:: Official Announcement - MOVED ::

I managed to export all 900+ posts over to wordpress...in just a click of a button.

So just in case you forgot...

www.chiaochyi.wordpress.com

:: Welcome Back ::

Dear family, friends and students,

Welcome back! I decided to take a break because life was getting a little too overwhelming and I needed to just be still and know that God is indeed God, that I can trust in Him and take Him at His Word. Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!

It wasn't such a long break after all. It was long enough for much meditation and getting my focus back on track. I decided to do some revamp to this blog, namely this: to be really focused about my purposes of blogging, so that I can continue writing unreservedly about my life and what God is teaching me. Then it really wouldn't matter what others say, so long I am sure that I am pleasing the Lord with the words and the meditations of my heart.

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

If you think otherwise, that what I have said is inappropriate for a public audience, or I have written something wrongly, then I'd appreciate it if you drop me an email or let me know (instead of telling someone else about it, which happened and bothered me alot) if you were truly concerned about me. I would be more than willing to make clarifications, or apologise or retract what I have written if I have truly done so. If not, this place will continue to tell of my life - of my family, my friends, lessons God is teaching me everyday as a Christian, a mom, a wife etc. I'd also like to say that you are reading this blog of your own free will.

I read the verse below recently and was encouraged by it. Paul was exhorting the elders in the church of Ephesus, telling of the trials and even prison chains that awaited him as he ministered. Of course, my life is nothing like his. I have no such suffering to speak of, but I believe God has so many things to teach us through the things that come our way each day. We each have our trials and temptations to go through.

Acts 20:24

²⁴ But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

I want to finish my life on earth with joy, to not be moved or shaken when winds blow.

***

On a side note, I have also made a shift to wordpress. I like the templates they have, which enable me to add more pages to my blog. I can also upload documents too. I've created different pages that will stay, and I hope it always reminds me of why I am doing this in the first place.

So change your bookmarks and visit

www.chiaochyi.wordpress.com :)

:: S.T.O.P. ::

I'm stopping for a long while so don't bother to pop by in the near future.

Meanwhile, when one has a child, life continues as per normal, no matter what comes my way. My heart has never been so broken and sorrowful before. So instead of spewing it all out like a fool would (as it says in Proverbs), I will be quiet and seek the Lord for comfort and answers.

I'm still contactable by email at chiaochyi@gmail.com if you want to say hi. If you know my number, you know where to get me. I'm still around physically, just not virtually.

:: Eating Yoghurt all by myself ::

I'm starting to let Hannah feed herself. It is impossible not to be messy at this stage so I'm reminding myself that it's ok to see a little mess, so long she's trying to put her food into her mouth. She's taking little steps to more independence, and I'm sure she's enjoying it.

:: From F.B Meyer ::

It was first taught me by a grey-haired clergyman, in the study of the Deanery, at Southampton. Once, when tempted to feel great irritation, he told us that he looked up and claimed the patience and gentleness of Christ, and since then it had become the practice of his life to claim from Him the virtue of which he felt the deficiency in himself. In hours of unrest, "Thy Peace, Lord." In hours of irritation, "Thy Patience, Lord." In hours of temptation, "Thy Purity, Lord." In hours of weakness, "Thy Strength, Lord." It was to me a message straight from the throne. Till then I had been content with ridding myself of burdens; now I began to reach forth to positive blessing.

:: Photo of the Day - The 3 Musketeers ::

Hannah really enjoys having them around. She doesn't even mind sharing her toys with them. Sometimes I wonder what it's like to have 3 kids. If they were all this age (Ages 7, 5 and 3) maybe it's not so bad? But to have an infant and a running toddler...hmmm...that would be really, really challenging for me.

:: Searching the Scriptures - The Fool in Proverbs ::

I did this study about a week ago and found it really interesting and real. I realised that most verses about the fool in Proverbs really has to do with his words, which of course reveals what is in his heart. Matthew 12:34b tells us "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

I am no Matthew Henry but I personally conclude that the fool in Proverbs can be summarised as in Proverbs 18:7 which says “A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.”

