Nothing can separate us from God's love, except for we ourselves

“There is NOTHING in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 39)

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Not our favourite novels, songs, movies, television programmes, games, toys, pets, fashion accessories, shopping centres, arcades, a handphone, a trophy, medals, prizes, MSN, PSPs, a failed test, good results and even peers’ approval.

Nobody can divide us and God. Not a vengeful peer, our friends, boyfriend or girlfriend, school mates who are jealous of us or look down on us, dedicated or unsupportive teachers, loving or uncaring parents and guardians, quarrelsome siblings and even our favourite celebrities.

No situation can pull us apart from God. Not being a student leader, performing in a concert, winning a basketball tournament or a competition, grief over a deceased pet or relative, resentment at being accused, anger after being insulted or bullied, disappointment with siblings or friends who betray you, and even guilt from being caught red-handed.

In all these circumstances, we know that we are never alone. We can be assured that no matter what happens, God is always with us. But are there times when we allowed ourselves to be distracted by worldly obsessions? Are there times when we were too immersed in our joyful and victorious moments that we forgot to thank God for our achievements? Are there times when we failed to turn to God for counsel and wallowed into sadness and despair? These would be the occasions when we distance ourselves from God’s love. These would be the times when we prevent God’s healing power working within us.

Now, aren’t these situations contradictory to what St. Paul said about nothing could separate us from God’s love? The explanation is God our loving Father had given us the freedom to choose whether we want to establish our friendship with Him or not, and human beings sometimes abuse our freedom to choose not to acknowledge God’s presence in our lives.

Rick Warren, author of the book “The Purpose Driven Life”, wrote that to develop our friendship with God, we have to
1. be completely honest with God, which means to pour out our genuine feelings to God.
2. obey God in faith, not out of fear or compulsion, but out of gratitude and love for all Christ has done for us.
3. value what God values, i.e. the redemption of his people. Care about all the people around us and tell our friends about God. In other words, bring Christ to others through our words and actions.
4. meditate on God’s Word throughout the day.

In this Christmas season, let us choose to revive our friendship with God while celebrating Jesus’ birth so that Christ’s love and peace will remain within us forever.

(This is my fifth issue (28 Dec 2008) of Pauline Catechism section in my new church bulletin called The Apostles.)
A personal reflection article after reading Day 11 - Becoming Best Friends with God and Day 12 - Developing Your Friendship with God.

Chinese New Year Greeting

Best Birthday Present

Originally wanted to finish my lunch first before coming to school to receive the "fruits of my labour" - the long awaited GCE 'N' Level results for English Language for the entire 4NA stream. But just as I set off, I received a sms from Ms Evonne Tham. She informed me that 100% of the 4NA pupils pass the English Language 'N' Level exam. I was in high spirits (very happy and proud / jubilant) and praised the Lord instantaneously. Yes, once again, He had helped me and all my pupils to achieve such excellent results. Thank you, dear Lord Jesus! All glory and praises be to God! I then decided to change my mind to bring packed lunch to school and 'savour' (to enjoy sth) my results as I consumed lunch.

Besides being grateful to God's divine blessings, I also need to express my appreciation to each and every 2008 4NA student who has contributed to such glorious results. This is indeed the best present that you can give me before my birthday. I'm truly impressed with the results of the majority of you. Congratulations to those who scored distinction for English Language: Ali, Javin, Kevin, Ridhwan, Kian Wei, Agnes Ong, Hardi, Benny, Danyal, Khalisah, Nadhirah, Kuang Sheng, Christina, Andy and Melvinder. For those who are promoted, remember to work even harder next year as passing 'O' level English Language exam may be considered an uphill (difficult) task to most of you.

For the ten students who are not promoted to Sec 5NA, please do not be disheartened. Failing an examination does not mean that you are of no use. It either indicates that you had not put in enough effort in your studies or you might be more suited to courses of a less academic nature. Moreover, good character precedes (comes before) good results in the development of your future. You can clearly see what will happen to you when you manage to become a prestigious figure of authority but lack integrity, if you have been following the news of the destiny of the corrupt Taiwan former president Chen Shui-bian.

Hence, whether you are promoted or not, regardless of whichever environment you will be in, I pray that God will watch over you and will prevent you from being led astray. May you stand firm in your religious belief and cling on to your moral values always. May God bless you.

