Tip 259: Live to Worship God

I have returned to my joy and reason of living which is to worship God, my Creator. Not to worship myself, the people I love or the idea of making this world a better place and live for others. Not even to merely live for my family. There is a miracle of life when being in awe of God, trusting God and saying, "Yes, I will do whatever you want of me and acknowledge you as my God". It is never easy to say that. Abraham said that to God when God asked him to bring his son to be sacrificed. It must have felt so troubling and must be one of life's most challenging dilemma. Giving up all you have for God. I encountered that question when I was 16 years old and my answer pleased God. He could search my heart and knew that my love was sacrificial. And God remembered as He did Abraham's love. It served as an altar between me and God for both of us to remember.

It does seem crazy to live your life for some One else. Why not live each day for yourself? Yet, as we trust the Almighty, we only seek to discover life's joy and pleasure. It is the thrill of knowing God and knowing He knows you. God's knowledge of you is beyond skin deep. It is trusting that all your needs are met and as you delight in God, even your desires are fulfilled as who better to know you than your Creator.

Throughout our spiritual journey with God, we may utter how important God is in our life. But at certain episodes in that journey, we may come to a crossroad where we are faced with the choice of just living for ourselves, or acknowledging that only God matters. Yet, God understands if we are not ready, but greater joy and blessing comes to those who say yes.

It is a paradox that when God seeks us to give, it is for Him to reveal our lack and to point us to His provision. God is not selfish but is Love. Abraham was stopped to sacrifice his son, as the lamb was provided. I was not short changed when I chose serving God over my studies. As Jesus asked the Samaritan woman to serve her water, it was Jesus who provided the living water. The water from the well that we can draw upon will not be what God has planned for our lives. Never guess the ways of God to bless us. The question is are we willing to live our lives to honor Him? Do we value God in our lives? Are we truly convinced that God is worth it? Do we have faith to go to the next level of our relationship with God? Are we ready for a paradigm shift that only God's purposes matter, not our efforts? It can be scary to give away the little we have. Yet, God's provision is immense to supply all our needs.


The lyrics by Wayne and Cathy Perrin sums it best.
When I look into your holiness, when I gaze into your loveliness,
When all things that surround become shadows in the light of you.
I worship you, the reason I live is to worship you.
When I've found the joy of reaching your heart, when my will becomes enthralled in your love,

To human is to err. It will be difficult to be faithful to God, no matter how bright and awesome His love for us. Pride seeps in when God blesses us with our heart's desires. Yet, at every opportunity when God reaches out to you, say yes and God remembers. He will not forsake you and will bring you back into the fold where you may never thirst again. You will again recognize the Shepherd's voice and feel safe in His leading.

(Photos show Sayaka at 4 and 7 months old and at 10 months old at a church camp in Johor in Oct 2011).

Tip 214: Enjoying weekly church routine

Haruka now looks forward to going to church. She would ask us at night whether she will be going to church tomorrow. I attribute this to a routine that we inculcate in her early that she enjoys following. Also, the role of caring teachers in the church that made Haruka feel happy going to the church.

From age 2 years old, children begin to develop preferences and routines that they enjoy sticking to. For instance, they may be unhappy if their parents do not read to them at night, if such a routine has been started. The babies have discovered that they can decide which are the activities to fill their lives. They discovered the power of saying no and the power of saying "please, papa". They begin to value certain food and certain activities more than others. Yet, it is at an early age at 1 year old, that they developed these preferences and how to value the different experiences in their lives. Hence, exposing kids early to praise worthy activities, healthy food and noble deeds can yield good returns in the future.

I observe the kids around me. As they grow up, they may prefer to stay home to play playstation or computer games. They may prefer to not step out of the comfort of their homes to go to church. They may find Sunday School and church boring as they may not have developed an appreciation of such activity and not enjoyed a church routine.













Hence, parents play a role to develop such a love in their kids early. Hopefully, this love will continue to blossom such that the foundation will never be shaken should the child be exposed with other competing pleasures and wants in this world, as well as when the child moves to a new place where such familiarity and routines are different.













I thank Mariko Tanzawa-sensei for being caring for all her students in her class. Haruka looks up to her for teaching her every week. She mentions the teacher's name at home and I am sure her stories will continue in length as she becomes more and more talkative and spends more time to reflect on her past day as she grows up.













