"...And you will refute every tongue that accuses you." (Isaiah 54:17)

Last Thursday and Friday was a challenging week for our family. 

David was not his usual chirpy and talkative self unlike other days. He was unusually quiet throughout the car journey from school to home. Daddy sensed something might have happened to him in school, while I simply brushed it off since David said he was having some discomfort in the tummy. 

Little did I know that Daddy was right. 

Close to snooze time at night, I received a message from David's school parents' chat group. A mother heard from her son about an incident that occurred in school that day -- a boy threw a female classmate's wallet at her and her key-chain was detached and broke. The teacher told the girl to have her father fix the toy for her at home and she cried as she had no father. The mother ended her message suggesting that "the culprit" should return the girl a new toy. 

Out of curiosity, I asked David who the boy was. And to my horror, David said the boy was him. (Imagine my shock!) 

A few seconds later, I tried to compose myself and asked him to relate the whole incident to me. That's where I found out it was a mere accident, and the message sent by that mother was not the truth at all. I was very angry over the mother's allegations, which was circulated in the open chat group comprising of over twenty to thirty other classmates' parents. 

I had difficulty sleeping that night. And I composed a message reply to respond to her allegations. 

After sharing the incident with my husband, we decided there was an urgent need to meet up with the teacher of that lesson the next day before I forward my response. So we wasted no time, and went down to the school personally. Unfortunately, the teacher during that lesson happened to be a relieved teacher and was on medical leave. David's form teacher and co-form teacher were also on leave.  I was flabbergasted when I thought no one was going to help us. But thank God for the kind staff at the school's general office. They activated the Level-Head to speak with us. We related the whole incident to her and she did a prompt investigation with the students involved. 

While waiting for the teacher to investigate the matter, I was praying for the Lord to show His justice and enable the truth to be told. 

About two hours later, she confirmed that David did not throw the wallet at his female classmate. David was merely shifting her skirt as he felt squeezed. Not knowing her wallet was in the skirt and due to carelessness, David dropped the skirt instead of placing it all the way to the floor. As a result, the girl's key chain fell off and was detached from the chain. 

David had apologized to the girl immediately and the girl expressed her forgiveness to David. 

When the Level-Head enquired why she had cried, the girl said she was afraid her mother would scold her for not taking care of her belongings. And she did not cry because she had no father, as she went off to dribble balls happily after the teacher examined the toy. 

Having the teacher's clarification, I went ahead to send my respond in the chat group.

My message listed the facts of the incidents and also informed all parents in the chat group to be discerning when our children relate school incidents with us at home. Children may not be able to relate every thing accurately and as parents, we should not be quick to judge and circulate or gossip over such unverified matters.

Praise the Lord, for enabling us to triumph over our accusers. While she had meant to discredit my son and my family in public, I know my response has regain the credibility of my son and our family to the praise of our Lord Jesus.  

From this incident, I have gained some true friends as well. Another classmate's mother was thankful for my response because her son was similarly accused of bullying the son of that same mother, which wasn't true at all. 

I also received a personal apology from another mother, who responded to the allegation without much thought. 

It was a great challenge to know our son was falsely accused. But I thank God it happened such that we were openly accused, so that David and our family's reputation could be openly reclaimed!  

We need not be afraid of those who try to harm us when God is our shield and Defender. Those who intended to harm us, God turns it all for good when we learn to respond according to His ways! 

Praise the Great and Awesome God, through His Son, Jesus Christ!

To your own Master, you stand or fall

Mark 14:1-11

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard.

She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, 

“Why this waste of perfume? 

It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.”

 And they rebuked her harshly. 

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? 

She has done a beautiful thing to me. 

The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. 

But you will not always have me. She did what she could. 

She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 

Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, 

what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

This passage from Mark 14 was preached in my Church on 12 February 2017. It is a very familiar passage as my Pastor would preach on this at least once a year. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful stories in the Gospels, as we hear of such beautiful commendations Jesus said of someone. Indeed, it is one of my favourite Bible passages. Often times, I hope that I will be able to do something in my lifetime that Christ can remember and commend me for, just like Mary. 

On this day (before attending the afternoon worship service), I received some discouraging news that there was someone who did not seem very pleased about my entry to a particular ministry. I was given this opportunity to serve as a stand-in, because the sister-in-charge will be giving birth to her first child soon. My heart sank to hear of such unpleasant remarks and I felt really discouraged to the point of tears. 

Like Mary, I just wanted to answer the call of God to serve Him. It was God who called me. I did not volunteer to take up the role. I just knew God had laid upon my heart I needed to stand-in to serve Him, despite my already hectic and busy schedule. Taking up this one more area of ministry was a test of my tenacity for time. I was simply obeying the call of God, hence receiving such a disheartening news was a rather great blow to me. 