First Christmas

The story of the birth of Jesus Christ is told by Joseph's donkey, Zeke. This telling of the wondrous birth of Jesus together with the fascinating illustrations will delight children and adults alike and remind us all of the real meaning of Christmas.



(This is my fourth issue of Pauline Catechism section in my new church bulletin called The Apostles.)

主耶稣，祢是活泉

在国华大哥的鼓励下，妈妈和我毅然报名参加为时三天半的“归来吧！我的宝贝”音乐侍奉营。妈妈原本担心很多问题：怕早上不能这样早起来啦、怕不够睡眠，精神不足啦、担心不懂能表演什么啦、更担心遭鄙视。差一点萌起放弃的念头了，却还是踏出第一步出席了第一天的活动。我则是满怀期待与喜悦的心情去参加这个侍奉营。

到了12月8日，所有音乐侍奉营的参加者都到圣体堂报到。我们在那里望弥撒并参与彩排，为晚上“归来吧！我的宝贝”的演出做最后的冲刺。

午餐过后，我们本想去圣体室祈祷，谁知到了那边，里面已经有很多人在祈祷了。没法子，虽然下着雨，我们还是决定撑着一把伞走到大教堂去，很凑巧的，大教堂内正有一台英语弥撒在进行中。妈妈就提议找一个适当的角落去祈祷。我们走着走着，竟找到一座有耶稣神像，又有流水的小石山。妈妈一知道那座神像是耶稣，便雀跃地呼喊着；“主耶稣！主耶稣！”妈妈“飞奔似地投入主的怀里”，跟着便滔滔哭诉着这几天郁积在她心中的委屈、惧怕及焦虑。我在一旁一边听，一边默祷，求主赐给我妈力量及信心，泪水也禁不住地滑落双颊。妈妈逐带领我念三遍的天主经，圣母经及光荣颂。诵念这些经文时，妈妈心中的悲伤更强烈，泪水仍然不停地流着。

念完经文后，妈妈突然问我：“你有想到什么吗？”我为之愕然。的确，在默祷时，听着潺潺的流水声，看着流水沿着小山坡流入锦鲤鱼池中和雨水打落在鱼池中所产生的水花四溅的景象，令我联想到《植在溪畔树下》MTV中的瀑布。我心想那岂不是代表圣神的活水吗？当我说出这个答案后，谁知妈妈说她也想到圣神活水。我们母女俩顿时都被圣神赐予的这份心有灵犀深受感动。妈妈便要求我带领她唱这首歌。我们边唱边流泪。

离开了那座小石山后，妈妈告诉我她刚才听到主耶稣的声音。“别担心，别害怕，回去吧，孩子，我会看顾你，我会赐给你力量。”起初，她还舍不得离开。后来，耶稣的声音再次响起：“孩子，回去吧，别在这边淋雨了。”感谢主！赞美主！祢的确是活生生的主，随时随地给我们依靠，抚慰我们，医治我们。

回到达勉礼堂后，又是另一轮的赞美敬拜。那位领赞美敬拜的姐妹问大家：“主耶稣配得我们赞美吗？”这时，群众答复的声音不是很响亮，可能是因为大家要为了演出而“保留元气”，所以不敢大喊。她再问：“主耶稣配得我们赞美吗？”这次，妈妈和我都毫不保留地从心中呐喊出来：“配！”“主耶稣好不好？”我们再次使劲地喊，“好！”“你们相信主耶稣吗？”我们再三肯定地大喊：“相信！”回想起来，以前在这种场合，我虽然有回应，但却没像这次那么诚恳。那天，我不但口里承认，心里也再一次由衷地相信耶稣是我们的救主。

赞美敬拜开始了。是一首陌生的歌曲《到主跟前来》，但头一行的歌词已深深触动了我。“孩子们，到我跟前来，尽情地欢欣歌唱。”我知道那是仁慈的天主再一次施展祂的大能，通过歌词来抚慰妈妈倍受创伤的心灵。泪水黯然落下。

