When God Ran

Hubby and I are fans of the christian artistes, Phillips, Craig and Dean but somehow we missed their rendition of this song – When God Ran. It was not until just a few days ago when hubby stumbled on it on the internet that we heard it for the first time.

And. We. Just. LOVE. it!

It is a very powerful song of God’s faithfulness, grace and unfailing love even when we are unfaithful. The Father and the prodigal son from the son’s point of view. Watch the video below for a live performance.

You can find the lyrics to the song here.

Have a blessed week ahead.

Jelly Telly

Thanks to Rocks In My Dryer, I discovered Jelly Telly. The website offers online 30 minute daily episodes of Jelly Telly - a kids’ show with Christian and educational content. Absolutely free! 

We checked out Thursday’s episode and found it highly entertaining and educational. On that episode itself, there was a song that taught us all the main characters in the book of Judges, a “documentary” on acorn woodpeckers and a ten commandments boogie! It’s good quality stuff.

Even though we may not watch every episode there is, I’m pret-ty sure we’d be heading there often enough. There is supposed to be a movie of the week this Saturday, yup tomorrow. I’ll probably check that out, with or without my kids!

Everlasting God

Song by Brenton Brown. Have a blessed Sunday.

Stay Love

Grace is one of the Christian values I feel deeply about, having experienced God’s grace in my life. Knowing that God loves me for who I am and not what I did or didn’t do. Knowing that nothing I do (or did) will shock Him into not loving me has lifted and freed me beyond words.

Therefore I strive to impart this to my kids. I try to reinforce as much as possible that I love them even when they are naughty or disobedient.

“When I am naughty, mommy doesn’t love me,” Hubby-jr said one day.

“No, I love you even when you are naughty. I’ll always love you. When you are naughty you make me angry but I still love you. I love you because you are my son; you are God’s gift to me.”

The first time I told him, he seemed a little confused. How can mommy be angry (scolding and punishing) and still love him? After reassuring him a few more times, he took me at my word and repeated what I said verbatim, “mommy loves me even when I’m naughty.”

He asked me several more times (when I had to punish him), “do you love me when I am naughty?” And I’d reassure him. At times I’d also add, “I have to punish you when you are naughty because I have to teach you and I want you to learn to be a good boy.”

The question stopped after a while (a month or so ago?) and I almost forgot all about it until last night.

I lost my cool when they fought over a toy. Yes one out of tons that they have! As I was tucking them into bed I saw their dejected faces and felt sorry. So I said, “Hey, its okay, mommy’s not angry anymore. I won’t stay angry with both of you for long.”

And before I could say anything more Hubby-jr face lit up and he piped “but mommy will stay love you.”

“Yes, I will love you always. Both of you.”

My five year old got it. Sniff.

At The Foot Of The Cross

My current “it” song. It really ministers to me.

For the lyrics click here.

And according to her website Tammy Trent (the singer) will be heading here (Singapore) end of October, this year! Scroll down at her Tour Dates for more details.

Serendipity

Serendipity!

ser·en·dip·i·ty

1. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.

2. The fact or occurrence of such discoveries.

3. An instance of making such a discovery.

We found ourselves at Bras Basah this afternoon and being there I just had to visit the Children’s Bookstore. While the range of books was not as exciting as before I was so, SO thrilled to find Guji Guji on one of its shelves. We (kids and I) absolutely LOVE this story we found over at Storyline Online.

Guji Guji is a story about a crocodile who was brought up as a duck. One day Guji Guji is confronted with the question of his identity and where he belongs – is it with a group of mean crocodiles he just met or with the ducks he grew up with? A very lovely engaging story that will make you smile, warm your heart and teach you about identity, loyalty, and what it really means to be a family.

And guess what? It was selling at only SGD5.60 (SGD8.00 less 30%) per copy! A hardcover copy mind you! I grabbed a few copies as they’d make excellent gifts. I suggest you’d better hurry over there and grab a few too before they run out of stock! (Screams kiasu doesn’t it?)

More serendipity…

While I was at the Children’s Bookstore with the kids Hubby had to pay his pilgrimage to Tecman (a Christian bookshop). Not long later he scurried back to tell me that Tecman was having a 40% storewide sale for members (you can sign up on the spot for only SGD6.00). So we headed that way, kids and Guji Guji books in tow.

Guess what I found at Tecman?!

