伤

死亡，看似遥远，却是这么地近。

觉得听到死亡的次数随着年龄增长，也逐渐增加了。

真的，心情很沉重。

为什么？

Dedicated to the MH370 Incident (8 March 2014)  😥

Hope in Suffering

Suffering.

What an ugly word. You remember the pain, the discouragement, the anger, the darkness.

Like a tornado on a hot spring afternoon, your doctor’s words thunder into your world, twisting normal into brokenness and security into despair.

Suffering. You know all about it. So does God.

Everyone will experience suffering at some point in life. Jesus practically promises it: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Your time of trouble is now. You’ve been clobbered with a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Is it tough to believe that this time of distress of body and soul can reveal anything worth knowing? Is it difficult to imagine something worthwhile being born of your troubles? Is it hard to even stomach the thought that there could be a purpose behind your agony?

Of course it is!

Regardless, God promises to reveal himself and to produce good things from your hardship and pain. In fact, only in extreme times does one of the true beauties of the Christian faith come into play.

In the upside-down, inside-out, unexpected way of the Christian faith, suffering produces more than easy living ever could. Your pain has meaning! In the middle of intense affliction your spirit is more open than ever to the outpouring of God’s love into your heart.

You may be told to expect suffering. But you’re also promised a chance, in Jesus, to overcome: “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), even the world of breast cancer.

Scripture Reading and Study Questions

Read: Psalm 52:9; John 16:33; Romans 5:3-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

For what you have done I will always praise you; in the presence of your faithful people; And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. – Psalm 52:9 (NIV)

Psalm 52 is a song that looks straight into the face of evil, of terrible forces that plot evil. He also recognizes that God has allowed the problem to manifest itself. It is here, in the face of this struggle that David restates his faith in the sovereignty and wisdom of God.

Cancer is an enemy that strikes fear into the heart of anyone who hears that diagnosis.

1. You may not understand God’s plan, but can you faithfully say, I trust God’s sovereignty?

2. Can you testify with David, saying, “I know God is in charge, and will testify that God is good”?

3. What would it take for your faith to grow larger than the word cancer?

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. – John 16:33 (NIV)

4. The Holy Spirit is a source of strength, who knows the heart and mind of the father. List two specific questions for which you would like answers.

5. Since the Holy Spirit only speaks what he hears, would you still trust God if you do not hear the answers you want to hear?

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put  us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  – Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)

6. There is a marvelous progression to this passage, which ends up with hope in God. It begins with the word perseverance. Create a personal game plan for persevering through the days ahead. What can you add to your routine to strengthen your daily walk with God?

7. This passage ends with hope, which does not put us to shame. This is a tough question but is your hope in God, or in a cure? Would your hope stand if the outcome were different from the one you have set in your mind?

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

8. We end today by praying for God’s blessing for those who have endured a diagnosis, which has produced fear in them. How can you use this prayer to encourage others who are suffering with a chronic, or potentially fatal illness?

9. What can you do to become God’s hands and feet, to carry this prayer of encouragement to an ill friend or loved one?

* Study questions by Fred Bittner, FaithGateway Bible section curator

Day 49 in Taiwan

God’s blessings are unlimited.

Today I met a bible study group by chance in a room near to my laboratory.

I thankful that there is a group in this institute that the students and staffs gather together to share, to study bible and also to pray.

Only two more weeks left but still discovering God’s love and faithfulness here in this country. 🙂

20 June 2013 – Day 21 in Taiwan

Last day, I was asked to prepare for a presentation during today group meeting.

Less than 24 hours, I had to collect the information and also come out with the idea how to present those information.

Nervous.

Still, I accepted this task. Within this short time, I needed to organize those information which I wanted to present after I read and understood those papers.

I did stress myself in doing this.

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I prayed to the LORD while preparing for this presentation.

“Dear LORD, teach me to be humble knowing that all that I have are a blessing from You, LORD. Do you entrust myself to others but only You, LORD. Father God, teach me not to be proud of myself of all the achievements. Give me a teachable heart. LORD, I pray that topic that I am going to present may bring interest to others. Let the information that I am going to share is useful. Thank You, LORD. Amen!”

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All the glories unto our LORD!

The presentation went well. All I could say is this is indeed protection and also guidance of LORD that I could present everything well within this short-period of preparation.

“Dear LORD, I want to give You thanks. Thank You for Your protection and guidance in every steps in my life. Dear LORD, teach me to continue to walk in Your Words. Let all the compliments that I received belongs to You, my LORD. Thank You, LORD! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!”

11 June 2013 – Day 12 in Taiwan

Indeed, it is a blessing in disguise.

