Chinese New Year

Time seems to fly even faster in 2009. Lots of things happened this month... that's why I haven't written for awhile. Two Sundays ago, I was about to go to work at 8am when I saw a bull terrier running loose with a chain attached to him. My instinct was to just get hold of him because lots of people in the neighbourhood would be terrified just by his fierce look! We took him into our house and gave him some water and food. Dad and me remember seeing a bull terrier at a house nearby so he went to inquire whether they lost their dog. Strangely, the bull terrier was no longer there and the people there said there never was one. We're still wondering whether the dog was abandoned.

Anyway, now.. 1.5 weeks later, he's still here and dad has given him a new name. He's too rough for Spottie so we keep him on a leash when Spottie is running loose. Much more peaceful this way. My prayer is that if his owners are looking for him, they'd find him at my house... but if he's better off at our house, then God must teach us how to get the two dogs to get along well!

Today's the third day of Chinese New Year. I spent the reunion dinner and first and second day of CNY with lots of relatives and really enjoyed it. My cousins and me spent hours playing Boggle, Scrabble and Mah Jong! Dad's mum is already 90, and mum's mum is 85. I thank God for His blessings on my family and for every single moment He has watched over us. Family is something really special that I really cherish. I must say that since grandpa and grandma accepted Jesus into their lives, there has been abundant love and selflessness in the family that has been passed on even after grandpa passed away.

For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

The Good Samaritan

One of my favourite parables in the bible is that of the Good Samaritan. I read it again today. It has so much relevance to our lives today but we don't take it seriously enough. First, the priest saw the injured man and crossed to the other side of the street! Secondly, a Levite (someone of higher status) also saw the half-dead man and did exactly the same thing! He totally ignored him and worse still, crossed to the other side. And lastly, a Samaritan (someone who was despised in society) saw the injured man, took him on his donkey, booked him into a motel, took care of him all night and even gave money to the motel owner to take care of the injured man.

I love it that Jesus places utmost importance in mercy and compassion. He doesn't care about social status, money, power and all that. He cares about the weak, the sick, the needy, the oppressed and those whose voices don't matter in society. He cares about abused women, children, the disabled, the old and the broken. And He reminded me today that we should not only have compassion on people only when its convenient, because sometimes we have to go out of our way to show mercy to others.

I have to confess that Christians can become hypocrites and only care when it suits us or when we want to impress people. Let's remember that Jesus loved unconditionally and sincerely. And He loved everyone regardless of race, religion, age or gender. And that's why I love Jesus so much.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. Luke 10:33

Christmas at Home

Christmas week was fun and relaxing. I spent many nights wrapping presents past midnight! Had dinner with my family at La Swiss in Damansara Heights on Christmas Eve, the food was yummy... I had crab bisque soup, smoked fish (can't remember what fish it was), turkey with cranberry sauce and Christmas parfait with brandy....

Went to church on Christmas Day... we had to be in church by 6:45am. I think I must have been worried I wouldn't wake up on time so I woke up at 4:30am and didn't go back to sleep after that! So by Christmas afternoon I was really sleepy. My cell group came over on Christmas evening and we spent most of the time chatting, playing with Spottie and eating.... Of course, we sang some carols.

I have to say my parents were really great, they had their own Christmas dinner that night, but they did lots to clean the house up for the gathering :) And mum cooked delicious curry chicken for us.

Spent the day after Christmas at home, been taking Spottie on his 45 minute walks most of the week because I'm clearing leave. (No wonder people have been commenting that I'm more tanned. Must be all the walks under the hot sun). So he's been sticking to me the times I'm home. Watched Bedtime Stories with Hoi Hian at night... I like Bugsy!

I watched 'Mamma Mia!' with Lin Fong, Julia and Oli yesterday! It was superb!! At the end of the show the audience was standing, clapping and dancing with the cast :) The lighting was exceptionally good, I counted that they had at least 40 moving heads on stage. Lin Fong was a bit distracted by the a couple sitting in front of her. Apparently, they were 'making out' and the aunty sitting next to them was staring fiercely. Haha. The props crew were really efficient and they seemed to be part of the act as well. Very interesting and smooth flowing! Definitely a good experience and worth the money spent.

