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H1N1 influenza?

10 Mar

Visited the family doctor this morning for the blood test result. Thank God that it was positive without any flu virus so I can re-start my preparation for my 2nd mission in East Timor! I was suspected to have been infected with H1N1 influenza 2 weeks ago because of flu-like symptoms that improved but then returned with fever and worse cough.

 

As the incubation period of the flu can be between 1 to 7 days. I have been advised to watch out for persistent fever & cough after the 10-day anti-biotic. The persistent fever & cough are symptoms of penumonia which I must seek immediate medical treatment. In view of the inadequate medical resources in Timor, church leaders advised that I should delay my return to Timor, to go only when I have fully recovered. So I cancelled the flight & spent the next 2 weeks resting & fighting the virus with anti-biotic & loads of prayer (from many many faithful intercessors, thank YOU all!).

 

As I looked back, God showed me His grace & purpose in many ways:

  • I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to visit a family doctor whom I had avoided for a long time due to his criticism of my faith some years back. But God has opened his heart to share his struggles and I was able to share Jesus’ love with him during these 3 consultations. I pray God’s peace into this doctor’s heart so he can turn back to God for healing, restoration, hope & love;
  • I was able to attend the Love Timor’s District Anchors’ Consultation when I walked away greatly inspired & encouraged by what God is doing in Timor;
  • I was given divine appointment with my ex-staff to help her discern God’s direction for her career;
  • I was given more time to take care of logistics;
  • I was given time to be vaccinated against H1N1; and
  • I was able to spend more time with family & share my faith more!

 

And God has also enabled the airline to keep my ticket open. Once I produced the doctor’s letter that certified I was unfit to travel on Mar 1, I am now able to change the date of departure at no penalty cost! How awesome is that when the flight was cancelled less than 24 hours before take-off!!!

 

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

 

In His Love,

Lydia

10 Mar 2011

Singapore

My Divine Valentine

14 Feb

A Valentine may bring you chocolate, but God provides you with something even sweeter, His Word.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

                                                                             - Psalm 119:103

 

I am reminded of God’s love for me on this day, the very first valentine day when God sent His son to die for my sins on that Calvary cross! I Hope you will enjoy this Valentine Day’s message from DaySpring e-card below, have a blessed Valentine Day!

DaySpring E-Cards.

Map to God

7 Feb
http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-maps/world-map-for-kids.html

source: http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-maps/world-map-for-kids.html

As much  as the Bible is a book of truths, it is also a map to God. As Christians, we study & debate the map yet too often fail to make the journey
                                                               - Francis Frangipane

 

I can never appreciate the beauty & awe of the rainbow until I see it myself. No matter how well it has been photographed or described by the most charismatic story-teller, it is just not the same to be up close & personal. This is the same for me to truly know God. I need to experience God to grasp how wide, how long, how high & how deep is His love for me.

 

And I thank God for taking me on a expressway since I know Him 6 years ago. Some major events during this journey has opened my heart to see God’s grace at work in me & other people.

Year 0 => One-to-one discipleship for faith foundation building

Year 1 => Baptism. 

                     Holy Land Bible Study Tour

Year 2 => Missions trip to Central Asia.

                      Begin bible study with BSF.

Year 3 => Begin Missions Candidate Training.

                     Praying & preparing for OneLife.OneYear missions initiative

Year 4 => Missions trip to East Timor.

                     Committed to OneLife.OneYear East Timor missions

Year 5 => Left commercial employment.

                      Joined OneLife.OneYear East Timor missions

Year 6 => Completed OneLife.OneYear East Timor missions.

                      Missions trip to Yunan, China. 

                      Partnered EEFC in leading missions team to East Timor

Year 7 => Commiting 2nd year at East Timor missions (solo without a team)

 

It has not been plain sailing. The journey has been saddened by grief & hurt. My heart ached from abandonment, betrayal, disappointment, unjustly accusations, lost friendships. When I am down in the valleys & suffering, God stays with me. He comforts me & restores me in His LOVE. He has never left me nor forsaken me (Heb 13:5). I will never be able to bound back on my own. I regain my strength from His abiding Word. I can stand on my feet again! 

 

God has allowed so much trials to happen not that He enjoys seeing me in pain but because He is preparing me for something He has planned even before I was born. I do not know when God will connect all the loose ends in my life so everything makes sense. Even if He does, I may not even know it. But this is not important. I only know that He is FAITHFUL & I trust that He will deliver His promise. This is good enough for me.

 

Therefore, it is my prayer that every Christian will take that leap of faith to encounter God, to allow God to restore those defective parts, to be whole again. Let us not contend ourselves with studying the facts of God but pro-actively seeking the face of God. Let us not be satisfied with a religion about Christ, without the reality of Christ but to experience His power & presence. It is only then can we truly say, “I know God. This is too good to keep it to myself. I want to tell the whole world. I want to go where God is sending me. I want to be God’s ambassador of LOVE!!!”

 

Because of His Grace,

Lydia

Singapore. 7.2.11

(PS: Reflection upon reading “The Shelter of the Most High” by Francis Frangipane)

 


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