Here are some of the traits of a fool:

Hatred/ Lying/ Slander

Pr 10:18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Anger/wrath

Pr 14:16b
…but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Contention

Pr 18:6
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

Meddlesome

Pr 20:3
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

Proud/Stubborn/Wise in his own eyes

Pr 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Pr 18:2
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Pr 23:9
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Pr 28:26
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Unrestrained

Pr 29:11
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

***

I realise that there are also quite a number references to a fool in Psalms and Ecclesiastes as well. I'll continue this study another time.

The Birthday Chef

The Birthday Chef
Originally uploaded by chiaochyi

:: Wisdom Wednesday - Communicating with my Heavenly Father ::

I know I've been unable to keep up with this one for awhile. I'm not even sure if this post is appropriate to its original intentions for Wisdom Wednesday. Nevertheless, I hope to strive to do this weekly and faithfully so I can challenge myself and be changed by God's Word as I fulfil my ministry as a mother at home.

Hannah has recently been able to communicate with us by saying words like 'please', 'drop', 'no more', 'no' (this is a frequent one), 'ummm' (meaning to eat), 'kick' and some others I can't recall for now. She is also trying to imitate the words that we speak to her. It is certainly delightful to hear my child communicating with me. Of course, there are times when she utters a whole string of gibberish which I do not understand, but I know she is trying to tell me something. Then I have to play the guessing game. It is frustrating both for her and me when this happens.

Psalm 139
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

I'm so glad my relationship with my Heavenly Father is nothing like that. He know my needs even before I ask Him. He understands my thoughts. In other words, He knows my every move! I can either tremble at that thought in fear when I am sneaky about my doings, or I can find comfort in the fact that God knows me so well I can always depend on Him. I can ask Him for my needs because I know He'll always give me something good, just as I love to give Hannah good things too.

Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

I am glad that being a mother has taught me many things about my own relationship with God my Heavenly Father. Our human relationships seems so insignificant when I compare it to the relationship that I have as a child of God.

:: Sweet Encouragement ::

Even during a date with David this evening my heart was still so heavy. What am I to do, Lord? I kept asking. These burdens are too heavy for me to bear. God sent sweet encouragement to me through a song a sister-in-Christ sang as we prayed together.

Yesterday, Today, Forever,
Jesus is the same
All may change, but Jesus never
Glory to His name.

Glory to His name, glory to His name
All may change but Jesus never
Glory to His name.

:: Weary or just tired ::

The first day at home was very very tiring, and so was the second morning. I don't think it's just Hannah though, it's everything that's coming at the same time from everywhere. I've been asking myself, and asking God, "Why so downcast? Don't I have a right to be so?" I'm tired, in all senses of the word, and I really need Him now.

I drafted the post below a night ago and decided to put it up here today after some thought. I did not want to do it carelessly. It's really just my heart's burden.

:: Honest and No Frills ::

For those who know, yes, we have a crisis going on in our lives and our church. Yes, of course we know how troubled our hearts have been over this all these months. I just want to say a few things about it. I might elaborate in future but I'll leave this as it is for now.

• A crisis is an opportunity to glorify God. Yes, it really is! Can you see it as such? Only God can help us, and when He does, we can only show how great, how good, how excellent He is. It is about HIM. Remember that when you speak, remember that when you think, remember that when you're with family and friends as you gather this CNY. It is not something to be laughed or mocked at. Exercise temperance.

• Don't start with the "but he is doing it too" syndrome. Let's all start with ourselves and look only at our own behaviour and our own responses. For God will hold us accountable for only our own conduct and not the conduct of others. This has been something that God has been teaching me. I hold only myself accountable for all I do and say, and I will never, ever want to bring shame and dishonour to my God through my words, thoughts and actions.

