A new body

Years ago, I heard a story about a man looking for flowers for spring planting. At the greenhouse he came across a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. To his surprise, it was hidden in a corner and growing in an old, dented rusty bucket.

"If this were my flower," he said to himself, "I would place it in a beautiful pot and display it proudly! Why is it confined in this old bucket and hidden away in this concealed place?"

When he remarked to the owner about the flower, she explained, "Oh, I started the plant in that old bucket until it blossomed. But it’s just for a short time. Soon I’ll transplant it to my garden."

The man laughed, and imagined such a scene in heaven. "There’s a beautiful one," God will say, "the product of My lovingkindness and grace. Now it’s confined in a broken body and in obscurity, but soon, in My garden, how tall and lovely this soul will stand!"

So we may now be "planted" in bent and battered containers for a short time while our Lord beautifies our souls. But, "as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man" (1 Cor. 15:49). Then He will display His handiwork and our loveliness for all to see. This is our assurance and delight. — David H. Roper

- story taken from ODB Website -

As I read this passage, I was reminded of the clients that I meet day to day. I'm thinking what a joy it would be for them to have this assurance that one day they will be having a new body that is so much better than their current one. Imagine that for the first time in their life they can walk, for the first time they do not need mobility aids, or they have their full sets of limbs again. I can imagine that scene would be so beautiful!

But even now, some of these people are the most beautiful people on earth, beautiful because despite their physical defects, they have such a lovely spirit which is often much more wholesome and beautiful than people who looks perfect on the outside.

Sometimes I think these people who looks imperfect on the outside bears much more resemblence to the image of our Father than us who are able-bodied. Perhaps not having what normal people often take for granted has caused them to be able to focus on what matters more eternally.

Sometimes I think we have so much to learn from them. Thank God for putting me here to work with them. From them, I learn to be contented with just being healthy, and grateful for being able to move independently without any aids. I also learn resilience, that no matter how hard the situation is, we have been designed by God to be overcomers. But not by our own strength...it's much easier to gain victory if our hopes are placed on God.

I pray that all my clients will know about God and acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour, and be filled with joy and anticipation for the new body promised to them in Gloryland!

Out of Egypt and into our Promised Land

While we were house hunting, I was encouraged by this passage and felt that God has spoken His promise to me through this passage:

6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him.
7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills;
8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;
9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Today, the day after He gave us Holland Ave, He showed me this verse again during my weekly lunch cell group. He reminded me once again to rejoice when I have seen and tasted the good of the land.

Although so far I've only managed to see the exterior of the unit, but I'm sure it is a good unit filled with all the goodness that is promised in Deut 8:6-10! Amen!

Lessons for Living from Proverbs 15

1. Stay Happy & Cheerful
v13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
v15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
v30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

2. Seek Wisdom
v14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
v20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
v21 Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.
v24 The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave.
v33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

3. Be Contented
v16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.
v27 A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.

4. Love Thy Neighbour (which is, everyone around you!)
v17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
v18 A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.
v23 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

5. Be Diligent!
v19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

6. Be Teach-able
v22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
v31 He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.
v32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

7. Be Humble
v25 The LORD tears down the proud man's house but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact.
v33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

8. Pursue Righteousness
v26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.
v28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
v29 The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.