Tag Archives: Omnipotence

Smelling the Roses

13 Jun

Flowers appear on the earth;
       the season of singing has come,
       the cooing of doves
       is heard in our land.

                                                                     - Song of Solomon 2:12 (NIV)

 

 

Attracted to the beautiful flowers at my neighbour’s garden, I lingered on. Then a lady came out of the house. She was smiling so I greeted her in Tetun. But she spoke English & asked if I am the Singaporean friend of M. She worked in the same hospital as M & heard about me. She then invited R & me into the house for coffee. I agreed readily & thanked God for the opportunity to know another friend in the neighbourhood.

 

Mdm L worked as a mid-wife & loved flowers (that explained the beautiful garden!). She spoke  fairly good English but was very humble to want to learn more. As we chat over the lovely local coffee (which I really like!), Dr G (who lived in the same house) joined us. When Dr G heard about our English class for kids , she immediately asked if we would help the hospital staff. Sensing God was showing us another way to reach out, I said ”yes” eagerly. We then exchanged telephone numbers. And Dr G promised to call me once she gets approval from the hospital director-general to proceed with the English class.

 

We chat about family, work, her home town & really enjoyed each other’s company. But my phone kept ringing, gentle reminders from another dear friend who had cooked lunch & was waiting to eat together before going for our outing later. So we had to take our leave.

 

I was trying really hard to contain my joy (by not dancing & screaming) as I left Dr G’s house. Little did I know that by taking time to smell the roses (which was a luxury when I was working in the corporate world), not only did I get to marvel at God’s hands at creation but He actually shows me the way to His plan! I have learnt to trust God by taking one step at a time as He never show us the whole book, only one page at a time …..

 

In the verse at the beginning of this post, even though flowers only give promises as the fruit is not ripe yet, King Solomon was singing & praising God for His promise of the advent of Jesus Christ. So I am praising God now for what He shows me today, the opportunity to build relationship with the hospital community, even though it may take some time for anything to happen. I know everything that happens today is only because of God’s grace and I am grateful.

 

Love from Maubisse,

Lydia

13.6.2010

God is in Control

31 Dec

Cristu Rei, Dili. Timor-Leste

Why did God allow Cain to murder Abel (Genesis 4:1-8)?

Why did God allow Herod to slew the innocent babies (Matthew 2:13-16)?

Why did God allow the blameless and upright Job to plummet from health and prosperity to boils and poverty in no time, for apparently no reason (Job 1:1-2:10)?

 

If we are to blame God for these bad things that happened in the Bible, then we are underestimating the problem of evil in the world, which came by man’s fall in the Garden of Eden.  Evil is a fact. We must face it. Evil, not God, influenced bad things to happen to us. God allows evil to affect us to teach us about Himself.

 

It’s been almost two months since the OneLife.OneYear East Timor team has been brought back to Singapore, under the very wise decision of the church leaders.  The team has not been able to function as one due to personality differences, challenging living conditions and inability to adapt to the Timorese culture.  Certain responses to the culture shock have been hurtful, frightening and irrational.  Team members are hurt emotionally, spiritually and psychologically.

 

But I am thankful that God is in control and in His timing, brings the teams back for healing and restoration. Through it all, God has never left us nor forsaken us. God is too loving to do anything cruel to us, He is too wise to make a mistake, He is too deep to explain Himself and He is too near not to be aware of our need.  We may not understand why bad things happen but we trust that God allows them to shape us.

 

We need not look too far how God uses hurt to shape us. Our Father has created the most precious gift out of Christ’s brokenness. To allow God to use these hurts to shape something useful in me would have made all these suffering worthwhile. God has and will continue to keep me in His love and give me grace to behave as His beloved child. God will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn and working in me the grace He means me to bestow.

 

In His good time, He will bring me out again and back to East Timor for “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). When and how, only He knows.

