Up On The Roof

UP ON THE ROOF
by Peter Cincotti

When this old world starts a getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I'll climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space

On the roof, it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me

When I come home feeling tired and beat
I'll go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I'll get away from the hustling crowd
And all the rat-race noise down in the street

On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so

At night the stars put on a show for free
Darling, you can share it all with me

Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's troubleproof
If this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two
Up on the roof
Up on the roof

When I heard this song, the "ROOF" reminds me of God - peaceful, shielded us from the world, makes all our worries drift away, a safe haven where nothing can't bother me, a paradise that's troubleproof... Beautiful isn't it? =)

Dear God, may my heart always have a room for you, because yours will always have a room for me. Thank you for loving me.

Life at the Cross Roads

"All life concentrates on man at the cross roads."

In every action of life man is confronted with a choice; and he can never evade the choice, because he can never stand still. He must always take one way or the other.

- William Barclay -

Matt 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

不能够再见的“再见”

阿公。。。 不能够再见的“再见”。。。
I'm sorry =(

Good when He gives, nor less when He denies

Good when He gives, supremely good;
Nor less when He denies:
Afflictions, from His sovereign hand, are blessings in disguise.

~ Brother Lawrence ~

4

This is the fourth year. You're dearly missed.
I wonder, how long more til my turn to go to the other side...
=)

Social Distortion

We're living in a distorted world today.

We are so "connected" to the world thanks to the Internet & mobile phone network; but yet we're so disconnected with each other.
We seems to know so much about the happenings at a person's life, thanks to all the updates at facebook, twitter & probably bloggie too. But often it's just superficial, we never know what happened "deep within"...

Tonight, when Mr Lian reminded us that we all are the being that needed relationship. I do agree, strongly in fact. But yet too often I dread about building relationships. I have my own "social distortion" to deal with.
Because I know the more I attached to a person, the more painful it will be when the person had to leave you - either to the next phase of life, or stay out of your life.

I wish, I really wish that I will have the "mind of a traveler" when I have to leave this place - just say goodbye and never look back.

In times like this, I only wanted to sing this out loud: "How far is heaven, Lord can you tell me?"

"Heaven"

Save me from this prison
Lord help me get away
Cause only you can save me now
From this misery
Cause I've been lost in my own place
And I'm getting' weary
How far is heaven
And I know I need to change
My ways of livin'
How far is heaven, Lord can you tell me

Cause I've been locked up way too long
In this crazy world, how far is heaven
I just keep on prayin' Lord
Just keep on livin', how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just got to know how far, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me

Tu que estas en alto cielo,
Echame tu bendiciòn

Cause I know there's a better place
Than this place I'm livin', how far is heaven
So I just got to show some faith
And just keep on giving, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just wanna know how far, how far is heaven,
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven,
'cause I just gotta know how far,
I just wanna know far

I see Thee not, I feel Thee not; but Thou art here

Distinguish between the fact of God's presence, and the emotion of the fact.
It is a happy thing when the soul seems desolate and deserted, if our faith can say, "I see Thee not. I feel Thee not, but Thou art certainly and graciously here, where I am as I am." Say it again and again: "thou art here: though the bush does not seem to burn with fire, it does burn.
I will take the shoes from off my feet, for the place on which I stand is holy ground.

~ Author Unknown ~

Every exit is an entry somewhere

Alexander Graham Bell once said,

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

How true and wise =)

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. The hard times that we go through will build character, it makes us a stronger person.

In good times, we learn to be thankful for the things can be.
In tough times, we learn to accept that there are things that cannot be.

But when darkness strike you, do not bow your head in sadness; instead, keep your head up high, gaze into heaven - for that is where our broken heart has been sent to.

Some people will look at me and said, only those who are weak in heart needed faith in God.

But I said, only those who are strong in heart are willing to put their faith in something that they cannot see (now).

