Coming to the end of 2006 with a thankful heart, I, like most people, find a sense of excitment at the beginning of a new year. I got a few resolutions or the "to-dos" this year. Yet, I was reminded of the way to stay afresh all year round in ODB yesterday, to quote :
"Many of our New Year’s resolutions may actually accelerate our pace of life instead of helping us to slow down. In a quest for greater productivity and efficiency, we overschedule our days, then rush through meals, drive impatiently, and wonder why the joy of living eludes us.
Carol Odell, who writes a business advice column, says that slowing down can positively affect our lives at work and at home. She believes that rushing can cloud our judgment and cause us to overlook important things and valuable people. Carol encourages everyone to slow down, and even suggests the radical idea of welcoming red traffic lights and using the waiting time to meditate.
In Psalm 1, there is no hint of a frenzied pace. It describes a person who enjoys the blessing of God. Instead of thinking and acting like those who rarely consider spiritual matters, "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (v.2). The result is a fruitful life and a well-nourished soul (v.3)."
The word "meditates" carries the following meaning in Hebrew : "to moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot, speak
a) (Qal)
1) to roar, growl, groan
2) to utter, speak
3) to meditate, devise, muse, imagine
b) (Poal) to utter
c) (Hiphil) to mutter"
http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/words.pl?book=Psa&chapter=1&verse=2&strongs=01897&page=
I'm sure the Lord knows that I'd easily run ahead with the many "to-dos", plans and actions and neglect the importance of quietness, meditations on His words and waiting upon the Lord. He is the ultimate spring of a fruitful life and well-nourished soul.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Saturday, December 23, 2006
A year of thanks
Coming to this time of the year, like always, I'd take out my journal and write down the thanksgiving items for the 12 months past. Yet, the year 2006 is like no other years in the past, as I'm writing my thanksgiving list on my blog !
I'm thankful for :
- starting a new job at Conyers Dill and Pearman in January. I'm back to private practice doing corporate finance legal work again but in a different seat (offshore work on BVI, Cayman Islands and Bermuda law)
- having Andrew and Felicia visited us for nearly 4 weeks in June. They stayed with me at my "Park Island hotel" and had alot of fun time in HK like eating, shopping, watching World Cup and having fun at Ocean Park. On top of it, the whole family had a very nice trip together to Soeul, Korea (and we also watched the World Cup there, cheering for the Korean team!). I also took another trip with Andrew and Felicia to KK, Malaysia, visited the in-laws and saw the beautiful beaches and marvelous sunset I've never seen.
- after much prayers, I initiated with a few Christians in my firm to start a "cell group" in July (there are about 9 of us). We met once a month and it was such a blessing to have a committed group of Christians in the office. We will begin to study the book of Ecclesiastes in 2007.
- taking 2 different theology evening classes at China Graduate School of Theology, one in the Summer months about 'Looking at Emotions from the Christian perspective', the other one in the Fall season on a difficult topic of 'The Biblical views of Suffering'. Though it was never easy to get to classes on time in a weekday evening, both classes shed many new lights to my biblical understanding in these two increasingly important areas in our lives.
- joining the Tsim Fook Church formally in June. Very thankful that God brought me to settle at Tsim Fook after searching for a spiritual home for some years.
- starting this blog with my prayer partners since July, as an encouragement to each other on our devotion and meaningful thoughts.
- went on an very 'ad hoc' 5-days trip to Tokyo, Japan with 5 sisters in my fellowship in August, had so much fun shopping and eating together.
- for the first time ever in my life to win a prize in a lucky draw. At my firm's Christmas party, I won the grand prize - a digital video camera!
- after knowing someone as just ordinary friends at my highschool's best friend's wedding for a couple of years, something took us further this year. After several months of waiting and prayers, finally in September, a new stage in this friendship commenced joyfully. God's timing is always so unexpected and fill us with pleasant surprises.
The list can go on and on... There is no better ways to express my gratefulness to our King but to count each day my blessing and continue to live my days pleasing in His sight.
Immanuel.
I'm thankful for :
- starting a new job at Conyers Dill and Pearman in January. I'm back to private practice doing corporate finance legal work again but in a different seat (offshore work on BVI, Cayman Islands and Bermuda law)
- having Andrew and Felicia visited us for nearly 4 weeks in June. They stayed with me at my "Park Island hotel" and had alot of fun time in HK like eating, shopping, watching World Cup and having fun at Ocean Park. On top of it, the whole family had a very nice trip together to Soeul, Korea (and we also watched the World Cup there, cheering for the Korean team!). I also took another trip with Andrew and Felicia to KK, Malaysia, visited the in-laws and saw the beautiful beaches and marvelous sunset I've never seen.
- after much prayers, I initiated with a few Christians in my firm to start a "cell group" in July (there are about 9 of us). We met once a month and it was such a blessing to have a committed group of Christians in the office. We will begin to study the book of Ecclesiastes in 2007.
- taking 2 different theology evening classes at China Graduate School of Theology, one in the Summer months about 'Looking at Emotions from the Christian perspective', the other one in the Fall season on a difficult topic of 'The Biblical views of Suffering'. Though it was never easy to get to classes on time in a weekday evening, both classes shed many new lights to my biblical understanding in these two increasingly important areas in our lives.
- joining the Tsim Fook Church formally in June. Very thankful that God brought me to settle at Tsim Fook after searching for a spiritual home for some years.
- starting this blog with my prayer partners since July, as an encouragement to each other on our devotion and meaningful thoughts.
- went on an very 'ad hoc' 5-days trip to Tokyo, Japan with 5 sisters in my fellowship in August, had so much fun shopping and eating together.
- for the first time ever in my life to win a prize in a lucky draw. At my firm's Christmas party, I won the grand prize - a digital video camera!
- after knowing someone as just ordinary friends at my highschool's best friend's wedding for a couple of years, something took us further this year. After several months of waiting and prayers, finally in September, a new stage in this friendship commenced joyfully. God's timing is always so unexpected and fill us with pleasant surprises.
The list can go on and on... There is no better ways to express my gratefulness to our King but to count each day my blessing and continue to live my days pleasing in His sight.
Immanuel.
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