• Let's all apply ourselves to Scripture, let's exercise ourselves unto godliness, let's read God's Word and not think about our own assessment of everything, or what we feel. Let's mirror what anyone or everyone says in the light of God's Word. Let's all be still, be praying, to be slow to speak, for we all know how deceitful our hearts and mouths can be.

• Let's just all be quiet and seeking God only. Be still. Be quiet. There's just too much noise going around us.
  

Psalm 19
12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

:: Updates ::

Today Hannah had her first taste of watermelon. Before this, she only saw watermelons in books and at the supermarket. Today she saw a watermelon that was sliced and she sunk her teeth into it. As you can see, she loved it.

Tomorrow is my first day as homemaker at home. David kindly reminded me that at long last my ambition has been fulfilled! That is true...I used to tell my friends that my ambition was to be a housewife, to stay home to care for my family. I am privileged in the sense that I'm still staying with my parents-in-law and we have a helper at home to help with the chores and the meals. I cannot imagine doing everything on my own yet, as much as I am eager to have my own home in the near future.

I am truly excited to work with the time God has blessed me with. There is so much to do. I need to spend some time setting up a proper routine. I would also like to be accountable with my time and not squander it away just because I am no longer working outside the home.

For now I am just thankful I do not have to wake at 6am every morning to get to school on time. I do not have to say goodbye to my sleeping daughter, or send her to my mom's in the morning. I do not have to (and should not) grumble about not having enough rest because of trying hard to juggle between family and work. I realise not every working mother can take such a step as easily as me. I see my colleagues struggle and they envy my decision. So I must be thankful that God has and will always provide for our family as we honour Him.

:: Search the Scriptures - Love that covers sin ::

I have often been confused by the fact that the Bible tells us that love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12). Does that mean that when I see a friend, or even my daughter sinning and doing what is wrong in God’s sight, I just cover and bury it somewhere? Then would correction and instruction in righteousness would be unnecessary? Where does rebuke and reproof come in then? These are the questions that I hope to answer through searching the Scriptures.

1. What kind of love covers sins?

The love that covers sins is an agape love, a biblical love. It is exemplified by our loving God who sent His son to earth to die for our sins (John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…”) It is not a phileo brotherly love, not the eros love between husband and wife.

2. What does the word ‘cover’ mean and where is it used in the Bible?

I did a search on the word ‘cover’ (both in Hebrew and Greek) and this is what I found. Of course, I did not list the verses where the Bible uses the word literally. When we look at the word ‘cover’ in this context, we mean it metaphorically (see the importance of Literature here?). I only listed those related to covering sin. Here’s what I got:

Old Testament

[hok kacah kaw-saw']
a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy):--clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm.

• Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.”

• Proverbs 17:9 “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.”

• Psalm 32:1-2
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

• Proverbs 28:13
“He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

New Testament

[kaluptw kalupto kal-oop'-to]
to cover up (literally or figuratively):--cover, hide.

• James 5:19-20 “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

• 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

3. So when should Christians cover sins?

Having read all those Bible verses in which God tells us that agape love covers sins, one can conclude that the love that covers sins is not a love that ignores, condones or sweeps things under the carpet. Surely the Bible has more to say about this issue. And it is found in all the other verses with the same root word that is used. This gives us a clearer picture indeed.

The love that covers sins is a love that:
a) turns a Christian brother back to the truth (James 5:19-20)
b) wants a Christian brother to confess his sins and seek God’s forgiveness (James 5:19-20, Proverbs 28:13)

Showing biblical love may not always be a pleasant task to a Christian. It isn’t pleasant when one’s sin is confronted. It isn’t pleasant to rebuke, or reproof (parents can understand that) and point out truth in God’s Word. Agape love rejoices in the truth. Corinthians 13:6 says that this agape love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth”. I foresee that this may sometimes put relationships at stake.

Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Conclusion

Love and truth always go together, and when they do, we as Christians can indeed cover a multitude of sins. When we understand what it means to cover a multitude of sins, we can go forth with a right view of God (that He is indeed just but merciful). He never contradicts Himself in these matters. It is only when we see our loving, just and merciful God and how He deals with us, chastising us, seeking repentance, and then forgiving us when we sin, then our relationships with others can be pleasing to the Lord.

***

In my next study, I will be looking at other references to love in the Bible, mainly 1 John, 2 John and 3 John, as well as 1 Corinthians 13. It is so exciting to be able to do this. I pray God will continue to teach me and help me to change in where I have viewed His Word errantly.

Philippians 1:9-11
"9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

:: Search the Scriptures – An Introduction ::

I was rather disappointed a few days ago when I realized that I was not able to use a Bible Study tool, Sword Searcher, on my macbook. After doing some search, I was able to download a trial version of some application that would be able to run Windows applications on my mac. The good news was also that my brother had a free downloaded version he kept quite awhile ago. And so now, I am glad to say that I am able to use my Sword Searcher on my mac!

I am thankful for my husband who spurs me on in searching the Scriptures. God has used him greatly in my life to prod me on in my walk with God. Being the geek (all RI boys are I think) that he usually is, he takes time to dig deep into God’s Word, meditate on these things and explains them to me as he sees them in Scripture. I am sometimes amazed at the number of times a thought or truth goes through his mind. He does not merely cut and paste from commentaries or books that he has read. It goes through his mind as the Holy Spirit illuminates these truths in his heart. These truths are processed and said after much study and prayer. If not for his example to me, I would just be one who would take things as they are presented to me. I realized after awhile it isn’t a discerning thing to do and I am not handling God’s Word reverently and responsibly if I merely listen to what others say about God’s Word instead of studying it for myself.

In Acts 17, Paul and Silas were ministered to the Bereans:

Acts 17:10-11
“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

The Berean Christians did 2 things with God’s Word:

1. They received the Word

When they received the Word, they did not listen passively. They listened attentively and respectfully to the Word of God being preached. In Romans 10:17, it says “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2. They searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so

I am encouraged to know that there were Christians who studied God’s Word daily. When they searched the Scriptures, according to Strong’s Links of the Greek definition, it means this:

properly, to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine:--ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search.

Before I continue, I also want to add that I believe God’s Word has answers for ALL of life. Why? Because God has clearly said so in His Word:

2 Peter 1:2-4
“2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Do I really believe that God has already given us all the answers we need to life and how to live a godly life? If so, then I must rest on this promise that He has, and I must search the Scriptures to find out these things. I need to scrutinize the Bible, to question (not doubtingly or pridefully but humbly seeking answers), to examine verses, to keep them in the context as presented in the Bible, and so on.

And so, as I end my teaching career, I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a homemaker as mentioned in Titus 2. To do this well, I need to be living God’s Word. My highest priority is not my husband and daughter, but to know my God. Only then can I be the wife and mother that He wants me to be. I want to spend more time searching the Scriptures and finding answers to difficult questions that I have.

So I am excited to embark on this new (but not really new) journey. Join me!

:: School Memories (Part 2) - I Will Not Miss Marking ::

:: School Memories (Part 1) ::

It's my last day at school today. I'm feeling a mixture of emotions, conflicting ones. Relief, yet sadness. I shall attempt to record my school memories in the weeks ahead, before I tuck it at the back of my mind and move on to my 'new' vocation. There are so many memories that I have to do it one page at a time. This one is of my first English class. More of words than photos and design.

:: Photo of the Day - Teddy Blankie ::

Took a shot this morning before David dropped me off at school, then Hannah to my mom's. Thought it was nice.

:: Chinese New Year in a nutshell ::

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!

CNY traditional costume
Originally uploaded by chiaochyi

Like my costume? I hope to get many angpaos this year, especially since I'm so cute I can charm many adults with my smiles!

Love, Hannah

:: Photo Booth ::

The macbook also has a photo booth that Hannah and I are very amused with. It is a fun feature to use.