Reflecting on 2021

As the year 2021 is coming to an end, it's time to reflect and ask 2 questions:

1. Have I use my time in 2021 wisely?

The 3 main areas that take up most of my time are (1) House works, (2) Exercise/Jogging & (3) Personal time

#1 House-works / Serving

This year, I am given the honour to become the full-time servant of the house. House-works include cleaning, cooking, marketing, laundry, taking care of Dewy – feeding, washing her toilet. This is my primary duty and it takes most of the time. So, serving in the home trained me to do everything out of love. 1Corinthians 16:14 “And do everything with love” – this is my motivation.  I think I pass the test of doing everything out of love, not only for the family, but also for community works. My perspective of serving cheerfully has grown as the days go by. Initially, it was very hard. I think it is good to always remember that every time something needs to be done: “JUST DO IT!”

Writing about serving, we must always remember that the Son of God, who willingly took on human form and came not to be served but to serve. And He served humbly, setting for us an example to follow.

 

#2. Exercise / Jogging

I feel stronger and run faster this year. I managed to complete a few 10km runs in about 55 minutes on numerous occasions. As I am no longer in full-time employment, I usually jogged about 4-5 times a week. Most of these runs or jogs were about 5km to 8km each and were usually about 5:35min/km. Occasionally, I will attempt a 5km run in less than 26 minutes. I am happy for the tremendous progress as I have never able to do a 10km run in less than 60 minutes when I am working full-time. What I need to do more now is to include aerobic exercise and weights pressing or lifting for muscle strength.

For 2022, I will run longer distances and build endurance beside power. My next goal is to do regularly 15km runs in less than 90 minutes next year and progressively to 20km before the year ends. To achieve this, I will need to build strength besides just running.

#3 Personal Time

Praying – This year is also a very stressful period of my life. So, prayer is most crucial to draw inner strength from the Almighty God. Afternoon is usually my time of prayer. It is also a time to reflect and listen. I have learn a lot about stillness and listening to God.

Reading - I have read less this year compared to previous years which I read a lot (mostly books borrowed from Singapore Bible College Library). Since COVID started, the library is closed. So, next year, I must get back the habit of reading again. There are many books in my book shelf, which I need to re-read and reflect.

Creating Passive Income - The total monthly household expense is about $1800/month. Food cost the most. (Singapore is the most expensive place in the world, you know!). Thanks to my daughter who contributed $300/monthly (quite a lot from her who just started work) and my wife who contributed $500/monthly. I still pay all the utility bills, town council, phone & internet, etc. So, it is important to plan well before retirement and have passive income. Passive income is income collected even when I am not doing anything. Nice right! Shake leg and still have money every month! These passive incomes are from dividends of the stocks. Also, when the stock market goes a bit crazy, then I can also make some money by careful trading the stock market. So, time must be allocated to monitor the stock market daily. I usually look at the stock market in the morning when it opens at 9am for a short while and then goes for a jog. The two most crucial period where day traders flip the market are during the morning at about 10:35 to 11am and in the afternoon at about 3:45 to 4pm, when they cover up their trading positions.

Playing Jigsaw Sudoku – This is my relax moment and also to exercise my logical reasoning. It is also about developing a sharp eye to see the missing numbers, one by one.

2. What are the lessons I have learnt this year?

Continue to contribute financially to Christian ministry – Gospel Mission to the Blind (GMB), Our Daily Bread (ODB) and National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Giving is one area where I learn to be careful is using my money, especially after I stop working. I have to trust God for His providence is order to be able to give. Let see how this goes for 2022.

Learning to cope with stress – physical, mental and emotional. It’s all about learning to let go and rest in God. Everything that happen this year has a reason. Once, I learn to look at the big picture of life and trust God in walking His Will.

Learning to serve cheerfully - it all about the willingness to do lowly and tedious jobs. He who wants to be the first must learn to be the least.

What have you learn this whole year, 2021?

Agape

Be careful how we speak

 Before you speak, THINK:

T~ is it True?

H ~ is it Helpful?

I ~ is it Inspiring?

N ~ is it Necessary?