It is not easy for daddy to find a church that would suit mummy and baby. It is probably less important for daddy to find a church that fits him as he feels happy as long as the whole family is well grounded in a weekly church routine. I thank God that He has given me a strong foundation in my youth, so I can lead my family to do the same.













(Photos show Haruka practicing as a sheep in a Christmas play and a Kid's party/camp at church member's condo on labour's day holiday)

Tip 208: To love is to Remember

As I reflect on life and on my relationship with God and others, I realize that the act of remembering has life changing and powerful impact in one's life. Sometimes, even if the act of remembering does not result in significant good actions on our part to recipocrate and do good works to repay the debt we received from the giver, it is fine to just remember. I blogged once about the importance of remembering God while we were young. I am beginning to inculcate this to Haruka even as she is just 2 years old. Though, the concept of remembering may have little to do with how strong our memory is. It helps to have good memory to remember the details of location, time and date and people involved in our history who have helped us. Yet, it takes more than contemplation, as gratitude may be a function of how we value kindness.














I would always talk to Haruka and ask her if she remembers a certain person and relates the incident and location. Then, I would ask her what that person did and if she loved that person.












It is the lunar Chinese New Year soon. I am preparing red packet 'angpow'. When I was away from the chinese community in Tokyo and London during Chinese New Year, there were fewer friends and relatives that I would need to prepare an angpow for. So this coming Chinese New Year will be an exciting one for me and for Haruka. It will be Haruka's first time receiving angpows as we somehow got distracted with travelling or were busy with work during the previous new year. After all, it is not a holiday in Japan. As I prepare angpows, I remembered my church members who would look out for me during church services during Chinese New Year as they have prepared a RM10 angpow for me. It may not be a big amount now, but its a generous amount for non relatives to be giving a RM10 angpow to a church member and I remembered everyone of them for their dedication, generosity and love shared many years during my childhood. Now that I attend a Japanese church in Singapore, I realized that there aren't too many children who would find a SGD10 or even SGD20 angpow as meaningful to be remembered for, even if I would stick to a routine of doing the same every year. Probably most churches in the city would face the same situation. So what do we do? Do I make a trip to a poor neighbourhood village or to the aborigines at Cameron Highlands to give out angpows every year? Or do I keep a prayerful eye for a needy family in a Malaysian church to share this ritual of love?

Somebody asked Abba Antony (St. Antony the Great of Egypt), "What shall I do in order to please God?"












He replied, “Do what I tell you, which is this: wherever you go, keep God in mind; whatever you do, follow the example of Holy Scripture; wherever you are, stay there and do not move away in a hurry. If you keep to these guidelines, you will be saved.”












We are living in a fast paced results oriented materialistic society. It is becoming harder to pass through the eye of a needle and appreciate the love that God has for us and share that same love to others. Yet, we need to remember. Sometimes, it may mean not being in a hurry always. Find time to remember.

(Photos show Haruka at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and a shopping mall lantern display).

Tip 189: Do not give up going church

Hebrews 10:25,"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Its not easy as new parents living a new life, having to be independent and to care for more than our ownselves for the first time. The baby introduces many new difficulties such as falling ill, or just the very fact that we can be tired and moody with all the housechores and stress. Sometimes, church can even be a baby unfriendly place so you do not fit in well after being a young parent. There could be other challenges such as disagreements with our spouse, the extra burden to carry an extra child to church and many others. We may feel the need to rest during the weekend or to use it to renew loving bonds with our spouse and want a break from church. Yet, it is honorable that we choose to go to church and avoid sticking to the habit to skip church too often.

I can understand the challenges. I was constantly adapting to a new place in London or Hong Kong and seeking to settle down in a new church. My wife felt uncomfortable in some of the new churches and it did give us stress. Add the stress of needing to master a new environment and to know where to shop, where to find places to eat. So, it is very tempting to give up on church. Yet, His grace is sufficient for us always. At times of such stress, God is there to offer us a double portion of rest and blessing. By not giving up, we could finally find joy in God's teaching in church, as well as the love offered by the fellowship of God's people. We need not judge ourselves too harshly or judge others who do not attend church due to such family challenges. Yet, when we seek to honor God, we will find rest. Its the rainbow of hope after the storm. A pleasant refuge that we did not expect, available to those who are faithful. Rather, its God's faithfulness to us than our own efforts lest we should boast. Look past the problems, step into the promised land and let go off our burdens.

(Photos show the final photos of our outdoor family portrait taken with a Nikon D700).

