The Little Things That Make All The Difference

We often wonder if what we do would make a difference at all. When I started writing, I wanted to inspire, encourage and make a difference in the lives of anyone who may come across this blog in a time of difficulty and discouragement. Other than the fact that I've been preoccupied with other things and thus, didn't put writing as a priority, the truth is, sometimes I wonder if anyone would read what I wrote and whether it would make any difference at all after they've read them.

I have learned however, that the little things that we do are often the ones that make the biggest difference. A small act of kindness to an elderly person on the street, a warm smile to someone who may have had a bad day, or something as simple as a sincere compliment to a friend.

Somewhere around 5 months ago, someone messaged me out of the blue on Facebook and told me how she has been encouraged by some of my posts. Her words were too kind and she encouraged me to keep on writing as it will impact many others who are going through some tough times. I'm not sharing this to make myself feel better or to gain approval. I'm sharing this mainly because of 2 reasons.

The first reason being a reminder that though writing a blog post may seem insignificant, someone, somewhere who may be facing a tough time may still be encouraged by something you write long after it has been written. So if you write to encourage others, keep writing! You never know who may be reading it and be impacted one day!

The second reason is another reminder that the words and encouragement that you give to another person today may just be the reason for the person to keep on persevering. I've pretty much given up on writing in this blog and wanted to shift my attention to something else but the sharing and the words of encouragement from that friend reminded me all over again to keep on doing what I've been doing. So YOU too, have the power to encourage another person to keep on striving and doing their best.

What little act of encouragement can you do to another person today? The words you say and the things you do may very well be all the difference the person needs to keep going.

This post is dedicated to Liesl. Thank you for your encouraging words that day. If it wasn't for your message, I probably wouldn't think of writing here again. Although I've been procrastinating in writing this post ever since then, I figured I'll at least write something before this year ends. So, THANK YOU for making all the difference!

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.." (Hebrews 10: 24)

Keep Your Eyes FORWARD!

The rear-view mirror is a very important necessity in a car. Without it, our chances of getting into an accident is much higher 'cause we will not be able to see what is behind us. No matter how important it is though, I've never seen someone drive the whole way with their eyes glued to the rear-view mirror!

It is very ironic, however, to see many of us live our lives driving only with our "rear-view mirrors" all the time. We've heard the saying about how our past has a way of catching up to us. Without realizing it, we often allow our past to determine who we are, and what we are worth now. I was struggling with how I treated some people in my life, and whenever I looked back I felt that I was not worthy of forgiveness for the way I treated them. It made me frustrated at myself for not loving people the way Christ does. It also stopped me from allowing God's forgiveness to make me new and hindered me from striving to change, as I was too busy dwelling in my "unworthiness".

It is true that our past may have its consequences our present situations, but it is a CHOICE whether we allow it to take control of our FUTURE.

Whatever it may be - a difficult family background, a decision we regret, or even a mistake that still has its consequences on us until today; just like our rear-view mirror, its purpose is simply to help us move forward without hindrances. We would not (and should not) drive with our eyes looking back all the time and not focus on the road that is ahead. That would be disastrous!

In the same way, however important and significant your past may be, don't focus all your energy dwelling on it. Even if those are past victories! All your past victories are there to help prepare you for greater ones. So, don't short-change yourself by dwelling in them. Keep your eyes forward and "upward", using the "rear-view mirror" only when necessary, because only then will you be able to see all the things that God has in store for you ahead!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

God bless.

Gifts Under the Tree

A very Blessed Christmas to everyone! Christmas, one of the most widely celebrated seasons all around the globe. Who wouldn't love the Christmas atmosphere? Christmas carols that fills shopping malls all around, Christmas trees with colorful ornaments, and the gifts! Talk about the gifts! One of the nicest views we'd like to wake up to on a Christmas morning would probably be a tree FULL of gifts underneath it!

With all this festivity around us, it's so easy to miss out the true reason for Christmas and become too preoccupied with things like what gifts we are getting for our loved ones, or even what kind of gifts we'd love to receive for Christmas. I celebrate Christmas because I'd like to celebrate the greatest gift God gave to us, Jesus Christ, His Son to be a sin offering for us. I celebrate this Gift that was the only way for us to be saved from our sins and I really really thank God for that.

I thought to myself, "Since we're celebrating Jesus' birth, shouldn't it be proper to give Him a gift too?" With that thought, the "gift ideas" I had ranged from acts of obedience, to sharing God's love to people around, etc etc. During church service on Christmas morning, a vision came to my mind as we were worshiping and praising God.