I joined Academia Sinica (AS) summer internship program. As most of the interns, their laboratories are located in Academia Sinica Research Center, which is in a walking distance from our dormitory. However, my laboratory is located in National Taiwan University (NTU), which is about 10 km away from AS. AS provides free shuttle bus to and fro NTU in weekdays.
In the beginning, I was a bit disappointed that my lab is not located in AS which I may walk there everyday. Instead, I have to wake up early everyday to travel to NTU by bus. After a week, I realized that this is actually better for me. Since the last free shuttle bus for morning session from AS to NTU is 8.30am, I have to make sure that I reach at bus station at least 10 minutes earlier so that I may have a seat. It actually makes me more discipline in this way. I do not have any excuse to wake up late. I try to rest earlier at night, too.

God’s way is always higher than ours. He knows the best for us.

I thank God for this lesson.

5 June 2013 – Day 6 in Taiwan.

This is the main library of NTU. I met with Uncle Joni (my uncle during Camp Cam in 2006) today in front of this building. Thank God that we met each other again after last meeting at Penang. Thanks for sharing so many stories in Taiwan with me. May God continue to guide your journey in Taiwan! — at 國立臺灣大學 National Taiwan University.

2 June 2013 – Day 3 in Taiwan

Day 3 in Taiwan.

This is a Sunday. As arranged by a lovely young couple — Benny and Esther, I attended church of 宣道會大安福音堂 ( http://daanch.fhl.net/ ) in the morning. This was my first time to attend gospel hall. Today sermon was taken from the book of Acts 8: 1-25 (Sharing on the life of three people – Paul, Phillips and Simon). After the service ended, the church members celebrated birthday for June birthday babies and we had lunch in church together.

Indeed, God is faithful. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to be welcomed to this family of God. I am looking forward for God’s words to renew me day by day.

May I be His faithful servant.

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:9
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In the evening, I met with a Taiwanese friend, whom I met with during a conference in Malaysia. We went to MOS burger restaurant and chit-chat for some times.

It is always good to meet again with old friend. 🙂

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At night, there was bible study group in the dormitory. I am thankful that I joined this bible study as the sharing from one the researchers was in depth and the discussion among the members was fruitful. God knows well what I am facing that He put me in this bible group to learn and to remind me about His mercy and grace. This bible study focused on Matthew 4: 1-11 — Temptations by Satan. Jesus overcame the temptations and this is what I can learn. To understand God’s words and be alert and always be humble to God’s teaching.

Day 3 in Taiwan. And I still want to praise the LORD with His providence. 🙂

31 May 2013 — Day 1 in Taiwan

First day in Taiwan.
I am blessed to meet my UM Christian Fellowship senior — Chin May here! How thankful I am and I never imagine how this could happen in this foreign country.
Once again, I know that God is leading.
God is good all the time, all the time God is good! — at 中央研究院

春天的雨丝

一位长辈的追思礼拜。

刚结束， 我走出礼堂，微雨。

我披上围巾，拉紧了。

那暖意是春天的绕指柔，但因面而来的仍是寒风。

忽地想起了诗人艾略特（T.S. Eliot）《荒原》一诗的开场白：“四月是最残酷的月份，迸生长紫丁香，从死沉沉的地土，混杂着记忆和希望，鼓动着呆钝的根须，以春天的雨丝。“

四月原来是春天的象征，希望的代名词，但在诗人的诗作里，”四月“却是最残酷的月份，因为它使”死亡中文的生命“发芽，而发芽的生命将如何破干地而出，那时一种困境。

死亡，令人尴尬。

        再叱咤风云的人,再飞黄腾达的人都逃不了这死亡的网罗。亚历山大、成吉思汗、秦始皇，这些独占历史扉页的大人物都不能幸免，何况世间小民的死。死亡，是那么强悍，那么霸道，金钱别想收买他，魔法更不能改变他。人死了就是死了。

但生命的创造者却预留了救恩。祂说：“凡在主里死了的人，都必复活。”祂独留了一条活路，给小心寻求的人。举目观看，谁有这么大的口气，谁能掌握人死后的世界，谁能给人永恒的生命？

我转入另一条巷子，想起追思礼拜上最后一首诗歌的歌词：

♫ 因祂活着，我能面对明天 ♫

♩ 因祂活着，不再惧怕 ♩

♪ 我深知道，祂掌管明天 ♪

♬ 生命充满了希望，只因祂活着 ♬

我的心里油然生出盼望，就像是从天而降的雨丝一般，密密地、细细地，梳理着我春天的忧愁。

（载自《中信》535期）

You are my all in all

Verse 1
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all

Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all

Verse 2
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all

When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Chorus
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name (x2)