Mark 4:14-20

The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

This parable is awesome because it can apply to people's reactions to God's word, different times and phases in people's life and/or how we willingly accept God's message in some areas and resist it in others. I know because I have personally been through all these areas.

I want to thank all those faithful farmers who have sowed seeds throughout my life and sorry to those whose words fell on deaf ears when I was not yet ready. Thanks especially to all the patient farmers who took every chance to tell me more of the truth about God and prayed that the Holy Spirit would open my mind to receive the truth and act on it. After years of letting the word go in one ear and out the other, after using Jesus as an excuse to get the attention of caring and loving pastors and friends and after all the nagging doubts about the truth, I've finally come to a place in my journey where I am begining to learn how to open my mind and heart to receive Mister God, truly. Sure there are still areas that still respond like thorny soil such as my future and God's plan for it but now I know that productivity is in Mister God' hand and in time, God's plan for me WILL come to pass.

In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

Lots of love,
Kittycad

because of Your love

just want to share this meaningful song with my dearest family on this resurrection sunday. how great our Abba Father's love for us. =)

John 4:11

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

One day, Jesus met a Samaritan (a parallel to Judaism but separate ethnoreligious group) woman at a well and asked her for water. Perplexed that a Jewish rabbi/teacher would even speak to a Samaritan, let alone ask water from her, she questioned him and his intentions. Jesus said that if only she knows the gift of God and who it is that's asking for a drink, she would have asked him and he would have given her living water.

What is this living water Jesus was talking about? This woman had every reason to be suspicious of Jesus. First of all, Jesus spoke to her, quite unlike the other Jews she might have crossed paths with. Then Jesus promised her she'll never be thirsty again once she has drunk this living water.

If Jesus appears before me now and offers me a chance to never go thirsty again, will I trust him? But why would anyone be suspicious of Jesus: the most perfect, kindest, sinless man that ever walked this earth? But sadly, there is a Samaritan woman in everyone of us.

I've always been suspicious. Never trusting anyone. That was the way I was brought up. Don't talk to strangers. Don't get involved in things you don't understand. Trust No One. And then out of the blue, Jesus appears in my life and tells me that I need not be suspicious of him for he is here to set me free from all my sins.

The Samaritan woman, like me, felt somewhat unsure about Jesus. Why would Jesus chat with me? What does he really want from me? He has no business in my life let alone give me promises of eternal life.

Jesus, on the other hand, does not care about your background, your status or even reputation. As far as he's concerned, what's past is past. Sure, humans can deceive you. Some religious healers promise instant healing but when you don't, they blame you for lack of faith. Some Christians impose their believes on you or worst, judge you for not being like them.

But not Jesus.

He heals because he loves us. He's constantly on our minds because he lives in us. He doesn't demand money, or your time. If you offer money or your time to Jesus, chances are you do it because you want to adore him and please him. Like how a husband adores and pleases his wife or the way I showered gifts and love on my cats.

So let's not be suspicious of Jesus. He did nothing wrong in his life and his continuous existence in ours.

Dear Mister God, please help me trust Jesus. Let me not be suspicious anymore and give me this living water today.

Thank you. Amen.

Kittycad
xoxo

Revelation 19:11

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Dear ones,

Last night I had a dream and ever since I have not been able to get it out of my head. And just now, whilst listening to the Christian radio, a guy said the very same things I dreamt about. I looked it up on Revelation chapter 19 and it was all there, my dream on the page before my eyes! I think I might have dreamt the second coming of Jesus! First, there were these people who looked like normal people but I knew there weren't just normal people. They had a purpose and an urgency. They were like floor managers making sure that the sets, technical equipment, props and audience were ready for the V.I.P. Then I stopped one of them and asked him what was happening. He looked at a list and asked,

"Are you Christian?"

"Yeaaa? Why?"

"You're not on the list."

"Huh? B..but...I've been followin..."

Angel Floor Manager man looked straight at me "It doesn't matter. If you don't believe, you're not a Christian. If you want to be saved, BELIEVE. Just BELIEVE."

Then I thought, "You mean....this is real? Jesus is real? All the bible teachings are real? They're not just moral teachings to make us live purposeful lives? You mean, the end of the world is like real real real REAL?"