K ~ is it Kind?

By speaking, I should also include writing, blogging, and commenting. At the heart of it all, what and how we speak reveal our character. So, it is important to always reflect, and feed our soul and thoughts with Truth & Love. Learning from the Bible is a good place to start. Also, we can learn from wise mentors, leaders with integrity, bosses who show exemplary characters. Observe how these people speak in private and in public, and over a long period of time, we can see their strength and weaknesses.

I remember a few years ago, when I was still working, my boss asked me to cheat and altered the data we are collecting for a project which I was working on. The test results could not meet the required specifications. We had only 2 weeks left to complete the project. Of course, the easy way out was to just obey the boss and if the cheating were found out, then I will just point my fingers at the boss. But, I told the boss that I will continue working on it until I got the project working correctly. The boss looked into my eyes and said firmly: “How?” Without hesitation, I said: “I pray to God, God will help me!” After he heard what I said, he walked away. (He is not a Christian). So, then, I was stuck with a very difficult project on hand and only left with 2 weeks to struggle it out. When alone, I really cried out to God, and “if even God, You don’t help me, I will have to resign.” When, we bring God into our situation, “the Red Sea will part and we will walk through safety”. Thank God, after much prayer and careful analysis of what went wrong, God helped me to get the project completed in time for delivery. From then on, the boss will never ask me to do anything unethical or untruthful.

A recent event in Singapore triggered me to write this post:

The political saga in Singapore of a Member of Parliament (MP) lying in a Parliament sitting, and 2+ months later had to admit to her lies, because she could not substantiated what she had said. Worst still, she also breeched the confidentiality by telling the story from a woman support’s group who encountered sexual abuse or harassment. Even without confidentiality, we don’t share sad and painful stories of others. Church Cell Groups are also such that we keep all the sharing of stories private. What is more damaging now is that she said her party leader told her to “bring her lies to the grave”? (Meaning: she should keep covering up her lies even after she dies). Of course, the party leader vehemently denied saying that. As there was no witness, it’s now between her words and his. But the image of the Worker Party has greatly been tainted by this political saga. The first requirement of selecting political candidates is to observe how they speak and project themselves in private and in public. Perhaps, Worker Party has no put in enough time to observe their candidates before fielding them for General Elections.

Sometimes, we make mistake in choosing people. In 1 Samuel 15:35; God was sorry that He had ever made Saul as king. Jesus Christ chose Judas Iscariot as His disciple. Once we know that we have chosen the wrong person, we need to dissociate ourselves from them and not to coerce them to do even more wrong or lies.

 What lessons have I learn from this political saga?

#1. Never tell lies. Lies destroy trust and characters.

#2. Be wary of people with loose-tongues, they may also spread things about you to others.

#3. Learn to speak with facts to substantiate. Seek permission if there is a need to talk about others.

#4. Never backstab your leader. If you fall out with him, just leave amicably.

 

In our circle of friends, colleagues, church-mates, neighbours, relatives, or acquaintances, it is always good to observe how each one of us speak. Some may have loose-tongues or like to gossip and spread news, some may like to exaggerate, while others are gentle, courteous and truthful in what they say. To those that fair badly or marginally with their words, we can still maintain a cordial conversation, be polite and not appear unapproachable. Just do not put too much trust in them or reveal too much important information.

¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (Ephesians 4:15)

 

Blessed Christmas!

Agape

Time - Durations or Opportunities?

 “You’re on leave today?” My neighbour asked as we stepped into the lift of our HDB (Housing Development Block) block this morning.

“No. I have stop working. I have retired?”

“Oh, few years ago, I stopped work for 7 months and was so bored that I came out of retirement and went back to work.” My neighbour told me. He just could not find anything meaningful to do with his time.

……

Not me. As they say: “Time flies”, when you are busy. Or like my neighbour: “Time crawl”, when you are bored.

