Thanksgiving for 2017

2017 had been a tough year.

Physically it has been quite a tiring year because of the arrival of my second kid. My mum's health also took a turn for the worse. Yet in all these, there are genuine reasons to be thankful to God. Pastor mentioned thanksgiving is a choice; it's not to be thankful only in good circumstances but to be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thess 5:18). 

Mum had to make a Hobson's choice to undergo emergency angioplasty to address heart failure or to avoid the operation because the contrast used in angioplasty might led to kidney failure.

After the angioplasty operations, her weak kidney function managed to hold up and her kidneys were not worse off because of the operation.

In addition, her arterial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) condition meant she has to be placed on warfarin to avoid dangerous clots from forming in her blood which leads to strokes. Yet warfarin also increases the chances of haemorrhages internally.

We ultimately decided to go with warfarin after her recent episode of arterial fibrillation that led to her current hospitalisation.

We are not sure of what the future holds. Even though there are difficult circumstances, there Your hand guides me through (Psalms 23:4). I'm worried if these storms might overwhelm me. My heart, put your hope in God alone.

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

Psalms 62:11‭-‬12 ESV

Only upon the completed work of Christ can I stand.

Come follow Jesus - Lead

luke22:24-27

Luke22:24

Becoming a dad!

Baby girl came on 26 Nov 2014 :) and life has never been the same. 

All the stories of the lack of sleep sounded very daunting but it's still not too bad in reality (thus far). I've been advised that newborns sleep a lot more in the early days and it may yet come a time when I have to be activated on turn out every 2 hours... 

Thomson was a good place for the delivery, however, I wished I've known these beforehand, 

- We stayed in for 3 nights due to cesarean ops. Thomson only uses chemical sterilisation, we brought our own steam steriliser when we started to pump on day 2 to help the milk supply. Can no need to bring so many things on the first day too, but make trips back home to get stuff. (I always went back to shower!)

- You can request for the baby to be brought to you for night feeds or even to stay with you in the room. But not advisable for the first 2 days for wifey to recover. Not every nurse will ask if you prefer to have the baby brought to you for night feeds. 

- Not every lactation consultant is equal. The one we had did help us but was too brief. Must attend the breast feeding classes which in my opinion was more detailed and explained a lot more things to us. 

- If possible, try to vary the milk formula used for top up at the nursery to see if there is any that your baby don't like. Can try to get the bottles that are pre mixed for initial home use. 

Other things that we found out so far,

- Never have I been so eager to see someone poo. Also, have to study the poo and hope that it is healthy. 

- milk powder got heaty ones, buy smaller portions to try out if it works for your baby. Nan 1 seems too heat although it seems alright in the beginning. We are switching and hope the next brand is more suitable.

- Huggies NB diapers is too small for night use. Goon works for us. (Your mileage may defer, she's at 2.8kg)

- use Bottom Butter instead of Droplene or Desitin if the latters are deemed to be too "strong". Just use Bottom Butter to create a water proof layer to hopefully avoid nappy rash. 

- Pigeon wet wipes too dry for my liking. Confinement nanny introduced using square facial cotton add water. 

- Have between 4 - 6 milk bottles to last through the night and wash everything together in the morning. (Hmm, maybe I should get more...) 160ml bottle are a good size for NB. 

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere..

Having finished my prayer tower slot at midnight but the next team didn't come. Was frustrated as it had been a long day and I hoped to go back to rest. Wife was with me as well and I really hoped that she could get back to rest too. 

So we stayed on to carry on with the prayer tower. And as I looked at the empty room and the lampstand which represented the presence of God, I sensed the presence of God there in the room. As I continued in prayer for SP, I was surprised that I didn't feel frustrated. Would I rather be resting on bed or be here in God's presence. Perhaps this is what it means that better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere... And in His presence everything will be alright and our hearts can be at rest in Him. 

Ps. We left prayer tower at around 1:15am after one sister from the other team rushed down to take over the prayer cover. 

Passing through the wilderness

Living Life Devotion today

To realise that life is like passing through the wilderness. There is nothing in the wilderness that can sustain life, and we live because of God's provisions, just like the Israelites journey. And He will carry us through.

In the wilderness, we realise God is all we need because God is all we have.

Daniel and the marketplace

Heard this shared at mid week prayer point. Sharing from Daniel 1 about living for God at work. 

Personal purity in honouring God - Daniel 1:8

Learning, skill and wisdom from God for the marketplace - Daniel 1:17 

Prosperity gospel

One of my cell members posted an article on Facebook regarding the prosperity gospel and it also contained the following link

http://www.albertmohler.com/2014/09/03/the-osteen-predicament-mere-happiness-cannot-bear-the-weight-of-the-gospel/

It's a question that I ask myself as well. Am I looking to be satisfied by the things of life or am I satisfied by God himself? You don't need to be in Joel Osteen's church to believe and live according to the prosperity gospel.

Somewhere in the lie is a truth that was twisted. God is for joy, peace, love and may I even say the word prosperity, even though this word is so loaded now. But to make these the end sum of it all is a tragic fatal mistake.

God so loved us and gave His Son that we might have eternal life. And what is eternal life?  John 17:3. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

In God is everything that we need and our hearts deepest desires are fulfilled. And God is not an object that we possess and utilise. That's just the same self centred fulfilment. It is not the possession of God but the intimate relationship with God that is the greatest treasure. It's directed away from self to love of another,  of God.  And that's how we were meant to live. 

Sometimes,  I make the mistake to think that this world will go on forever. It will not. And material wealth or lack thereof in this life is not the final word. God is still moving history to a finale and this age will be closed.

Let's live a part of heaven now through an intimate walk with God today. Eternal life starts today. This is indeed a message that can be preached from Miami to Mosul.