He handled me a snap pea in a zip-lock bag (don't ask me) and I woke up with the same bag in my hand.

IT'S REAL, ALRIGHT!!

Ok...after that I woke up for real and there was no bag, no snap pea. But I still think it was a message from God.


Dear Jesus,

Is time running out for us? Is your name The Word Of God and are you going to lead your armies to earth and when you come, are you going to strike the nations and rule us with a rod of iron? But Jesus, why are you so angry at me? Why would you strike me and make me afraid of you? Do you not love me anymore? Am I so bad in your eyes? Do you hate me? Jesus, I love you but I don't know how to believe. I just don't know how to believe. Please don't come just yet. Please HELP ME believe before you come, okay Jesus?

Yours lovingly,
Need-to-believe
Kittycad
xxxx

Goodbye 2008

Dear Mister God,

Now that the winter solstice is over and the days are beginning to lighten up, one tiny minute a day, I feel it's time for some reflection. Thanks for my safe passage all this time and please forgive my sins, my Lord Mister God.

I have now lived in the UK for 1 year 3 months and it befuddles me how fast (and sometimes furious) time has passed. I did not see the credit crunch coming and certainly not how it would have any affect on me. The atmosphere is starkly different from last year’s. Shops are plastered with "Closing Down Sale" posters and new office buildings left unfinished and vacant. My daily bus rides through St Paul’s and Liverpool Street, that used to fill me with such awe and wonder, have now become somewhat a journey of remorse as this is no longer the hurly burly London I’ve just gotten used to.

Before all this talk of doom and gloom, I was back in Singapore to visit friends in March and there I found Jesus. Religion is a funny thing and having faith in something (in this case someone) you cannot see, is a whole new experience altogether. For lack of a better way of saying this, Jesus is like a “no limit, no expiry date” coupon that bails me out each time I screw up.

I’ve also discovered that good things in England happen in the countryside. Since Singapore, I've spent Spring in Dorset at my aunt’s cottage where we picked wild garlic and nettle (which stung me!) along some fairytale-like foot path and fed farm animals. Who can say they got stung by their supper, or document the birth of a baby Alpaca, right? Farming, gardening and cooking your own produce has also earned a place on my “100 Things to Do Before I Die” list. The world may be crashing but at least you know you have enough pumpkins and apples to last the year. I've also met the lady who makes Madonna's (or rather Guy Ritchie’s) gamekeepers’ breeches. What a great country trivia, huh?

I now live in East London, home of Jack the Ripper and the cockney accent. Ain’t it? I share a flat with a same age (same birth month too), single female. And we have spent many nights contemplating the bountifulness of foods but the somewhat lacking of male companionship in our lives. I find it excessively funny when we start discussing romantic comedies in detail.

On weekends, I comb the East London street markets and take photos of foods and flowers as a desperate means of tempting friends to visit (hint hint). I have also become very good at sniffing out a bargain. Nutella, £0.99, Costcutters. 3-for-1 Wholemeal rolls, £1, Sainsbury. 2-for-1 paté, £1.10, Budgens. I’ve also learnt how to cook (better). I have fed several English people Laksa, Chicken Ginseng Soup, Curry Chicken and already my Otah Toasties have a fan-base in East London. *cough*

In summer, I spent five weeks in Edinburgh, Scotland, helping my cousin’s company run venues at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. There I met an array of colourful characters from drag queens to has-beens in the theatre industry. Everyone became fast friends and for many, the experience would change their lives forever. For me, I'll never pronounce "Thirty Third" quite the same again when I can say "Dirty Turd" instead. Thank you for Scottish accent.

Since the Fringe Festival, I have been working in my cousin's London office, answering phone calls, putting up Course Details for acting classes and my proudest work moment was the day we had our first photo shoot session. It’s a little taste of home (for me) and for now the closest I will get to photography styling again. We call these photography sessions “Headshots” and I look forward to the day Daniel Craig swaggers into our studio for his portrait taken by us. One can really dream!

My future is uncertain, as with everyone’s, and on that note, dang the credit crunch. I’m going to embrace the New Year with hope, love, peace and lots of commercial success. I hope the same for my friends and family too. I pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.


Lots and lots and lots and lots of love!
Kittycad
xx

Genesis 24:50-51

Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed."

