The Year In Review

-Image Courtesy of Family Photography-

I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. (Psalm 77:11)

During the last week of December, newscasters often look back at the significant events of the past year—the triumphs and failures of prominent people, natural disasters, economic challenges, and the deaths of celebrities and leaders. The most surprising events usually receive top billing.

If you reviewed the past year of your life, what would appear on the list? Has an unexpected event caused you to question God or to more deeply experience His goodness?

Psalm 77 chronicles the lament of a person in distress who felt as if God no longer cared (vv.7-9). “Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?” (v.8). Yet, even in anguish, the psalmist said, “I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old” (v.11). The result was a renewal of trust and hope: “You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples” (v.14).

As you think back over this past year, why not write down the significant events in your life. Don’t be afraid to include your difficulties and disappointments, but remember to consider all the ways God has been with you.

During every difficulty, we can always find the faithfulness of God. -David C. McCasland, Our Daily Bread

Difficulties in our lives give us the opportunity

to experience the faithfulness of God.

By Faith

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

The date today, 28th December 2010 marks the 6th month since I last updated my blog in my First Year. (Referring to my previous post, the post mentioned in it will soon be uploaded).

I'm not sure how to describe it, but days here in my uni pass by like an event, at which a person sees it at a moment, turns away from it, and turns to it again, only to realize that the event has changed to a completely new one. That's how quick time flies here.

Without noticing, I've gone through three systems, the Cardiovascular System, the Respiratory System, and the Gastrointestinal System in my medical syllabusss. The next system, the Central Nervous System, said and proven by some (or perhaps many) that it's the most difficult and busiest of all systems, will be commencing next Monday.

Coming into my Second Year has not an easy one also. Classes, including practicals, can start as early as 8a.m. and end at 5p.m. Lectures can stretch up to 4 hours long. Lecture notes can pile up like a mountain if left untouched or unread for just two to three days. The amount of time to study, lessens as there are fewer hours left after classes end near sunset and before going to bed.

Nevertheless, praise God for His guidance and mercy. Though there are times of disappointment during studies, but God's word, that tells us that His grace is sufficient for us, and that when we are weak and weary, we can cast our anxieties unto Him(1 Peter 5:7), once again reminded me that God will make a way.

I celebrated my Christmas here for the third year now in my uni. Christmas this year, I rekon, was the busiest so far. With the choir practices, sign-language dance, and caroling, all of the days nearing to Christmas were packed and in and out we went from uni to church. Seeing how my church fellowship members worked together in all these Christmas events bring to mind on how amazing God's grace is for us that He brought us all together from different parts of the country and under His care, we form the body of Christ. No matter how small the things or role that we may be doing or playing, we are doing it for Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26) And that in all things, we should be glorifying God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Coming into my Second Year for four months now had really been quite a journey. But whatever it is, I believe that everything happens for a reason and that God is in control. I once heard from this Christian counselor on the question that haunt us so much, the topic on why is life so hard. His answer to this question, is profound, that God is shaping us the way He wants us to be, in other words, preparing us as believers of Christ, for our eternal home with Him.

Although the way ahead may be gloomy at times, that God may seem so far away when our prayers seemed unanswered, but we can definitely count on this, that He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), that His love for us is unconditional (Romans 8:38-39) and that we are always under His watchful care (Luke 12:7). Just like a parent who watches his baby in the cradle through a door that is opened little at night, God will always be there for us to give us strength, eternal peace and incomparable joy though Christ Jesus, something that the world cannot provide.

Nearing the year 2011, may we as believers of Christ, like the apostle Paul, say together in faith,

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Turnover

After looking through the new blog backgrounds that Blogger is offering, I finally chose this one (as to date). The dried Maple leaves and the windy looking background reminds me of the verses in Isaiah 40:6-8 where it reads:

A voice says, "Cry out."

And I said, "What shall I cry?"

"All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

because the breath of the LORD blows on them.

Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God stands forever."

Based on John Wesley's Bible commentary towards these verses, he mentioned that :

The prophet having foretold glorious things, confirms the certainty of them, by representing the vast difference between the nature, and word, and work of men and of God. All that men are or have, yea, their highest accomplishments, are but like the grass of the field, weak and vanishing, soon nipt and brought to nothing; but God's word is like himself, immutable and irresistible: and therefore as the mouth of the Lord, and not of man, hath spoken these things, so doubt not but they shall be fulfilled.

Other commentaries such as the Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown Bible Commentary gives similar annotation.

This post is a prelude to my next post that's coming soon. It's been two months already since my last post and one could just see how time passes.

Max signing off for now! : )

The Cross

'He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He open not His mouth.' - Isaiah 53:7

As I went through Isaiah chapter 53 last night, my mind wondered off to the last moments Jesus and his disciples gathered in the upper room, His arrest and sentence, and the road Jesus took on the way to Calvary.

And then my mind wondered off to a painting (The Three Crosses) by Rembrandth, an etching he accomplished in the year 1653. In the painting, there are three crosses with Jesus in the centre and the two robbers beside Him. At the foot of the cross, one could see the different expressions of the people, with Mary, John and the centurion, who dismounted his horse, kneel beside the cross with arms raised, so overwhelmed by the event he just witnessed that he has instantly converted.

I read an explanatory on the painting and searched for a dark figure hidden in the shadows in the painting, whom art critics said that the person was Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.

Romans 3:23 reads: 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,'. We all like sheep, and have turned to our own separate ways (Isaiah 53:6). Because of His unconditional and everlasting love, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins to bring us eternal hope and that 'by His wounds we are healed.' (Isaiah 53:5)

We, like Rembrandt, are also standing beside the cross. But then remember what Jesus said as He hung on that cross: "Father, forgive them." Praise God, that includes you and me.

Like a Bullet Train

The speed of time - simply indescribable. Though today's the last day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, it's still not too late to say:

Happy Chinese New Year! : ) and Happy 元宵节!

Coming to a Ten

HAPPY NEW YEAR of 2010! : )

P/S: I'll be having my 2nd semester exam this coming Monday. Please pray for me. Till then, I'll try to find time updating my blog when it's over. Take care and God bless! : )