It was a vision of a TREE, except it wasn't a Christmas tree. It was the Tree that Jesus hung upon: a large wooden CROSS! And as I imagined what gifts to put under the tree, I only offered the best I have. Then Jesus told me to put under the tree, not only my victories but my failures; not only my acts of obedience but my sins as well. It was perplexing as I thought that I was only supposed to offer the best I can to Jesus. How can He ask for anything less?!

Jesus didn't only want parts of me, but ALL of me! He wanted me to put under the Tree, my life! Not just the victories or the good things that I've experienced through Jesus. He wanted me to put my sins, my failures, my insecurities all at the foot of the Cross too! That was when I realized that offering my life as a living sacrifice to Christ for what He has done for me wasn't just about coming to Him with my victories, but it was also to put before Him my sins and my failures. That was my birthday gift to Jesus!

What are your gifts under the Tree for Jesus? HE wants every part of you, not only the good, but the parts that you may be ashamed to present to Him as well. Do you have a sin that you have been struggling with? Put it under the Cross! Has the world's view of beauty made you feel inadequate or insecure? Present it to Jesus! Let's come before Jesus with all we have and all that we are; put it at the foot of the Cross and that may be the best gifts we can offer!

This Christmas, I pray for all of us to be truly set free and with no more burdens that will hinder our fellowship with God. Wasn't that why Jesus came in the first place? :)

Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Put all that you have under the Tree; both your triumphs and your failures, and that's the best gift we can give to Jesus for Christmas! 

Run To Win The Prize

A couple of months ago, I competed in a wheelchair race in Terengganu and throughout the whole run, my body was weak from days of lack of rest and proper nutrition. It was a time where I really needed God to help me if I wanted to win, 'cause there was no way I could achieve it with the big gap in distance some competitors had over me. God in turn replied with not just strength, but some lessons that He wanted me to take back from the race. Lessons that was more important than the prize or medal.

1. Do not give up before the race is over!

I immediately knew the moment I started the run that I wasn't at my best condition. This showed throughout the whole race as I was struggling to catch up with the two other competitors who was in front of me. No matter how hard I pushed and pushed, I just couldn't close the gap between us. Instead they were going further away. I wanted to save my energy till the final kilometre so that I could go all out, and so I maintained the 3 place position throughout the whole race. 

However, there were no markers on the road to show the distance we've covered, and before I realize it, I recognized the turning in to the finishing line which I passed by earlier in the morning. It was just about 150 meters away and I was still in third place position; in fact I was still quite far away from the 2nd place racer. I knew I was a little too late in giving my final push. However, I asked God for strength and with Philippians 4: 13 in mind, I gave my hardest sprint and overtook the 2nd position; though I was still very far away from the 1st racer and he was already in his final 10 metres.

Some part of me wanted to ease up and just "accept the result of my defeat". How on earth would I win anyway,right? At that very moment, I could sense as if God is telling me that it's not a race between me and the other racer, but a race against myself and my complacency. I needed to give my very, VERY BEST regardless of what happens. It's no longer about winning, but about FINISHING STRONG. Never give up before the race is over! The same goes with life. Don't throw in the towel at the face of challenges and hopelessness, but choose to finish it strong and triumphantly! 

2. Do not think victory is already certain before the race is over and stumble right in front of the finish line.

As I was giving my all to reach the finish line (still thinking that I will end up in 2nd place anyway), I noticed that the 1st place racer was slowing down and relaxing in his pace. The next thing that happened was truly unexpected. He thought that he had won and decided to stop 5 metres right in front of the finish line! I immediately caught up and almost overtook him but he soon noticed and managed to block me from overtaking him in the finishing lane. I ended up finishing just centimetres behind him as I couldn't overtake in the narrow lane.

The results came out and we checked out our timing to determine the winner. It was a TIE!! We actually tied with the same timing! The organizers didn't know how to handle the case and asked me to accept the result based on who crossed the finish line first, though our timing was EXACTLY the same. I decided to accept the decision and took 2nd place. 

At that time, I realized that if I were to give up and just go easy before the finish line and accept my "defeat" I would have never gotten a tie. I also realized that because he was confident that he was going to win, he wasn't fully alert of his surrounding, thus stumbling right in front of the finish line. In life, there will be time where we get over-confident that we are already "there" and because of that we sometimes stumble at the most crucial moment and thus risk losing the "prize". Always keep our heads levelled and our eyes focused on Jesus, not on our own abilities to "win". 

