When you have to face bereavement

Noone likes bad news, no matter how small or big but they are plenty around. When we hear  bad news, we listen and learn; we comfort and care; extend out hands where we can and that is all that we can do.

When we have to face bereavement of someone closed to us, seeing them going through the process and listening to the last things of the deceased can be quite a learning process for those of us who are still living. There are always lessons to be learnt; new things that we learn !

Once, I heard a speaker said, as you get older and start to work, you will get more and more engagement and wedding invitations; this is followed by baby fullmoon and baby 1,2,3 etc years birthday celebration invitation! As years go by, you start to get calls to pray for someone very sickly; attend the funeral wake, memorial and funeral services. It should not surprise you that the latter ones do not have invitation, you choose to go as you think suitable and there will be more and more of it !

The first few memorial services were very traumatic experience, a mix of fear and unknown. Then, the heart hardened and lost in the midst of the living and the dead ! I came to know a very certain fact that we all dont like :-

Life and death is as certain as sun rise and sun set;
As the sun rise from the east, it shall set at he west;
As life begins at birth, it shall return to the Creator when it dies !
The difference between the living and the dead is disparing to know :-
Some died very prepared; some died without preparation;
Some live very well planned; some live wihtout nay planning !
The choice is in our hand !

Selah moment definitions

This week, a friend shared about a selah moment in her life through facebook and I learnt something. Here is what I have learnt about a Selah Moment.

My understanding of Selah Moment


It is a WOW moment frozen in short span, crystallised with a great moment of truth, such strong truth and awakening that you just simply has to pause and rethink through it !

I need more Selah Moments in my life, I need to be zapped by moments of truths from God, to humble me, to re-build me, to restore me. Make me useful for His purpose.

Here are some internet notes that I have learnt from.
http://selah-moment.blogspot.com/
The word 'Selah' in the book of Psalms seem to imply a brief moment of silence, a rest in a flurry of musical notes and poetry, a pause for the musicians to take a breather, a moment for the priests to sacrifice their offerings before the Lord.
This blogger uses Selah Moment as a collection of their moments of reflection; of the silent pauses in their journey of faith.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Selah-Moment---When-Time-Stands-Still-For-You-to-Reflect&id=3941372
The "Selah" Moment - When Time Stands Still For You to Reflect

By Steve Wickham


Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

~Book of Psalms, variously throughout (Amplified version).

Time in life is generally abundant yet we lose our grip on it so ironically in our grasping of it a.k.a. "busyness." Like the concept of happiness, the moment we grab time is the moment we lose it.


Note to self: time is an uncommodifiable thing--we're no merchants of time, we are simply marvellers of it.

The "Selah" (say-lah) moment is a place of consciousness that is barely beating. It takes the being partaking of its grace to a place pervaded in a concept like, wait for it, 'reverse time.'

It's a time of anti-time, if there were such a thing. It's a time-vacuum where the things of time matter less.

It's a destination of the mind and heart where matters of everyday life don't matter so much; it's possibly a positive numbness--given to the sacred pastime, set aside to Divineness. It's a gentle though punchy and stringent relief in anyone's day.

The "Selah" moment is thick with spiritual meaning and truth; we can pause and reflect--stunned enough simply to STOP. Stopped in our tracks, but so totally in accord with our wills; spiritual relevance smacks us between the eyes of our heart. We so want this time even if it comes as a transitory inconvenience. We reflect later-with a charmed grin-that as God is good, so is the "Selah" moment!

It's there for us--in our direct midst--if only we'll recognise it. It stands there waiting for our hand, to take ours in its hand, and journey with us--beyond our so-called realism.

To take advantage of the moment in reflection we are necessarily in a mood a world away. When it takes us, we simply cooperate. We enjoy the flight of fancy that re-invigorates and restores us mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Until the next time it breaks through our consciousness... a very dear friend. Selah is wellbeing.

A Selah Moment

On 23 November 2010 at 2:30p.m. I was informed that my cousin Andrew Ho Nyuk Loong has passed away in hospital, he was 54, leaving wife and 3 young adults children. My late cousin Andrew has been battling with kidney failure, dialysis for years, kidney transplant, rejection of new kidney, recovery, kidney failure after a short few years and was back to dialysis. I think when I stopped and paused to think about it, life is so fragile and tender, that is true ! Life is also full of missed-opportunities !

Thursday evening was the memorial service and Rev Voo invited the relatives and friends to share on their thoughts of Brother Loong as he was fondly called. The series of speakers who shared on his life, that he was a funny person, full of jokes and laughters, a man with mission in his heart. I sat and listened and learnt :-

• Brother Loong is man a passion for Christ and mission. He has a heart for interior mission, helping kampungs in terms of finance, medicine and clothing.
• He is a kind and generous who gave and gave even when he was not rich.
• Last week Cell group was at his house and he shared about involving in Kampung Mission and he recently visited a church member to pray for her even himself needed to be helped by his wife to walk.
• My Auntie Oi shared that he cleared the backyard and got rid of all the junks in the last week of his life. He made it so clean now.
• In October (just a month ago), he shared on video as invited by the church, about his journey of faith. He spoke with poise and confidence that his God will deliver and heal him.
• In the last 7 months of his life, he was in and out of hospital for 4 times and the 3rd time was most severe as he spent 26 days there. Through all that, he praised God for being there for him.
• I have missed knowing such a caring and visionary cousin!

Then, time stopped for a while, just long enough for me to pause and think about this life which I often do not treasure. It was a selah moment for me !

May my cousin, Andrew Ho (Brother Loong) rest in peace and his soul be with God and may his family remains in the faith of God !

