The Three Wells

Boy, "Have you heard of the story of The Three Wells?"
Girl, "No, how does it go?"
Boy, "Well... well... well... "
Girl, " :| ......"
Boy, "The end."

Short and uh, sweet. This has become, undoubtedly, one of my favourite story of all time.

Sick Leave

Ever feel like you're running out of excuses for a sick leave? Not that you really needed to fake an illness ... well, in fact, you're honestly, positively, truly sick ... of working.

If so, read this ... and get inspired! :D

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sick Leave

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss would not allow me to take a leave. I thought that maybe if I acted "CRAZY" then he would tell me to take a few days off. So, I hung upside down on the ceiling and made funny noises.

My co-worker asked me what I was doing. I told her that I was pretending to be a light bulb so that the Boss would think I was "CRAZY" and give me a few days off.

A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked, "What are you doing?"

I told him I was a light bulb.

He said, "You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple of days."

I jumped down and walked out of the office.

When my co-worker followed me, the Boss asked her, "And where do you think you're going?"

(You're gonna love this.....)

She said, "I'm going home too, I can't work in the dark."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My ex-boss emailed this to me, more than a year ago, and it never fails to tickle me everytime I read it, even now.

I would pay good money just to watch someone, anyone, play this prank on my new boss. And I will volunteeringly play the part of the co-worker. Let's just hope I'll be able to keep a straight face long enough to say the last line. :))

The Whole Armor of God

So far, so good. And I am referring to my battle against the devil, that devil, in me.

After last Saturday's dark incident, I had a rather gloomy Sunday. I shut myself away from everyone, quietly sulking working in my room, and occasionally sneaking into the kitchen for some life's basic needs, or rushing to the bathroom to answer nature's call.

I thought of going on a hunger strike, so that I could look more dignified, or so I presumed. Never happened.

During those brief moments when I was busily pigging out, I managed to snap at a few preys who innocently wandered near enough. Two preys, to be precise.

Well, a half empty stomach makes a ferocious predator, and I was eager and more than happy to prove it, a little too eager. So, what did I do? I barked.

How thick can I get? Honestly, sometimes I amaze myself, and it is not always for a good reason.

Anyway, yesterday is history. I am glad to announce that today was better, much better. :)

In fact,  everything started to get a lot brighter after last night's church service. It was as if a ray of sunshine finally broke through the thick black clouds and parted them. I felt the heavy and suffocating air around me being lifted. And those muscles on my face are back, working again, you know, those muscles that make your lips curl upwards and and your eyes crinkle. Praise the Lord!

Maybe it had something to do with the Pastor's sermon, perhaps it had something to do with the few tears shed during the service, or probably it was the feeling of guilt that kept washing over me. But one thing for sure, the Holy Spirit was at work, He is at work, gently nudging me to forgive, and forget.

Today, I sense the tangible healing power of God.

Today, I fight the devil in me, that devil called unforgiveness, but unlike yesterday, today I obediently and willingly fight, with the whole armor of God.



Full Armor of God, scripture art by {willowofwonder}

Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV) 

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,

and having done all, to stand.

Confessions of a Defeated Spirit

My case : There is a demon living in me. And its name is unforgiveness.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After a week of hectic work schedule and long working hours, I had been looking forward to this weekend, eager to get back home. Although I have to bring home some work to do, but that is alright, as long as I'm home, with my mom.

And if you are curious, yes, I still stay with my family. But that will be a story by itself, on a future post.

My workplace is just about an hour's drive away from my home, provided that the traffic is smooth. However, since the traffic is usually horrendous each morning, I decided to rent a room near my workplace, which had proven to be a wise decision as I am able to save on travelling time, petrol expenses, and toll fees (in my country, there is an unbelievable amount of toll roads).

When Friday finally arrived, I practically flew back home, in my car. I mean, my heart flew back home, but my mind was sensible enough to guide my body to drive the car, at a safe speed. Heh.

