Chien Luan's dream

I usually hate walking from where I park to classes or my work place because I have to walk through a very cold and scary tunnel, then climb up a mountain and get to where I need to be on time. However, the weather today is very beautiful which I wish I am outside now instead of being indoor :)

As I was walking, I think of a dream that Chien Luan told me yesterday.

Chien Luan: 

I was in a very old flat with Dianne. We were chatting the whole time while trying to catch an elevator. When we were in the elevator, a man walked in. At that moment, Dianne told me that he is going to jump down from this flat. I thought that was ridiculous because why will Dianne know that he will commit suicide when she does not even know the man. So, I did not say anything to the man, just because I thought that was funny.

When we reached the top of the elevator, the man jumped down of the top and I was stunned. I was so scared and I did not know what to do. I woke up after that and a million of thoughts run into my mind.

The scene was like our every day life. A variety of people walks into our life every day. Either a friend, a family members, or just plain stranger. They might know Christ and some of them might not. For those who does not know Christ and we did not do anything about it, one day, they will jump into the fire of hell just like how the man jump from the top of the roof! This thought is insanely scary.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven" - Matthew 5:16

Sharing the gospel to possibly everyone I meet is what I am working on today.

Did you share the good news yet?

Love,

Joey

Adam's dream

I do not know if you guys ever have a brother or sister who you absolutely hated sometime, but at the end, you cannot afford to loose them even for one second? Well I have one, a precious one.

Last night I was studying for a test till midnight and I saw a post from him on facebook saying that he had a night mare. I worried because it is really late for him to be awake which means it was truly a very bad night mare. Thus, I try to get to him as fast as possible and he told me about his dream.

Adam:

I was on a flight to NYC when all of the sudden the sense of danger was lingering around the cabin. “Emergency! Emergency! Put your head under your hands!”, the air steward shouted, asking us to prepare for emergency scenario. I had no idea what was going on but I knew that I was in danger. I started to feel so panic and fear and try to imagine every single things that going to happen next.

Time passed but apparently nothing had happened. However, I never stopped worry. I believed things will not going to be easy for the next couple of hours. I never felt death so closed to me. “Are we going to die? We are thousands feet above the sky?!! Who on earth can be around to help us?” I wondered. I worried about my parents if they know I was in danger and what if, I mean.. what if I couldn’t survive, how are they going to live without me?

Rumor started to spread. People were talking about a planted bomb that going to blast anytime. We were doomed. And at this moment, the air steward had given up.We lost our hope. We could do nothing except pray.

Pray. I started to pray. Prayed for my confession of my sins, prayed for God's mercy, prayed for His help. “God please help me!” I cried so desperately.

I never felt death was so close to me. I even started to think why I was on this flight. My life was wonderful, my future was bright. I just don’t wanna to miss it. “Help me, Father!” I prayed desperately. “I promised to make this a testimony if I landed safely!”

All of a sudden, a friend of my came out from the pilot’s room,carrying a cake in his hand saying Happy Birthday to my other friend. Apparently, it was her birthday and everyone is giving her a surprise!

And I woke up. 

This isn’t a story that I have made. It was my dream - A ridiculous story plot with a very real feeling. I never felt death so close to me in my life and this was my first time. And, I promised to God, to make this a testimony. I will never forget the feeling of relief when I found that I was safe and the happiness when I know my God really saved me from a danger. You might argue it was just a dream, but the feeling was very real and I want to fulfill my promise to God in the dream – to make this a testimony.

I think the reason I had this dream is that I encountered a lot of news about death this few days. Then, I usually worried about things in my life which I should not have worry about. The worst thing is, I never want to admit to others or even myself that I am having so little faith.

 

When I looked back my life, I found that my life was kind of… “Adventurous”. I had a heart operation before, a car accident and now.. a cyst on my neck and I am waiting for another operation. However, God is protecting me steps by steps in my life. Miracles happened in this big “events” but I still found myself losing my faith when I was in the middle of the storm. Sometime, I feel like I took control of my life, rather than letting God to write my life story. I paid too much attention on the world, but focus too little on God's kingdom. 

