Jesus Changes Everything

 

The Banner reads "Jesus Changes Everything"

I was cycling back to home from 888 Plaza and I saw the banner that reads "Jesus Changes Everything" outside Woodlands Evangelical Free Church.  It makes me ponder.  Indeed Jesus had made everything different for me now.  In my past, everyday was like the same to me, nothing new everyday, waking up, do blogging, do housework, went to work and so on.  

But after I had experienced the miracles of transcendence and life changes (the miraculous water bath) after Jesus came to me everyday is different to me.  Everyday is new and everyday experiencing changes.  

Seven stars needle flowering plants

Yam plant adopted on 17 March 2024

Life is so blissful watching my plants growing well, my children growing well, my cat staying close to me everyday and my mother is healthy.  

 

Video of mass at church of st mary of the angels, singing I am the bread of life

This easter sunday I recorded the hymn sang at the mass, a meaningful song that Jesus had told me "I am the bread of life".  

Buy Peace Tea

Aging and Death

 

Earlier days of me, probably 30 years old

Everyday I walked in the garden.  There were flowers and leaves and fruits, and even bird's nest now.  I saw the flowers withered and yellow leaves too.  The flowers are so transient.  Beauty too are transient.  The rose cactus flowers or the seven stars needle flowers, and most of the flowers, open only for a day and wither the next day!  I saw dead flowers on the floor, how wasted they are.  Yet the flowers dropped, fruits are formed.  

What is life?  We come to the earth and no one teach me what is life.  But we can see and learn from our surroundings.  Jesus wants us to choose spiritual life.  He assures us, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing" (John 6:63).  What is the most important thing in life?  What is even more important than food, drink, clothes, and a place to stay?  What is more important than education and a job?  Most of us value these highly.  Yet they help life only during our stay in this fleshly body-- which is all too brief!

Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.  You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you.  Each man's life is but a breath (Psalm 39:4-5)

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:13,14)

My father 12.10.38-25.1.21

Just like my father.  He too was young before, got married, had children and then aged, got sick and he left my mum and the children and grandchildren.  The living ones will be heartbroken at the loss.  The dead will be gone forever.  "The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.  (1 John 2:17)

Fleshly life is brief and fading.  God's life is the opposite -- always bright, always whole, always fresh, never ending. Fleshly birth, by its very nature, can never be good enough for God's kingdom.  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  (1 Corinthians 15:50)

Believe in Jesus.  Turn to Jesus for forgiveness of sins and Follow Him.

He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die (John 11:25-26)

What others hopelessly call 'death' becomes our doorway into eternal happiness.  

The one who welcome us home is our Creator.  He is our Father .  He invites you and me to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:12,13).

Buy Me Tea

Purpose of Life

 

Photograph taken at Church of St Mary of the Angels on 26.12.2021

Is it too late to discover your purpose in life now?  I discovered the meaning of life when encountered Jesus.  During my childhood years, I often had chance to sit in my father or brother's car to travel around.  There were times where we went to far away places like Malaysia, so the journey is extremely long.  The feeling was no good.  I did not feel well sitting in car most of the time.  Sitting in the car, I often looked out of the window and I love to see trees, different sort of trees and plants.  When the car stopped, I would look down, bend my head down on the car seat and I would think of questions.  

I wondered what is the meaning of life -- why parents give birth to children and then children grow up to become adults, married and then the life cycle continue.  I thought why there must be sufferings where the parents died and the children are so sad.  The life cycle of birth, death and sufferings continue like that.  Children crying over the death of parents.  In some cases parents crying over the lost of their premature death of their children.  

I finally came to the realization in the year 2008 where my questions seemed to be answered.  Our lives on earth is to know God as God serve as our parent on earth.  By knowing Him, our burden can be lighten when we shared them with Him.  By turning to Him, we are not walking alone.  Finally, there is someone we can commune to when we needed help.  By our Faith, there is a HOPE.  Hope that on the last day when breathe our last, we will finally able to meet our departed loved ones.  Though we cannot see them after they died, but we know that they still exist.  And it will be everlasting life with God.  

All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.… ~ Matthew 11:27-29

Buy Me Tea

The Opportune Time

 

Photograph showing an early reunion dinner with my mother on 29.1.2022

My mother said she would cook for our reunion dinner on Saturday.  You can see the six dishes on the dining table.  

                                             Photograph of Dora eating chicken at the table

Dora waited at the dining table.  I saw her waiting and so decided to give her a piece of chicken.  She smelled fish, but it was spicy so I did not give her fish.  

