Tip 89: Remembering God's awesome acts

Often times, my writings on this blog tend to steer towards the acts of daddy alone and seldom acknowledge the awesome acts of God in my life. In my enthusiasm to share tips and recollections of my parenting experience, there could be more a tone of pride and self achievement, and less a hint of humility, gratitude to God and the desire to reflect on God's hand throughout my joy and achievements. Yet, I strongly believe that as Christian daddies, we ought to impress upon our children of God's awesome acts in our life. This is mentioned in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 of God's commandment to God's people to constantly talk about God with their children. To do that, we need to constantly reflect on our lives that each journey is something not for us to boast about ourselves, but to remember God in it and be convinced of it. Less pride and more humility always make a better daddy and what better role modelling to teach the often bragging kids of this educated generation. Watching 10,000 BC, I was awed by the splendour of the Egyptian kings in utilizing the many slaves to build their wonders. Yet, it reminded me more of the awesome act of God in using Moses, a feeble man to take the Israelites out of slavery and drown Pharoah's chariots in the Red Sea. Interestingly, this news I found, of the discovery in the Red Sea of gold chariot wheels dating to the time of the Exodus, points to a greater true story than the movie. It certainly disappointed God when His awesome acts were not remembered by the Israelites, and we Christian daddies ought to take heed of that.

Reflecting my past, I can say God has guided me in each of my journey as I seldom made informed decisions nor have I gotten too much good parental advice. The turning point in my life was at a solitary place in my ex high school, SM Taman SEA when I prayed out of desperation and indecision. I was at a crossroad between serving God in Christian Fellowship and the many student leadership position I held or concentrating on my studies. I later told God in tears that I would love to commit my life to Him in serving Him and trust Him fully. In an instant, God spoke to me like speaking to Abraham and told me that He valued my obedience and that it need not be a sacrifice. For God saw in me like how He saw the poor widow who gave everything she had to live on including her 2 small copper coins. Since then, my studies did not fail me, and even when I did not have excellent results, God guided me to do a University of London external degree to shape my thinking, brought me opportunities to publish an international research paper, kept me for 5 years in an American firm even when I was slightly demoralized to want more, offered me a full scholarship to do my MBA, found me a job in a foreign land when I could not speak the language, led me to marry the right wife who could put up with me, provided me with a beautiful daughter even when we were anxious, assisted me to get a 1.8% yen mortgage loan just before the subprime crisis, and made me an assistant manager in a Japanese firm to fully understand the Japanese mindset and cultural management issues in today's global world. This is certainly not me in the driver's seat as most of the time I was just telling God I would make the most of out of every opportunity with the limited resources and information I had. Its certainly God's awesome act on my life lest I have anything to boast about. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Its really that simple. God's will just requires us to give thanks and remember Him. Whatever we do then, will turn out beautifully even if we have no idea it would. Rather than worry what is God's Will, smile, remember Him and trust Him.

Anything to share about God's will? What about the tendency to brag while blogging? Or teaching children to remember God through our own stories? Love your honest sharings.