Life is not going to be easy but Jesus has conquered the worst thing that can happen on you and me, which is death. Satan can sometime crushed our spirit, but He can never use death to crush us when we believe in Jesus and have faith. 

“ The lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want. He makes me lie in pasture green, he leads me by the still still water and his goodness restore my soul.”

Adam's dream also reminded me that sometime, we take what Jesus did on the cross too easily as though we deserve it. Little did we know, He who is our God, willing to humble Himself to come down to this earth, become one like us, so that He can take our sins away from death, so that we can be reconcile to God. And all of this, we do not deserve it. We should not just make a promise to Him whenever we face big giants in life, but in every step of life, we need to have faith, and stand strong! Because, Jesus lives in us! Thus, we can be a true living testimony! :)

Love,

Joey

Did I do my best?

The end of this semester is so near and every nerve and cells of my body are screaming loud for it to come now.

However, this last 2 weeks of school are always the hardest time and place to be in. All of the sudden, I found myself drowning in seas of homework and struggling through tests and finals. Life can be even harder when financial check in is just around the corner and I am physically and spiritually exhausted.

But every time I am tired and feel like giving up, I will want to be closer to Jesus. I am reading  Colossians 3 today and I came across this powerful verse. Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving."

It reminds me that I do not belong to this world, nor do I serve this world. I am serving an awesome God who is HUMBLE and LOVING, who was willing to come down to this earth to DIE for my sins even though I do not deserve it. I am amazed by the fact that, the Master I am serving, is Jesus Christ.

I am more motivated than ever after knowing this wonderful fact that my Master is Jesus alone. All of the sudden, the stress of trying to pass all the classes for this semester or difficulties in completing financial check-in are all taken away. I found the peace and the joy of working my best to finish this race strong.

I will do my best in whatever I do, and work it with all my heart because "it is the Lord Jesus Christ" whom I am serving! :)

With Love,
Joey

Regret

My heart is full of uncertainties, fear and regret now.
I am looking at the clock tickling, heart is far away at home.
The man whom I once very loved, very respect is about to be in the operation room.
I may or may not see him again.
What if I never see get to see him again?
I am scared, first time of my life, my heart is shivering in fear.
I afraid that I will loose him forever, I mean, forever.
You gave me my whole life, to share Your love to him.
And why did I wasted the time of my life.
Savior please, take his hands for me.
Give me one more chance, just one  more,
And I will not,
I will not turn away from anyone anymore.
Dear Lord, please save my him like how you saved me with love.

Never once

Is 6:25 am now. It has been a very long time since the last time I am able to be wide awake at this time of the day. I wanted to wake up early to study for a test which I am extremely nervous about but a letter on the table which I believe was picked up by my room mate last night when I was asleep ruined my study mood.

The letter is a prayer that I prayed so many days but it is not the answer I was asking for. I did not know what to do. I am exhausted. I came back to my room, try to pick up my textbook to study but I could not focus. So, I picked up my Bible. I need to talk to my Father.

Have you ever feel the things that hurt you when you know there's a Father in Heaven who loves you? Even though the things that I am going through now is nothing compare to all the hurts out there in the world, sometime I wonder, where is He?

Here I am, hurting, lost, early in this morning, desperate to hear from Him. Today's devotion was on 1 Timothy 2, is about our prayer and His promise that if anyone come to Him, they will be saved. Jesus died for everyone of us that day, including me. I already have the best answer of prayers I can ever ask for, and now as ironic as it can be, I am stumbling over some problems in life which seems so small when compare to that glorious day, when there's no more tears, no more hurt.

We all know where we are going, but sometime you just do not know when and how are you gonna get there. Maybe there are things you cannot see, but all the things that happening now is to bring a better ending, some day somehow. You will see. So, sometime, we just have to say a prayer, and hold on to it. I believe, God has a purpose in everything, and He makes everything beautiful in His time.

Never once, did we ever walk alone. In every steps, we are breathing in His grace. God is faithful.