On the fateful day, it happened just after our dinner when everyone was free, really free -- even Clara finished washing the dishes.  After the incident, we talked about it, and came to know that Ricsson saw Dora at first at the window.  But we were so used to her walking in and out and nothing happened.  She was so skillful.  So apparently he left her alone.  But moments later, when I was walking to Isaac's room, and at that time, Ricsson was looking for Dora too.  Ricsson saw Dora.  He did not know that was a reflection of Dora or the real Dora outside the window.  Dora looked at Ricsson and she 'fell'.  Ricsson conveyed the message next.   After the incident, we talked and thought and it was like all planned carefully.  Dora 'fell' as though planned, waiting for Ricsson to see her and then waiting for Ricsson to convey the message to me.  I heard the news with disbelief.  It was so unreal.  How can it be?  But still we have to face the music.  

We were suppose to eat Yu Sheng after the dinner, but in the end we need to tend to Dora's departure.  We went downstairs and I saw her lying on the ground.  I quickly carried her in my arms.  She was not dead yet.  I called out, "Dora, you must pull through." and the children helped to search for emergency hotlines to call vet or pet ambulance.  Dora was so weak and warm in my arms.  But later I saw her eyes not the same anymore.  She was gone...

Still we sent her to the vet, Mount Pleasant Veterinary Group.  It was still open during Chinese New Year Eve, a day where many shops closed early.  Carrying Dora in my arms, we took Gojek to 2 Jalan Gelenggang.  Over there, a vet quickly tend to us.  However, he declared Dora's death.  He told us that her legs were broken too.  Her jaw also dislocated.  

The vet brought us to a small room where we could spend the last moments with Dora.  It was a sad moment for everybody yet we were grateful that Dora had chosen to end at this perfect timing where everybody was around.  There were even time allowed for us to grief.  Not only was she obedient, she was so considerate until the end of time.

Buy Me Tea

The Fateful Day

 

A photograph of the beautiful yellow flowers on the tree at our neighbourhood on 31.1.2022

It was a beautiful sunny day.  On this day, people, mostly the Chinese, will celebrate their Chinese Reunion dinner.  My children decided to go swimming on this day.  So we booked the swimming slots and then took a bus to the swimming pool.  

After swimming, we wanted to go Marsiling Mall to eat Fried Kway Tiao, but most of the stalls were closed.  Only some Indian and Malay stalls were opened.  So we decided to go NTUC to buy some food for Hot Pot later at home.  

As soon as we were done shopping, we walked home.  On the way, we saw beautiful flowers as shown above.  The whole tree was blossomed with beautiful yellow flowers.  We stayed there to took photographs and then proceed to go home.  

         Photograph of our dining table on 31.1.2022 (You can see Dora at the top left hand corner)

                           Photograph showing Dora sitting and looking at the dining table

Back at home, we prepared everything for the dinner.  Everyone helped except Ricsson who was sleeping. Isaac shred the carrots, radish and cucumber for the Yu Sheng (Fish Salad).  Clara and me prepared the rest of the dinner.  Dora was so curious.  That was the first time she saw Hot Pot on the table.  She was popping up her head to look at the dining table.  Clara asked me to look at her.  She was so cute.  Then just before dinner was going to be served, Dora was sitting at the dining table.  She also wanted to join us!

During the dinner, Dora waited at the table.  We hesitated to give her Salmon because the soup was not clear.  It was tomato hot pot.  In the end we did not give her anything for that day.  A day before, when we had reunion dinner with my mother, Dora ate chicken for the dinner.  But we soon regretted not giving her Salmon...

After dinner, we cleared the table and I was talking about Dora, counting her age and years with us.  Then we was talking about what time we will have our Yu Sheng.  Clara was in the kitchen washing dishes later.  Ricsson and Isaac were together.  I was busy with some work on the dining table too.  I was not looking at Dora then.  After a while, I decided to walk to Isaac's room.  Ricsson and Isaac were together there.  I could not remember why I walked there.  As soon as I reached Isaac's room, I saw Ricsson standing at the window.  I heard a sound from the window.  The next moment, Ricsson told me about Dora being outside and had fallen...

Buy Me Tea

Fate or destiny

 

                                 Stray cats at Fu Shan Garden on 14 March 2019

Dora was the one in the middle

One afternoon when Isaac came back from school, he saw an incredible sight.  It was the dinosaur playground filled with many cats.  He quickly came home to tell me.  He said he wanted to have a cat.  

