Dear Family & Friends,
The month of April is always a good month. Good Friday, sad as it may be to us Christians, speaks of God's love for Man. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
I was once asked, "So, how much does your God love you?" "Stretch your arms out beside you, as far as you can." I replied. "That is how much my God loves me, His arms outstretched, nailed to a cross." We love because He first loved us ... enough to die for us.
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John15:13)
Easter, commercialised with the appearance of the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs, gloss over the true significance of the event. That through the Resurrection of Christ, we have eternal life. I use to love these lines from Alexander Pope's The Dying Christian To His Soul.
"The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav'n opens my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! Where is thy victory?
O Death! Where is thy sting?"
Then, in my reading of the Bible, I found it in 1 Corinthians 15:55, which must have inspired Pope:
"Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"
April also brings on the birthdays of famous people like - Maria Sharapova, Victoria Beckham, Leonardo Da Vinci, Barbra Streisand, Shirley MacLaine, William Shakespeare, Al Pacino, Paris Jackson, Jet Li, Carol Burnett, Jessica Alba, Michelle Pfeiffer and of course Queen Elizabeth II AND Elizabeth Poey!
Celebrating the completion of my 61st year on earth with family and close friends was so meaningful for me, as it really is a testimony of God's grace and love in my life. He has sustained me over the past 5 years and I know I have been blessed. Now I walk into the first week of my 62nd year and I continue to pray for His guidance even as I give grateful thanks for the continued love and support of my family and friends.
Nowhere in the bible is being alone lauded. We are made for relationships and designed for community. So, who are your friends? Who is on your team? Jesus assembled His team of twelve - lower cast of society. Yet, these 11 men (minus Judas) made such an impact on the world, it has never been the same! Just think about it. Everything that Christ taught could have ended when He died. It took this small band of 11 guys to flame the word and Christianity was born! Of course God had a major hand in it. But it is so amazing! Just name 12 people on your team. How are you impacting lives today?
Friendships are not deepened by time, but by the constant sharing of experiences, the exchange of thoughts and the communion of hearts. And the meeting of minds and hearts need never always be in the physical realm! We connect as easily in this virtual world. Yeah!
Just a quick update on my condition. I stopped chemo because of the many infections. Am managing the best I can with the nerve pain down my left thigh and the infection pain (caused by a fistula) at my lower (left) abdomen. Still can't walk far or sit for long. Pain does not kill. Look at the many who suffered and bore pain. It just makes one stronger! Look at Jesus. He suffered pain (and it must have been excruciating pain) and He endured it for our sakes. He suffocated to death on that cross. Pain did not kill our Lord, and pain will not kill me!
So life continues albeit differently for me - a fuller sense of what is important, a keener understanding of what needs to be and a total acceptance of who I am - a little dot of dust in God's creation, but oh how loved by the Creator.
And as I sail round Cape Tribulation, I know that - Faith grows best in the winter of trial. —Rutherford
(Annie Johnson Flint)
Much love,
Cheng/Liz/Lizzie/Birthday Girl
Those with time, do open the attachment on Dr. Tommy Koh's 10 rules to a happier YOU!
Those with extra cash, you are welcome to contribute to the Mongolian Street Kids Project. We have the land, the fence, the gets, the toilets ... we are now looking at building a more permanent structure for the kids. The Dumpster Kids are well on their feet (thanks to many of you) and are well supported by two companies. Thank God for His provision. We are now helping to set up the place called "Eden" for these orphaned street kids.
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