Smiling Service

 I used to take morning walks to the park. On the way, I always met old folks jogging, doing Tai Chi and doing stretches. Being a stranger having another nationality, I didn't really bother greeting or smiling at them.But one time,remembering about Smiling as a form of Service to God, my heart was moved. The following morning, I smiled at the first old grandpa and he smiled back. 1 down! Along the park, I smiled to two more grandmas and they greeted back.3 down! And so on. It went well on the days that followed. I have realized the essence of smiling to strangers for the joy echoes back,doubling it and vice versa.It has reminded me of another expression of humility to new friendship and understanding. It also caters a warm heart radiating readiness to help.Smiling envelopes us with peace from those around.

It feels really good to praise the Lord initially with a smile upon waking up. It becomes true service to Him when we share it heartily to others without choosing or judging whom to smile to.

Proverbs 15:13- A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Satisfaction

I was sitting at a square surrounded by a mall and skyscrapers when I noticed black ants swarming my feet. There, a decomposing grasshopper crashed by my shoes. I had shrugged it off then moved about 2 meters from the swarm.  

After a few minutes reading my devotional book, a woman approached me for a chat. Suddenly, the juice was accidentally spilled over the bench. A few seconds later, some black ants started to swarm the spill. And surprisingly, the previous swarm had been moving towards me carrying the remains of the grasshopper. 

I had to move back to my former seat leaving the spill to the ants and the grasshopper being moved. Reaching 2 meters away, a brown bird spotted the swarm. Watching curiously, the bird had perched the grasshopper twice before leaving it off. 

Later on, 3 women gathered for their lunch. One bird waited on crumbs to fall , so pitiful it was staring at them. I had asked one woman to give some rice so she did. In seconds more birds gather expecting for more. But when nothing was given they started to fly away one by one. Observing this, I was inspired to document it.

Indeed, it's all about food!Basically, survival increases with the availability of food- resource, competition comes following the scent of food and the consumer is never satisfied which leads for further search which is truly common to living things specially man. Survival of the fittest, elimination of the unfit.~Charles Darwin

Survival comes in providing the
basic food. Wherever there is "food"-work, business boom etc.- you find a "swarm" competing to live up their own satisfaction. But there is a longing that even if you have the whole world or anything money can buy or enjoy all types of pleasure, you never get to be truly or permanently contented.

Now there is hope, in John 6: 35 ~ Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."John 6: 27 ~ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. John 6: 33~ For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.Indeed, true satisfaction can only be found in our Lord Jesus Christ.                        

DO NOT WORRY

DO NOT WORRY

It had been raining since dawn on Sunday .Drops created a tune as they  trickle on the window glass.The fresh vegetative glow lured me from the window. Immediately, I had put my cap on, had grabbed the camera then was out the door!

I found myself on the pathway 300 meters from home.I started to take some pictures of interest. I could hear the birds chirping but I couldn't see them.A fly had taken cover under the ferns as I turned my back.The most enlightening scenario was looking at a tiny spider sheltering under a broad pinnate leaf. Its gleaming  web didn't escape my camera's lens.

I enjoyed feeling the drops of rain on my feet and seeing the street water splashed as the cars passed. But as I walked on I couldn't help but wonder about the spider depending at that leaf. I just wondered how the spider would survive if the wind was stronger and the rain heavier? Could the leaf still be intact,sturdy enough for the spider to depend its web on? 

Does the spider worry about that? Well, spiders do have protective mechanisms created for themselves that's certain.God is so wise to have created every need to meet every living thing on earth.

As I was editing the pictures for this collage, I was inspired to link the spider scenario to man's worries in life like the needs, wants, diseases, calamities etc. I recalled from the gospel of Matthew 6:25-33 from the words of Jesus our Lord an amazing example of being at rest with Him with regards to our basic needs. The 91st Psalm also offers more from our Lord with regards to troubles, pestilence etc.

DO NOT WORRY

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;or about your body,what you will wear.Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air;they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.They do not labor or spin.Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,will he not much more clothe you. O h you of little faith? So do not worry saying,"What shall we eat?, "What shall we drink?" What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN YOU AS WELL.THEREFORE, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW,FOR TOMORROW WILL WORRY ABOUT ITSELF. EACH DAY HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE OF ITS OWN.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."

Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your right side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe in your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the Lord, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you,no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command your angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra:you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

BECAUSE HE LOVES ME, says the Lord, "I WILL PROTECT HIM FOR HE ACKNOWLEDGES MY NAME, HE WILL CALL UPON ME AND I WILL ANSWER HIM. I WILL BE WITH HIM IN TROUBLE. I WILL DELIVER HIM AND HONOR HIM.WITH LONG LIFE WILL I SATISFY HIM AND SHOW HIM MY SALVATION."

The only condition to have it all in our life is to follow THE PATH that JESUS is leading us to. Again, "BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS"..from Matthew and "BECAUSE HE LOVES ME"- that is loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul. Loving God according to John is Obeying His Commands and Loving our neighbor as ourselves.

So, do not worry. I flung out the door that day depending to our Lord. Jesus was my raincoat of protection. :-)


W- worry not!
O- oh worry not
R- reach out to Jesus for
R- real help comes from Him and let
Y- your yoke unto Him be lain

Living my Life like Tangerine Sprouts

After a week trip in China for the Spring holiday, my boss brought some tangerines as present. I was about to throw the seeds in the bin when I noticed the back door pot with some space for growing seeds. I put about 7 seeds for trial and had prayed they would grow. The good taste and the idea of having them as bonsai moved me to take care of them. 

After a month, I was watering the potted plant at the back door when 7 sprouts about 4 to 7 cms gladly smiled at me. Joyfully, I transplanted them in separate pots to avoid competition and had added fertilizer . Worried about the lack of sunlight, I had transferred them near the window indoor.  I made a chart for growth and development and had taken some pictures for documentation. 

Looking back, memoirs have associated this joy of nurturing the tangerine seeds to my conversion as a Born Again Christian. The good taste of the tangerine is the Word I heard that directly convicted my heart to accept the ministry of reconciliation to God. Thereafter,it was followed by joy and strength in the spirit that I continued to nourish myself with the Word and grow in my faith and service to Him. One way or another I wish to share this good taste to others as the infinite goal.That would be from the seeds I am taking care of, hoping one day they will bear fruits.

In here the lives of the sprouts are dependent on me as the caretaker. They have no choice but to depend on me for water, fertilizer and the acquisition of sunlight since they don't grow in their natural environment.

Truly, recognizing that God is the source of everything and that I'm nothing without Him allow my life a total surrender  to Jesus Christ, the Only Vine I am attached as a branch where nutrients pass through. John 15:5~I am the Vine you are the branches,If a man remains in me and I in Him,he will bear much fruit,apart from me you can do nothing. Jesus has the control of everything from the source of my income, health, emotional stability etc.In case of trials and problems,I am also expected to trust in the Vine where the nutrients-solutions come from making all things easier for me to handle. Matthew 11:28~ Come to me you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart,and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

As the caretaker of the tangerine sprouts, I know somehow the basic needs for their growth,thanks for the gift of knowledge taught in my Biology class.For God, He is but all knowing and my life He knew before I was born. In Jeremiah 29:11~For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and a future." What more should I ask, yes, He has created me for His glory and He wants to make sure that I am doing just that. If I remain in Him obeying His commands then everything will go well as He had planned for my life ever since I was in my mother's womb. Like taking care of the sprouts making them as bonsai as ornamental and supporting them to bear fruits which are good goals. So as the plans of our Lord to our lives.

"So, we make it our goal to please Him ~2 Corinthians 5:9 and everything will go well.

LOVE'S PONDERING FEET

Where there is pain,you seek their goodness; where there is envy you seek your uniquesness ;where there is sorrow,you seek His comfort; where there is hate,you seek His Endless Love 

Love’s Pondering Feet

In the lateness of spring

The cold winter breeze swaying

The warmth of friendship begins

The passion starts to be seen

Admiring the intellect and wishes

Succumbing to the will of the flesh

Dreams begun to resurrect

Making all webs connect

Thus, away the love’s pondering feet

With great glee to the next fleet

Allowing the memoirs to meet

Through fantasies the heart beats

Long days and distant lands

Yet the heart still abounds

For the mouth always speak

Words in writing are not meek

Anchors set and planes parade

Sunrise to sunset hope is paid

Tears of longing unhidden

Yet the feeling unbeaten

But in one unexpected dawn

The heart feared to mourn

Yet attained the deepest wound

Tears mounting like a dome

Gazing myriad of stars above

Setting wings like a dove

Unleashing the burden to God

The only author of Love

For His love I’m forgiven

My heart should be forgiving

And the hate I’m riding

Gives my life no meaning

So, away the love’s pondering feet

With great glee to the next fleet

Allowing memoirs to rest

And realities to set

Thank God for the embrace

Now I feel at peace 

:-) 

The Lord is My Chef

The Lord is My Chef is a song that tunes with the Praise song: Dancing on the Street.

