Lawrence Goh - Christian teacher

I din know my sis is so creative with her photo blog http://laurapoon.livejournal.com/ but it’s like a bit outdated?!

Still it is worth checking out and I’d also added to my links!

One year had passed by so quickly and my new life in Lijiang,  Yunnan China has indeed been quite an adventure! On New Year’s Eve, I was down at the “Hua Niao Shi Chang 花鸟市场” to get a lovebird and a fish tank fluorescent tube. There used to be two lovebirds and one passed away on Christmas so the lone bird had been quite lonely hence the replacement.  My dear friend Eric decided to “restart” his fish keeping hobby. Hence, we happily did a “fish bowl” setup for him at the fish shop as well! I’ ll try to get a photo up soon!

Daisy and I celebrated her birthday on 27 Dec 2009. God led me to propose on that day and she was also led by Him to accept. Hence, we are now officially engaged!

It’s a time of double festival here in China, not just in Lijiang (in Yunan province)
It is the 60th anniversary for China’s National Day so Lijiang Old Town is nicely dressed up in beautiful colors of autumn (did I say autumn?) Well, these chrysanthemum still look good yes.

And of course, a nice arrangement of flowers to make the words “Long Live China (our motherland)”

And now, on to the Mooncake festival. Actually they don’t call it Mooncake but Mid Autumn festival. Although we call it that. It’s strange not to see little kids playing with lanterns on the street here but the good news is, there is a wide variety of mooncakes available here (including pork sausage ones too) and the moon is bright and beautiful here!

My friend Eric said there is a nice tree in the moon which both Daisy and I saw too. Look at these photos we took. I was thankful for friends to celebrate this festival.

And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah [Massah means testing] and Meribah, [Meribah means quarreling] because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” [The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ex 17:6-7). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.]

Many Christians today are continually testing God by asking the same question “Is the LORD among us or not?” When we face doubts or troubles in life, and we will, are we looking quickly to blame someone, anyone, even God? Or do we quickly turn our gaze upon our Creator, our Savior?

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. [The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ex 19:4-6). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.]

God instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel, to remember what He did and also to tell of His demands of His people. Today, what is our preoccupation? Do we choose to obey God’s voice rather than the other many voices that tell us what to do? Do we keep to God’s word rather than the many other words or theories out there on how to live a better life? God wants Christians to be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This is not just restricted to the children of Israel but indeed His plan for us today.

Let us indeed live lives worthy of this calling!

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Pe 2:9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.]

It’s almost the end of summer and the weather had gotton cooler as autumn begins but noon time is still as hot!

Here are some photos of the blazing summer here!

Genesis 42:28

He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

How often do we look at our present situation and ask this question, “What is this that God has done to us?”

In the story of Joseph, we see his brothers blaming God when a bad situation presents itself. They had gone to Egypt to buy grain because of the great famine and when treated harshly by their own brother whom they could not recognize, their hearts trembled and blamed God on the first.

If today you are blaming, doubting or (perhaps using a nicer word) questioning God, then you need to repent and keep your faith on Him. For “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim 2:13)

God remains ever so faithful to the Christian life he had called you to, so keep trusting God even if the going gets tough!

Further on in the story of Joseph, his brothers went back to buy grain the second time (Gen 43) and we see their focus back on the money that was returned and was still afraid of what will happened to them (Gen 43:18). And they told the steward of Joseph’s house, which probably is an outsider of the faith, a Gentile, someone who did not have a relationship with God yet see what he said to them.

He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” (Gen 43:23)

Don’t let someone else, perhaps even a non-Christian tell us that our God is still faithful in our lives when we meet bad situations!

If we truly put our trust and faith in God, let us remain steadfast in even bad or dire circumstances.

Let us be faithful to God, not questioning, not doubting, not denying His goodness in our lives.

Jesus looked at them and said “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

Mar 10:27  耶稣看著他们，说：「在人是不能，在神却不然，因为神凡事都能。」

When we see the cross references to this verse in Mark 10:27, we can stand in awe at what is possible with God.

1. Jesus believed if God wants to, he need not go to the cross and we can all be saved.

And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove bthis cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”  (Mar 14:36)

2. Sarah bears a son in her old age! (at ninety years old)

Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”  (Gen 18:14)

3. After hearing what God is capable of doing, Job exclaims: ”I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2)
4. And Jeremiah the prophet likewise understood and exclaims: ’Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.  (Jer 32:17)

I had some good friends over for my birthday and here are some photos..

Let’s see, it was my first birthday cake and Ding Wei was the one who bought it, a Tiger cake!! wow.. For their effort, I prepared some beef curry and other simple Chinese dishes. (sorry, no photos of the yummy food.. haha!)

Thank God for friends!! :o)