紧接着就是我们赞美敬拜的预演。我即刻收拾我的心情，登上台阶。当第一首歌《归来吧！我的宝贝》的音乐响起时，我的膝盖居然会随着音乐的节拍自动弯曲。一直到演出当天的早上，当我们在练习赞美敬拜时，组长不断地提醒我膝盖一定要随着音乐的节拍弯下，但我就是办不到。我试着一边唱，一边机械化地弯下双脚，却无可避免地把一些动作给漏了。可是在预演的那一刻，圣神及时赐给了我这个能力，让我既能做出全部的动作，又不用顾虑双脚的摆动。感谢赞美主！阿肋路亚！

演出正式开始了。第一个表演项目就是赞美敬拜。我在台上而妈妈在台下，一起带动观众赞美敬拜。我们以充满感恩的心情，精力充沛地，轻松愉快地歌唱，一边拍掌，一边跳舞，喜乐之河已显然填满我们的心房。

演出快到尾声时，宝琴姐便在台上问有谁愿意接受主耶稣的救恩，愿意接受主耶稣掌管他们的生命，并邀请这些愿意认识主的非教友来到台前，接受神父的降福。有些观众开始移步，走向台前。我不知不觉地踮起脚尖，好像在替天主看有多少人回归祂的羊栈似的。看到有越来越多的非教友走到台前，有年轻的，也有年长的，一阵莫名的感动涌上心头，不禁热泪盈眶，但我知道这次是喜极而泣。我从未有过这样的感觉。以前在弥撒中看到有人领洗，都总是表情冷淡的，不当一回事，内心完全没有一丝喜悦，可是这次的感受却截然不同。我想这也许就是证明我的身体是圣神的宫殿，主活在我心吧！感谢天主让我有这么深刻的体验！也感谢天主拣选我们母女俩参与这次的福传演出！这是我们一生中感到最有意义的赞美敬拜！

终于，整场演出圆满结束。离开圣体堂前，我们母女俩回到下午的栖息地－有主耶稣的小石山。妈妈兴奋地对主耶稣说：“主耶稣，谢谢祢治愈了我，赐我力量与精神。”我也默默地向主道谢。起初，我还迫不及待地要回家了，但妈妈坚持要我照念三遍的天主经，圣母经及光荣颂来感谢天主。于是，我们念了跟下午同样的经文三遍，但不同的是，这次是满心欢喜地诵念经文。所有的泪痕都已消失了，脸上只闪耀着感激的笑容。

When Tears Fall

In this first week of Advent, let us cast our burden on the Lord, revive our hope in the Lord and let the Lord heal us through this comforting song.





(This is my first issue of Pauline Catechism section in my new church bulletin called The Apostles.)

Day 10- The Heart of Worship

The heart of worship is surrender.

What does it mean to surrender?
Ans: Surrendering is not accepting the status quo. It may mean the exact opposite: sacrificing your life or suffering in order to change what needs to be changed.

Surrender is best demonstrated in obedience and trust.

How do you know you are completely surrendered to God?
Ans: 1) You know you're surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work.
"Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him." (Psalm 37: 7a) Instead of trying harder, you trust more.

2) You also know you're surrendered when you don't react to criticism and rush to defend yourself.

What are the blessings of surrender?
Ans: 1) PEACE 2) FREEDOM 3) GOD'S POWER IN YOUR LIFE

You cannot fulfill God's purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans / personal ambition.

Everybody eventually surrenders to something or someone. If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts, or ego. You are free to choose what you surrender to, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice.

- taken from Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life

Day 9 - What makes God Smile?

What should be the goal of a Christian's life?

Ans: To make God smile.


How to make God smile?

Ans: 1) God smiles when we LOVE him supremely.

God deeply loves us and desires our love in return. He longs for us to know him and spend time with him.

2) God smiles when we TRUST him completely.

• Trust God even when things don't seem to make sense.
• Have faith that he knows what is best for our lives.

An excellent role-model: Noah

(Click on Noah's Ark to find out some useful life lessons you can learn from it.)

3) God smiles when we OBEY him wholeheartedly.

• The Bible tells us that Noah obeyed completely (no instruction was overlooked), and he obeyed exactly (in the way and time God wanted it done!). That is wholeheartedness.
• Do whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation.
• Delayed obedience is really disobedience. God doesn't owe us an explanation or reason for everything he asks us to do. Understanding can wait, but obedience can't.
• Partial obedience is also disobedience.
• Wholehearted obedience is done joyfully, with enthusiasm.
• Jesus says, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments." (John 14:15)
  

4) God smiles when we PRAISE and THANK him continually.