But for me, I say: “Time is life”

Every day is an opportunity to serve the family; grow stronger physically; talk to God; learn new things; meditate, reflect and journal / blog; or reach out to people when they talk to you, like this neighbour. I see this conversation as a “Kairos Moment”, which we happened to meet. Was that a divine appointment? In the Greek vocabulary, Time is either Chronos (cronoV) or Kairos (kairoV). There is another Greek word for time actually, that is seldom heard by preachers but learnt during my Greek Class. It is Hora (wra) = hour. Jesus used it when He said: “The hour has come…”

Time is the only resource God has given to everyone who has breath. So long as you has life – all living things, you are given 24 hours each day to live, enjoy, bless others, serve others, and do meaningful work or to just relax. The choice is yours, but don’t abuse it or it will cause your life and soon you are dead; and time is taken away from you.

 

#1. Chronos Time – A duration of a period

Chronos time refer to a date of an occurrence; like my birthdate and the duration of my school days. The year 2020 is a chronos time that we will all remembered as the COVID year.

 

#2. Kairos Time – A moment of opportunities

Kairos Time is usually use a time with a purpose, as a time that is used with qualities. Chronos marks quantity; while Kairos as quality. It is the time wisely used and fulfil certain objectives and purpose. It can be said a time well used. Chronos time will always pass by, but when we capture that moment and use it meaningfully or wisely, it becomes a Kairos Timing. (Just like when you meet a friend and start talking meaningfully; or see a person in need and seize the opportunity to bless him, etc).

¹⁵ Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of the time (Kairos), because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:15-17 NRSV)

In Eph 5:15-17 Apostle Paul tells us how to be wise with our time:

(1) Be careful how we live;

(2) Understand the will of the LORD for us.

In simple words, don’t use your time for evil thoughts, words or action (then it became “the days are evil” verse 16). Occasionally, I fall into this trap by being angry for too long, or worry the whole day, etc. These are days of Chronos time. However, there are days of Kairos time, when I deliberately worship God and meditate/memorise on His Word, even as I was jogging along the beaches of Pasir Ris Park. An hour or two like this is always time of blessings. Also, when we choose to use time as Kairos and not chronos, then, my speech to people will usually be courteous and polite because I choose to make it a Kairos moment, which in a way is also the will of the Lord for us as Christians. Even in sickness and home-bound, I can set a period of time to pray and reflect as I rest and recuperate. In resting and relaxing, I choose to quietly recite a few memorized Bible verses.

The point of being Kairos is to be deliberate /careful in our thoughts, words and actions. We decide not to let the situations control our emotions or actions but rather, let the will of the Lord (that is, Bible values and principles) decide how we should behave at any moments. And so, we need to know the Bible well enough to live right, and use our time wisely until it becomes habitual. It will be life long process. So, may God helps us!

Of course, we can also spend chronos time without feeling guilty. I still play my Jigsaw Sudoku games every day (the more difficult it is, the more time it is used up). It is a way of relaxing and sharpening my reasoning.  I still jog normally and watch people along the way on some days. We don’t need to keep our “Spiritual Bow & Arrow” taut and tense all day. Jesus told His disciples to go somewhere just to rest & relax after a day of ministry.

…

And so the next time you talk to someone, may this short writing trigger you in your conversation and turn the Chronos timing into a Kairos moment.

God has surely triggered my thoughts today to reflect. Ephesians 5:15-17 just pop out of my head.

 

So, how do you use your time? Would love to hear from you how else can we use our time wisely.

Agape

Take Risk & Manage Risk

 Are you courageous enough to face challenges? Daring to take risk? Dare to fail?

I just read of a 26-year old man who lost about $400,000 in the stock market. He had saved up to US$300,000 with his frugal living. He started well, with US$5,000 on a US stock called AMC and made it to $15,000. Then he bet on silver and increased his capital to $50,000 within a short time. Next, he wanted to move to a safer stock and chance upon Ali Baba, a very well-known and profitable Chinese e-commerce stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Ali Baba stock price was falling due to the Chinese government clamping down on all tech-stock and the price looked attractive. That’s when he put his money (US$300,000) into Ali Baba. As the price kept dropping, he put in another US$100,000. (All he had up to that time). Painful as it was to see the price kept dropping and taking a mental toil on him, he finally exited the stock after 9 month in October 2021 with about US$20,000 left. You can read it HERE.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvnn3a/i-lost-dollar400000-almost-everything-i-had-on-a-single-robinhood-bet

