thick black hair, smooth dark skin, deep penetrating brown eyes, arched brows, full lips and robust frame make them stand out so much in the midst of Thais.

Their lives are closely entwined with their culture. Women still wear their traditional dress anywhere they go. Men grow beard and mustache. They use hands instead of spoon and fork for eating.

I don't know why I'm ranting about this. After saying goodbye to them, I was still haunted by their faces, their thick accent, their strong scent and their sorrowful eyes. These people come from well-off families and have respectable status in society but in their eyes hidden something beyond my reach...something unpleasant that their country has gone through since the past.

The lesson I learned 2 weeks ago from David's life - "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" became a real experience when I encountered with these people. I think the world offers us a standard of beauty; and we are often lured into judging ourselves and people around us by looking up to this standard. Often enough, the outward appearances blind our eyes to see the real treasure in a soul of a human being. Even I myself.

People can be loud, demanding, rude when they are in need but behind that wall of "look" and "manner" lie the unmistakably perfect masterpiece of the Creator - a human being with thoughts and feelings.

It's one of the greatest challenges for me as my role in life right now is equivalent to a tour guide - to see people from their heart not their look. Sometimes I see people as insignificant, a sea of faces, I could say. Or some other times they are just numbers, like children in Compassion or world population.

Each and everyone of us is uniquely different. If we open our eyes wide enough and look closely, we may see something different in the faces we never paid attention to before....something through the veil.

April Journeys

“Only one life to assume to pass,
Only what’s alone for Christ will last.” – John Piper

Last Sunday, while I was basking in the afternoon sun on a porch, watching people flashing by and sipping a glass of iced-cocoa, I couldn’t help but ask myself, “Have I been here, in Chiang-Mai for almost a year now? Is this FOR REAL?” I don’t know why, but once I stepped past age 23, time seems to zoom by. I barely walked away from the New Year’s firework that a splash of water from Song Kran Festival soaked me to the skin.

This chapter of life has been colorful. There have been moments of fun yellow, somber navy blue, contemplating green, confusing smoky gray, angry fiery red, calm sky blue, lonely black and pure white. Only last week, I had the moment of gray – confusion and not understanding.


I learned of a disturbing fact in this revolving planet, the lesson I MUST stick it in my head always – there are many who don’t believe in Jesus, and worse they’re trying to explain Him away and disclaim His truth. It is understandable that non-believers may have a misconception of who Jesus is but never have I imagined an address to Him as a “fantasy figure” nor to the Gospel “a bedtime story”. These names are not from any famous novels or sorts of treatise but from a person whom I’ve made acquaintance with. My first reaction was shock. Other serial affected reactions were of being attacked, insulted, angry, vulnerable and unsure. The fact that one can get so far away from the truth and so resistant is totally disturbing, but the fact that I’ve allowed myself to step into the cloud of gray and become doubtful in the truth is even more startling. I’ve discarded Paul’s caution, “to think and dwell only upon that which is good and of good report” and almost embraced the “one-man-show” survival fact of the world – that there is no God, no comfort from the Bible, nothing but me…painful..alone…but real. Is that true?

I was dangerously standing on the verge of the cliff. But I’m thankful that at the moment I was going to fall, there were people who care deeply about me pulled me back. Because of this situation, it highlighted how a Christian cannot walk alone AT ALL. It’s severely critical that one should be accountable with someone and have a group of family members or friends constantly pray for him…or else…he could easily fall.

Anyway, I’ve found that wherever I am, no matter it is North of South, summer in Thailand is brutal…as the same…or even more. I heard that Bangkok reached 40C (104F) yesterday (April 23). No wonder why we sweat like crazy. And I am in Chiang-Mai, the northern part of Thailand! Talk about Global Warming! I’ve been raised and growing up in this tropical country for my whole life but I have never got used to its heat especially in April, the hottest month of all. That’s why Songkran Festival is such a treat for all of us. What could be better than splashing water and getting cooled off! Sadly, I didn’t get to join the fun this year at all since I was traveling most of the time. Well, it was cool enough to watch other people having fun. Chiang-Mai celebrated Songkran wayyyy early. Normally, it’s 13-15 but they started from the 10th and went on until the 16th, that was a whole week of madness and funness.