I was inspired to compose this as my theme song in the kitchen.It was a rewarding experience when I eventually stepped up from my comfort zone as a novice in the kitchen world and explore new dishes. It worried me at first about the taste result but with confidence in the Lord, I started to get the creativity and skill rock on! It's overwhelming when you recognize that your Chef is our Lord.Never had I known that His presence can be felt whenever and wherever until I truly believed that He is within me through the Holy Spirit.The  best way to attain this is recognizing our nothingness; always depending on Him as the Vine being only the branch that needs Him for the sap.If the Lord is your Chef, the kitchen world becomes so wonderfully fun and light creating another dimension of emotional healing, a moment to seek His presence and a chance to bless others.Indeed, the food you prepare becomes a blessing to whom you serve.

Philippians 4:13~I can do everything through Jesus Christ who gives me strength.

The Lord is My Chef

Recognizing cooking weaknesses

I prayed to seek His hand

Feeling my heart’s nervousness

He came to lend a hand

          A hand to stir the pan

          A hand to open the can

                   And chop with a skillful hand

                   And make sure no taste is bland

The Lord is my Chef

The Lord is my Chef

The Lord is my Chef

And so when I served to dine

I really saw how the face had shined

So I dearly praised the Lord Divine

For I know the dish wasn’t mine

The Lord is my Chef

The Lord is my Chef

The Lord is my Chef

Deeds Matter More than Words

It was March 13, 2010 when I read a column from The Standard daily newspaper about the Filipino tourists -civil servants from the Southern Philippines being scammed by their agents.The Tourism Industry of HK took care of them, had given free accommodation, tour to Macao and around HK before sending them home.

                                                                                                                                                                   

If today I was blessed with gladness by reading a column on the act of kindness, “ Deeds matter more than words”, ignoring my heart’s desire to express gratefulness is like alienating my self from the touch of kindness itself. As I was inspired by the kindness I hope to channel the blessing to others through this piece.

                                Deeds matter

-Friday, March 12, 2010

My heart moved at 8.8 quake scale

24 scammed Filipinos given a bail              

Not all men possess great care

To bar my countrymen’s nightmare

Mr. Tse deserves a bash

 In which we can pin a sash

                                  For his heart isn’t won by cash

Thus his act is not trash

HK Tourism industry deserves a ball

Where its tower can stand tall

And to let its light fall

To be remembered by all

For all Filipinos be merry

We owe a grateful heart to carry

For such help we shouldn’t burry

But it should spread thru a wand of a fairy

Thank you Jesus for such hospitality

We cannot pay such sympathy

But your blessings for prosperity

To those who cared are most worthy

Mother's Pan - Fan

I was turning the pages of a magazine when a picture of grease shaped in a heart amused me.It was few days after Mother's Day. In most cases we give cards, flowers, a day to the parlor or spa on Mother's Day but the oil picture had given me an idea about what's really going on in
the kitchen as the "moms' office" and how to impart appreciation to them in daily basis. I believe Mother's day is everyday. 

I thought cards can be kept in a drawer only remembered 'till the next Mother's day arrives. Flowers wither and curly hair can be boring after some time. So the pan shaped fan came about.

I was cutting the cardboard base of a bag when I noticed the leathery surface and its sturdy quality. I thought of making it into good use anyway it was going to be trashed. I cut the picture of the greasy heart, pasted it on the pan shaped cardboard covered by the leathery bag surface. Tied a ribbon at the handle to ease hanging anywhere in the kitchen. Well, moms can use it to fan themselves or best yet when grilling. And it can become a useful spice in the kitchen like her salt or pepper. It can give a taste of daily  inspiration while being reminded of the words written on it.

I have written a Thank You note and a poem on one side. 

The poem:

Your Love

Your love isn't hardly seen
In your greasy pan there is evidence
Your love, you serve as our breakfast begins


On the other side, I have drawn a leaf with the mid-rib illustrating the letter L-O-V-E. Words that describe love from the Bible have been written on the leaf's veins.


Leaf's Message:

1st Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient. Love is kind. It doesn't envy,it doesn't boast,it isn't proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it doesn't keep records of wrongs.
Love doesn't delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects,always trusts, always hopes,always perseveres.
Love never fails.

Forgiveness Card

As a "household scientist", one of my favorite apparatus is my vacuum cleaner.I was vacuuming the floor at the AVR when the humility messages in my brain kept playing back. It was the month when the series of messages I had been receiving in church were about Humility or anything related to it. 

