There are so many titles that come to my mind when I wanted to share on this piece…some are - 180 degrees change with His grace, Jesus says “With Me it is Possible”, Some times we need to go through storms to appreciate the Light, Nothing is Impossible, The Light after Dawn, etc…which one?
This time I would like to share with you some one who is dear to me and I have known this person for over decades of my life. I shall name this person ‘Shortie’. I am neither pastor nor a preacher but I remember well a tax collector who was mentioned in the bible whom was the least person on earth where the 12 disciples thought would be appreciated by Jesus. In the old days a tax collector were generally disgusted by the public for their snobbish attitude...But Jesus took notice of this tax collector on the tree (who was a short man and that he had to climb on a tree to look out for Jesus) and went to his house to dine. With that, the tax collector vowed to give all his ill gotten gains and change his life to follow Christ.
Now back to my Shortie. When I was very young, Shortie was beautiful and talented. She was a singer in a night club. Before Shortie started singing, her dad was super against the idea. However she pressed on and proved she was well demanded. Many men adored her singing and so am I. I recall some of her glistening stage dresses and a vague memory of her stage performance. I caught a glimpse while waiting for her one night together with my uncle.
Besides, I remember those days she would wake up by noon to practice every hour before she took the stage by night. Till to date I could hum some of those songs she practiced. Mostly were golden Shanghai oldies. Thus my friend was shocked when she heard me humming of an oldie song and wondered where I have learned it since I am considered a “Mandarin Idiot”…there was also a book where many paper cuttings about Shortie.
Being the youngest in Shortie’s household then, everyone loves me. I adored her and yet I was afraid of her. Well, she could loose her temper easily due to her hectic schedule and the pressure was enormous to stay on ‘top’. So when I annoyed her, I would get a very nasty stare but when I behaved, I get treats like bubble gums.
She was then attached to a man. Initially I found the man very man (if you know what I mean). But things took a downturn. Some how her career took a dip and the man, so called man became a bastard - I would put it this way.
Shortie had a hard fall. She had then took on several odd jobs and became fanatic on her religion. Each year Shortie would seek medium’s prediction on her future and if some unfavourable event was expected she would spend to ‘get rid’ of the spell. Along the way she met another decent man and became her husband. Life did not favour Shortie for many years. Any ‘routes’ she embarked which look promising at the beginning - turned into darkness within a short period. Money became a problem for the couple. They were in great debts and to the point of not answering phone calls. At times my heart ached to know her situation. So were her family and especially her parents. They blamed it on fate. But Shortie’s sister and I prayed that somehow, someday Jesus will show her the way…
We are blessed to see that day. Shortie turned up in church one day to my surprise. From then onwards, she never looked back to her idols and mediums to seek for fortune or to ‘get rid’ the unfortunate but to rely on Jesus. After several months, she was baptized and my heart rejoices with her that she found ‘The Way’. She is faithful and at one time, there was an opportunity to earn more but she had to work on Sunday. I prayed that she will trust God and return to church. She took the courage and chose to come back to church.
Things begin to change. She is not in fear anymore. She and her husband found a decent job and now she has savings. Most of all I can see and feel she has found peace in life. Today she is happily rejoicing and singing for the Lord on the stage!
At times it takes a lot to belief what took place two thousand years ago just via a book. We could have questioned ourselves what if the author of the Bible added or subtracted some information and made it exciting for us. How can we verify? One way – simply to trust it with faith. I am super blessed to witness many lives which have been changed and transformed when one chooses to believe in Him – including mine.
Some may ask that many Christians believe in Jesus when they were at their lowest (or when they faced life and death situation). I agree to some extend. We have been given a choice at all times. At some point in life, some one would have spoke to us on Christ or some how we would have been exposed to Christianity.
At the good times of our life, we are arrogant and do not need anyone neither God. We claim success and riches are by our own effort. Some may abide in God only with the intention to want more riches or to protect their wealth and good health to enjoy their wealth. Sometimes humans need some ‘spanking’ to learn Who is in control…For those who repent, the Father is ever merciful…Amen.
I would say that it is neither the fame nor riches that can bring us far but His peace and joy. He always know what we needed, it is us who are choosing the wrong things in our life. Trust Him or trust ourselves, the choice is ours!