I'm still in Christmas mood, and I'm glad this Christmas has been a meaningful one for me spent with family and friends.

Christmas is near...

My Christmas tree is up :) That's it on the left! Did it together with mum last week.  I'm trying my best to cherish each moment in December. I really love the Christmas season. I love hearing carols on the radio, in church and in malls.  I love the beautiful Christmas decorations everywhere I go.  I love buying presents and wrapping them.  I love celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.  I love the season that celebrates the love, joy and peace of God.

I liked today's sermon.  It was about God choosing to announce the birth of Jesus Christ to a group of shepherds, people who were often forgotten about because they spent all their time in the fields.  God didn't choose to announce the awesome news of the birth of our Saviour to the elite or the rich and famous, but he chose those considered the least in society.  And Jesus was born in a manger, surrounded by animals.  I really like that.  

A reminder that God never forgets anyone... in fact, He pays extra attention to those who are lowly and neglected in society.  What a great God I have!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:8-12

Yes Man

Watched Yes Man with my cell group tonight. I guess I'll consider myself a fan of Jim Carrey - his movies Liar Liar and The Grinch really made me ROFL. Some scenes of Yes Man made me laugh till I cried and I'm sure I wasn't the only one because I heard many others roaring with laugher in the cinema. I like Jim Carrey because he's just plain silly. After a stressful day at work, a really funny silly movie helps a lot. One of the best things in life is laughing till you cry and your stomach hurts....

If you want a movie that exercises your brain and tests your intelligence, don't watch Yes Man. But if you haven't been laughing much lately, go for it. As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine.

A Happy Week

Last Sunday, our Nepali Sangati (meaning Nepalese Fellowship) in church had the Nepalese Christmas Party. God must love the Nepalese a lot, because we had many sponsors, abundant food and lots of gifts on that day! About 100 Nepalese came, and I have to say that God must have brought them because they came from all over town. The transportation guys did an awesome job, picking them up and sending them home... some of the Nepalese stayed really far away. I'm glad that we were able to bless them as its not easy being in a foreign land, working extremely long hours and 7 day weeks. I hope Malaysian employers will treat their foreign workers better.

On another note, I was looking through my old entries in my journal on my birthday this year. I wrote: Many times our lives are so hectic we fail to realise what matters most and sadly, lose the ability to savour special moments. We are always looking forward to something. Eg. A marriage, a paycheck, a raise, etc. We need to savour each moment we live because time really flies.

I must learn to do that again... savouring each moment.

Feeding the hungry

A few days ago my fiance and me couldn’t finish our dinner so we packed the extra rice and chicken in a plastic bag and did something new.  We drove around looking for a hungry stray dog that really needed a meal.  It was 10:30pm and the streets were pretty quiet.  Suddenly, we saw a white dog with 2 puppies.  The dog looked skinny with her ribs showing but her puppies looked well-fed and they were still trying to get milk from their mom.  As I emptied the contents of the plastic bag I could see the dog’s relief at getting some food and she gobbled away while we looked.  After she ate a fair bit she came towards the car and looked at us, I think she was trying to say ‘Thank you’.

We went for dinner again tonight and couldn’t finish our pizza.  Guess where we went? To look for the white dog again.  She was at the exact spot we fed her a few nights back, and this time we saw her puppies and ‘husband’.  She was sleeping on the sidewalk when I approached her and when she saw me with food she jumped up immediately.

This is a very special neighbourhood that is friendly to stray animals and the residents actually allow the animals to roam around the area freely...(I shall not disclose the location to protect the residents privacy).

Many times we are told not to feed strays… but I’m just thinking, how would I feel if I had children to feed and I had to go hungry days in a row, but then I see loads of food being thrown away everyday? I think this is what mercy and grace is about, to think about the very least and give them what they need the most – love.