AliBaba price chart (keep falling)

I respect this young man. Time is on his side to recover from any failure. That is the beauty of youth. He work hard, frugal and save every dollar that he earns. He is hard-working, read a lot about investing and learn how to trade and make progress initially. He dare to take risk. That is what I also like about him. People who dare to take risk and challenges are usually courageous. They dare to fail, learn from it and come out stronger. To be fair to him, he traded on a very good stock – Ali Baba. So, what is the mistake that he made in his investment? Let us learn from King Solomon, the wise man from of old (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 NLT):

#1. Don’t be afraid of risk (Ecc 11:5-6)

Life is full of uncertainty. Be humble enough to admit that we do not understand every activity of God, who does all things (Ecc 11:5). Because of our limited capabilities, we need to work hard – “plant in the morning, busy all afternoon” (Eccl 11:6) – that is: do everything you can to improve and grow. Our hardworking will pay off with profit even with risk and uncertainty. That is what King Solomon told us.

Then he explained how to mitigate this risk in Ecclesiastes 11:1-4.

 

#2. Diversify your portfolio (Ecc 11:1-2)

Divide your investments among many places, even across the seas (into other countries). In the stock market where there is a high risk, don’t put your money only in 1 place or only 1 or 2 stocks. If that stock get hit and price falls (like Ali Baba), all your money will wipe off. That is what happen to this young man who lost almost all his $400,000. Practically, I think it is good to spread your money across different kind of stocks – equities, Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), and Bonds; all of which have different level of risks. But do not spread it too much until you lose focus. Keep it to 10 -15 stocks, with each stocks not more than 10% of your capital. I personally invest only in Singapore (home ground is always familiar and safer) and good stocks with strong fundamental and profitable business. Time is not on my side and so, there is no point to venture across the seas now. If you are younger, yes, try “across the seas”.

#3. Prepare for rainy days (Ecc 11:3)

Warren Buffet, the richest investor of our time said: “"Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble."

Here, we know that rainy day, or bad times will always come like a dark cloud or a rotten tree that is going to fall. We may not know when it will happen, but it WILL SURELY happen to a stock market crash whereby every stock prices fall by more than 20% - 50%. And when that happen, it is the opportunity to buy good stocks at a very cheap price. It is important to have sufficient cash on hand to serve as a bucket for you the catch the falling price and buy at undervalue price. The mistake this young man made is that he did not keep his US$100,000 as his bucket and not buy in Ali Baba when it is the only stock that is dropping while the stock market is still not crashing. I personally hold about 40% of my money in cash and wait for the rainy day. This cash can form 2 buckets to collect the rain twice.

 

#4. Don’t wait for perfect timing (Ecc 11:4)

On the other hand, rainy day don’t come often. It happens only once in a decade or so. So, he who wait for the perfect timing will never start planting or investing. Always start small and learn as we grow. This is what the young man who lost his US$400,000 do it right. He started small and learn along the way.

 

 Life is about managing risk and continue to plant and grow. What kind of risk are you most afraid of? Be strong to face it.  But don’t take too much risk until you can’t sleep. If that happens, cut it off, take the loss and let go. Stock market investing is no different.

Agape

My Simple Prayers

 Today, I hear God telling me: “You don’t pray much these days.”

 

I confess to God that I have slacken last week. “December, with no cell meetings cause me to slack.” God, please forgive me for giving excuses.

And so, my mind started to wander into the simple prayers “encounters” that triggered me and humbled me to draw nearer to God.

People size you up by how you pray:

#1. In Prayer Meetings

Whenever we are in a group prayer, people instinctively are drawn to those who are eloquent in prayers. They are the so call “prayer warriors”. Some people also take the opportunity to display their “spiritual” level of maturity by their prayers. That leave us (me included) with nothing to “show-case” and so if we can be quiet, or avoid being called to pray, we feel more at ease. This is the kind of prayer meetings that I loathe to attend. No wonder, most Wednesday evening prayer meeting often has low attendance.