There are a few highlights I’d like to talk about. First is about finding a church. Since January, I was on a quest looking for a new church as the former congregation I went to didn’t have a group of people in my age. Reluctantly, I have to admit that I’m still looking for it. However, it’s been an invaluable experience of being in different congregations. It’s amazing how one belief can extend its branches into various denominations and groups and have such diverse ways of worshipping. I used to be self-pitiful when I thought about my wandering but I’ve come to appreciate it, at least for a certain moment, because through this I’m able to meet with new people who are so passionate about God, and I’ve become less judging as I try to understand and see things through His eyes. God has worked this process in my life so that I won’t be wearing the crown of Nonthaburi Baptist Church or Newsong Bangkok over my head. After a while, I just don’t care much if this church is Baptist or Pentecostal, for we all worship one God – that is Christ Jesus. I think our Lord is a very creative Person, and He wouldn’t pick only one color because it’d be a little too boring for Him.

Yet, I can’t deny that deep down in my heart I still long for a family of my own as well – a bunch of people who I will look forward to seeing every week, whom I will serve and learn the words of God with…these people I will laugh and cry together during the sunny and stormy days. I yearn for that…more than anything else. And I will have to keep praying and believing that this isn’t beyond what God can do for me.

Second is about God’s divine contact. As in Acts 8, how God used Philip to preach Christ to an Ethiopian, He used Ruth L. and the Miyakawas, who I recently got to meet, to minister to me. I met Ruth randomly at a coffee shop near my place. Ruth is a lady from the US who’s now teaching at a university in China. I was reading and she was using internet. I don’t quite remember how the conversation started but we ended up talking for a whole hour about God! It was exciting for me because I didn’t imagine I’d find myself in a conversation with a stranger, whom I realized later a Christian. We talked about our families, jobs, lives, God, struggles. She was telling me how Christ and Christianity are still taboo topics there. After reading the Heavenly Man from Brother Yun’s life, I totally understood what she meant. It was a refreshing time for me to have someone to talk to, to have a deep conversation, not only a small chitchat.

Then a couple of days later, while I was walking down to Starbucks at Tha-Pae gate, a tall boy handed me a tract with sentences like “Let me know what we can pray for you, or how we can help you by e-mailing us at this address”. I walked into Starbucks, ordered a cup of coffee feeling a bit puzzled and thrilled. It was the first day of Songkran celebration, so people were going crazy both inside and outside. While waiting for my order, I looked out and saw a bunch of youngsters sitting with the kind of tracts I received in my hand. So I walked over to them and asked one of the girls, Kristen, what is this all about. I asked in such a manner that I thought it’d appear rude if I wasn’t so desperate to know at that time. Anyway, she told me that it was a mission her fellows from Grace International School to hand out 15,000+ tracts out in 24 hours (I hope I got the number right). It was one of their outreach ministries. Well, I e-mailed them and went on a trip. The next week I came back, I got an e-mail from her dad asking if we could all get together for lunch. So I did. We went to this delicious Mexican restaurant close to Tha-Pae gate (Geez…I can’t remember its name but if you like Mexican and come visit me in Chiang-Mai, I’ll take you there). Anyway, last Sunday I went to their church called “The Gathering”, which simply is full of missionaries. What I liked the most was the sermon. I jotted this down on my little piece of paper, “Ultimately, God calls us to follow a Person (Jesus), neither a place nor position.” Even though the destination and things we will do are unclear, when Jesus calls, we should obey. The pastor said, “When you hear God speak, what you do NEXT says what you really believe”.

Third is about my job. Let me ask you first, have you been so bored at work? If yes, here’s the next question, what do you do when you’re bored? I’m genuinely curious about that because sometimes this moment hits, and I’m left wondering what I’m supposed to do. Here’s what I wrote in my journal last night about my challenge at work:

“I’ve come across another challenge in my job – the feeling of unimportance. There are lies in my mind saying that people will do find here without me, and I still can’t help but believing that though I know it’s not true!