People feel better when they receive heartfelt praise and appreciation from someone else. God loves it, too. He smiles when we express our adoration and gratitude to him.

Because God supplies us with everything, from our daily food, family and friends, talents and to our lives, we should be grateful to God. It's not that God is a petty guy and will not bless us if we don't give thanks to him. On the contrary, God will still continue to shower his blessings generously on all human beings. But in the process of praising and thanking God, we recognise that whatever we have comes from God and indirectly, it helps us to develop humility.

5) God smiles when we USE our ABILITIES.

• We don't bring glory or pleasure to God by hiding our abilities or by trying to be someone else.
• Anytime we reject any part of ourselves, we are rejecting God's wisdom and sovereignty in creating us.

To sum up, like a parent, God does not expect us to be perfect or sinless. What matters is the attitude of our HEARTS. Is pleasing God our deepest desire? If so, there is nothing that God won't do for the person totally absorbed with this goal.

- taken from Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life.

I feel that God has given me the grace to have a deep trust in him that he has laid out the best plan for my life and that he is determined is carry out this plan. I would say this is one thing I'm proud of myself with regards to my relationship with God.

But one thing I really need to work hard on is to obey God, who is present in all authority figures and my mother, wholeheartedly. When my mother asks me to run some errands, I would often delay in helping her and sometimes even forgetting all about it. When I'm told to carry out certain tasks, my first reaction would be to ask, "Why?" I used to think that it is only reasonable that I do things for you after I've understood or appreciated its rationale. If I don't agree with your explanation, then there is no motivation for me to do those tasks.

While this thinking may sound logical, at certain critical, especially possibly life-threatening moments, you just don't have the time to seek for the explanation. You must obey your leader immediately, without hesitation, unless you are prepared to suffer terrible consequences.

Testimony for Recruitment of Catechists

On 19 Oct 2008 (World Mission Sunday), I had to give two testimonies during Chinese mass at 8.30am and during English mass at 4.20pm for the recruitment of catechists at Sts Peter and Paul Church. This was my first time giving a testimony.

"耶稣长得帅吗？谁是耶稣的曾曾曾祖父？”这些有趣的问题都是我的一年级要理班的学生问的。

各位兄弟姐妹，早上好！我是凤婷，在这间教堂教要理已经有一年多的时间了。今天，我想和大家分享自从我决定当要理班老师后，天主所赐给我的三种赏报。

第一点、每当学生充满好奇心地问一大堆关于信仰的问题时，或者兴致勃勃地参于课堂上的活动与游戏时，我就会很高兴，而且觉得所付出的努力和时间去备课是值得的。

第二点、从孩子们的身上，我也可以学到东西，仿佛是天主在我教要理的过程中帮助我培养谦逊的美德。比如说，在我今年教的班里头，有一位很虔诚的小孩，名叫Amos. 他一踏进小教堂，坐下来，就会自己喃喃自语。原来他是在念天主经！这位小孩的举动提醒了我应该更敬畏上主以及事事多祈祷。

第三点、教要理也能使我在灵修上成长。记得有一次，我很生气某人对我说过的话，一直耿耿于怀。刚巧，那个星期，我正要准备教宽恕。当我在练习讲述宽恕之道的比喻时，我顿时重新领悟了这个道理，放下心中的不悦，决定效仿耶稣宽恕这个人。突然间，我感到天主真的时时刻刻与我同在，而且好像在通过我准备的教材来指点我该怎样做。这岂不是一种最美妙的赏报吗？

总的来说，正如圣保禄宗徒在斐理伯书信(4:19)说：“我的天主必要以自己的财富，在基督耶稣内，丰富满足你们的一切需要。”所以，别犹豫了，快加入我们的队伍吧，为天主向下一代传布福音。谢谢！

“Is Jesus handsome? Who is Jesus’ great great great grand-father?” These are
just some of the questions my P1 kids asked in the catechist class.

Hi, everybody! I'm Veronica from the Catechist Ministry. I'm here to share with you
three ways in which God has rewarded me after I decided to serve the Lord as a catechist.

Firstly, whenever I hear my pupils ask interesting questions about their faith in class and get very excited participating in the quizzes, games and activities during my lessons, I would feel delighted and that's enough to brighten up my day. All the time and effort spent in preparing for the lessons would be worthwhile.