 

Blessed by His love,  

Lydia

This article has been inspired by and some paragraphs are extracted from “Forgive and Love Again” by John Nieder and Thomas M. Thompson (Oregon USA: Harvest House Publishers, 1991)

Little Ones of Maubisse

10 Dec

These are photo albums I made for the little ones at Maubisse.  Many thanks to Ps Boon Teck & teamwho went to Maubisse on Dec 4 & present to the kids.  I hope the kids will remember the great time we have in the last 2 months learning Tetum & English together.  I hope they will understand that I have not forgotten them and my return is now delayed due to my fracture not fully healed. Until we meet again, I pray for God’s protection over these little ones & may their desire to learn continues to burn passionately!

 

In His Love,  

Lydia

Latest update

Text msg from Josefina, Milenia & Joe on 10.12.09                                     “Obrigada Lydia, nomos foto nebe haruka mai. Domin husi Josefina, Milenia, Joe”

On my feet again!

8 Dec

My God is working out my life for me! 

Visit to NUH Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery today is yet another amazing experience of God’s omnipotence.  The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.  In a span of just 3 weeks, my fracture has almost healed, without any plaster cast or bandage, just daily supplements & loads of rest.

 

The fracture line is almost invisbile on the X-ray and I am able to stand on my feet again ………. and walk! 

 

It is a great feeling to regain my mobility but it is awesome to know my God is mighty to heal!

 

But I am not ready for prolonged walking so I will still have to rest more, elevate my foot (swelling & pain will continue for a while) & not exert myself …. do not walk for more than 15 minutes at any time.

 

Next review will be in Jan 2010 …. will continue to rest & trust in my God who is working out my life for me :)

 

In His Love.

Lydia

Tug

8 Nov

I have been told many times that Timorese are so used to receiving foreign aids that they do not know how to appreciate Malais (foreigners).

 

But I was in BIG surprise this afternoon as we packed up at the guesthouse to leave for Dili.  Kids from the English Class came by & sat very quietly at the living room.  Migi kept hinting that they are going to give me something while we were loading our bags into the car.  So when we finally finished loading, we sat down to take group pictures.  One by one, the kids stood up & gave me these beautifully wrapped presents for being their teacher in the last 2 months.

 

The one present that made me cried was the cup of yellow jelly from Leonardo.  He was sent home yesterday when he was not behaving well in class.  Not only did he come to say goodbye today, he gave me a present & on the present he wrote “Lydia, I am sorry!  Leonardo”.  I hope his little toe will heal quickly & I will see him again soon!

 

As we waved goodbye in the car, the kids ran alongside the car & shaked my hand.  Lucia did not want to let go of my hand; Joe shouting “Lydia, hau hanoin Lydia”;  Tomasia, Emilia & Josefina kept saying “Lydia, la bele tanis!” but I just could not stop crying. I am already missing the kids before I left the mountain ………..

 

With Love,

Lydia

 

 

Latest update

Text msg from the kids:

30.1109 from Lucia “Lydia sinpan hela nomor telepon ne Lucia nian I reza ba sitr Lydaia atu lalais labele haluha hakuak Lucia”

28.11.09 from Emilia “Lydia, hau hanoin Lydia tamba hanorin English. I am crying because Lydia going to Singapore & forget me.  Good night Lydia. Write again to me. Goodbye.  See you next time”   -  replied that I have not forgotten her & I am missing her. Asked her to be strong & not cry. Told her my friend will be coming to teach them English next week & also to give them the photo album I have promised them

28.11.09 from Lucia “Halo Lydia nee ho Lucia bainhira mak Lydia fila mai Timor”  -  replied that my foot is not well, will be visiting doctor on Dec 8 before knowing when I can return to Timor

26.11.09 from Josefina “Halo Lydia. Lydia diak ka lae?  Hau hakarak Lydia mai hanorin ami ingles”  -  replied that my foot is not well so I cannot go back to teach her English yet. But my Singaporean friends will be coming next week so practised with them

11.11.09 from Eleonora “Btarde. Teacher Lydia, how are you?  Lydia la keta hanoin barak no labele haluha ami”  -  replied that I missed them all including her sister (Antoneta) & brother (Leonardo), prayed that I can come back soon

 

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