Journey #8

Water flows downwards, just like Grace.

But sometimes, the water curls around and it is forced to stop because it cannot find a downward path to keep going. God, the Source doesn't overpower us. Instead, the water flow begins to slow to a trickle...

And this isn't always out-and-out sin. At times it is a kind of sin of omission. We omit the power of Grace in our lives.


In John 8, the 'right and holy' gang drags a woman caught in sin before Jesus and expects him to condemn her - thus showing that he is somewhat in their camp, at least in such an obvious instance. The story tells us that Jesus astounded them with his very essence: Grace and Truth {John 1v14}. He does not condone sin, but he refuses to let it be the last word where there is a willingness to repent. In fact, the woman was so scared to death, we really don't have any indications of her true spiritual state except to deduce it from Jesus' words to her to "go now and leave your life of sin". He saw in her the possibility of conversion and transformation. The right and holy gang did not receive such words, for they have already skulked away - turning their backs on both truth and grace.

Sometimes, we stay in the dead corner of reviewing our mistakes, going over our mis-steps, flip that dusty file of our misjudgment and mismanagement.... We feel sure our mistakes are staring at us in the eyes of others; and we basically condemn ourselves. We stick our finger in the sand and scribble furiously away even as the Master steps up close to offer us truth, and grace.

This is when the Water cannot reach deep. We have decided we don't deserve more.

Pour out your soul to the LORD. Let your tears drain away all that chokes you up and let Living Water flow right into you again, and again, and again.

Let truth gird you like a belt and Grace garland you and draw attention to your beauty; you made in God's image, called to be His own, chosen before the world began, destined for Kingdom!

Pause / Selah / Drink {click to hear a wonderful song by Sherman Wong}

Bless you dear soul !

Journey to the never-dried-up well #6

The Drinking must exceed the draining-

so our thirst is quenched, there is a satisfaction in our souls, and so we are plumped and healthy.

Pushing fifty, I was informed that my skin needs more moisture, not less. I come to see this is true in the maturation of souls too. Maturing souls do not need less, they often need more. Not more of the same, but more that will penetrate deeper, more that nourish from the roots.

I have been living through some immense pains these few years. You would think with age and life experience, life gets smoother. Not necessarily. I have felt like my lush leaves have been ripped, my fruits picked or left to rot, and more recently, my very trunk is struck and a gash is now visible.

I have grasped for the falling fruit, panicked over the drooping branches, and grieved over how the tree of my life seem to be threatened with extinction (yes, I am a unique tree, as are you).

But I have been planted next to a stream (or in our journey, a well).. And as I lose water through tears, my roots are being flushed and nourished... I found fresh strength return. I did not wilt. There are buds. Birds still come by and sing their happy song among my small branches.

Psalm 1
A tree planted firmly by the water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
Its leaf does not wither,
And in whatever he does, he prospers

This is my tiny tree-life through His eyes. 
I confess it does not feel or look like this to me; of earthly wisdom.
But these words come after an observation of such a life: she is careful who she listens to, she chooses her company with caution, and she does not hang around those who are cynical and  and compromise. 

does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers

These few years I witness the blessing of purification as I am warned by the Holy Spirit precisely not to be uprooted, drained, deadened even as my heart and mind whimper, protest, cringe and plain suggest sin. I am blessed and planted more firmly when I refuse these voices and temptations. Instead, as I turn to the Word and hunger for truth-answers ....

his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Then i notice it. While the struggles are real, the strength and resilience are just as real - and they feel certainly like they came from beyond me. 

This river, this well, this spring ... has a name, a face, a glory, and a goodness. He is waiting for you.

Journey to the never-dried-up well #5 ~ rest that reinvigorates

I was away in Beijing this past week. I heard it rained in Singapore - finally, after more than two months; our longest dry spell in fifty years. 

The grass had begun to turn brown, trees were going bare. Life was threatened, a frightful prospect of our proud garden city being licked by the dust as the sky remain cloudless.... until - the rain came - and the life that still pulses beneath the ground bursts forth and things began to green again. 

Like the grass and leaves all about us.. life can cause us to turn dry and dull, and even risk going lifeless -

Until

-we come to the never dried-up Well and let the Water reach deep inside of us and help us unfold, loosen, and come to life again. The Water that refreshes deep so that parts of us that may have given up or been handed over to ‘that’s the way it will be’ are quickened and we stretch toward the sun again.

Has the Water started

trickling,

flowing,

pouring down

swirling all about 

you 

on this journey....

Word & Truth

Perhaps you felt the Water’s gentle healing presence began to refresh you right when we started out on this journey; when the Word was –

“... for it is God who works to will and to do… “ ~ Phil 2v13

The truth that God Almighty works within us His children to lean towards His will and act out of love… This has certainly encouraged me to have more confidence and to step back and trust God.

Or perhaps you felt the Water when you stopped in your tracks, looked to Jesus and began to simply say, “I am thirsty, Lord..”

"If you knew ... who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink', you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water...." ~ Jesus at a well, John 4 [NASB]

As I lap up the Water, my hungers and fears become stilled and it seems my life is saved again.

Or did you experience the Water through this amazing promise –

Are you tired? Worn out?

Come to me,

all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads,

and I will give you rest

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls ~ Jesus looking at the people, Matthew 11v28-29

It’s beyond our figuring out; but O how we want it to be so: rest - for - our - souls.

Did you have a deeply personal moment when your life story began to fill with colour as Jesus held you and said, “I know your life.”

"Come see a man who told me all the things that I have done, this is not the Christ is it?"

~ woman’s response after chat with Jesus, John 4v29

My truth

As I walk this journey just a step or two ahead, I sense Jesus’ heart for us.

He is the Water the refreshes our lives.

He offers the Rest that can dramatically redefine our lives: imagine finding a load and a yoke that is fitted for you. It is a load and a yoke – you and I will still find it tough and be constrained; but o how it fits!

Today I stop at this point and linger over this astounding thought.

What yoke and burden do you need to cast off?

What have you avoided out of fear?

What if Jesus were to say, 

“everything in your life, I know, and it’s going to be alright. I will refresh you and reinvigorate your life. I will be the Source in you that springs forth…”

more truth with community

Will you share your story with us here? Our stories, just like the stories in the Bible are testaments that point to God’s truth, beauty, greatness and eternal purpose.

One of the best moments I had in Beijing was being at a women’s conference. Our theme was ‘God’s story, Our story, my story’. ‘

Our individual stories are unique, yet often we can empathize and help carry each other’s burdens because there are common elements. All our stories weave and map together, and make sense when it is seen against the larger backdrop of God’s story of love for humankind.

We need to know that our lives are not random, senseless and pointless. It is not. In fact, your life, your story matter to God enough for him to step in!

So let’s share our stories and help each other remember we are part of something larger . and . eternal. 
Amen.