Set Apart

 How long will God let this go on? This is the cry of Habakkuk when he saw that "the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.". Today's world is very much similar to the times in which Habakkuk was living in. People in many parts of the world are living in fear because law is paralyzed and the wicked surround the righteous. Even in "civilized" world, the wicked surround the righteous, often hiding in the shadows of the internet and social media. How should we respond then? David reminds us in Psalm 37:1-7 on how we should respond in these moments of fear and frustration. Fret not yourself because of evildoers;  be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the...

 Today marks the end of my Quarantine "staycation". But as I celebrate my "freedom" and thank God for keeping me and my family safe. Those in Afghanistan are slowly finding their freedom taken away as the Taliban takes over control of the country. Heart wrenching news showed Afgan people trying their best to escape from their home land for fear of being held captive.  How do we reconcile with the fact that God is sovereign over all? Just like how Habakkuk lived during a tumultuous time in Judah and in the world where competing ancient empires created chaos and fear for God’s people. The people in Afghanistan must be feeling a tremendous amount of fear, especially Christians.  As we continue to read or hear about disturbing news coming out of Afghanistan we must remember that this world isn't out home. As British minister Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote:  “What really matters in the world is God’s kingdom. From the very beginning, since the fall of man, God has been...

 Life is a dream, realise it ~ Mother Teresa This quote from Mother Teresa stood out to me today. Indeed, how we choose to live our life will determine the happiness we get out of it. If we choose to live our lives chasing after emptiness, our happiness will be empty. Life is temporal, but God is eternal.   To whoever is reading this, I urge you to look beyond what is temporal and live for what is eternal. I leave you with this quote from Rick Warren, At most you will live a hundred years on earth, but you will spend forever in eternity. 

How did the cross of Christ demonstrate both God’s justice and His mercy? Today's devotion reminds me of the purpose of the cross. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Psalm 89:14 tells us that "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.". God is a god of righteousness and justice because in Him there is no evil! This is so important especially in today's world where lawlessness and injustice reigns supreme everywhere. People are suffering because of the lawlessness and injustice of the world we live in today. Just like Habakkuk, we cry out,  "Why do you make me see iniquity,     and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me;     strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed,     and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous;     so justice goes forth perverted." Habakkuk 1:3-4 Make no mistake my friends, God is a god o...

 What's the meaning of life? Often many people wonder about that? Is there a meaning and purpose in life? The answer is, yes, there is a meaning and purpose in life if you know where to look for it. We need to understand that often we have a stagnant spirit due to a secularized spirituality or even no spirituality at all. This causes us to run after emptiness. Trying our best to make the best of our lives by earning a lot of money, seeking affirmation in people, seeking love in human relationships. All these will eventually lead us to emptiness because it doesn't fill what is most important, our soul.  We need to recognize that our physical body and the world we live in is temporal. What happens when life ends? Our lives can end in just a blink of an eye. So then, what do we pursue?  Pursue what is eternal, something that cannot be taken away from us. Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour is eternal.  Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour is eternal " and He is before all ...

Flipped Learning?  Today's post is a reflection of what I would like to share with teachers not just from my school but from all over Singapore about how we can better prepare ourselves for a hybrid learning environment where teachers and students will be placed on LOA / QO now and then. Hi everyone! I'm recording this video live in my quarantine room as I've been put on QO due to a confirmed case in my school. And so in today's video I would like to share my reflection during the time here. The reason why the title of this video is Flipped Learning is because I believe that the concept of flipped learning has an even more significant meaning now than ever before. Because, as we live with COVID-19 as an endemic, it will mean that students and teachers find themselves forced away from the classroom anytime and without any prior warnings. So how do we ensure that learning continues no matter the situation we find ourselves in? I believe that the answer is in Flipped Learn...

 People need the Lord. In today's reflection of my Bible study of Habakkuk I am reminded of the power of God's word and the importance of going back to His word for truth . In Hebrew 4:12 it says that "The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart." and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." This is especially importance in a world where truth is slowly becoming more and more subjective. What is true for you may not be true for me. That's the kind of deception that the devil is luring people into.  Unknowingly we are drowning deeper and deeper into his deceptive lies. People need the Lord more than ever...

Happy National Day Singapore!  Today marked our nation's 56th birthday and because of the pandemic it was a muted celebration. It kind of mirrored how I spent this year's national day, muted, because I was along in my room. Yet, I'm grateful for technology because I can still connect with my children to chit chat and play games with them. It's so funny to see little E trying out the filters and having a whale of a time with it. This got me thinking about how much technology has shaped the way we live, study, work and play. Technology has now become more and more indispensable in our lives. With technology we can do things previously inconceivable. Who would have thought I can still communicate so clearly with audio and visual while playing an online game with my children? Who would have thought that online learning is still possible even though everyone is at home.  This begs an important question, how should learning look like now that more and more people are going to...

An ever changing world. Today's the move to the Government Quarantine Facility (GQF) and so, in a flurry of events, I had to pack and was whisked away to the hotel. Even though things are uncertain, I felt peace knowing that God is in control of this whole situation. He allowed it for a reason and I am amazed that my devotion in app5 is on the book of Habakkuk who is living in a time where the Israelites were doubting God and thinking that all his promises are but lies. But God is always in control, his timing is always perfect. God does not delay. As I seek God in the direction He wants me to take in the next half of my life, I am reminded that I need to wait and trust that His timing is perfect. God is the only constant in an ever changing world and I need to trust in his timing. God's slowness is God's timing Dear God, Help me to trust in your promises. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. May I be a part ...

What If?  News that I have to be quarantined for the next 10 days came upon me as a shock. “You would always think that it will happen to others and not to yourself.” This sentiment rang true to me as I ponder the “what ifs”. What if I didn’t take over YQ’s lesson on Tuesday, what if it were another student from another class or another school.  I guess all the what ifs will just remain as it is, what if. Ultimately, I believe that God has a plan for this to happen in my life at such a time. Hopefully as I pen down my thoughts and look back at what I’ve written over the course of the next 10 days, I will find the answer.  Feeling of guilt and loss weighs heavily on my heart today. I cannot hug and kiss the one I love, even though we are in the same house, I am unable to speak to them face to face for fear of passing something unknown and invisible. How will Shirleen manage without me around her? Will this take a toil on her health? How will the helper manage the children ...