You are always enough for me

Just finding so much comfort in Your presence right now. Thank You for speaking to me through Angela Hughes' word.

Somehow I have been feeling rather 'down' these couple of weeks. I do not know if it is related to my work which have been quite busy but then I don't think that's the main reason. I have been feeling this sense of 'thirst' in me, that I have been trying to 'feel' You but could not find You. I wondered if something has gone wrong, if I had done something wrong that I could not find You.

Then yesterday during the meeting, You spoke to me that You sometimes hide Yourself so that I would find You. Angela was sharing about a time when she was leading worship and she knew that You weren't there. She was not satisfied and she wondered where have You gone, and why didn't You show up. She said that it was not the time to give up. When we could not find You, that is the time we need to search harder, worship continually, look further and praise more. We must not give up because You are always there and that You want us to seek You and look for You.

I realised that these are all part of growing up in Your presence. When I was a baby Christian, I would ask things like, "God if You do this, then I know it's You or let this happen then I know it's from You." When I grew more in You, these things stop happening. I know it's not because You have left me or that I have backslidden or become less passionate, but it was because You are teaching me to grow up. When I know You more, I don't need confirmation from You. I can hear from You and be confident to know that it's You or not from You. It was scary at the beginning, it's just like when a toddler starts to take baby steps to walk. I may make mistakes, I may fall down and hurt myself but the comfort is knowing that You are never too far. You are like a kind parent who is just a few steps ahead of the child who is trying to walk on his/her own feet. You want us to grow up and to know Your every heartbeat without second guesses.

Just like what Jesus said, You in Him and Him in You. We are to be One with You just as You are One with the Father and the Father with You.

Jesus knew His Father's heart. He does not need to second guess His will. Therefore, He can bring heaven onto earth at any point of time because He knows His Father's will which is in heaven and so He could bring them down onto earth.

This is my heart's desire. This is my sole purpose of life. That is to live everyday in Your presence, to know Your heartbeat, to worship You, to give You my all and to not let anything to come in between our relationship. O Lord, I just need You. I need You. You will always be enough for me....

Your beloved,

Cheng Lu

To find my strength...in You

It has been a really busy couple of weeks. It gets quite busy at the restaurant and I have been working almost every weekends. Plus there were other things that were going on which also take up my resting time.

Rest is so so important. Feel so good just to put my feet up and rest in bed after work today and a day off tomorrow! Hurray! :) I guess since I started working, God has really been stretching me in many ways. He is constantly lengthening my cords and strengthening my stakes. I remember working 90-100 hours/week when I was a houseman. Really not looking forward to starting work but I am thankful that the hours have much improved since I left.

I am grateful to You that despite those really really hard time, You have strengthen my feeble hands and feet. Despite the physically hard work now that I am going through, I felt that somehow it does not seem as a big challenge to me. That is why I believe when I went through the different seasons in my life, there were all there for a purpose. You ever so carefully and gently molding my character, my perseverance and my faith in You. You did not let me burn out.

I really cherish the rest in You. Just knowing Your rest, knowing that I can be at rest in Your presence at all times despite the storms around me. That alone comforts me and gives me strength to keep going. I do not need to strive. I can keep rejoicing in You, praising and thanking You everyday. As I wait upon You, strength arise once again. Thank You, Lord!

Praise You that I can be a testimony of Your goodness and love at my work place. Without You, I would have given up long time ago. I would have been flattened by the pressures of the world. I am still here today, growing from strength to strength because of Your grace and mercy. Thank You, Lord!!!

Looking forward to girls' night tomorrow - ice cream and fellowship! Excited! May all of us continue to find rest in You and be strengthened in every way :)

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Love You so much, Jesus!

It's the every little thing...(For marriage couples!)

Marriage is in the very center of God covenant relationship with His people. A happy and strong marriage speaks volumes of God's covenant love that never give up on us.

Sadly, in this modern world, marriage is cheap. People get married as soon as they file for divorce. As much as two of them were intoxicated with the 'romantic' feeling which was thought to be love, they fail to know what Love is all about.

Love is about the every little thing. The secret to closeness in marriage (not that I dare to say I know it all) I discover that are not the mushy gushy words, not the shared similarities and interests or the intoxicating sexual union.

Although these gives pleasure but they do not contribute towards the foundation of true love.

It is the everyday thing that we take for granted when we get to know each other too well. Things like caring for one another, being sensitive to one another's feelings, racing to serve one another and respecting each other.

