Character X (1) -- Humility

Humility is good, isn't it?

After the burial of my grandma, I got a chance to sit side by side with my wonderful aunt Har Bee. I was talking to her about what I had observed about young people of this generation. I told her: Talented, but lacking the character and attitude to succeed in life. And she nodded, agreeing on what I've said. It was very heartache to have said that, but thats what I saw from young people now a days. 

Humility is definitely one of them. From my observation, teenagers and kids are getting more and more talented. Each generation bettered the previous. Perhaps its due to DHA or the different exposure if compared to generations before. Now here is where the problem is: Because each generation is becoming more and more skilled or talented, thus for them, it doesn't make sense for them to listen and obey the orders of the older ones. Humility is not an outward action only because it requires inward decision to create an outward expression. Thus humility comes right from the inside, from the very inner part of a person.

In the scriptures God showed us how He perceive of humility. As written in Ephesians 4:2 " Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Humility meant so much to God, Israelites had struggled so much between arrogance and humility, as God had mentioned to them in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If mt people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Humility does not only apply when we were dealing with an older personal, it also applies when we are dealing with younger personal. Normally we would have thought that humility only applies when we were talking to the elders, however I believe a stronger humility comes when we are able to be humble to listen to the younger ones. We take one example from the bible as an example: David and King Saul. King Saul had a very humble beginning, having orginated from the smallest tribe in Israel yet God gave him the throne because of his humility in his early days. On the other hand David was a teenagers during the reign of King Saul, and there was this giant Goliath from the Philistine. David offered King Saul that he would fight Goliath, however he looked too small and skinny compared to his opponent. At that moment King Saul was humble enough to have listen to this young little teenage boy who does shepherding and agree to let him goes to the battle. And the outcome? The giant was down.

Matthew 18:3-5 "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Jesus Himself is the greatest act of humility, having come down from heaven to earth to be with us, suffered and crucified on the cross. He honored the elders and welcomed the children. Humility meant thousands to God, for God is always searching for a humble heart that He could use to turn this generation up side down.

My grandma of my mother's side had passed away last Tuesday. She was an angel when she was living her life on earth: never complain, never scolding, never criticizing; always joyful, always encouraging, always comforting. She might looked ordinary in many people's eyes, but not mine. She was a warrior, a true warrior with a gentle heart. Her humility and love towards others made me felt more for losing her. 

Young people, respect the elders and listen to the younger ones. 

The Power of Tongue

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. " James 1:26

This verse has strucked my heart. Very true indeed, for everything we speak, everything that came out from our mouth, could bring an impact that everyone of us cannot imagine. Words from our tongues can do 2 things, either build or destroy ourselves and the others. In Proverbs 12, we could see the effect of our tongues on the lives of people.

I am bearing such a guilt in my heart for some words that I've spoken recently. Though it doesn't hurt anyone, but the Holy Spirit convicted me so much that I felt such guilt in me, an unbearable feeling that I hasn't experience before. As I was dealing with this guilt, God spoke to me, pointing out the root of the problem: My tongue.

I recalled what Ps Jessie had shared in the prayer meeting last Tue, she said that God told her that her temper would destroy her if she is not cautious enough. And that strucked my mind, as if God is telling me Kenneth, your tongue is going to kill you if you are not cautious enough and bang! It was so direct. I was convicted and I confessed the sin of my tongue and let it all to Him.

Words from our tongue does wonderful things, you can praise, sing, or curse. Its a choice, whether you want to say it or not. Remember, no one force us to speak unless we wanted to. Thank God! Lesson learned!

2 years on

2 years together,

2 years together we've been through much. Joy, sorrow, disappointment, surprises, happiness, and contentment, just to add to the endless list. Really thank God for holding us together, and most importantly know each other deeper and deeper as time passes.

I still remember the very first time we held our hands, the first very first time we spent a 2 person time in KFC, and in KFC I was studying Physics, she was studying management, that was the start.

2 years on, so many things we've been through together and so many things that we've done together. I'm very proud of her, she had grown so much and now we serve together in church, in youth, in sunday school, even sometimes in cell. Thank God for this same vision that He had impanted in us, because we may make mistakes, but God never will.

And today, 16th of August 2010 is the 2nd aniversarry of our courtship and I believe its only the second year to the many years that would follow through. Today when we talked about our courtship, we were imagining ourselves as the old man in the cartoon animation "Up". The touching stories of the man and his wife were in our imagination and we hope that one day we would still be that sweet and loving even every hair that we have had turn grey, but of course, with children! =)

Before today she was so supportive to me as she waits patiently for my finals to end. I really thank God for an understanding companion like her, she is my soul mate, she is my lover, she is lim lea yee.

Hopefully the dinner we had yesterday would not deprive us from this joy of our 2nd aniversary! I love you!