There was one more lesson that I took back from the race but I shall leave that to another post as to not make this one too long. Anyway, never give up before the race is over! You'll never know the full potential you have if you do not decide to finish strong. Also, when it seems that we are winning, always keep our heads levelled and keep running as hard as we can. Be sure to run as to win the prize, focus and look to Jesus because He IS our prize! There's so much we can draw from a race to application into our spiritual and daily lives. Praise God for His grace abounds all the time! 

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3: 13-14)

Before the run started in the morning

I am SECOND

Ever since I started joining runs (not with my legs,course), people around have been inspired. I actually thought it was a little ridiculous when I got onto the news simply by joining my first 10km run! I mean, tonnes of other people were running but I ended up on the newspaper. How ridiculous was that?! However, I guess this is simply because people like to share stories that inspires them, be it people or sometimes even animals (like the news about the dog that led firemen & police to his owner's burning house).

I just finished my second half marathon so far at the Brooks Half Marathon. Officially, that was my 5th run ever since I participated in the Standard Chartered run July last year. I look at every run I join as an opportunity to inspire others and most of all, to make Jesus' name famous. That's why I would always wear  a shirt with the words "Powered by Jesus" and a verse printed at the back of it. I would normally choose to be slightly behind the crowd of people during a run so that I can pass by more people, and as a result they will be able to see the words on my back. 

With that in mind, I always do still dance on a fine line between inspiring people and glorifying Jesus, and the intention of feeling better about myself by indulging on people's compliments and making MYSELF famous. It's not easy to have the good intention of bringing glory to Jesus, and at the same time fight off the temptation to brag about how well I did, or how I overcome such "hard" obstacles during the run. 

In this Brooks Half Marathon, God was teaching me all over again. I really found this half marathon to be tougher than my previous one in Penang. The hills were steeper and the roads were rougher. It was also the first race where I could actually feel that I was getting cramp during the run. A few runners asked me if I could do it when we were at one of the steeper hills that day. I insisted that I was fine and needed no help when they offered a little push. At the back of my mind, the thought that I can't really take credit for my run really became the real reason why I refused help. Though I really was able & I did go through the hill on my own, I realized the real motivation of doing that on my own.

Along the way towards the final few kilometers,a few runners actually did offered to help me up some hills.Though I was hesitant, I finally gave in and allowed them to help. I actually could feel that God was trying to teach me what it means to really give all credit to Him at the end of my every run. It would mean that I no longer put myself as priority. The pride I was holding on to so that I can claim some credit to my own runs, didn't actually gel well with what I say about all glory to God every time I get a compliment from someone. 

I will continue to train harder so that I "run" stronger, but I will also continue to learn to know that my runs are not about me. It's no longer "my runs", but His. Only then will I be able to say that all glory goes to Jesus alone and truly mean it. I am POWERED BY JESUS. And I AM SECOND!

p/s: To know more about the "I am Second" movement, check out www.iamsecond.com, or find them on Facebook. 

Some of the few people whose lives I was to privileged to have got the chance to make a mark on.

Let me truly learn to say that I am SECOND! 

YOU are NOT a Mistake!

Was watching Wreck-It Ralph again on my pc on Chinese New Year's night. I must say that it is one of my favourite animation of 2012. It is so sweetly heart-warming. Plus, I really identified to the story the writers put the protagonists in.

The story follows Wreck-It Ralph, the main villain from the game Fix-It Felix Jr. who left his game in the quest of winning a medal from a game called Hero's Duty, hoping that by doing so, he can finally be accepted by the people from his own game. After a series of chaotic events, Ralph managed to obtain a gold medal but ended up in a game called Sugar Rush. There, he met Venellope Von Schweetz, a little girl whose only dream is to be a racer but was never allowed to race because she is a "glitch". What follows is a series of heart warming encounters between them while they soon learn that they don't need to be liked by everyone in order for them to accept themselves.

The two characters are portrayed as "outcasts" of their own games. Accepted by no one, stays alone and more often than not, they are convinced by the people around them that they do not belong there, or even supposed to exist in the first place. I guess that's how we feel sometimes, huh? I know I felt that countless times.

"It sure must be nice being the good guy." -Ralph

I always found myself trying to fit in, but failing instead. I was always the one who is sitting at the outer part of a conversation group, trying to find the right time to say something & get myself into the conversation too. I was also emotionally & verbally bullied in Standard 5 simply for being disabled. In other words, I wasn't really the candidate for the People's Choice Award.