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. It is the bible storybook. If you’re looking for bible stories for your kids, look no further, get this one. If you already have countless different bible story books for children, you have to get just one more, this one. After reading about it over here I bought one copy via Amazon.com (I couldn’t find it at several bookstores then). I can tell you this, it really is as good as is described. Hubby and I LOVE it because… (this is what is written at the back of the book)

The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby, the Child upon whom everything would depend. From Noah to Moses to King David, every story whispers his name. Jesus is like the missing piece in a puzzle – the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together.

Beautifully written and illustrated. The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation – and at the center of their story too.

The sale ends 30 June 2008. So if you’re living in Singapore and you’re reading this before 30 June, stop reading, get dressed and hurry over to Tecman NOW!! Go! Go!! Go!!! Well if you’re reading this after 30 June, take your time but still get over there to get a copy of that book. It is WORTH it. In my opinion ALL Christian families with kids should have a copy. Seriously.

So there you have it, my wonderful unexpected fortunate discoveries of the day. Serendipities!

What is a fulfilled life?

This song moved me to tears.

As a mother I want my children’s world to be perfect. If not, the closer to perfection the better. I realise in part this is because unconsciously I’ve been subscribing to some degree to the notion that a “successful” life is a “fulfilled” life. Yes I’ve unknowingly believed that if my children are successful in this world they’d be fulfilled. By success here I mean doing well in school, socially, etc.

It is not something I’m proud of as a Christian mom but the truth hit me recently.

Why else would I catch myself at times so saddened by my son’s speech delay? He’s otherwise a healthy, cheerful and well rounded boy. And what if he wasn’t?

“I’m just afraid he may have a hard time adjusting to school or society…” is the usual argument I give myself.

So what? I now realise that a fulfilled life has nothing to do with a “normal life” or a “successful life”. It has to do with how we feel about ourselves. Do we feel valued? Do we know we were intrinsicly made? Our Maker didn’t go “oops, oh dear…” We were beautifully crafted (blemish and all) for a purpose. Our lives are valued and meaningful.

Psalm 139: 13, 14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

John 10:10

(Jesus said) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

With this wonderful renewed realisation, whatever unnecessary anxiety I had over my son has gone away. With faith he can lead a fulfilled life and that’s all that really matters.

P/S: This is the link to the song, God’s Will by Martina McBride. Click (More info) on the right hand side of the youtube page for the lyrics to the song.

Forgiveness…

I will be pondering a lot about forgiveness for days to come thanks to this post. Amazing.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.–Matthew 18:21, 22

This Little Light of Mine

The chicken pox saga in our home is finally over. Phew! We could finally attend church together on Easter Sunday.

Just a quick recap, first Hubby-jr caught it. Two weeks later I caught it despite taking a vaccination jab. Three days later Little Missy was struck. It turned out to be quite an ordeal for Little Missy and me. Chicken pox hit us harder than it did my son as I was (ahem) too far from young and Little Missy on the other spectrum was too young. But in the midst of the ordeal, an unexpected beacon came from my son, Hubby-jr.

When I was stricken with chicken pox…

Hubby-jr: Mommy has chicken pox.

Me: Yes.

Hubby-jr: It’s ok mommy (gently stroking my chicken pox filled face). Mommy will get better. Jesus will heal mommy.

Me: Do you believe so?

Hubby-jr: Yes.

Me: Did you pray for mommy?

Hubby-jr: Yes. (And he decides to pray for me again) Jesus please heal mommy, amen.

Me: Thank you darling.

We had slight variations of this conversation over the next few days. And when my chicken pox starting subsiding, he exclaimed, “mommy is getting better!”

Then when we finally stepped out of the house as a family marking the end of mommy’s quarantine…

Hubby-jr: Mommy has no more chicken pox. Jesus healed mommy.

And without my prompting whatsoever he says, “Thank you Jesus for healing mommy, amen.” It almost brought tears to my eyes.

Me: Did you learn to pray like that in school?

Hubby-jr: No, not yet (he’s expecting them to?), not in school. From mommy.

Me: You learnt to pray from mommy?!

Hubby-jr: Yes!

That left me totally speechless but in an absolutely good way…
… (sorry, I can’t think of how to end this post, just thinking about it still leaves me speechless)…

This Is What Christmas Is All About.

 

Luke 2:8-14 (King James Version)

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Ten more days… and just in case I don’t get a chance to post till then… here’s wishing you a very MERRY (and Blessed) CHRISTMAS!