Finding God in Nature

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.
God is the friend of silence.
See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence;
see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...
We need silence to be able to touch souls.

~ Mother Teresa ~

Time to mourn, and then hope

Something meaningful I read today...

No one can teach you how to mourn. As with climbing a mountain, you can try to prepare, but it's impossible to know what will happen once you are on its steep slopes. Before my trip to Everest, I'd gone from my home in Manchester, England, to the Lake District to visit the Boningtons — Chris and his wife, Wendy. Chris and I walked with his dogs, and he listened with kind patience as I talked endlessly, repetitively, about Joe. Standing on the top of a hill, watching cloud shadows slide over the rolling green fells beneath us, Chris suddenly said to me, "I know you can't imagine it now, but one day you will fall in love again — and be happy."

- excerpt from Where the Mountain Casts Its Shadow

A Ministry of Love

While I was driving back home after work, I had a bit of time to be quiet and hear myself think. Two thoughts keep popping up my mind - "serenity" and "gratitude".

I have a tough week, since Thursday night.
The passing of Jen Ruw hits me hard, not only grieving on the lost of a brother whom I always enjoyed his presence and never fail to cheer me up.
It was the memories that bring back memories…

I thought I was strong enough.
Somehow, I did not cry when I got to know about this, I did not cry when I saw him lifeless in his own room, I did not cry when I went to see him in the mortuary.
But I could not hold on to it anymore during the Wake Service. I decided to let it go and let it out.
For a moment, I could not differentiate for whom I'm grieving for; it's really tough to go through the whole thing all over again. It's like the emotional dam that you have been fortified for the past 3.5 years suddenly collapse.
But I guess it’s good to let it all out, and to start anew with God.
Once again I’m at peace with God, once again I’m reminded about what does life amounted to.

Reading Yow Looi’s sharing was indeed a great encouragement. I’m very grateful for such leader; he set a very fine and inspiring example for us to follow.

1 Cor 13:1-3,8 "... If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing ... Love never fails."

Everyone who wants to improve or be useful or effective in something, must go through hard training. Being strong does not mean being great, but the ability to withstand. But how do you train the heart to be strong? By going through trials of hurts and withstanding them.

The ministry of God is a ministry of love, for anything short of love falls short of His will, and love can only comes from the heart. In my life & ministries, many times had God put me through the test and trials of all kinds that was painful. I suppose everyone goes though their fair share of hurts. Sometimes we become fearful to put our hearts to it knowing the hurt it can come with. But if I serve not with my heart, I always feels it falls short to pleasing God because one can serve just out of duty. Many people lose heart after hurt and we go on in life bitterly and our ministries become cold. How we need to look to God, and when you get your perspectives right, you'll grow stronger instead. And that's what the ministries need. That's how we ought to serve.

The pass week has been one of the hardest days to pass. I feel like I've lost a son or a young brother. I asked God why it has to happen, not the first time, but this time it just seemed so much harder. The first time I went through the whole process of a love one dying, going through every step to the end, each process carries a great pain. But I suppose asking why is not the right question but remaining faithful is what we need to do so that in due time it will fulfill His purpose. I guess this is how our heart matures.

In the Myanmar work too, we say goodbye very suddenly all the time as we do not know when they will be resettled in 3rd countries. And so, we need to keep restarting again and again... with much love for each individual.

In Him,
Yow Looi

"Don't cry that he's gone. Be happy that you had him." - I’m grateful that I have had them in my life.

And, I need to start to care and love more.

With All I Am

This song keep playing in my head for the past 3 days...
Thanks for the inspiration =)

Into Your hands
I commit again
With all I am, for You, Lord
You hold my world
In the palm of Your hand
And I am Yours forever

Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You’re the reason that I live
The reason that I sing
With all I am

I’ll walk with You
Wherever You go
Through tears and joy
I’ll trust in You
And I will live
In all of Your ways
And Your promises, forever

I will worship
I will worship You