New Year's Resolution

There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. However, if we as a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should we make?

Common New Year’s resolutions are: to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money better, or get good better grades in our study. By far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, we should keep exercise in perspective.

1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.


The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

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.

If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make?

Here are some suggestions:

(1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

In regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make

(2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you.

(3) Rely on God’s strength to help you.

(4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you.

(5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further.

(6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory.

Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.


I pray that dear God, You will make the new year to be different for all of us. No matter what our new year resolutions are, no matter what we are going through, Lord Jesus, I know that we are going to need a lot of help for all these. So right now we place ourselves in Your hands. Help us to receive Your strength, guide us through this coming new year with Your wisdom and righteousness, Amen.

SHANA TOVA
(HAPPY NEW YEAR in Hebrew)
EVERYONE

Love,
Lionel

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:1-7

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Matthew 1:18-25

The Birth of Jesus Christ

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Here is a picture of the silver star marking, that marks the place where Jesus was born, in Bethlehem.

Peace and blessing to you and to your family to all your friends for a blessed and awesome Christmas. No mater wherever you at or whatever you going through right now, I pray the love that came to this world, the love that we need everyplace, everywhere, everybody. For peace, we need this love. For love, for more love, we need this love...
So may this love, the love that started it all, will be sent to you now in abundance, with peace and love to you, for all your family, for all your friends, in all your need, in all your concerns, wherever you at and whatever you going thorough.
I pray that the most High God, who is this love, who entered to the womb of the virgin in Bethlehem, and who was born in Bethlehem, that He might help you to be born again in this love with this love, now always and forevermore. So wherever you at, whatever you going through for you, for your family, for all your friends, living in ceased now and forever with the love that. May most High God who is this love bless you, Amen.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Love,
Lionel

A Sincere Gift

Hello everyone!! let me start the post by showing you all, a cute picture of a teddy bear:

I named her Chrisy since i got her around during Christmas

I got her during a recent outing to 1Borneo... again. Anyway Chrisy is what I call a charity bear. She is sold for RM15 each and comes with flier that mentions where the charity money goesto. You can to write your name on a card and hang it on a big Christmas tree after you purchase the teddy too.

To be honest I didn't want to buy her in the 1st place, I didn't even know there was a charity program going on. But my mum insisted that I buy the bear, by giving me the money and asking me to write my name on the card instead of her's. I must admit, I wasn't showing my best expression when I gave the money because I didn't really know where the charity money was going to.

When I got back, I took some time to read the flier. "Skycommunity" is from Skyline SIB, one of the most famous city churches in Kota Kinabalu. Their motto is "Serving the community in need with no string attached". Skycommunity's desire was to reach and bless the S.T.O.P. people - the Special, the Torn, The Oppressed and the Poor.

What struck me the most was the sentence "no strings attached", a simple sentence with with a lot of meaning. They are sharing God's love without any terms and conditions, without hoping for any reward. I was very humbled by these words, because I remember, I bought Chrisy without sincerity! Why is it that they can do charity work without expecting any reward in return while I can't show even the slightest bit of appreciation for their hard work? Instead, I gave them a sulky face when I bought Chrisy.

Sirach 18: 15-18
My child, when you help someone, don't reprimand him at the same time. When you make a gift, don't say anything that hurts. Your words count for more than what you give. Even dew gives some relief during a spell of hot weather. Yes, kind word are more effective than the best of gifts, and if you are really concerned, you will give both. It is stupid to be unkind and insulting. No one's eye are going to sparkle at a gift that you resent giving.

My dear brother and sisters, how frequent have you helped the people around you in your daily life? Regularly? If so, how many times have you done it out of sincerity? Without hoping for any reward?

Let us not forget that this Christmas season is also the season of giving and sharing too. When we give presents to someone, regardless if its someone you're close to or not, take a second to ask and remind yourself what is the true reason you're giving it. When you give a present with a sincere heart, it shows, and it will bring more joy to the person who receives it. And even though no one knows, do remember that God knows everything, and He will be very pleased of what you have done.

Merry Christmas everyone, and may God bless you all.



Love,
Lionel

True Meaning Of Christmas

Here's a story about a women that has a visitor 1 week before Christmas, and this is how it happened:

She just finish the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when she heard a noise in the front of the house. She opened the door to the front room and to her surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.

"What are you doing?" she started to ask. The word chocked up in her throat and she saw Santa had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered her with a simple statement...

"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" She was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated her question and with one quick movement brought fourth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As she stood bewildered, Santa said, " Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas have forgotten." Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior of the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him."

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly she heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL, "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return."

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at her and she saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship Him, our Lord, our God."


When I showed these pictures in my previous posts, what did you all think those things meant in the first place?

Fir Tree

Stars
Candles
Wreath
Holly Leaf
Candy Cane

Are they just decorations to you? Or something more than that?...

In this season to be jolly let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas which is the victorious nature of the fullness of the victory of love, the coming of Christ. So as we prepare for greater expectation for His coming, may this preparation bless you, fulfill you an thrill you as we wait, and expectedly hope, to move with this hope, act on this hope, move through all disappointment with the love that does not disappoint, that fills our heart with hope.

May God who is this love, bless you and your family for all your friends, for all needs and concern wherever you are, wherever you at and whatever you going through, always, now and forever.



Love,
Lionel

Meaning Of Christmas

I have a question for all of you.

What do you think is the meaning of Christmas?



Lionel

A Little Christmas Special

Christmas season is here!! These are some pictures from taken from my outing with my family at 1 Borneo, hope you all enjoy~

These are the Christmas decorations, for one of the main stages in 1Borneo (its the biggest 'lifestyle shopping mall' in the whole of Borneo) , Sorry I didn't take these pictures at the side angle, I was in a rush that day.

These are some random items that i find very cute and meaningful

A candy cane carried by a little bird with sweet tooth... I mean beak :p

Yup, there was a PC FAIR at 1Borneo that day, and that's the main reason why we went there hehe, the main reason I'm posting up this picture is because of the holly leaf. Its nice right?

I took a picture of the wreath, just in case you guys can't identify it.

A close up of the fir tree in 1Borneo, it has simple deco, but still gives me a warm fuzzy feeling

That's all from me this time, may God bless you all and have a happy and joyful week ^^



Love,
Lionel

Miri Christmas Celebration

Hello everyone, here's some photos of Miri Christmas Parade 2009.. taken by my beloved friend. Enjoy^^

There were an overall of 12 churches participating in this joyous event including the Roman Catholic church, the Anglican church, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the S.I.B church, the Gospel church and many more.

The Grand Stand in the center of Miri City Fan

Participants of the parade from the Anglican church (the ones holding the candles)

St. Joseph Miri band

The Jehovah's Witnesses' contingent

Boy Scouts

The Methodist Church contingents

What does Christmas mean to you?

This picture brings a lot of meaning to me, how about you?

That's all from me this time, hope you all enjoyed this little in sight of how Miri people celebrate their Christmas, how about your hometown? How do they celebrate Christmas? Please do leave some comments :)

May God bless you



Love,
Lionel
( Thanks again for all these photos dude, I appreciate it very much :D )