Tip 173: Giving as a father would

I was leaving the house and said "ittekimasu" ( 行ってきます means I'll go and come back in Japanese). Haruka's response tickled me and gave me a smile. She was running to the door to send me off. Then, she looked at me and said "blueberry OK?". She gave a Japanese bow. I said,"Orikou, OK?" (Clever child in Japanese). Haruka smiled and said a quick "OK" and ran back to her box of toys. (Probably the reply was quite hesitant, yet necessary to get her the blueberries).

Haruka has just learnt some persuasive asking. I would understand if I was already holding a bowl of blueberries or ice cream in front of her, and she asks for it. But, she knew that in order for that to happen, she would first have to convince daddy to bring back some to the home. She does not fully understand the concept of money yet, but she knows that in order for her to enjoy things, someone has to bring them back home. She would think that daddy and mummy are being nice by bringing delicious food or cute toys home, or it is in response to her being an obedient child. She knows that when she smiles, people tend to smile back and be nice to her. Of course when the blueberry gets home, Haruka would leap with joy. If I would request a kiss from her, she would gladly do it. But upon consuming them, she would probably forget the good deed of daddy. Haruka is closer to Tomomi as she spends more time with mummy who is a full time homemaker who have been breastfeeding her since birth. Many times, she would say she wants mummy instead of daddy. Daddy of course feels sad or jealous.

Upon reflection, a father's love is about giving with no expectation of recipocration. There is surely hope in love. Yet, love is giving sacrificially. A colleague who had a brood of children told me that children are not a form of investment. That however was not the case previously. There used to be more fillial piety in a society less individualistic. My parents expect me to provide for them when their savings run dry. In fact, my dad expects me to send more cash back home regularly as I am earning well now. Though, most in society these days plan ahead for their own retirement. But, it is a blessing to be able to give and reflect on God's love to each of us. When we pray, we yearn after God's provision. Yet, after receiving blessings from God, we fail to remember Him that He loves us much. Like a father to his children, God is the same. He yearns for our recipocration too. Most importantly, He still loves without condition.

Do you think children are a form of investments? Do you expect anything in return?

(Photos show Hase-dera temple gardens and view overlooking Kamakura from there. It is a popular location to watch the hydrangea (ajisai in Japanese) flowers in bloom in July along the hilly path, though the fresh blooms are in June.).

Tip 151: Commanding your spirit aloud

I had the pleasure of listening to the Haydn & Mendelssohn Bicentenary Choral Concert in Tokyo presented by the British Embassy Choir and Orchestra. That was a luxury as babies are not allowed at concert and I am away from the helpful hands of family members. It was a pity that I missed all the musicals while in London. Hopefully, when the children are big enough to enjoy it, we can go together as family one day. The concert presented Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's Wie der Hirsch schreit (Psalm 42) among others. Through Mendelssohn's music, I could feel the loud commanding of David (of the bible) to his soul, to put his trust in God in Psalm 42:5. How very true that in all the melancholy, there needs to be the firm command and instruction to our soul to focus on 1 thing. Stop dwelling on the wrong thought and emotion. Instead, focus on God and trust Him. For through God, all praises and joy burst flow. Through God, salvation and help is present. At times, there needs to be a time to retreat into a solitary place to gain perspective. At other times, a mere habit of rebuking one's spirit to focus on the right thing.

David yearns for the days when he had the highest spiritual experience and God was using Him greatly to lead others on something important to God. He felt special and important then. He felt God was so close to him then. Success can sometimes be a double edged sword to make you wish for the best things in life that you had, but which you may not always get. Often times, God does not work on man's schedule and wants, but through His timing. When we do see the big picture later, we would understand why we should have been patient. Yet, before that time comes, melancholy could sip into the spirit. That's when a loud command to focus on the right thing is necessary. I look back and recall so many such melancholy at play. It could drag for long periods. The downcast spirit inside me makes me feel that I have done something wrong, such that I could not achieve the same greatness and same experience I had with God previously. Yet, the only thing I needed to do was just be content and trust in God for His timing. Rather, the downcast spirit many times would lead you to be impatient, and drift away on self pity which leads to possibilities of doing wrong things and giving up on God. Hence, before that happens, one needs to command aloud the spirit to trust in God.

Isn't this so true? Anyone have no periods of melancholy? Guys have it less as they head for arcade or computer games to focus not on heart matters, but I think that's just temporal.

(Photos show St Eustache church, Forum Les Halles, Gare Du Nord and Pl Des Victoires, Paris)