As it was my lunch time, I had to rush back to work.  So I quickly went to the playground to have a look.  Wow, there were so many cats, as many as ten!  All the cats were lying around, not moving at all.  Some were adults some were kittens.  We did not know which one to pick.  Then I just heard pick the grey one.  I saw the grey one and I carried it.  I put it in my bicycle's basket and we brought it home.  

The children wanted to name it Dora.  The children were excited to have Dora at home.  I did not know how Dora behaved as I went to work.  When I came home in the evening, I bathed her.  The next day we brought her to the vet to deworm and had vaccination.  The vet told us that she was about two months old.  

From that day onwards, Dora became our family.  As each day passed by, we love her more and more.  She was so adorable and sweet.  

Dora was very skinny.  The vet said she was underweight.  Under our care, she looked better and better each day.  She was so beautiful.  But it was too short a life for her.  She was only 3 years with us, so healthy and pretty.  

If we did not bring her home, what would her life be now?  

Buy Me Tea

Goodbye Dora

 

Rest in peace, Dora... We missed you forever. 

 After Cebest died, this time round, I took good care of her nutrition. I make sure that she ate good food. However, I failed again...

There was time when Dora looked at the altar for so long, not one time but a few times.  She stared at it for so long as though God was teaching her or conversing with her.  I never thought that she would leave so sudden.  I bought so much food and litter for her.  The moment just happened so fast.  It only takes a minute...

Everyone grieved.  Her lost was too sudden that I can't believe it at first.  But it really happened...

'You tried your best'.  Isaac comforted me.  Thanks Isaac.  

Buy Me Tea

Cebest

 

Photograph of the family in 2003

Life is so unpredictable.  One moment he was gone, another moment he came back.  Then now he is gone again.  Now, he is remarried...  I bought a Schnauzer for him in the year 2003.  Woe to me, I bought a dog instead of keeping a baby!  I never know that I would have 3 children next.  I never know that Cebest had such a short life also...

Ah Kew, his friend, happened to have a car that day.  Richard borrowed the car, and we went to see dogs at Pasir Ris.  We came across the only 'black' Schnauzer there, so cute and loveable.  It was love at first sight.  So I bought it for him.  Back home, we thought of a name for him.  'See the best' which is Cebest.  We paid only $2000 at that time to buy Cebest.  

Photograph of Cebest lying on the bed

Now, Isaac wishes to have a dog.  We went to the pet shop to see dogs.  He likes a Dachshund so much.  I asked the shopkeeper for the price and it was so incredible.  A Dachshund now cost $13000!!!!  It was simply too expensive.  We could not afford it.  And Isaac was so sad.  

Anyway, we had Cebest with us for 3 years.  We lost him after the yearly vaccination.  After vaccination, one day, he saw 'something' coming in from the main door.  He was barking non-stop at the air.  He saw something which we could not see.  The 'thing' came into our room.  He followed.  Then after that his health deteriorated.  The 'thing' might be the death angel that came to bring him away from us.  He always hide in the store room and his appetite was no good.  He refused to eat.  I wanted to bring him to the vet, but Richard said, "wait and see."  But in the end, in the early morning, dawn time, we had to rush him to the vet, which was too late.  He died at the clinic.  

 

 I was so sad for weeks.  It was the year 2006 that we lost him.  After that we do not have anymore dogs in our lives.  In the year 2007, I had occasions where my legs 'kick' on something at the end of the bed.  I also heard bells.  It seemed that Cebest had come back.  I was 'converted' as well.  And in the year 2008, my faith had saved me...

Buy Me Tea

Holy Communion

 

Family photograph taken before the year 1988

Every time when I mention about Holy Communion, I would remember my paternal grandmother.  She is sitting with my grandfather in the photograph above.  What is Holy Communion?

Photograph of me receiving Jesus the first time, My First Holy Communion

Even though I was taught about this Holy Communion in Catechism:

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and gave it to His disciples, and said, "Take this, all of you, and eat it: This is My Body which will be given up for you."

When supper was ended, He took the cup.  Again He gave thanks and praise, gave the cup to His disciples, and said, "Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of My Blood, the Blood of the new and everlasting covenant.  It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.  Do this in memory of Me."

I was not aware that I was receiving Jesus at that time.  It was just bread I received in my mouth then.  It got soften with saliva and I just swallowed it.  After that, I went to the pew to pray.  So every time we go church, this is the main thing that we do, the reason why we go church.  

Our Lord changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood and offered Himself to God.  This was a sacrifice.  This was His Body to be offered on the Cross.  This was His Blood to be shed for the forgiveness of sins.  He told the Apostles that He would die on the next day.  That would be the bloody sacrifice on the Cross.  