I’ve been thinking a lot about what is required of me. There are some expectations from the organization and the staff but what is the ultimate requirement? I think it’s ‘obeying God’. Charles S. Swindoll says,’…Stop trying to be the tops in your fields. Be an excellent whatever.’ That means if my job is to sweep the floor, then I’ll do my very best to make it clean and spotless. If my job is to make a bulletin board, then I’ll do it with my utmost creativity and ability. Whatever job it is, though it may look insignificant, it’s in the heart of a doer that God looks at…and that’s what matters.

I’ve had thought of giving up this position. I’ve thought of moving back to Bangkok. I’ve somehow loathed the society here because a newcomer like me doesn’t always feel welcomed. I hate that I have to struggle and strive alone. I hate the fact that the community at GES, like GES, can’t be found here…that it’s too idealistic…at least for me.

Yet I CANNOT give up. Every time these thoughts came to my mind, the Lord tells me to STICK WITH this plan no matter what the cost is…simply because this is His will…and because many children are being blessed by what I, we Compassion, do. That’s the pure solid reason I’m here. And I know that God is already pleased with that.”

Sometimes we tend to value ourselves by what we do or how we are needed but I’ve learned recently that it’s not the main point. Our value is in Christ Jesus and what we are accomplishing for His kingdom. Not that He doesn’t give me choices of leaving, of course He does, yet when you know what is best for you, won’t you grasp for it? Will you let it go?

It all comes back to my theme of life – a quest. I put a quote from John Piper’s sermon “Don’t waste your life” because it’s a great reminder for me that my life here is for Christ. And until I stand before His beautiful face, until then, I want to become a “good and faithful servant” of His. Paul says, “To live is Christ and to die is gain” – that’s a classic provocative challenge to me.

Where all the stories begin

Jesus, who are You that can give the blind sight?
Who are You that can bring the dead back to life?
Who are You that can feed the five thousand?
Oh, Jesus, Who are You that even the demons are scared?

You are Son of the Most High
The Light in the dark
The Hope for the lost
Jesus, it is You

You are the Author and Perfector of my faith
The Beginning and the End
The Prophet who always lives
Jesus, it is You

Why care for this small grain
When You are the great I AM?
Why love when all I do
Is to bring You pain?
Oh, Jesus...because it is You.

I wrote this a long while ago. It was during the New Year holiday, and I was with my church fellows doing some mission work up in the North. The sun just came up, and I was sitting in my quiet zone inside a generous man's house from a Mien village who allowed us to intrude into every corner of his house (except his bedroom, of course!). Things were stirring to life again after a dead silence at night: the echoing noise of cocks crowing, dogs barking, women chatting softly over a huge pot of hot porridge, men greetings each other around the fire and children poking their faces inside the gate to see if we were all up.

The religious system of the village holds on to its tradition - animism. These tribal people initially immigrated from China, and had settled down in some of Thailand's northern provinces, including Naan. I had an opportunity to sit down and chat with an old man one evening. Watching the excitement of the community, he was sitting on a wooden stool, hands carrying an ancient parchment in his hands. As he gingerly turned to the next page, I could feel the crispness of those yellow pages. I inclined my head to have a closer look of what he was reading, afraid to ask if I could hold it unless the manuscript would be torn in pieces had it been in my clumsy hands.

Couldn't decide what it was, I asked, "Uncle, what is it you're reading?" With his broken thai, he said, "It's my bible, young lady". Ever more curious, I wondered aloud, "What does it talk about then?" His reply was, "Our own practices and regulations like what we need to prepare for a sacrifice...something like that." I could sense his pride as he spoke about his religion. And it was no wonder that he's one of those religious men in the village.

