'Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart'
Psalm 119:111
As X'mas approaches, it is a time for many to let loose, savour the achievements of the year and consign to distant memories the difficulties of the year.
Vacations and other indulgences have come to epitomise our rewards for a tough year.
Intoxicating drinks and gourging for many, are a necessary part of the revelry, and I suspect for some, a way to 'numb' the mind and the troubled heart to the reality that another new difficult work year is just round the corner.
Christmas is a joyous occasion.
In fact, from the day Christ was born, for all who believe, everyday is a new day, everyday is a joyous day.
For God has forgiven our sins, and given us all eternal life in Heaven, and peace and joy on Earth.
'The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light...'
Isaiah 9:2
This Sunday, my father will be baptized. Three years ago, my mum was also baptized.
By our limited human understanding, it has been a 'long' journey.
31 years from the day God brought to birth the first believer(my sister) in our typical '70s rojak(ie mix of ancestor worship/athethism) type Singapore Chinese family.
'Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters'
Psalm 69:14
'Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me'
Psalm 69:15
Indeed, God is loving, graceful and faithful, even when we are mired in the quagmire of faithlessness to unfaithfulness.
When my father survived the odds of a major colon cancer(7yrs back) operation, we not only got him back physically, we got him back spiritually.
Like most of an earlier era, we never talked to our fathers.
They talked to us, which in itself is rare.
I probably spoke more to my father the last 4 years than the last 39 years.
As believers blessed to have our 'blindness' lifted from our hearts, God commands us to:
'deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter'
Proverbs 24:11
To do that, we must not just start with our family or our friends but ourselves.
As you let God mould you, as you move towards the image of Christ, you will be the best testimony to your loved ones, of what the love of God truly means.
My sister(the first believer) was faithful. I wasn't until recently.
Her faith has moved most of us to the source of life, of joy and peace.
For God is love
'O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart'
Psalm 36:10
Do take the present that God has given, for God is ever present. Take it before we or our loved ones move from the being in the present to just a memory of the past.
'Because I have called, and you refused.
I have stretched our My hand and no man regarded'
Proverbs 1:24
God blesses.
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