Last year 2020, during the Alpha meeting I was appointed into the prayer group besides being the helper in one team. I suspected that I was appointed to be in the prayer group because, during one mock / trial-run Alpha zoom meeting, I shared that I often pray while driving alone. The Alpha ministry leader/trainer happened to be in my mock Alpha meeting. I may have sound boastful while sharing about prayer and that triggered him to get me to be involved in prayer for the Alpha sessions (12 sessions in all). There are 3 people in the Prayer Group. Since the other 2 people try to be very passive, I took the initiative and put up a prayer list (as requested by the Ministry Pastor). And, so with that, I became the prayer IC. And I had to update the prayer list weekly. Although, the 3 of us took turn to pray each week, somehow for the last 3 sessions, the ministry leader specifically called me to close each sessions with prayers. I remembered clearly during the 12^th (final) sessions on 22^nd October 2020, he specifically said: “I ask Mark Lim to close us with prayer, AGAIN!” to the giggles of several girls who were in the Alpha zoom sessions. He made it so obvious that he was using prayer to humble me. (“So you think you are so spiritual in prayer, right? Then pray for us, lah!). I must confess that I did not complete the prayer that final night. I actually broke down in tears near the end of my prayer and Karen, the administrator continued with a final sentence and closed the prayer for me. That week as the most stressful week for me as my wife broke her leg on 19^th October and I was no longer in a clear state of mind. [Bye-bye, no more Alpha sessions for me]

#2. In Leadership gathering

I remember the time when I was in the Precept Sunday Lunch Leadership gathering about 4 years ago. I was new to the Precept Ministry and the Elder who was the Advisor, was present. Seeing me as a newbie to the group, he started to talk to me (in a group), perhaps to size me out whether I was qualified to facilitate Bible Study Discussions. During the conversation, he would often quote Bible verses without mentioning the Scripture Passage or context to see if you follow the discussion. This is the kind of Christians’ sparring that are meant to indirectly show off or test others how knowledgeable someone are well Bible-versed. Then before the meal started, he called me to “say Grace” for the food. Instinctively, I knew in my heart that he was again sizing me up to hear how I prayed. I mean, in such a gathering, shouldn’t the top leader give thanks instead of a lowly new guy like me to do it, Jesus always take the lead to give thanks for the food, (see John 6:11) Since he displayed such well-trained in Bible verse, he should know that giving thanks to God for food is the duty of the top leader. [Even at home during meal times, it is my duty as head of the family to give thanks to God for the food, like Jesus, not any of my daughters].

#3. In Cell gathering

Many years back in my previous cell meeting, we often separated into men’s and ladies’ for prayers during the cell gathering. Once, during such a prayer meeting, the floor was opened for anyone to pray. After a long wait, no one wanted to verbally pray out loud and so, I took the initiative to pray for the men by names in the group. It was a long but simple prayer without any eloquence or drama. I remembered clearly after my prayer, one member smiled and said to the group that asking God for needs was very “childish” and we should thank God instead of asking for needs and helps. Then he prayed a Thanksgiving prayer (as if to teach me how to pray). All this while, I kept quiet and accepted the fact that I was childish (or child-like) when it comes to prayer.

God don’t size you up by how you pray

I often wonder how God would see me when He hears me praying to Him. Does He see me asking for needs and helps, very childish and is bothering Him?

Howard Hendricks, Professor of Dallas Theological Seminary shared a time when he was attending a Wednesday night Bible Study and Prayer Meeting:

 

A man in our church came to Christ and decided to show up for a prayer meeting and Bible Study on Wednesday night. We had the study and then we broke into groups for prayer.

“Hey, Howie. Where are we going?” he asked me as we headed down the hall.

“We’re going down here to pray,” I said.

“Well, then I’ve got a problem.”

“What’s your problem?”

“I can’t pray,” he admitted. “I mean, I can’t say it the way you guys say it.”

I said, “Friend, that’s no problem. Thank God for that.”

So, we began praying. I knew he wanted to participate, but he was a little hesitant. Finally, I reached over and prompted him to go ahead. I’d give anything to have a recording of what happened next.