It was an interesting experience for me. I asked him so many words in his tongue after that. Then I came across the word "God"....and that's when he gave me a questioning stare. I thought he didn't understand my thai so I explained to him as someone who created the earth, the sky, the trees and other living things. Smiling now, he told me of this word that would mean "God" in his own understanding. Later on, I tried to use this word (I'll have to go back and search for this paper I wrote all the Mien words I learned again) with a Christian Mien...and they gave me a blank stare. One girl said that the word I learned didn't refer to our sovereign God but some spirits in their religion. Then it struck me...these people have no idea who the Lord is. They don't have any clue what this word would be in their vocabulary system...only Christians, who are a minority in the community know what it is.

Lately, my heart has been so broken for the world. And I'm not speaking in a lightly manner. This past week I had an experience of falling to my knees and crying heavily for what has been happening on earth. My soul was being tortured by the sufferings of people. My heart is heavy-laden for those who are lost in the whirlpool of materialism and so-called short life. Yet one dark voice raised, "What can a person like you, wretched sinner, do? How dare you think you can change a person's world, let alone the whole planet?" I couldn't help but give way tremblingly to the voice but the light of truth seeped in. Hadn't God commanded us to "preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness of the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isa. 61:1-3)

A lot of times I feel like I am a tiny ant watching all giants of this world wandering about. And in those times, the dark voice keeps haunting me as a faithful company. But I learned and knew better than that. Wasn't it Jesus who began the march to calvary once the crunching on the fruit echoed in the garden of Eden? Wasn't it Him who, through history, laid a foundational plan of salvation through weak and humble people who later became "the heroes of faith"? Wasn't it Him who endured the plight in that torturous night so that all our sins shall be washed away in that scarlet blood and we be cleansed as white as snow? Wasn't it the Father who miraculously rolled away the stone and raised His only begotten Son for the sake of humankind's hope? And wasn't it Jesus, our Savior, who said, "Go and make disciples of all nations,..."?

Hence, after realizing, the passion God's given me earlier burns ever more violently within me. Impossible task to change the whole universe, of course. But wasn't it Jesus again who said that the kingdom of God is within you and me? Why not start right here, within ourselves, where all the stories begin, with faith, fervent prayer and love?

"It is no longer I who live,

But it is Christ who lives in me." Galations 2:19

Little by little we are changed by this daily crucifixion of the will.

Changed, not like a tornado changes things,

but like a grain of sand in an oyster changes things.

New graces emerge; new joy at the success of others,

new hope in a God who is good...

God is not destroying the will but transforming it

so that over a process of time and experience we can freely will what God wills

-Richard Foster

Soul surrender

"Lord, although I long to be in heaven with you, please do not take me away from this world yet. My life hasn't yet been complete. I won't be complete without my husband."

It's one big dream for most of the girls - to be married, to deeply love someone and be loved as equally in return. It's one of mine as well. Only recently did I start to doubt if God would ever answer my prayer on this matter. Year after year, I waited and asked persistently but no answer came. Does God even hear my cry?

When I was younger, I thought like a child..but as I'm turning 25, I see it more with a mature eye. This isn't a sensitive girl's daydream but a battle to be fought with fierce strong will.

Paul said, "But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion." (1 Corinth. 7:8-9) When I read this passage, such mixed emotions came across my mind..."how could Paul suggest such thing?!"...then, more reluctantly, "would this be God's answer to my prayer?" '~' I was in shock.

Slowly, a pale light began to seep through - the priceless jewel in a relationship with God isn't about what I get but what I become. When I ask Him for something, I approach Him like a stubborn child...asking blatantly, banging His chest, throwing myself on the floor, crying or shaking fists at His face. But a determined Father who knows better would not yield to His daughter's will, not yet anyway. In His book "Prayer" Philip Yancey said, "The real value of persistent prayer is not so much that we get what we want as that we become the person we should be."

God wants all of me...my life, my heart, my soul, my desire and my love "for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are COMPLETE in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Col. 2:9-10) I think what He's challenging me at the moment is, "Would I be willing to drop EVERYTHING including my desire to be married to follow Him if He called me so?" And with tears rolling down on my face, a heavy sob in my chest, teeth gritting, I will have to say, "Yes, Lord. You've got my all."

