He’s Alive!
And I with Him.
And all believers with Him, too.
Thank You, Lord.
I used to think I need a major testimony to share when people ask me how I became a Christian. I still have that, the testimony about events that led to the conversion. But being a Christian is not about how we became Christians, cuz that would be standing still at that moment of change. But being a Christian means moving on beyond that moment of change, an ongoing lifelong story about how God is changing our lives, and what we’re doing with the new lives He has given us.
Being a Christian is about all the little testimonies about what goes on in our lives that in some way or other - big or small, usually small - glorifies His Name.
Being a Christian is not about earth-shattering things we do for the Lord, but little things that help someone in some way, however small.
It’s not about “oh praise the Lord, I saved so many souls this past week”, but about accepting, admitting and confessing our weaknesses, and acknowledging that we need Him, that on our own, without Him, we can do nothing.
It’s Good Friday, and no, I wasn’t in church today. I probably won’t be in church on Easter Sunday either. Instead, I spent today being with my loved ones, and doing things for the beloved one, which I know is what God wanted me to do. And that is where I will be the rest of this weekend, too - with my loved ones.
Physically, I may not be in church. But in my heart, that most important of places, I remember what He did for me, for you, for all of us today. And don’t worry, satan - you have not defeated Him. Death has not defeated Him. Wait three days and see.
Yes, it’s Good Friday. But instead of meditating on God’s Word, I want to share some words from a non-Christian who told her audience in Singapore last month, “How can I be a Christian? I’m a Jew.”
“We are saints and we are sinners
We are heroes we are thieves
We are all of us beginners
on the road to Galilee”“Mary’s Eyes”
“Here is your living proof
that death cannot be proud
Some say it’s a judgement on us all
I can’t believe that God could be that small”“When Angels Cry”
“It” is AIDS, and “When Angels Cry” was a song she wrote about the scourge, and no, not against it …
Honest and from the heart. Sometimes, I think that’s all God wants from us.
A lot of people like to use X’mas instead of Christmas, which they think is the short form. But it’s not. Look at that word again and think about it a bit more.
What does “X” stand for? Unknown. Anonymous. But Jesus Christ is not unknown to a lot of people, believers and non-believers alike. He’s known, whether as Saviour, Son of God, or mere prophet and man.
So when we Christians follow the majority and use X’mas in place of Christmas, we’re saying we don’t know what Christmas is about, that it’s just a celebration.
No, no, no.
Christmas is about Jesus, the Son of God who came to earth to die for you and me. He might not have been born on Christmas Day, but 25 December has been accepted as symbolic of His birth.
Christmas is NOT unknown to you and me. Jesus Christ, for whom the day is named, is NOT unknown to you and me.
I stopped using X’mas years ago and it still irks me to hear the word used in place of Christmas, especially by Christians.
Sorry for ranting …
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During this time of year, there are a couple of well-known festive days, Christmas being the most well-known (and somehow, in Malaysia this year, most controversial), followed by Hanukkah.
For the Chinese, there’s also the Winter Solstice festival, which falls on 21 December - yup, that’s today.
In the Northern Hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year, with the least number of daylight hours. After today, daylight hours will increase until they reach the maximum on 21 June, which marks summer solstice.
I’ve written about this before in Chet’s Chatter v1, so I’ll just copy and paste here what I wrote there:
| I’m more a Winter Solstice person. Partly because I’m Chinese and partly because I realise Winter Solstice offers something more positive to look forward to - longer daylight hours per day - whereas, after Summer Solstice, what can you look forward to except more and more hours of darkness?
The Westerners celebrate Summer Solstice. The Chinese celebrate Winter Solstice. The Chinese phrase for Winter Solstice is gor tung (Cantonese pronunciation), which means “crossing winter” or the passing of winter, or even surviving winter. Summer Solstice is just one day, perhaps the brightest spot in the life of its fans, but Winter Solstice heralds better days ahead! |
For me, better days really mean just that - better. I’ve been in a foul mood over work (having to endure sh*t from other people in my department), and my only consolation is that this (the foul mood) will pass (altho the sh*t and the people it came from probably won’t). Meanwhile …
Hey!
Trust the Lord to work a miracle right here and now. *giggle*
He’s brought to mind a song by Point of Grace, “Better Days” - how appropriate. Here’s the chorus:
| Better days are on the way my friend Just a ways on down the line I believe that just around the bend Everything’s gonna be fine Better days are just a dream right now It’s like all you do is pray But the world keeps turning Bringing us better days |
Wow …
Thank you, Lord!
Note - To listen to a sample of the song, click on the link below, scroll down the page to the song list, look for “Better Days” and choose either Windows Media or RealOne Player format.