"Everybody here says I'm just a mistake." -Vanellope

I can't remember how many times I've felt worthless, with no one to care, and sometimes I wondered if I was even supposed to exist at all. Just like the Ralph & Venellope though, with a little encouragement along the way, and with some faith I found the purpose for my existence. It is when Ralph & Vanellope knew for sure who they were supposed to be, that they stopped looking everywhere else to find their worth.

Through knowing Jesus Christ, I now truly understand that my worth is not in what other people say of me but in what the Creator says. Along the years, I understood that God has a specific purpose for me & for everything that has happened to me. I know that He wants me to use everything I have to encourage, motivate & inspire as many people as I can, for as long as I live. God has a PURPOSE for me! As Venellope said, "I can feel it in my codes" that I'm supposed to be an inspiration!

The next time you wonder if you are a mistake, think again! When a Creator creates something, it's for a specific purpose. Know the Creator, that is God, and know the purpose that He has for you. Then you'll find that you never need to really try hard to "fit in" anymore. You'll just fit right in, like a natural.

Even Jesus himself was rejected by His own people before. So,be encouraged! You are NOT a mistake! :)

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalms 139:14)

"I'm a racer! I can feel it in my codes." -Vanellope

FINISH STRONG!!

The starting line. Hearts racing, adrenaline pumping, eyes focused and ears peeled for the sounding of the gun. The start of a race, the moment that can decide victory or defeat. No wonder every athlete takes so much effort to start off well.

I joined a run in Terengganu a month back. It was a run organized by the government of Terengganu and they wanted to have a special 3km run for OKU participants. A guy I was introduced to not very long ago contacted me about it and asked if I was interested. Well, of course I was! Everything was fully sponsored and I'd get an allowance of RM100 just by going. Plus, the cash prize for the 1st place was RM2,000!

I went there with some confidence in trying to win the grand prize but that was quickly dampened when I was introduced to a few Malaysian wheelchair Paralympic athletes who were joining to get the grand prize as well. I was introduced by a friend to a guy he referred to as "Malaysia's No. 1 wheelchair marathoner". The worst part was that everyone who were there hearing the conversation agreed to the "title" he was given. How was I supposed to win against this guy?! There were quite a number of other athletes there as well!

All I had in mind to do after that night was simply to leave an impression during the 3km race. I didn't want to leave a place, without having impacted or inspired someone. But how was I gonna do that when everyone else was also on a wheelchair? So, I decided to do my very best despite no longer having hopes for the grand prize, aiming to inspire with my sportsmanship, my fighting spirit and humility above all else.

So, the race day came and we were placed into rows before moving into the starting line. With a total of 180+ wheelchair participants, I ended up at the very back of the line and crossed the starting line LAST! All the other participants, especially the athletes were speeding right at the front and I knew I needed to get out of the "traffic jam" and at least catch up to some of them. I just consistently pushed and pushed, passing by one person after another, not thinking of anything but to do my best.

Before I knew it, I couldn't see anyone else in front of me except for 2 other guys. The guy closest to me was about 100m away from me & the other was definitely an obvious lead against all of us. I never thought of anything else but the next push I put into my wheels and by the half way mark, I was in the lead!

Looking back, I didn't start off very well as I would have wanted. There was a 1 minute gap between the sound of the gun and the time I crossed the starting line last. Along the way, there were so many wheelchairs in front of me that I was almost stuck while the rest of the athletes in front were already in a big lead. However important the start was, it wasn't the most important thing that day. The most important thing was whether I choose to FINISH STRONG, and I did! Being 1 minute behind at the starting line, I gained a lead by the halfway mark and continued to finish FIRST PLACE with a 43seconds lead over the 1st runner up. The next few places were taken by Paralympic athletes. Praise GOD!!

In this "marathon" we call life, some of us may not start off very well in the eyes of the world. Some of us may be from a broken family, had problems with relationships, got bullied when we were younger; you name it! However good it may be for us to start well, the reality is that most of us don't, and we may face even more challenges as we go further. However, we can still choose to FINISH STRONG in Christ Jesus!! Praise God that in Him, we have the strength to finish strong in life and will keep the faith at the end of our journey!

The rest of the 180+ participants in front of me. Biggest crowd of wheelchairs I've ever seen! 

Jesus was the champion that day. I was only a vessel to show His glory!