As some say, familiarity breeds contempt. This does not have to be the case in the God-ordained marriage. There are five little things that has helped my marriage and I want to share with others too.

1) Give each other huggies and kisses everyday. Don't be afraid of too much, only afraid of too few. "Hearts may agree though heads differ." I do not know about you, but for me, everytime I get mad, anxious or sad, all I need are not words of comfort or wisdom but a big bear hug. You have no idea how much that would do to comfort the storm within. Not surprisingly, it goes the same for my husband. Even the animals which reflect the nature of their Creator enjoy the physical bond which consequently strengthen the emotional bonds. That is why if you are not married, hands off!

2) Remember the 'small' things!

Be consistent in showing kindness to one another. Go out of your way to serve one another. They are not rocket science, just things like helping to wash the dishes, ironing clothes when your spouse is tired/busy, doing the laundry, helping to tidy the house and take out the garbage. These may sound insignificant but if practiced regularly shall be the pillar of strength later when challenges arise.

3) Don't forget your manners :)

Words like 'Thank you so much', 'I'm sorry' and 'Please' may fly out of the window if you are not intentional with the people closest to us. The best example is our family. I know that I needed to thank my mum and dad, my brothers more and to tell them how much they mean to me. Pride may come in the way or the awkwardness of not having to do it enough as my family was not great in words of affirmation. These words can transform your marriage!

4)Compliment each other

Remember not to take each other for granted. Always tell them how amazing you think they are. We may be so in love or inspired by your husband but sometimes we may forget to tell them what we think. Let them know how precious he/she is to you; how much they mean to you.

'I love you' as opposed to what my Chinese culture say, need to be said in words everyday. Don't believe the lie that love should only be expressed once in a blue moon or that it will lose its true significance. If said from the botton of your heart, your spouse will definitely appreciate it.

Last but not least,

5)Pray for one another

I see the differences when I was trying to work things out on my own and when I surrender my husband to God. We can never help he/she in their struggles or weaknesses without God's help. Don't be deceived that as long as we have done our part, things will happen the way they should. Praying for one another is so important if you want to see God's hand on your marriage.

With God in the centre, we can rest assured that whatever happens, He is in control and that He works all things for good for those who love Him and who has been called according to His purpose.

Be blessed and keep shining in your marriage for the glory of our Heavenly King! :)

What about that boy?

The verse 'do not be equally yoked' has been so instantly quoted whenever a Christian boy or girl wants to go out with a non-Christian girl or boy.

Most Christian children knew exactly what it means and what they should avoid but why are there still so many who are tempted in this area?

When I first became a Christian, I did not know much of the usual do's and don'ts that most of my friends who grew up in Christian families have known. They knew they should not get drunk, they knew that they are supposed to 'go to church' every Sunday, they knew that they are not supposed to gamble or engage in pre-marital sex. They knew all these and yet some can even teach on the topic in surprising fluency. However, when it comes to practicing it, many stumble.

I am not surprised to see many that are seemingly rooted and biblically well-versed are the ones that find it hardest to do exactly what they knew.

Why the common occurrences?

Well, it is one thing to know something and another to own something. Information does not have power to transform someone from the inside out. Revelation however, does.

When a Christian develops his or her relationship with the Living God, he or she will learn the fear of the Lord. They will learn the very heart and nature of their loving Father and learned obedience through denying their own flesh. Jesus learned obedience through suffering and in this case, suffering means passion. It is because of His passion, He was willing to endure and refuse to do 'whatever' He feels like doing.

We can often let how we feel be the steering wheel of our lives. We allow our emotions and reasoning to overtake our conscience and the Truth. We failed to practice what we preach because there were no real revelation of why we were supposed or not supposed to do something. Rather than abiding in the rest of 'being' who we are, we strive to 'do' things to justify who we are supposed to be.

I am thankful to God for His grace and mercy, to help me through my weaknesses and my doubts when I was overcoming my disbelief. I learned to stop playing God. To stop trying to figure out things that I would never understand. To keep holding onto His truth no matter what the voices in the world tell me. To deny my temporary feelings in which will be surpassed by the Truth in all eternity.

Sometimes, we need to stop asking the wrong questions and start agreeing with the right answers. (quoting Reuben Cole)

At times when I did not understand why God did not allow me to go out with that perfect non-Christian boy, years later I came to understand that He makes all things work together for my good. This is because He only has the best for me. Never second best. Oh, how He loves us! :)