He said, “Lord, this is Jim. I’m the one that met You last Thursday remember?” (I thought he was going to give God his zip code.) “I’m sorry I can’t say it the way the rest of these guys say it, but I really love You. Honestly, I do. And hopefully, after I know You awhile, I’ll be able to say it a lot better. Thanks a lot. I’ll see you later.”

You know what that man did? He turned on a prayer meeting. You see, the rest of us are saying prayers. As usual, we were reviewing our theology, taking our tour of the mission field, scrapping the Milky Way. This guy was praying – just talking to God. Without realizing it, he was way ahead of the rest of us because he was honest before his heavenly Father. The only thing that ever moves Him is our heart. - Howard Hendricks, Living By the Book; 2007; page 101

Yes, people listen to our prayer and size us where we are spiritually. (I can almost imagine how that Elder grade me during the Precept Lunch meeting if I pray like this man which Dr Hendricks talk about). But God sees our heart. Every time I draw near to God in prayer, I am reminded of Jesus’ parable on prayer in Luke 18:9-14

^{Luke 18:9} He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

So, how’s your prayer? A Pharisee’s kind of prayer or the tax collector’s kind of prayer – simple, short and helpless plea to God?

Agape

The Virtue of Waiting

 Life is full of delays, interruptions, obstacles, hindrances ….

Just when you think it is peaceful, an accident can happen and everything in life takes a new course. I remember many years ago, as I was stopping at a red-light traffic junction, a car suddenly knocked me from behind. It created a lot of hassle to get the car fixed, the inconveniences resulted in delays of work.

Or take the COVID-19 and its many variant – delta, omicron, …. (any Greek alphabet, you name it and it may soon be on the way), the whole world comes to a stand-still and is still testing everyone’s patience. The patience of slowing down in life, the patience of learning to wait and queue while getting into shopping malls, wet-markets; restaurants. Many are waiting to be able to move freely. The unknown of when all these will come to an end and we all be “free” is still … an unknown; really test our patience!

Then, last year October 2020, my wife suddenly broke her leg and a “peaceful” retirement plan is shelved and everything changed for 2021. Today, I got a text from her, after 13 months from that accident and she “proclaims” to have graduate soon from her physiotherapy! J)

13 months is a long time, especially when I do not know when this ordeal is going to end and life can be more relaxing. Yet, through it all, I learn PATIENCE, I learn to SERVE, I learn to accept what God has done to this family. The word WAIT has been my slogan each day as I go through the daily chores, routine, and some Bible Verses that link to this word WAIT has been my strength and comfort. Each time as I recite them in my mind, they build me up, for “YOUR Word is life”.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14)

 

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
    blessed are all those who wait for him. (Isaiah 30:18)

 

but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31)

 

One thing that I learn as I wait, is that I am waiting for God to act in HIS timing. Waiting is hard. Waiting is the testing of my soul, to learn to be humble, endurance, patience, self-control and above all, submissive to God’s timing. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God makes everything beautiful in His time. 13 months on, I am still learning and the soul find rest in God alone.

The Israelite too understood the trial of waiting as they wander in the wilderness for 40 years! They were led by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They moved only when the cloud moved; and stayed put and wait when the cloud was stationary. Sometime it could be days, months or longer before they moved, not knowing where but just following. It too can be hard of them.

Here we read of the account (Num 9:17-23):

¹⁷ Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. ¹⁸ At the command of the Lord the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp. ¹⁹ Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the Lord, and would not set out. ²⁰ Sometimes the cloud would remain a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they would set out. ²¹ Sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning; and when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they would set out. ²² Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out. ²³ At the command of the Lord they would camp, and at the command of the Lord they would set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

***

It seem that WAITING is one of God’s way of moulding and breaking us to transform into His likeness. He did that to the Israelite thousand years ago. He is still doing that today, at least to me. Is it to you also?

Do you encounter any interruptions, obstacles, hindrances each day that impede you from moving forward and force you to wait, back-track or pause? How do you feel?

Is waiting hard for you also?

Claim God’s word for yourself. Wait for the Lord!

Agape