Hallelujah! 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Finish STRONG!! 

The Start of a NEW Chapter (Life's PURPOSE)

For those who didn't know, I've just been hired! As of this Monday, I will be starting a new chapter of my life in the working world, as a staff in Run For The Nation. All I can do is to praise God for His faithfulness. I did nothing to deserve this job, neither did I even applied for the job. I was just offered the job in God's timing. 

Looking back, I truly believe that God has been long preparing me to take on this vision and this new adventure that I will be embarking on. A number of people have have asked me how do we know God's purpose for our lives. In other words, What is my purpose in life?" Well, let me give a simple illustration with a daily object we always see. 

Take a hammer for example. A hammer won't know what its purpose is (assuming that it has a mind, that is) UNLESS the Maker of the hammer or the Master of the hammer tells it what it's supposed to do. Is it made to hammer nails into surfaces, or to take nails out? Or both? Without the owner of the hammer using it the way it is meant to be used, the hammer can just be another paper-weight. Well, nothing wrong with that. Hammers are good paper-weights i presume. However, it is not doing what it was created for.

So, in order to know our life's purpose, we must know the One who created us for it. The One who has a plan to use us in a specific way, for a specific purpose. Without knowing our Creator or allowing ourselves to be used by Him, we may still achieve "greatness". We may be the greatest paper-weights in the world or the best weapons too, but not the best hammers (well, figuratively speaking) doing what we are created to do.

That being said, in most cases it still takes time. My vision of God's purpose for my life was an ongoing refining & re-defining journey with Him that took about 4 years or so. So, don't be impatient, don't rely on your own understanding, but be patient & look to Him & He will slowly but surely reveal the great plans He has for your life. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Can't wait to be working with the great people in Run For The Nation to make a REAL impact through our community project, Sponsor Our Run campaigns. Hoping to be able to encourage the young people in our nation to do something as the future of our country. May God's will be done in my life. Praise God! 

Scars- An OVERCOMER'S Mark

Ever heard of the term, "battle-scars"? A term used by men to brag about scars they obtain from "fierce battles" or war against 1 million other enemy troops. Well, at least that's the story that played out in our minds. 

We get scars whenever we heal from injuries (You don't say!). It could be a scar of anything, from minor scratches to a fatal wounds that we manage to recover from. I have a few notable scars myself. Four actually. Those are scars I got from numerous corrective surgeries performed on both my legs. Each one of the scars is a mark that I've went through another surgery, survived the procedure, endured the pain, went through fevers & eventually made a full recovery. 

In life, we get many "scars" along the way. A broken relationship with our parents, strained friendships, getting an "F" in your finals, or even when I lost my dad to a heart attack so suddenly one day. All these things in life leave scars. Some are minor scars that heal over time & becomes less visible. Some are deep scars that last for life.  

Whatever the causes are for these scars, scars are there because your wounds have healed. Every "scar" you  have proves that you have overcome a battle in life. It means that though life has wounded you, you've stood against it and you have survived. So don't be ashamed of the "scars" that you have, however painful a past those were. Show it to the world as a TESTIMONY that while times got tough, JESUS has sustained you & that He has healed you. Even Jesus had scars from the nails of the cross when He resurrected. It was a mark that He has endured the cross & overcame DEATH for us!

Bethany Hamilton, an overcomer whose scars testifies of God's goodness.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Scars are an overcomer's mark! 

We only have TODAY

"Go ahead and be the light TODAY, because tomorrow is not guaranteed."

-Sonia Lee (Jayesslee)

No one in this world, however rich or powerful he or she may be, can claim that they have tomorrow in their hands. It doesn't matter who we are, none of us can guarantee that we can live past today. Things just happen & nowadays we see bad things happening so suddenly to people whose time are not supposed to come yet. 

When someone knows when he/she is going to die, everything falls into the perspective of what is most important. The most important thing for me is probably to touch lives for God & make a lasting impact in the world with my presence. If I want to be remembered for anything that I did, I want to be remembered for my ability to love. That's why I want to try my best in being a person who loves the people around me, however bad I am at it. 

Mordecai said to Queen Esther, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). I know that I am destined to impact lives, not only that, I was placed where I am & how I was for such a time as this. If I do not live according to the purpose I was called, then God can raise someone else from another place and I will have just lived a meaningless life. 