But in that particular sermon on Feb 12, God showed me one important truth as servants of God who choose to do His will --- When we sincerely serve the Lord, there will always be critics around us. 

Mary was criticized by Judas for wasting the jar of pure nard, pouring it out freely on Jesus' feet instead of helping the poor.  Nevertheless, Mary focused on doing what she knew she needed to do for Jesus Christ --- anoint Him with oil before His burial. 

She remained completely silent throughout and it was the Lord Jesus who defended her. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. 

Mary gave her best and her all to Christ and was not looking to the disciple's approval or seeking the opinion of others for what she did. She did all she could (for Jesus Christ alone). She did not pre-announce her intention, neither did she choose to explain her actions after doing it. She simply did it for Christ. 

Charles Spurgeon wrote, 

"You should rise above such idle dependence upon man's opinion; what matters it to you what your fellow-servant thinks? To your own Master you stand or fall. If you've done a good thing, do it again."

Mary sat at Jesus' feet for long hours, hearing His teachings and she caught His words and what He was going to do for them. She even took hold of the kairos (means 'perfect') timing of God, to do such a beautiful act for Jesus. 

That lesson made me realised, there'll always be "Judases" around us when we want to serve the Lord. Critics will tell us we are doing it wrong. Satan will instigate people close to us to discourage us from fulfilling the will of God. But we have a God who sees through the hearts of men, who sees all things and knows all things.  

During Quiet Time on 13 Feb 2017, God spoke to me literally as I read the day's comments in my devotional guide:

"God does not give up on those He has chosen, even when they want to give up on Him!"

Then on 14 Feb 2017, God continues with His assurance: 

"Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body... Fear God...so don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." (Luke 12:4-5, 7)

I am learning that nothing needs to be important except the pleasure of my Master and Lord. The opinions of man should not stand or matter to me when I want to serve my Master, Lord Jesus.  It is only His pleasure, His Will, His delight that shall be my call. 

Thank you, dear Lord Jesus. May it be so in my life. 

"...You Shall See Greater Things Than These" (John 1:50)

Since Christmas 2016 right into the new year of 2017, there were nine trying moments that happened one after another. It included at least two accounts of false accusations against me, spousal disagreement, family disputes, children falling sick (on the same day and lasted five days), misunderstanding, receiving complaints from school teachers about the kids (on two consecutive days), etc,

I must admit, I could hardly have smiles on my face during this period. My heart was weighed down by many discouragements and heartaches, as some of those closest to me were the ones that brought me pain. Besides that, I was confronted with my own weaknesses, how I've failed in my responses, and struggled much with guilt and forgiving myself.

Nonetheless, it is in seasons like these, God seems evidently closer. Devotional passages during my Quiet Times became relevant to my circumstances and it brought me comfort and hope as I learnt to apply the lessons for the day.

The greatest encouragement came from the Bible verses in Zephaniah 3:14-17,

Sing, O daughter of Zion, 
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment
and will disperse the armies of your enemy.
And the Lord himself, the King of Israel,
will live among you!
At last your troubles will be over, 
and you will never again fear disaster.
On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,
“Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.[b]
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

In addition, God spoke out one phrase several times during this season - "you will see great and unsearchable things". I must admit, I had thought it was my own thoughts initially.  Perhaps, I was trying to self-motivate. But those words kept coming to my ears every time my thoughts were on what I was going through. "You will see great and unsearchable things".

It came to a point, I finally prayed a silent prayer last week --- "Lord, if theses words really come from You, please reveal to me the same words through a verse in the Bible".

That was last week. Guess what??

I went to Bible Study Fellowship on Monday morning. At the lecture, the Teaching Leader went through John 1:19-51. Until she came to verse 50, the words jumped right at me, and I gasped in amazement. The very words I was asking God to show me appeared in John 1:50 -- "...you will see greater things than these." WOW!....... I almost broke down in tears right in that lecture hall.

God, my God, truly amazes me with His answers!

I never thought God would really answer that prayer, actually. Not that I didn't believe He could. But I never expected God would answer an insignificant request such as this.

I am still in amazement at God's working.  I can only surrender to His will right now.  I know He surely has a plan for me, a plan to prosper me, and not to harm me, a plan to give me hope and future (Jeremiah 29:11). I can't see the full picture yet, but I know He is going to do a work in me.  Many may beg to differ, some may despise my abilities, some may feel I am not going to be good enough for the work.  I know I need to learn to go beyond those judgments and expectations, and simply rest and trust in God's providence and leading. It will be trying, but God will fight the battle ahead for me, I need only to trust in His Sovereign will and plan.

Thank you, Lord Jesus. And come, Lord Jesus.