Abraham sent his chief servant in search of a bride for Issac. Off he went, obediently, to another land with gifts and camels in search for this bride. Firstly, the servant listened very carefully to his master's instructions. He also regarded his task as a high privilege, an honor, and not an inconvenience. He was devoted and faithful that God will bless his journey and goal. When the servant found a maiden who was kind to him, God made it clear to him that she was the one he has come for. And when the maiden agreed to follow him back to marry Issac, the servant generously gave all the gifts and camels to her family.

---

Dear Mr God,

This is a somewhat simple yet powerful story. Thank you Mr God for helping me understand what it means and how it relates to our Christian life and purpose.

This servant is a reflection of what we as children of God should be; people who would go to the ends of the world and bring more people to you, like the servant in search for a bride for Issac. And like him, we should listen to your instructions and be generous to others with all the gifts that you have given us. And last but not least, we should be upfront and unashamed of who we are and be willing to speak freely about you.

Mr God, I pray that you will tame us into good servants who aren't afraid to serve and honor you and most importantly, to trust in you in delivering us to where you want us to be.

Thank you Mr God and please deliver me too.

Love,
Kittycad

‘All That I Have Is Yours’

Luke 15:31
31... ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

After running a few errands for his parents, a little boy went to his father and said, “I know why you and mummy had me.” “Why?” asked his father. “So that you guys would have someone to run errands for you!” exclaimed the boy.

Like the little boy, do you see God as a Father who demands obedience and service from you? Have you ever felt that unless you obey Him and keep all His commandments, you don’t have a right to be blessed by Him?

Jesus shared the story of the prodigal son to show how some of us call God “Father” and yet don’t know His heart. There are two sons in this parable. We know what happened to the prodigal son, but we can also learn something about the older son. This is what he said to his father when he discovered that his father had thrown a party to celebrate the return of his irresponsible, spendthrift brother: “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.” (Luke 15:29)

Now, this son believed that his father had brought him into the world to serve him. He saw his father as someone issuing commandments to him all the time. And he saw himself as someone who had to obey those commandments to enjoy his inheritance. But the truth is that the father had already given him his inheritance. (Luke 15:12) The father even reminded him lovingly: “Son… all that I have is yours.” And I am sure that that inheritance included more than one goat!

Have you, like the older son, failed to understand your Father’s heart? Your heavenly Father already gave you a rich inheritance in Christ when you became His son. He wants you to know that you have received the Spirit of sonship. (Romans 8:15) So call out to Him, “Abba, Father!” and know how much He loves you. Because you are His heir, all that He has is yours to enjoy today!

(taken from The One Thing-Daily Devotional by Pastor Joseph Prince)

Ruth 3:18

Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."

Dear Mister God,

Thank you for giving us the bible. I was reading the Story Of Ruth today just because it shared the same name as my flat mate. I was curious. And I'm glad that my curiosity has taught me something precious today.

My flatmate Ruth and I are the same age and both waiting to meet the right man to marry. Sometimes we fret over things like "why don't some one just set me up on a date", "will he be too short, too old, too ugly" etc.

The bible Ruth may understand our predicament for she too had a rough time in her life when her husband died and Naomi, her mother-in-law, told her to return to her own mom and try to re-marry for there may be no future for Ruth if she chose to stay behind with the aging Naomi. But Ruth, loyal and faithful, chose to stay with Naomi.

Both Naomi and Ruth trudged along and worked in the fields, with little expectations other than making ends meet. But as God planned it, Ruth ended up working for a close relative of Naomi's called Boaz. Boaz was a religious and righteous man who got to know about Naomi and Ruth's misfortune. He took it upon his duty to marry Ruth so that they may continue their family line. Ruth and Boaz would eventually become the grand-parents of David - ancestor of Jesus.

The story of Ruth doesn't sound terribly romantic but it is a story of hope and patience. Hence I pray in Jesus name, that Mister God, you will remove all self-serving desires from the hearts of all the singles in the world. Soothe our nerves, let us know in our "knower" and believe in our "believer" that YOU ARE GOOD and YOU cause everything to work together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose for them.

Thank you, Mister God.

Lots and lots of love,

P
xoxo

We Are The Reason

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) lyrics

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Chorus:
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine



Song lyrics | Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) lyrics