So, I will remind myself as many times as possible to be the light TODAY, for I do not know what may happen tomorrow. If we all live this way, for such a time as this, how can we not SHINE for Jesus the way we are meant to? So say what you need to say to your loved one TODAY, approach that lonely person in your class TODAY, and live TODAY like there is no tomorrow! After all, we only have today- one today at a time ;)

Why? Why? WHY??

A dedication to someone who inspired this post. One day,everything will seem clear. Then you will see that God's plan is to use your life for His glory ;)

"Why?" That is probably one of my most asked questions of all time. "Why is life so challenging at times? God if you are good, why can't be born normal like everybody else? Why must I go through the pain that I am experiencing now? WHY ME?" These are all questions that had went through my mind before. I have my own sets of why's in my life, and most of us do too. The feelings that we have to go through, the pain that we can't seem to bear, or even the fears about the things we are unsure of.  Sometimes, we can only ask "Why...?". 


There are still many things that I still don't understand in life. I can't stand in place of God to answer all the "why's", not even the "why's" in my own life. But through experience, I know for sure that God has plans- plans to prosper us no to harm us, plans to give us HOPE and a FUTURE. "But why must I go through emotional pains, or poverty, or even a fail in finals for God to give me hope and a future?" 


I can't know the specific reasons for God to let you go through what you are going through now, but one thing I am sure of -that is God is planning to use all the things in your life to help you see Him clearer, and for you to use it to helps others SEE too. 


Do you think the small things you face is too insignificant for God not to use it for His glory? Definitely not! How can someone who has not experienced hurt in relationships empathize with a person who just broke up with his girlfriend? Or can a person who gets straight A's all the time comfort a person who just failed his mid-term paper? 


Every hurt, hardship or question that you experience, however small or common it may seem, God has BIGGER plans for it. I am a testifier of that! I understand how people feel when they are lonely because I've felt it. I know how hard it is to overcome challenges, but I overcame! In the midst of finding the answer to my "why's", I found something more- a purpose. To help others see that in the midst of their "why's", there is HOPE in Jesus, the Christ!


"You intended to harm me, but God intended for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)

POWER in Weakness

Being weak is probably one of the last things anyone of us would want to be. Most of us like people who are strong figures- dependable, stable and strong. I love superheroes (yea,my favourite is Batman & Spiderman) and superheroes are not well-known for their weaknesses.Superman is well-known for his super strength,X-ray vision and his many other super abilities, NOT for his weakness towards Kryptonite. That's why kids (and many of us adults still) love superheroes so much. There's just that small part in us that imagines ourselves being the hero, saving the world, protecting the ones we love. People always admire people who are strong. No one finds glory in being weak. 


And I guess for me, that is the answer! No one finds glory in being weak. So that when I overcome in my weakest times, no one can get any glory but Jesus alone! I've always tried to be strong, or at least appear to be. I am already physically challenged. Others around me can do things I can't. They can be helpful to others while I always felt useless when I was younger during my school years. 


I've overcome many challenges in my weakest times, and every time I am the victor, it was simply because I found strength in Jesus. The time that you see me being "strong"? Well, those were the times Jesus carried me in His arms! Whatever you've seen in my life so far is only the beginning. One day a challenge will come, so BIG that no one can deny that it is God that overcame,not me. 


You don't have to be Superman all the time. It's okay to be a normal human being every once in a while, you know? And humans get weak. Then will you see that there is POWER in WEAKNESS, simply because it's in your weakest hour, that God's strength shines most in your life. People will your life & they will praise God for who He is!  "...For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)


POWERED BY JESUS
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

Step by step

The past few months since the end of last year had been a crazy one for me. Crazy, in a good way. God has been showing me things I've never expected before this. I saw my own plans for my future totally go out the window, I saw people around me making preparations for their UK studies as I just sit back,waiting to see what's my next step. At the very same time, I saw God's different (and not to mention BIGGER) plans for my future, I saw God's vision for me that surpasses just UK to all around the world, and I'm very humbled to witness the salvation of 10 young boys through an opportunity that God provided for me to share my life in the Klang Boy's Brigade. 


Most of my coursemates are going to UK soon for their 3-months Degree programme in June. I was wrestling with God for about 2 semesters about whether or not I will be going to UK. My plans were to go to UK get it done quick & come back to Malaysia with a Degree in time for my 21st birthday. That was THE PLAN. Well, at least until God challenged me to another route. I decided to obey and see what He has in store for me. 