I am still undecided on the title…but I guess it’s the contents that matter…
This time I would like to share with you some one who is dear to me and I have known this person for over decades of my life. I shall name this person ‘Shortie’. I am neither pastor nor a preacher but I remember well a tax collector who was mentioned in the bible whom was the least person on earth where the 12 disciples thought would be appreciated by Jesus. In the old days a tax collector were generally disgusted by the public for their snobbish attitude...But Jesus took notice of this tax collector on the tree (who was a short man and that he had to climb on a tree to look out for Jesus) and went to his house to dine. With that, the tax collector vowed to give all his ill gotten gains and change his life to follow Christ.
Now back to my Shortie. When I was very young, Shortie was beautiful and talented. She was a singer in a night club. Before Shortie started singing, her dad was super against the idea. However she pressed on and proved she was well demanded. Many men adored her singing and so am I. I recall some of her glistening stage dresses and a vague memory of her stage performance. I caught a glimpse while waiting for her one night together with my uncle.
Besides, I remember those days she would wake up by noon to practice every hour before she took the stage by night. Till to date I could hum some of those songs she practiced. Mostly were golden Shanghai oldies. Thus my friend was shocked when she heard me humming of an oldie song and wondered where I have learned it since I am considered a “Mandarin Idiot”…there was also a book where many paper cuttings about Shortie.
Being the youngest in Shortie’s household then, everyone loves me. I adored her and yet I was afraid of her. Well, she could loose her temper easily due to her hectic schedule and the pressure was enormous to stay on ‘top’. So when I annoyed her, I would get a very nasty stare but when I behaved, I get treats like bubble gums.
She was then attached to a man. Initially I found the man very man (if you know what I mean). But things took a downturn. Some how her career took a dip and the man, so called man became a bastard - I would put it this way.
Shortie had a hard fall. She had then took on several odd jobs and became fanatic on her religion. Each year Shortie would seek medium’s prediction on her future and if some unfavourable event was expected she would spend to ‘get rid’ of the spell. Along the way she met another decent man and became her husband. Life did not favour Shortie for many years. Any ‘routes’ she embarked which look promising at the beginning - turned into darkness within a short period. Money became a problem for the couple. They were in great debts and to the point of not answering phone calls. At times my heart ached to know her situation. So were her family and especially her parents. They blamed it on fate. But Shortie’s sister and I prayed that somehow, someday Jesus will show her the way…
We are blessed to see that day. Shortie turned up in church one day to my surprise. From then onwards, she never looked back to her idols and mediums to seek for fortune or to ‘get rid’ the unfortunate but to rely on Jesus. After several months, she was baptized and my heart rejoices with her that she found ‘The Way’. She is faithful and at one time, there was an opportunity to earn more but she had to work on Sunday. I prayed that she will trust God and return to church. She took the courage and chose to come back to church.
Things begin to change. She is not in fear anymore. She and her husband found a decent job and now she has savings. Most of all I can see and feel she has found peace in life. Today she is happily rejoicing and singing for the Lord on the stage!
At times it takes a lot to belief what took place two thousand years ago just via a book. We could have questioned ourselves what if the author of the Bible added or subtracted some information and made it exciting for us. How can we verify? One way – simply to trust it with faith. I am super blessed to witness many lives which have been changed and transformed when one chooses to believe in Him – including mine.
Some may ask that many Christians believe in Jesus when they were at their lowest (or when they faced life and death situation). I agree to some extend. We have been given a choice at all times. At some point in life, some one would have spoke to us on Christ or some how we would have been exposed to Christianity.
At the good times of our life, we are arrogant and do not need anyone neither God. We claim success and riches are by our own effort. Some may abide in God only with the intention to want more riches or to protect their wealth and good health to enjoy their wealth. Sometimes humans need some ‘spanking’ to learn Who is in control…For those who repent, the Father is ever merciful…Amen.
I would say that it is neither the fame nor riches that can bring us far but His peace and joy. He always know what we needed, it is us who are choosing the wrong things in our life. Trust Him or trust ourselves, the choice is ours!
I am still undecided on the title…but I guess it’s the contents that matter…