Well, everything was bright and beautiful, until Saturday afternoon, when my mom requested me to do a very simple favour for that 'someone' (sorry, I am not ready to share who that 'someone' is, yet).

After my mom voiced her request, without missing a beat, the demon in me got ignited and flared up. It was quickly followed by cold look, quiet voice, mean words, nasty thoughts, evil feelings, complete bitterness, on my part. And the damage was done, cruelly, brutally.

That moment, the devil won, I let it win, and hatred took over.

I acted in the ugliest way possible, to a person who loves me dearly, and to that 'someone' who is still unaware of this silent storm.

I can still remember vividly, the pain and sadness in my mom's eyes. I think she was shaken violently, and was beyond shock and hurt, at how broken her daughter's heart is. Her usually quiet but kind daughter, who once could not even bring herself to kill an ant, who loves dogs, who has compassion for those less fortunate, who has a heart for orphans, could be so unforgiving and hate someone so deeply.

If that was how my mom felt, I cannot even imagine how much I grieved the Holy Spirit in me.

Sometimes, I wonder if I am a hypocrite. I know and write about all the beautiful and lovely things, the right words to speak, the right ways to live. But in the end, here I am, defeated, willingly, by this choking sensation of hatred and unforgiveness. Is it easier to indulge on the pleasure of hating someone than to forgive? No! An unforgiving heart leads a painful and bitter life.

Unforgiveness, the most powerful tool used by Satan. How foolish of me to fall into the trap of the enemy, so easily, without even trying hard to put up a fight.

As I was browsing the net a while ago, I came across a message on forgiveness at The Pathfinder, and the words just cut and pierced though my heart like thousands of swords. Instead of finishing off my badly damaged heart, the swords are actually healing it. Just because, these are the swords, the powerful and miraculous Word of God. I felt like God is speaking to me through the author, trying to make me turn away from my unforgiving heart, because  I have never wanted to forgive that 'someone' so desperately, so sincerely, so willingly.


Frances Brown on Unforgiveness (The Pathfinder) :
......
......
That's what Jesus portrayed in Mark 11:25: "And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in Heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. (Amplified Bible) There may never be an apology--but that's all right. Our stubborn refusal to forgive others actually prohibits God's forgiveness from flowing to us. Then how can one hold unforgiveness in his heart? To do so, he must actually believe that he himself is totally without offense and has no need of forgiveness himself, and that he is righteous and perfect in all his ways. Isn't that ridiculous? This is the worst form of self righteousness, and clothes us in filthy rags before a Holy God.
......
......
All Feuds End At The Cross. Not only between Jew and Gentile, but A-L-L FEUDS. I am convinced that an unforgiving heart is evidence that the one who walks in this darkness has not experienced the cross. In fact, Word of God supports that conviction.
The pain and suffering that has been caused by an unforgiving spirit is without measure. May our Father pour His Healing Grace into the body of Christ and create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Then all the world will know He has come when we truly have fervent love for each other. Amen! And praise God!
......
......


And I say Amen!

By the grace of God, and with an obedient heart, I will defeat the demon in me.



And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)




iShare : Hospital Windows

Hospital Windows, an amazing motivational story, of courage, faith, optimism, kindness, selflessness, and all the positive attitudes that you can think of.

I thank the author who wrote and share this seemingly simple, yet incredibly moving story, as I'm once again reminded of the beauty of our earthly life: an adventurous and purpose driven journey, fearfully and wonderfully planned by our Almighty God.

Life, as in God's perfect plan, is not always about sunshine and beaches and flowery paths. When the storm rages and darkness falls, when we are in our weakest and are most vulnerable, these are the days that we should hold on even tighter to our faith.

Praising and glorifying Him, helping others in spite of our adverse circumstances, loving them with the love of Jesus, allowing the light of God to shine through us.

After all, only when it is dark enough can we see the stars.



print {Judy Stalus Photographs : Autumn Splendor}



Hospital Windows (Author Unknown)

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room ' s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you." ~ author unknown

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.