But Jesus wanted this unbloody sacrifice to continue on earth till the end of time.  When He told the Apostles to do as He had done, He made them priests and gave them power to offer this sacrifice.  

So when I was young, I often saw my grandmother asking the priest to give her Holy Communion, whether it was mass time or outside mass timing.  She always liked to come to our house, wearing slippers and she would always washed her feet in our toilet.  The next thing that she like would be washing her hands too.  

I was told that my grandmother passed away peacefully 'in her sleep' in the year 1988.  Look at the family photograph above.  The years have passed.  Four people were not here anymore.  They were my grandparents, my father and my third maternal uncle. And I was 'dead' and was 'raised' again...

Buy Me Tea

49 Days After Death

 

                                                                         My Father

Last Saturday my mother celebrated 49 days after death for my father.  It was supposed to be on Sunday, but the priests would not be free on Sunday to pray for him.  

Early in the morning my mother cooked his favourite food and dessert.  My brother went to buy his favourite food too.  On the table was placed all his favourite food.  

My mother said that for daughters we would mourn until today.  But for sons, they will mourn for 100days.  During the days of mourning, we cannot go other people's houses, cannot attend other funerals and weddings.  We were not supposed to wear red or bright colours.  

 

       My Father when he was young

 So you can see that people grow old.  We are not forever young.  That is the life cycle of human being.  After death, we are resurrected -- the belief of Catholic.  Because of this belief, it gives us hope.  It gives us reassurance that our father is still alive and we that we will meet some day to come. 

Luke 11:9, 10  -- So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.…

I prayed that my parents have everlasting life, and I am willing to sacrifice myself for them.  I do not know what is God's plan for me now.  Having experience death and resurrection, I place all my trust to the Lord and God Jesus Christ now. 

Buy Me Tea

My Father

 

Today we celebrates my father's 48th day of his passing.  Tomorrow will be 49th day.  My mother cooked his favourite dishes and my brother bought his favourite food to pray to him.  

Many years ago, before Jesus came, I would be scared that I would lost my parents one day.  I always pray for their safety and for them to have a long life.  I am scared that I would not be able to see them anymore should one day they died.  However, after I had experienced 'death' and resurrection myself, I do not fear death anymore.  

It was written in the scripture that Jesus died and resurrected.  And in today's prayer at the columbarium, we had a reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians -- 1Thess 4:13-18 

Believers Who Have Died: Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Yes, I experienced it myself on that night of transcendence -- I was not sleeping.  I was closing my eyes.  Then at the point of transcendence, God came.  My room was so filled with white light, so bright until even though I closed my eyes, my eyes could experience light.  (No wonder St Paul's/Saul's eyes were blinded by the light of Jesus on the way to Damascus -- Acts 9:1-19 , for me I was so scared, I do not dare to open my eyes.)  There were 3 flashes of light, and various sound I heard later on on both ears -- birds, dogs and wolves.  After that it was victory at last with the blowing of the trumpet sound.  It was dawn by then.  Beside me was Richard, all asleep the whole while. 

And my father often mention the words "Hock Wack" meaning Jesus 复活。  So I believe my father will be resurrected too.  

This is a picture of me and my father.  I must thank my sister for being the photographers for families events.  Without her, I would have no memoir to keep.  I must also thank my father for supporting me, paying all the education fees for my studies.  And yet I had not repay him...

 

 Buy Me Tea

Peace Nature

Getting a pen name is hard as so many were taken.  Recently, before I retrieve back my lost pen name, I created my third YouTube, Peace Nature -- I am going to post videos again.  But I had no more iMovies.  So I had to download other video editing software, learn how to use them.  To date, I had not find any video editing software that I like yet.  I am still searching for one that is easy to use.  

Why Peace Nature?  I were thinking what name should I use?  Still I would use Peace.  I think I still like to be peaceful.  Then I keep thinking what I like.  And at the same time thinking of words that are available too.  In the end I chose Nature because I want everything to be as natural as possible.  Just like giving birth, I wanted it to be natural too.  When eating food, I like it to be as natural as possible too, choosing plain most of the time.  

With that my pen name is now Peace Nature.  I would use Peace Bella occasionally.  Peace Belle account hope to retrieve back, but don't know how.  

 

This is a video of Mumbo, given by the school counsellor.  There was another one, Jumbo, but she was stolen.  Mumbo was bought somewhere on the 21 February 2021 by the school counsellor.  He came to our home on the 25 February 2021.  Unfortunately he died on 2 March 2021. 

  Buy Me Tea