How Much Do You Really Need?

There is a wonderful story by Leo Tolstoy, written in 1886. The much shortened details go something like this:

There once was a peasant named Pahom who worked hard and honestly for his family, but had no land of his own. By scrimping and saving, he managed to buy 40 acres of land. He grew his own hay, cut his own trees, and fed his own cattle. Then he heard about land in a neighboring territory where the land was so good that rye grew as high as a horse.

Pahom’s heart was filled with new desire. So he bought land here and was ten times wealthier than he had been. Then one day a passing merchant told Pahom that he had purchased thirteen thousand acres of rich land for only one thousand rubles. Pahom traveled more than three hundred miles to this rich land to explore for himself. The chief of the land told him the price was always the same: one thousand rubles a day. As much land as you can walk around in a day is yours and the price is one thousand rubles.

The next day Pahom began at daybreak. He walked toward the rising sun, moving quickly through the lush countryside. He sparingly drank his water and ate his bread to keep himself refreshed.

Several times he saw areas that he knew would do well and added them to his circle. But now his feet were sore, he was exhausted from the heat, and his legs began to fail. Still he walked on.

Now the sun was close to the rim and was about to set but he was also quite near his aim. Just a little more land and he would hurry back to the starting point. He added a small pond and a few trees he knew would add to his wealth and his family would enjoy. He ran on, throwing off his coat, his boots, his flask and his cap. He gathered his last strength and ran on. As he neared the final goal, his legs gave way beneath him, and he fell forward and clasped the goal marker in his hands.

His servant came running up and tried to raise him, but he saw that blood was flowing from his mouth. Pahom was dead! His servant picked up a spade and dug a grave long enough for Pahom to lie in. Six feet from his head to his heels was all he needed.

Sometimes our quest for more defies common sense. Guard against being so busy making a living that you end up not having a life.

From the Bible:

“A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’’’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared – whose will they be?”

“That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12: 16 -21 (HCSB)

Love

Love every leaf, every ray of light.

Love the animals, love the plants, love each separate thing.

Loving all, you will perceive the mystery of God in all

- Dostoevsky

Trust

To be trusted

Trust.

If you wait

until trust is deserved,

you wait forever.

Trust now.

Someone is waiting to trust in return.

"Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything." - 1 Cor 13:7-8

Closeness

The most successful relationships are those in which each person feels safe sharing his or her feelings and needs. This is where our personalities and parenting histories strongly affect us, because many of us are fearful or uncomfortable about sharing such intimacies. - Gary and Norma Smalley

Starting off

I must say my 1st week of work was great and fun as well. Getting paid to go to school to do some admin and hear some talks, not a bad start, too bad it won't last forever!

Thurs and Fri was a wonderful time to get to know some of my future classmates. They are a fun loving group and it looks like we'll be able to get along very well when we see one another in a mth time when we start off our proper training together.

Very blessed throughout the 2 days of training, my trainer is a christian herself who brings with her 30+ yrs of experience, getting to make new friends as well as understanding teaching and how to be a teacher in a better sense. Having many christians in class also helps a lot. Being able to have people who arrive with similar mindsets into this career, we'll be able to support one another greatly in the next 1 yr of training together.

For now, its the start of a 1 mth of attachment to a school. Time to pick up and learn as much as i can during this period and hopefully truly understand why the lord has brought me on this path of a new stage of my life.

The challenge of work life and handling 2 ministry, it won't be easy but yet i want to trust that it can be done with the lord guidance.

Thanksgiving on obtaining a job

Time files, 22nd June 09 will officially mark the day I step into the working world. For me, the step to reach here wasn't easy but God grace held me through.

My Uni days weren't an easy and pleasant time, saw the word "Fail" on my result slips so many times the past few years till I was somewhat immune to it that i became emotionless whenever i see that word. Irregardless, God still carried me through, my final 3 sem in school went about without failing any modules. On top of which, running a children camp during my final sem exams and falling sick as well was really a true testimony of how much God loves me when I place him 1st. It's a bittersweet thing, God grace is sufficient to carry me through but @ the same time, if I can soften any impacts before hand like not taking up such an active role in church, i might as well right? Still, things work out well so no complains really. This part of my life is confine into memory and the experience of knowing how the Lord has carried me through.

Even after graduation, i didnt really know what i wanted to do in terms of my job preferences. Only thing i knew was i didn't want to go into my field of studies after experiencing and witnessing how the job is during my attachment period. If i had gone down that path, let's not talk abt serving in ministry, i wont even be around for both cell/service for weeks or months even.

So, how did i end up taking up teaching if someone asked me? I would say part of it is due to my enjoyment of working and interacting with children esp the past 1.5 yrs in children ministry. They bring lots of joy and teach me lots of basic stuff about life itself. It made the choice somewhat easier and clearer for me. And yes, a government job is somewhat stable and esp since i've to take care of my parents, it was a good choice to go for. At this point of typing, i can only say i'm kind of assured where i am heading into, only time will reveal to me the Lord purpose of placing me in this field.

And being the lazy me, i didnt even bother going to the teaching seminar to find out more. I just signed up online and waited for their reply. My interview was scheduled 1 day before my birthday. Very thankful for Matt's advice on shaping my answers to the likeness of the interviewers. Back in school, i was told that if i was in an interview for more than 30mins, there is hope to be recruited. MOE does their interview for everyone in a timespan of 5-7mins, really felt being shot with a machine gun load of questions.

2 of my toughest questions, "Why did i take up my course of study" and "Dont i feel its a waste for a uni grad to teach pri sch lvl children", was answered really by the Lord guidance. I really smoked my way out of them so i won't go about telling you here what was my replies. 4 weeks later, i got a letter from them saying that i got the job. Before that, was kind of in a panic mood esp during the waiting phase of week 4, my parents were telling me no hope le and it was really very irritating to keep hearing it day in day out.

So here i am, giving thanks to the Lord for placing me on this new journey.

I feel weird and odd to openly ask for prayer but just as a good brother shared, the more the merrier, who dont want more prayers. Haha, how true indeed.

My prayer requests

> That God teaches me to embrace the idea of work the way he sees it

> I'll find rest in him despite the long hours of travelling and studying during this year and next as well

> I'll make new friends in school that will journey alongside me, supporting and encouraging me

> God will allow me to still have the time, energy and joy to serve him in where he has placed me for both cell and children

Lost and Found - Answered Prayer

Here's the story

I lost my phone on the bus going back home after cell but didn't notice it till the next morning. Before knowing where i lost it, i did actually went back to church and Mac in the morning to check it out before realising where exactly I might have lost my phone.

I am glad that i don't have much attachments to my phone for its capabilities other than using it for phone calls. So I was more frustrated with my parents lecturing me about the lost rather than losing the phone itself. So i spent the day out with some of you and having THE best excuse for not needing to call or sms people to remind or find their whereabouts. It's just a joke

I admit, i did pray for my phone even during service. Not so much about losing it, but more about having to spend cash to replace it esp now when it's a bit tight in the pockets ! I even suddenly recalled, i'm on standby for recall for the army. To not have your phone and being called back, means will get charged and fined for not answering the call of your nation.

Got home and heard from my mum that an old auntie picked it up and why she couldnt call me back was that she didnt know how to use a hp. Was glad she asked her friend and they contacted my parents who gave them a token of appreciation. Really blessed to get my phone, must be more careful from now on.

So much for people ard me asking me to change phone, haha, i live to fight another day ! Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.

Courage

"Courage is fear that has said its prayers" - Anne Lamott