However by His grace & mercy, I've seen so many open doors & opportunities that are coming up in my life. Opportunities that I can't even imagine! Too many to tell it all here & do it justice, but I may share some of it with you all when some of them goes through a few confirmations. All in all, this year will be a very exciting year for me. Far greater than the plan that I had- going UK to get my Degree.


It's overwhelming to look back on His faithfulness & His blessings over my life. What I really want to do now is to take everything in baby steps & know that He is in control. It may be a bit intimidating when people keep asking what I am doing in life, or whether I've found a job, or why I am not going for my UK Degree when it's only 3 more months. However, I want to move only when God tells me. So that I can walk in His plan, not running off to head my own way. 

"Your word is the lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105). When you walk in darkness and all you have is a lamp for light, you don't run. Instead you take it step by step where the light shines. Similarly I want to walk in His light, not trying to be rushed or pressured by people around me. His peace will be with me, this He promises. 

A New Creation,A New LIFE.

"I must NOT stay the same anymore." Those words are sometimes easier said than done. Sometimes, changing may seem to be the hardest thing to do. Each one of us how our own weaknesses; some worse than the another's. Nevertheless, those weaknesses doesn't make us any less than another person, especially in God's eyes.


We each go through a different struggle in becoming a changed person. I've always struggled with my identity as a sinner and God's child at the same time. I may look strong and encouraging on the outside, but I am not very much different from you nor another person. I've been through low self-esteem. I've struggled with unforgiveness. I've been a bully myself too (Trust me when I say that). I've even been through pornography and lust too. Yes, even when people around me were thinking that I was a "very encouraging Christian", I go through lust and pornography too! Outwardly, I may seem fine or fit as a "powerful Christian" but inwardly, I am living a life without the POWER of the Holy Spirit. 


I want to share my life with each one of you, though it could mean that I may not be "so encouraging" anymore. I am sharing this with you to say that I am not any more holy than you. We all go through things that we are not proud of & we often struggle with sin & changing. For you it could be bitterness, or lust, or just a personal part of your life that you'd rather not let people know.


Whatever that may be, I just wanna share that YOU are a NEW CREATION in Christ! The old has GONE, the NEW has COME! 


"..But where sin increased, GRACE increased all the more....What shall we say then?Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! ...Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may have a NEW LIFE." (Romans 5:20- 6:4)


God has a PLAN for a LIFE beyond our wildest dreams. He wants us to have a NEW LIFE! I want to change , not because of what people think about me but because God wants me to enjoy the new life that He has given me. No longer a slave to sin, but more than a conqueror with VICTORY in the hand of my Lord, JESUS CHRIST! 

"God loves YOU just the way you are, but He loves you way too much to let you stay the same." - Daniel L. 

Fingerprints of God

I just finished watching a movie a few weeks back, called "Soul Surfer". An excellent movie on the real life story of a surfer named Bethany Hamilton who lost her left arm from a shark bite while she was surfing one day. Despite all odds, she struggled through various challenges trying to re-learn how to surf with only one arm & eventually fulfilled her dream to compete in the arena as a pro-surfer. 


I believe that in everyone, lies the potential to overcome struggles in life that simply amazes everyone. I hope to be able to say that my life, too, is one that overcomes the odds. When I was younger, I didn't find any "inspiring" purpose of overcoming the challenges of being born with brittle bones. I overcame challenges because all I knew was that I needed to survive. It wasn't like I was doing it for anyone else other than myself. 


Now that I've put my faith in Jesus, I knew exactly why I overcame those challenges in the first place. It wasn't merely for me to survive. No, I believe sincerely in my heart that there is a reason that goes far greater than that. I believe that my life & all the struggles that come along with it are there for me to show the Maker that created me, and the plans that He has for me. 


I believe that in all that I've been through, the fingerprints of God are all over it. I believe that every challenges and hardship that comes my may is an opportunity for me to show the places that God has left His fingerprints on. 


Each one of us are His masterpiece! The ones that He moulded & sculpted with His own hands. He leaves His fingerprints where He touched us and simply by showing that to the world, lives can be changed, spirits can be encouraged, and hearts renewed. You are not very much different from me, nor Bethany Hamilton- in the fact that regardless of how big or how small the challenges that you've faced, you too are a display of the fingerprints of God. 

The movie "Soul Surfer",starring Anna Sophia Robb.

Bethany Hamilton,  in action after the shark attack.

Bethany Hamilton, the real deal.

Never say that your life is worthless, for you cannot measure the value of it when your life touches another person.  -Daniel L.