Secondly, I get to learn a lot from the kids I'm teaching and in the process, God is also helping me to acquire humility. For instance, I have a very devoted kid in my class this year. His name is Amos. The minute he enters the chapel, he will straight away mutter “The Lord's Prayer” on his own initiative. He doesn't have to wait till communal prayer time, and that behaviour strikes me that I need to be more prayerful and show a greater respect for God.

Finally, but not the least, I realize I'm growing spiritually as well. I remember there was once I had great difficulties forgiving someone and coincidentally, that weekend, I was planning to teach about forgiveness. As I was practising narrating the parable of forgiveness, it suddenly dawned on me that God was using my teaching material to tell me what to do and to further convince me to forgive that person. God had manifested his love and presence for me at that time through my lesson preparation. So, isn't that a marvelous reward?

Hence, to sum up, like what St Paul said to the Philippians (4: 19): In return, my God will fulfill all your needs in Christ Jesus, as lavishly as only God can. And in the first letter to the Corinthians (9: 18): It is the privilege of preaching the Good News without charging for it, without claiming my rights in my work for the gospel. So, are you ready to take up this privilege to help spread the Good News to the young generation?

I doubt whether my testimonies have convinced anyone to be a catechist but there is one thing for sure, and that is, through the Biblical quotes in my testimonies, someone felt touched or comforted by God as one auntie came up to me and asked which chapter of the letter to the Philippians I had mentioned. I'm glad that my testimonies have effectively served as instruments of God's Words. Praise the Lord!

I also need to thank Lord Jesus for giving me the inspiration to write out these two speeches. Glory to you Lord!

For One More Day- Forgive Yourself

When you’re rotten about yourself, you become rotten to everyone else, even those you love.

I had no one to talk me out of my despair, and that was a mistake. You need to keep people close. You need to give them access to your heart.
(extracted from For One More Day)

My greatest take from this novel is the importance of being able to forgive yourself.

Charley Benetto adores his father since young, only to see him leaving his mother when Charley is on the verge of adolescence. With regards to baseball, Charley is as passionate as his father.

Years later, after Charley is married, on his mother’s seventy-ninth birthday, his father calls him to invite him to play in an Old Timers game. Though Charley is a bit hesitant to accept the offer, he cannot bear to reject his Dad; so he fakes an excuse, lies to his mother, wife and daughter and flies off. As he is reminiscing (remembering / recollecting past experiences) the glory of his days as a young energetic baseball player while swinging his bat, his mother collapsed at his hometown due to a massive heart attack. Charley thus misses the only opportunity to bid farewell to his mother. As he drives home through the night, he is tormented more by guilt than by shock and grief. Since then, his life has been destroyed by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits rock bottom after discovering that he won’t be invited to his only daughter’s wedding, and this is the most crucial thing that drives him to commit suicide.



Clearly, as Charley cannot let go of the immense guilt deeply engraved in his heart due to his irrevocable decision, he submits himself to alcohol and his relationships with his loved ones inevitably deteriorates. He does not confide to his loved ones anymore and becomes “ornery (grumpy) and distant”. He imagines himself suffering all alone. He shuts everybody out from his own world until he meets his dead mother...

It is a well-known fact that hurting people hurt others. The longer you
avoid forgiving yourself, the longer you allow yourself to harbor the feelings that you deserve to suffer for what you did, the more explosive you will become and, therefore, the more apt you are to hurt others. (extracted from http://www.allaboutgod.com/forgiving-yourself.htm)

Personally, I had been through this experience before. (Refer to last year’s August entry 4/4- Bane of my Teaching Career) The feeling was terrible once I realized that I had vented my frustration on another group of innocent pupils. I resolved this problem by confessing my sin to God and asking God to teach me how to be a firmer and more righteous teacher. After that, the healing gradually took place and I have never since repeated that mistake again.

Teaching is a life-giving career. If we persistently dwell on our sins and cannot forgive ourselves, then we are robbing ourselves of the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and to move on with life and with God. How can we then overcome our obstacles when we are stuck in our misery? How can we then encourage our students to stretch their limits when we already believe that it is impossible for us to impact others?

Forgive yourself. Let go of whatever you are holding against yourself. You can let the healing begin...