When our whole being is ALL for Him, everything ELSE is a gift, including a husband as well. Instead of painstakingly searching for "somebody", it's best to patiently and lovingly wait on the One whose love redeems all the longing souls and whose beauty captivates all hearts in the world. I'm departing from the grip of the flesh and returning into the embrace of the everlasting.

"Jesus, take me into Your arms. I've found it at last - the gift of waiting on You. Father, I'm back into Your loving arms again. I'm ready now for whatever You'll use me for. I believe that one day You'll take my hand and bring me to the love I've been waiting for. But for this time and for the rest of my life, I'm content to be with You."

Christmas rant

It's another cold night in December. And Christmas is just around the corner. Usually, I would be so busy that I would have no time to sit down and write this note if I were in Bangkok. My lifestyle has changed since I moved up to work in Chiang-Mai. I've got more time to be with myself and do things whenever I want and whatever I want without having anyone to check on me. Maybe it's a little too much.

Each Christmas, there is always different message from God to me. Normally, it's all about joyous feelings...celebration, you know, with family and friends...sitting around a table laden with yummy food and dessert...soaking in the beauty of the lights and decorations...listening to Christmas songs...laughing...playing games...opening up presents. Good times.

This year, well, the story is a little different. I am 870 kilometers away from the ones I love. I've got all my time and resources to do fun things but without family and friends...it hardly means anything. I am not anywhere near being happy since there're things to think through and struggles to fight with. Loneliness is my faithful company, and I hardly feel lonely anymore.

Sounds bitter and resentful, hey? I know.

That's one new thing I've been learning this past while - that Christmas includes EVERYONE. And if you read another of my "rant" below, you might catch a bit of glimpse of what I'm trying to say, who I am and how I feel right now. I know that there's nothing worth in me to persuade you to read this. Why would you wanna read something from a depressed person anyway? But if you don't have anything to do, and don't mind this writing, then I hope that the message would give you something to think about...

Merry Christ-mass

"A drug-addicted 24-year-old girl crouching in a dark corner of the room, alone...unnoticed…
A fragile 8-year-old boy fighting with his last breath in a hospital, miserable...hopeless…
A lonely 75-year-old lady with her cane in an elders home, abandoned...unimportant…

Christmas – what does it mean?
Loved ones? Delicious meal and dessert? Lights and presents?
What if these people don’t have one? What if they can’t afford it?
Will Christmas mean anything to them?

Thinking of those who are shivering out there in the cold…
Thinking of those who are alone…
If Christmas is about what’s listed above…
It would be just another day on calendar…

Take a minute to ponder what Christmas means to you…
Jesus was born in a stable, cold and dark…
He was acquainted with sorrow and homeless most of the time…
Jesus isn’t only here for the rich and happy BUT also for the poor and brokenhearted…

While we celebrate,
Let us remember the lowliness of the manger and the humiliation of the cross –
The sacrifice that brings peace and joy."

Mink

"Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,
and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53:1-5

A psalm to the Creator

Heart shatteringly broken. Tears streaking from my eyes.
Hopeless and lost in the wilderness of pain.
Can anyone hear me? The little voice in the wind.

Gasping for breath. Choking for air.
Helpless and dying in the desert of despair.
Can anyone see me? The small grain in the sand.

Oh Lord, why I see nothing when I lift my eyes to the hills?
Why the vast unknown and darkness shadow over me?
Why so when Your promise says that’s where my help comes from?

Mighty God. Beautiful Savior.
Hope for sinners. Throw Your arms open wide.
Glorious King. Loving Father.
Wonderful Author. Hear my cry.

Though the sky darkens and the world may fall;
Though I lose my sight and have no will to keep on;
I will run to You for I know Your love endures
No condemnation from the One, the Living God

Though the sea dries up and the mountains crumble;
Though I may be found alone with tears overflow;
I will sing praise to You, I will rejoice in You
For You are good and You are God.