Kids say the darndest things

Wallace at 3, while crossing the Tamparuli hanging bridge, he wanted to hold daddy hands. When mum asked why, he replied, "Because pappa has more use !" (Obviously, he thought mum would be less useful should the hanging bridge fall!)

Bel at 5 was very curious about heaven, she asked while having her milk before bed, "Would there be food in heaven?" So, mum assured her that there will be plenty food in heaven, no need to worry. After a pause, she said,"How ? If I am hungry, do I go to Jesus and says : Jesus, I am hungry, can I have chicken and rice ?" Mum could not stop laughing, "No darling, I am not sure if they serve Hainanese Chicken Rice in heaven!"

Bel at 5 was learning Rukun Negara at Kindergarten Year 1.
Mum : Bel, has your school taught you on Rukun Negara?

Bel stamped her feet to attention.
Bel : Yes, we have to stand very straight and repeat after the teachers.
Mum : What have you learnt about it ?
Bel : Very hard to memorise but I remember Malaysia has many prawns !
Me : Er ? Why ?
Bel : Kedaulatan Udang-udang !
Bel happens to like prawns very much !

Classical Quote on the Bible

THE BIBLE contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers.

Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's charter.

Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and will be remembered forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Pray it in, read it through, live it out, and pass it on.

-- Author Unknown --

-- Gideon Bible Preface--

The Bible is priceless in worth to me;

The depths of wisdom is enough for me to dwell on;

The width of knowledge stretch beyond my mind;

The length of God's love is unending;

The height of humanity is all explained.

All I ever needed to know,

All I ever wanted to read,

is all here waiting for me,

to come into the garden of God

to pluck, to spice up my life

to restore, to rest my tired soul.

I call it my Book of Life !

~ Doria

Mine of wealth,a paradise of glory,and a river of pleasure..

Mine of wealth,a paradise of glory,and a river of pleasure..

My facebook friend just posted the above in her profile status, such depth, I thought to myself. I google it and found that it is describing the Bible, the content and depth of its impact on our lives. Here are some of the google results on what is so precious about the Bible :-

http://www.fromoutoftheblue.com/blogs/peter/a-universal-experience
"It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed" and "It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure."

http://www.wordproject.org/direct/salvation.htm

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. [Found inside a Gideon's New Testament]

http://our.homewithgod.com/ewerluvd/hymndevotionals/3_5.htm
~* THY WORD IS LIKE A GARDEN, LORD *~

Edwin Hodder, 1837-1904

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:103-105

For the child of God, the daily reading of the Scriptures is the nourishment of the soul. The Bible's value has been described in many ways as the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Someone has offered this sage advice regarding the use of the Bible: "Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure."

Although just a lay amateur writer in England, Edwin Hodder was also impressed with the miraculous quality of the Bible. So in this hymn, first published in 1863, Hodder paints comparative pictures that both young and old can understand easily. Verse one begins with the thought that even casual seekers can find something from God's written landscape that will beautify their lives merely by "plucking a lovely cluster." Stanza one continues to say, however, that it is not enough to be a casual observer of this garden of beauty. Rather, we must earnestly search and dig into the Holy Scriptures' mighty depths for "jewels rich and rare".

Verse two extends the thought further that God's Word, like the starry host, is fathomless in giving guidance for life's journey. Finally, the hymn reminds us that there is an earnestness confronting each believer in the form of a warfare against sin and unrighteousness. For this battle we require the aid of God's Holy Word.

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;

And every one who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.

Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare

Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.

Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light

Are seen to guide the traveler and make his pathway bright.

Thy Word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair;

And find, for life’s long battle day, all needful weapons there.

O may I love Thy precious Word, may I explore the mine,

May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine!

O may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword,

I’ll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.

For Today*: Psalm 119:105, 130; John 5:39, 6:63; II Timothy 3:16

Allow the Bible's relevance, beauty, and simplicity to thrill your soul.

**This little known hymn so struck me with it's beauty and simplicity that it was the first hymn text included in my first book, No Accident
Music url: The Cyber Hymnal http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/h/y/thywilgl.htm

http://www.christianityrestored.com/
This Book is the inspired, infallible Word of the Living God.

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man,
the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true,
its prophecies are accurate, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe. and practice it to be holy.
It contains Light to direct you, Food to support you, to comfort and cheer you.
It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's Staff, the pilot's Compass,
the soldier's sword, and the Christian's Charter.

Herein Paradise is restored, Heaven is opened, and the gates of hell are disclosed.
CHRIST IS ITS GRAND SUBJECT
Our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory,
rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.
It is a Mine of Wealth, a Paradise of Glory, and a River of Pleasure.
It is given to you in life, will be opened at the Judgment, and be remembered forever.
It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor,
and condemns all who trifle with its sacred contents.
Amen

The Bible is our rule of faith...

And Christ alone is Lord;

All we are equal in His sight

When we obey His Word;

No earthly master do we know

To man-rule will not bow;

But to each other and to God

Eternal trueness vow.

The Light Of His Word Dispels All Darkness
 
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement." (1Corinthians 1:10)

It is only through God's Word and by His Spirit that this will be accomplished. Will you be among those who will search the scriptures to see if ye be in that faith of Biblical Christianity?

Greenland Airman

An Air Force cargo plane was preparing for departure from Thule Air Base in Greenland. They were waiting for the truck to arrive to pump out the aircraft's sewage holding tank. The Aircraft Commander was in a hurry, the truck was late in arriving, and the Airman performing the job was extremely slow in getting the tank pumped out.

When the commander berated the Airman for his slowness and promised punishment, the Airman responded: "Sir, I have no stripes, it is 20 below zero, I'm stationed in Greenland, and I am pumping sewage out of airplanes. Just what are you going to do to punish me?"