 

To vacuum the floor , I follow its patterns. If it's moving horizontally I stay within the lines however at some points I have to go vertical to reach some fibers or speck of dusts. Observing the patterns  on the floor and its relationship to vacuuming, it enlightened another card's theme about humility and forgiveness that can be demonstrated on graphs or grids. The grid shows a relationship where unforgiveness and pain reign. The vertical axis has "You" and on the horizontal axis is "Me". It's The Dot of Humility or Dust of Humility which enables the linkage or resolution of such emotional burden for both. The more dots of humility, the relationship directly progresses. Such as plotting relationships on the graphing paper!

Though the earth is so wide people cannot escape any unforgiveness if they have it in their hearts. And true humility by the grace of God can only release this burden. It is always wise to be the first to ask forgiveness and forgive others than waiting for the other to do so.This is true humility. As one preacher said, " Go, race to forgive so you will also be forgiven by our Lord as it was written in the book - Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you will not forgive men their sins,your Father will not also forgive you. "

 

This card is made from a shop's discount card, pages of old notebooks, used printing paper, Standard daily newspaper _cut out letters from the crossword puzzles, pressed leaf and flower from a Bromeliad spp.It is one of my ways of showing humble affiliation to "Green Movement".

The Labor Day Card

The admiration of the street sweeper in our block, his profuse sweating and his joy in working remind me of my mom's diligence as an accountant,loving numbers from the dot dot dot 00001 to millions.Both influence this Labor Day card.

The source of every strength,skill and talent is God.So, no matter the status of life a person has, the value of every drop of sweat from a worker deserves to be admired.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18
 You may say to yourself , "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God , for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth...

This Labor Day Card and envelope have been made from an old magazine's sturdy pages, pressed petals from a Bromeliad flower in the AVR and the recharge voucher for my sim.

The main card : I kept the original page design of the water droplets to represent the "sweat" about to fall on the "flower" of "I Care" cut outs from my recharge voucher.

The mini -card at the bottom right can be detached. A pressed leaf with a handwritten message lifted from the Bible, one of my favorite verse. If the card is turned, the left side has the labor day greeting and the right side is left blank for personal messages.But this card is intended for my mom so I have written a note for her.

 The mini card fits the envelope made from the thinner page of the magazine.It is a monochromatic page of an sparkling  sea water design.

Her Orphanage

Walking to the grocery, 500 meters from our place, I passed by an old man, the street sweeper. It was my first time to see him and so was my first greeting with barely 2 months in Hongkong. He paused and greeted back. I noticed he was sweating profusely yet still had a long way to sweep. I moved on and wondered when he would ever finish sweeping when the leaves keep falling every second. He does that everyday with the street canopied with trees more than 2 kilometers stretch.

In the shop, I was still admiring his hard work when a lady asked me if I had seen Risotto rice somewhere since she couldn’t find it at the grain section. I advised her to look again and finally she found it. I completed my grocery list then off to the counter when the same lady rushed behind me in queue. Obviously she wanted further conversation, which I really didn’t feel like having at that time. I bagged my groceries fast and said goodbye but as I had expected she wanted me to wait for her so I did.

Out on the street, was still the diligent street sweeper. Unexpectedly, the lady called, “Pengyao, pengyao” please come, here’s your snack!” She handed him the pack of bread. I was sincerely touched by her generosity and it was escalated when I saw the man joyfully sweeping. The lady, turned to me smiling then said, “He has been my orphanage.” She has been doing that for 4 months ever since she arrived in Hongkong. I was amazed upon realizing the chain of events that  as three strangers ,we were connected somehow in this web of life in which  joy had woven us as our reward that day. The lady was filled with joy in her deed, I was glad seeing her action and the street sweeper was equally joyful evident in his work.

With this simple encounter, I have signed in my heart that in my daily experience in life, even the most ignored routines could bear fruit…of love, joy, kindness, goodness…there’s always meaning in it as long as I’m ever willing to stop, look and listen that even the tiny leaf that I stepped on our street has a story.

I believe that the tree of caring, goodness, kindness should bear fruit by measurable acts to others the only way to know if we’re reproducing. Every time I pass a street sweeper I am always refreshed and blessed. I am positive that there’s an empire of “secret orphanages” growing out there not only in our street.

Philippians 4:8


Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things

The Blessings on a Bookmark 

It was January 13,2010 when  I received blessings through a message shared by someone.    The message,I have written on this bookmark, so I called it blessed for it aims to channel blessings carried by the WORD to others.

