Sacrificial Love, Merry Christmas!

It is written in Matthew 19: 29 "...anyone who sacrifices...will get it all back a hundred times
over." Reminds me of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer as I quoted here from
a boundless article "who wrote a letter to a young bride and groom, advising them on
the nature of the union they were about to enter:

'Your love is your own private possession, but marriage is more than something personal — it is a status, an office. Just as it is the crown, and not merely the will to rule, that makes the king, so it is marriage, and not merely your love for each other, that joins you together in the sight of God and man. As you gave the ring to one another and have now received it a second time from the hand of the pastor, so love comes from you, but marriage from above, from God. As high as God is above man, so high are the sanctity, the rights, and the promise of love. It is not your love that sustains the marriage, but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love.'

Joseph and Tracy got married this past Sat. Dec. 15, 2007 under a tremendous blizzard alert. The morning church ceremony was impeccable (except for the ring being so tightly attached on the ring bearer. I guess the pastor was funny in saying May love bind both of them so tightly as these rings. The banquet went well and Kelly had the bride's bouquet.

Now back to sacrificial love...

Sacrificial love is about work, not play; it's about becoming a servant, not a hero. Jesus said "Whoever wants to be great must become a servant." (Mark 10: 43-45) You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. Real fulfillment can't be found in self-centeredness." Simply put - when I set about the task of loving I usually end up giving instead of receiving. Love inevitably costs me three commodities that are most precious: my time, energy, and money. I don't part with these easily...because I have them in limited quantities...It's time to strip away the false glamour that the world and sometimes the church put on loving, and tell the truth: true love is sacrificial."

I cried out to the Lord tears of joy when sacrificing my time, energy and money... because it reminds me of Matthew 19: 29 "...anyone who sacrifices...will get it all back a hundred times over." Nobody said love is easy. Peter wondered if it was all worth-while when he asked Jesus, "We have left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?" Jesus told him anyone who sacrificed because of Him would get it all back a hundred times over. Sacrificial love will cost you. It will cost you in time, energy and money but can also cost you in giving up your pride, giving up your resentment, giving up the pain that someone caused you because you were being stubborn or "right."

I have learned the most profound aspect of love... Christ's love for us. It is unchanging. "Love does not seek its own" (1 Corinthians 13:5).

Christmas is upon us. God's greatest gift for us - in 1 John 4:9-11 tells us:

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Christ is born!!!!

John tells us, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another.”

On another point... I also want to reflect on another sacrificial love... that is Jesus' demonstration of sacrificial love... His hour has come yet he washes his disciples' feet during the last supper. Jesus shows how much he loved his disciples: “until the end.” He dedicates Himself to those he loves most. It is not easy - however Jesus' time, and energy were spent with his disciples. Knowing full well that whatever sacrifices he had He will get it all back a hundred times over.!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! TO YOU ALL my Friends!!

RIP - 親愛的媽咪.....很想念妳

RIP
Originally uploaded by HeyMing.

My aunt passed away on 6 Dec. from a long battle with stomach cancer. (Sometime I hate this part of December). We should be celebrating Christmas and the joy of giving. However it seems for the past 5 years (for me at least). A loved one is taken away. It's very sad to learn of her passing at such a young age (it's relative to my family). She was a great support to me during my stay in Taiwan a while back... I HOPE once I return to Taiwan in the New Year - I will be able to find and touch the people I love the most. I need to reconnect. The saddest part is that now my uncle is without his most precious love... same as my dad, also a widower. Both losing their loved ones in different life's battles. One taking gun shots another to cancer. Both didn't survive the cruelty of life. However that is part of life... comes death. I mean look at the smiles on my aunt's face. Nowadays we cannot get away from cancer. Stomach cancer is still common in Asia due to high salted, smoked and pickled diet. This picture was barely taken a few years back when I visited Taiwan. Seems to be cheerful... nothing will tell you cancer was developing. It came fast. Only a few months since she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Here is some readings from the MayoClinic about stomach cancer.

She worked so hard to support her family. Stays healthy by hiking up nearby mountains. I remember a while back when she was ecking out a small living supporting my uncle in his entrepreneurship. She opened a dessert restaurant making the most delicious flower tofu I know. I was there to help her out as well. A few years later she closed the business (very good business) to rest and support her husband in his company. There are so many many many good things to talk about her. "親愛的媽咪.....很想念妳" my niece uttered those words. It's so true. Tomorrow 12/12 is the 5 memorial of the passing of my own mother. I am uttering those "親愛的媽咪.....很想念妳" - I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, You'll miss them when they are gone from your life. Love the people close to you... Albeit, my aunt and I, we didn't speak and walk the same faith. She was on my side encouraging me to seek out my dreams and focus on my Christian faith. She cared for me while I was in the hospital after my surgery many years ago. I remember those moments when you are the weakest point of your life lying in a hospital and there is that sweet voice that comfort you to be strong.

"親愛的媽咪.....很想念妳"... what else can I write???!!! Very very very sad and saddened by the loss. Those are powerful words that break hearts. The Great Blessed Assurance is that I will see my own mother in Heaven. Yeah that's right, heaven!

Stay strong uncle, Ting and Yi-Ann! and Rest In Peace aunt! Your family is always in my prayers.