Love,
Joey

Nella mia preghiera, Quanta fede c'è

Fall is near. Time in USA goes through very fast....

I remember I used to think, why did I get myself in so much trouble of being here. Why will I choose to come here to the States for nursing, when I got offered full scholarships back home and even a job right after I graduate...Plus, nursing in Liberty University is hard. Legit. HARD.

But, I am glad, that I follow what I felt right in my heart. Turned down the scholarships, went back home, work for 8 months, pray hard, and waiting for God to answer my prayers. And He did. Some how, I was able to go to Liberty despite of all the financial problem. Scholarships were provided, as well as a decent paid part time job. God has been faithful.

Nursing course here is hard but I am thankful to be here, a university which honor our Savior. I got to learn beyond what nursing courses can offer, a heart purely to serve our God. Each day I walked into class room, I learned more and more about giving and serving. Jesus shapes my heart to be more like His, every day.

I am very grateful that I did not stay in my comfort zone. I am very thankful that God is with me in my every day challenges and craziness. He has been very faithful through this journey, and I can always find a place to rest, under His wings.

God is faithful to me, and to you too! Hope that you are walking with Jesus today and you feel the joy too!

Love,
Joey

住在神里面

好久没有到这里来了。每次学校放假，我总是也让我的心放假，不想管身边的人，事，和物，只想闭上眼睛，睡觉。可是也因为这样，我渐渐在不知觉的情况下，把我的心关闭了。

前天，我又去了医院帮忙。我很不想去，因为最近美国的天气很热，还热过马来西亚，我快受不了了，还要走路，乘搭巴士。。。可是，因为不好意识请假，所以还是硬着头皮去了。。。

我负责的病房大多数都是老人，我的工作只是倒水啊，扶他们上厕所，喂他们吃饭等等。。空荡的时间很多，其实很闷的。很多老人看起来很孤单，他们总是望着窗外或门外，希望他们的爱人，亲人能出现。我想跟他们讲话解闷，可是他们说话含糊不清，如果他们说的是中文，我都可能听不清，更何况是英文。

所以，每当我听不懂他们说什么，我终会握着他们的手，对着他们笑，希望他们能感觉到一些温暖。我总希望能帮他们多做些什么，可是就不知道能做些什么。

一直到我遇到了一位名叫Laureen 的老女人。我那天负责喂她病床旁边的婆婆吃饭，他们两个都不认识对方，可是很快就打成一片。他们两位心脏有问题，刚动了手术，所以身体非常虚弱。当婆婆吃饱睡了后，Laureen开始呼吸很困难，想喝水，所以我赶快弄了些冰水给他，然后坐下来和他聊天。他开始和我聊他一生的故事。她原本有个很美好的家庭，她丈夫喜欢小孩，所以他们有很多儿子和女儿。可是，他有个小女儿在小时候车祸死了，另外一个儿子也在小时候死了，过不久丈夫也死了。。把孩子都留给他一个人带大。她说她年轻时一天打3个工，未料能让孩子读书，可是最近大儿子因脑瘤去世了。然后他说了一句话，让我的眼泪流了下来。“God really do torn my heart”。

我想立刻告诉她，神知道你的痛也会医治你，我还没来得及说，她紧接着就告诉我，"but I have faith, that He will bring me through". 我在心里面大大的AMEN！我们开始聊更多身在我们生命所行的神迹，也知道神会与我们度过生命一切的难关:)

在Laureen身上我学会了宝贵的一课。无论生活有多困难，无论生活让我们流尽了眼泪，神甚至还让Laureen的心真正的破碎，只要我们专心仰赖耶稣，住在神里面，耐心等候神，我们就能得到安息，如鹰展翅上腾:)

刚刚在一位很爱神的朋友的脸书听到这首歌让我有深深的感动，在这与你们分享。

我知道我可以为他们做什么了，不是每个病人都和Laureen一样认识耶稣，所以我可以传福音，让他们能更积极面对生命的挑战，也得到安息。我也能为他们祷告，但愿有一天能在天堂看到他们的笑脸 :)