 The bookmark is made from trash as follows: 

        box of dark Toblerone and 
        Rocher Ferrero
        used gift wrapper
        ribbons from the New year decor

Using above resources is rescuing trash at home giving them a 2nd or even 3rd chance of being  worthy before finally mounting up on "Smoky Mountain" or becoming a crab "rock" on the seaside or incinerated or  feasted upon by the decomposer.Taking trash as resources ignites my creativity enhancing my interest in arts and crafts sincerely patronizing the Green Movement by simply starting from home.

The bookmark having 3 to 4 ribbons have been sewed as point of attachment more durable than glue or staples.Having 3 to 4 ribbons was influenced by the  inconvenience of using more than  3 bookmarks in a single book like the Bible, cookbooks and other research materials.These separated bookmarks familiar with Murphy's Law just keep on falling just when they're badly needed in place!



Certainly,this single bookmark with 4 ribbons is just what I need. It is much convenient for the Bible since supporting verses are always given  to expound the main verse perhaps on study or during preaching in church.

  For cookbooks, it is helpful in following various recipes from this page to that.

And upon research,  it marks multiple pages for references.

The Bookmark Story

On the plane, April and I were sitted on opposite aisle on the same row.During the flight, I noticed  that she opened her Bible and after a few minutes of reading she closed her  teary eyes.We arrived around 12 nn and waited in our agency's lounge to be picked up by our employers.Everyone was getting bored when April opened her Bible again.

She turned it on Isaiah 58:11~
   
    The Lord will guide you always;
    He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame;
    You will be like a well watered garden ,like a spring whose waters never fail.~

She told us that on the plane she prayed for wisdom before opening her Bible and this was the message revealed.
We felt deeply awed. It was obviously the right message on the right time. She said, " It is all for us, this verse is our blessing so I shared it with you." We accepted happily.

Being unselfish, she channeled the blessings the message bear.I thank God my journey in this new employment in a foreign country started with a blessing.Indeed the word from Isaiah has been working in the different aspects of my life but  most specially has been covering me with the grace of humility to love my work and my boss for HIS glory.
April's boldness and love to share the personal message revealed to her touched my heart.
It reminds me the joy  of sharing the word of God anywhere at any time - a blessing to others. 
Indeed ~How beautifull  are the feet  of those who bring good news. ~Romans 10 : 15.I am encouraged to do thesame.

To channel these blessed words I decided to make bookmarks on my birthday. I used recycled chocolate boxes, gift wraps and ribbons from the previous Chinese New Year decor about to be trashed. I am still making more, hoping to  to let April's blessings flow to others. Besides,if the blessings channeled to me is dammed by selfishness and/or laziness, like the dam in exceeding capacity would break and might even cause "disaster".So, in this simple idea of giving away bookmarks it would allow the dam to function effectively.

Furthermore, I am inspired believing that more efficient blessings flow depending on the faith and love of the giver.God is a faithful and loving God and He blesses us lavishly. Believing in Him, by faith and love we should become channels of His blessings.

 

The Labor Day Card

    The Labor Day Card

The Labor Day is approaching, the Phalaenopsis orchid in the living room starts to wither and more trash mounted in the "R" box. Seeing all these, an idea sparked in my mind.
Wishing to greet my boss with a special creation of mine.The card was made. As a "Household scientist" I utilized the following resources from home: 

  sim card holder
 wolford wrapper
 used printing paper
 pressed orchid flower ~ Phaleanopsis spp.
 pressed leaves
  
Though the flower is biodegradable it can still be re-used before the decomposer feast on it.The Phalaenopsis orchid has journeyed into a bowl of water then finally to a card pressed together with other biodegradable to survive yet another worth depending on human care and creativity.

This promotes the " Green Movement " even in a simple way taking responsibility of our household solid waste.

The message stroked by my own hands conveys the importance of Hard Work lifted from Proverbs of Solomon in the Bible that is of splendid daily life quenching.No matter how many times you read it, it never ceases to make you agree.

One of my favorite cards was given by a biology student in 2001.Amazingly the pressed fern and grass still look good on the card and like the message it still lives in me.It is kept in a scrap book properly labeled as "inspirational bank" where I can always withdraw some inspiration to spice up my day!

It can also be placed in a both sided - transparent frame that could be hung in a workplace or library or room.Or placed in a transparent card holder that twirls every minute on your desk whichever pleases you.