The Power of WORDS

Teasing, gossiping, bad-mouthing a person, and any other forms of verbal bullying or abuse. All these things- how can I not understand it perfectly well on how words can be so destructive to a person? Ever since I was young, I've been hurt over & over again for things that people say about me behind my back, and also in front of me. I can still remember how when I was younger (probably 7 or so), my family & I went out for dinner & a very young girl (younger than me at the time) was laughing at me, saying how weird my legs looked & that I needed to be carried around by my mother. My dad comforted me saying words from people like that don't matter. All I needed to know was that he & my mother loved me. Still, deep inside those words hurt me enough for me to remember it till this day. 


Too often throughout my years as a primary & secondary student, there were "friends" who said things behind my back that pierces my heart. Many actually laughed at me & some boldly teased me as "cacat" (disabled) in the class. Looking back, I thank God that He gave me such loving parents so that I wouldn't even contemplate on suicide. But really, it hurts.


Now that I'm 20 and as I looked back on all the things that I've been through, I am ashamed to say that I've hurt many many people with my very own words. I've teased people too, and I've said things that hurt people just as how those "friends" hurt me when I was younger. As I trace back my memories of how I've come to be this person that I see in the mirror everyday, I realized that I wasn't like this all my life. As I was physically incapable of defending myself from the things people say about me, I realized that I was good at defending myself verbally. As I honed this "skill" I had, I realized that it was very easy for me to get revenge by teasing the people that teased me in the first place. 


Over the years it became a habit & before I realized it, sarcasm & hurtful words come very naturally to me. I'm awake now at 5.16 a.m. contemplating on this. I can't sleep knowing the damage that my every words has done to the people around me without me realizing it. And so,I prayed & made a covenant with Him and as I pray, I felt very burdened to write this. I want to speak for God & to share His Good News to everyone in the world. I won't want to just "speak well" & get praises while my very life is a contradiction to what I preach. 


I don't want to only "practice what I preach" but more importantly "preach what I practice". I can't do this without His very own WORD. All this while,the words spoken that hurt the people around me are not His words,but MINE. So I'm asking anyone whom I've heard over the past 2 decades of my existence to forgive me for what I've said & done for I was ignorant. I want to learn to LOVE and be able to say "I LOVE YOU" to everyone I meet, regardless what they have done & their past. 

"The power of one word can destroy a person but the Word of God gives LIFE to whoever who hears it. I must no longer live like the Word of God isn't in my life." - Daniel L.

The LIGHT of the CROSS!

The light from the Cross is not the limelight for any preacher. Jesus didn't die to give us a career, but to SAVE THE LOST!

- Reinhard Bonnke

Stepping from the comfort of college life into the uncertain road that God has called me into, one thing that I am certain of- He called me to share my life with others & to share His great love with the rest of the world. Even as I prepare myself to be a speaker for Him,no other preparation is greater than the seeking of His will & the testing of my heart. 

"Celebrity pastors/speakers/preachers" are quite the "hype" nowadays (just my opinion). Don't get me wrong,it's not a bad thing at all that the people of God are famous. I too pray that I'll be touching millions of lives like that one day. But I do see people getting overexcited over a particular pastor or maybe a very famous preacher, similar to the way many people were so crazy over Planetshakers coming, or when Jayesslee came to Malaysia. 


I'm not trying to question the intentions of the "fans" nor am I planning to say some bad about "celebrity pastors". The matter of fact is, as a pastor/speaker/preacher or anything that requires us to be at the forefront, there's always a fine line between shining the light of the cross that points to Jesus, and shining the limelight on ourselves that points to our capabilities. 


I know that because I believe God called me to speak and share my life with others for Him and as a speaker, there is always some part of me that enjoyed the limelight. Even as I'm writing this or any of my other blog posts, there is always some part of me that wants the number of readers to reach a certain amount or even praises and compliment for my writing. It's something that even experienced pastors/writers like Max Lucado go through. There is nothing wrong with enjoying what God has called us to do, but when we start to enjoy the GLORY that is supposed to be for Him then I guess we just need to check our hearts. 


So, even as I prepare to be a speaker for Him, would you pray with me so that my intentions will be pure, and that God will continue to search my heart & teach me to remember that the LIGHT I've seen is not my limelight,rather a humble light that came to SAVE the lost! It's such an honor to be able to serve God in this way, and I'm NOT gonna allow "the enemy" to try and persuade me that my mistakes makes me unworthy to be used by Him.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting. 

(Psalm 139:23-24)