He who has a Why to live for can bear with almost any Hows….

I was reading Ps 119 today. It is the longest psalm in the bible. A total of 176 verses. When I first read Ps 119 many many many years ago, I have always rememdered only Ps 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it    according to Thy word.” (NASB) and Ps 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.” (NASB). I have not really meditate through the whole psalm for it is so long :-p However, I took the challenge to read and meditate on it today. As I meditate and read through it a few times, I begin to find new meaning and understanding on the very law and Words of the Lord. Here are some of my observations on the words of the Lord which we have always taken for granted.

The Law or the Words of the Lord are not just a collections of His ways and teaching or even the records of the history of His interventions to mankind. As I read Ps 119 today, I realised that there are so much richness in His words. It not only teaches, reproofs, corrects and trains in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16), when we follow and obey them, it will usher in much blessings of the Lord.  

Happiness & Joy – vs 1-2, 35 & 56

Purity & Holiness – vs 9, 11 & 80

Encouragement – vs 28

Gives life, purpose & meaning – vs 37

Reassurance in the Lord’s promises – vs 38

Gives hope – vs 43, 49, 81, 114

Provides freedom – vs 45

Offers comfort – vs 50

Discipline – vs 71, 75

Gives understanding, knowledge & wisdom – vs 104

Provides directions – vs 105, 133

Protection & security – vs 114, 133, 160

Peace – vs 160

Above are the 13 blessings on the words of the Lord which I observed from Ps 119. As I reflected on the years I have known the Lord, it was indeed in His written words that I find solace and directions. It is where I find comfort and strength in times of uncertainties and trials. As I continue in this journey of faith, my prayer is that of the psalmist :

“Teach me, O Lord, to follow every one of your principles. Give me understanding and I will obey your law; I will put into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the pat of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.” Ps 119: 33-35 (NLT)

Old Edition    New Edition

Did this book (Making Dating Works: Boundaries in Dating by Dr Henry Cloud & Dr John Townsend) review for my School of Teacher Training. Just want to share this with you who visit my blog

“Having read numerous books on choosing and looking for the helpmate which God has planned for and prepared for me, it didn’t make any sense initially on why I will want to read a book on dating and setting boundaries in dating since I was still single then. As the saying goes “No one plans to fail but fails to plan”, thus I approached reviewing the book with an attitude of preparing myself when the time strikes.

The book was written in response to many misconceptions on dating, particularly after the publishing of the book “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” by Joshua Harris. The authors proposed that dating offers many benefits and most importantly, it could help individual to learn about oneself and others and also in developing appropriate relationship skills.  However, the authors pointed out that “Dating can be a great time of life, but it must be balanced with God’s boundaries of what is good” (pg 21).

The book is divided into four parts. It brings the reader to first understand oneself and his/her needs, then follow by some practical guides on whom the reader should date. Subsequently, it led the reader to guides in solving dating problems when the reader is part of the problem and also when the partner is the problem. One thing I like about the book is how the authors use real cases, through their various years of teaching and counseling, to illustrate their points and views on the dating issues. Apart from this, they also offered very practical guides. And at the end of each chapter, they also provide “Take-away Tips” which are principal points of the chapter.

The constant themes that were highlighted throughout the book are (a) concerns for the other person, (b) accountability to God and men, (c) ownership i.e. individual responsibility; and (d) growth. The authors shared that the dating life is a powerful change agent for the reader. It allows the reader to “be learning about own issues, how they affect others, and what to do about them” (pg 277). This, they opined, is what ultimately will make one grow. However, they also pointed out that for one to enjoy good dating relationships and to grow healthily, boundaries are required. They serve to protect reader and also allow the reader to “choose better quality people” (pg 33). On top of that, boundaries also allow the reader to remain holy and honourable as in accordance to the scripture (1 Thess 4:3-8). As passionate lust lurks around as the dating relationship grows, it call for one to exercise self control in order to remain holy and honourable for the Lord. The authors highlighted that when one is “capable of delay of gratification and self-control”, the person will be capable to love. And this is what dating, and subsequently marriage, all about. 

The authors also shared that it is of importance that the dating relationship will bring one closer to God. They emphasized that the reader is to fix his/her “dating life into his/her spiritual life” (pg 51). This calls for surrendering to God and not letting the date becomes an idol to the reader, which in many cases are happening when God is not the centre of the dating relationship. The authors shared that only when the reader grows in Christ, it will then enable him/her “to love and invest his/her heart wisely and well” (pg 69).

The authors ended the book with 6 critical measures for the reader to reflect on whether they are currently in a good dating relationship. They concluded that “Boundaries in dating is about becoming a truthful, caring, responsible, and free person who also encourages growth in those he/she is in contact with” (pg 277). And ultimately, “Dating is an adult relationship meant for mature, intact adults to engage in” (pg 73).”

 Hi all, I am back.

Did not blog for a long time as I was fasting from extended time on the computer for the last 40 days The call to fast was initiated by my Senior Pastor as a call for the church to return to intimacy with God. Spending time with God is not only just a spiritual discipline that the Christians should have, in fact, it is what God, our Heavenly Father would want to do with us too. As much as we should spend time with God, He wants to spend time with us too

I have kept my time on the computer to only during working hours and with regards to both work or ministry issues, other than that, I will not spend more than 10 mins on my lappy at home. So what do I do with all the time I have? Well, praying and reading my bible for an hour almost throughout the 40 days. It was such wonderful time. Simply to let my spirit and mind rest in the presence of the Lord.

I am now back And more posts will be on the way ….. however, this doesn’t mean I will spend less time with God again. But rather, I will think of spending time with Him first before I hit on to the lappy from now on

“Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke.” Isa 58: 6-7 (NASB)

“No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn” Isa 58: 6-7 (NLT)