I asked God

I asked God for a flower, he gave me a bouquet

I asked God for a minute, he gave me a day
I asked God for true love, he gave me that too
I asked for an angel, he gave me you.

- John Raine -

Life and purpose

A friend's husband died last week of a head-on car collison. I was shocked, we just don't expect a young person to die that soon, but in fact, when you think about it, it could happen to any of us. We just don't know how long we are going to live, and in what manner we are going to die. Death without God is particularly hard to deal with, because it is so final. I am not saying that if Dan dies tomorrow, it will not be hard, but at least, I know he is with the Lord who loves him and he will not encounter any suffering of this world anymore. The best part is we will see each other again in full glory.

When we see an unexpected death, we think of our own mortality, and it is a good thing, because that puts our view of life and death into the right perspective, helps us to put things in the right priorities, do the important things in ife, but not things that everybody said is important. Life on earth is a journey, God places us here to fulfill his purposes and to glorify him, this is not our home.

No one, on their death bed, would wish that they would have spend more time in the office, wish that they have finish more projects for the company, rather, they regret that they didn't spend enough time with their wives, husbands, children and do things that they find meaningful and have an eternal impact.

For me, I think the most important thing in life right now is to fulfill my responsibilities as a wife, a mother and an evangelist. That's why I truly awaits the day when my working days are over and can stay home. It will not happen until we can raise full support to go to the Philippines.

God of the universe

Photo from NASA. All rights reserved.

Dan has been working very hard on support-team building. We prayed again and again for God to send us the partners that he has prepared for us. We are asking that God we will be 40% funded by Thanksgiving. In the midst of all the photo-copying, phone calls, scheduling and meetings, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the God of the universe is the one who is sending us to his mission and we are just obeying what he has asked us to do. Look at the universe and ponder. Our God who is sending us to go to the Philippines, created all these, stars and galaxies that we will NEVER reach in our lifetime, space that we cannot fathom, activities that we cannot see. Look at the wonders he has displayed in front of our eyes. Why would we think that he cannot send us to the Philippines with full funding if he wants us to go?
God of the universe, you are amazingly grand and yet, you are so tender and caring, what an existence!

The search has ended

I have been searching for a good hair stylist since I came here nine years ago, don't have much success. Since I left Hong Kong, left my most trust-worthy hairstylist, Sam, I have lost the fun of going to have a haircut. I didn't need to tell Sam what to do, I sat down, he started to cut. He always gave me the best haircut that fit my personality and the time period that I am living in, not something from 109 years ago. We became friends, in fact, I shared the gospel with him, but he insisted that he is not ready for receive such 'good things' yet.

I pretty much have given up hope for having a good head of hair, until I saw a co-worker, Hae-Won's hair style. She is Korean, her hair stylist is Korea, and he doesn't speak much English. I went anyway, Hae-Won made the appointment for me. Eddy is young, doesn't speak much English, but he is good at what he does. The bonus is the haircut is only $20.00!!! The cheapest I have had so far was $35.00, which was just a trim. Ha! Finally, I found a place where I would want to go back to for my haircut, this place won't cost me an arm and a leg either.

Today is a happy day.

To those I love

If I should ever leave you whom I love
To go along the Silent Way,
grieve not,
Nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk
of me as if I were beside you there.



(I'd come-I'd come, could I but find a way!
But would not tears and grief be barriers?)

And when you hear a song or
see a bird I loved,
please do not let the thought of me be sad...
For I am loving you just as I always have...

You were so good to me!
There are so many things I wanted still



want to do—
so many things to say to you...
Remember that I did not fear—
It was just leaving you that was so hard to face...



We cannot see Beyond...
But this I know:
I loved you so—
'twas heaven here with you!

by Isla Paschal Richardson. Read by Gregory Peck at Frank Sinatra's funeral, 1998.