Got this forwarded email from a friend. Nice one. Sometimes life is just so weird, but you got to stand firm on your principals and God's value.
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different.
He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he like the others, received a seed.
He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.
Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil -He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.
He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes.
Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!"
Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the New Chief Executive Officer!"
* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
* If you plant faith in God, you will reap a harvest
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later..
"Whatever You Give To Life, Life Will Give Back To You"
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
God's favour
I just finished reading the book of Esther several weeks back, a book I really like. A book which encourages me most when you are surrounded by not so friendly people or circumstances. This morning devotion is on this book again. Would like to share with you all. God's favour, that's one of the best gift I really thank God for. Let's strive to be man/woman after God's own heart each day we live.
Finding Favor with the King - Never Underestimate the Power of Favor
The enemies of God and of the people of His purpose should never forget—it is dangerous to attack those who have favor with the King. Haman was about to experience the unmatched pain of God's justice: a complete reversal of fortunes in the time it takes for the king to utter one fateful command.
Finding Favor with the King, p. 169
Scripture Reading
Esther 6:4-9: God turns the tables on Haman's schemes after the sleepless King Xerxes is compelled to “check the records” and discovers Moredecai's unrewarded deed.
Favor often seems to work unseen, behind the scenes and silently in the realm of the human heart, thought processes, and emotions. Neither Esther nor Mordecai realized that God's favor was at work on “that night.” In fact, everything appeared to be going Haman's way!
“Perhaps, unknown to you, a divine reversal has begun in the court of heaven. Take this lesson from Esther: Never underestimate the power of favor ” (p. 169).
If we are honest with one another, most of us will admit that we are continually surprised by God's faithfulness and favor in our lives. Perhaps that is because we habitually underestimate the power of favor, and of God's willingness to grant heavenly favor to people on earth.
In Esther's day and for centuries afterward, a king's favor was the most powerful earthly force available. A king's favor could actually cover and pardon a convicted criminal from all criminal charges and punishments. It could countermand the rulings of the highest court, and set aside the most ancient of laws.
The king's favor simultaneously deals a death blow to the evil designs of enemies while distributing blessings and abundant provision to “those the king wishes to honor.”
Are you facing an impossible situation right now? Do you feel unjust persecution and false accusation have positioned you for misunderstanding, separation, or outright persecution?
“Most of us will encounter difficult days or overwhelming crises when we need a ‘that night.' Not just any day will do; we need a ‘that night' or a ‘that day' to set in motion the intervening favor of a King who never forgets ” (p. 169).
Our heavenly King really doesn't forget the good things we've done, and He actually says so in His Word: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Will you set your eyes and your faith upon Him? Believe God, and never underestimate the power of favor!
Prayer: Father, You know what I face each day. You also know about my failures and fears—even though I sometimes try to hide them. Many times in the past, I actually underestimated the power of Your favor in my life and I feel missed out because of it. But today is a new day, with new hope and new faith.
I thank You that divine favor is at work on my behalf at this very moment, moving and shifting resources, obstacles, and even the hearts of people. Thank You.
Finding Favor with the King - Never Underestimate the Power of Favor
The enemies of God and of the people of His purpose should never forget—it is dangerous to attack those who have favor with the King. Haman was about to experience the unmatched pain of God's justice: a complete reversal of fortunes in the time it takes for the king to utter one fateful command.
Finding Favor with the King, p. 169
Scripture Reading
Esther 6:4-9: God turns the tables on Haman's schemes after the sleepless King Xerxes is compelled to “check the records” and discovers Moredecai's unrewarded deed.
Favor often seems to work unseen, behind the scenes and silently in the realm of the human heart, thought processes, and emotions. Neither Esther nor Mordecai realized that God's favor was at work on “that night.” In fact, everything appeared to be going Haman's way!
“Perhaps, unknown to you, a divine reversal has begun in the court of heaven. Take this lesson from Esther: Never underestimate the power of favor ” (p. 169).
If we are honest with one another, most of us will admit that we are continually surprised by God's faithfulness and favor in our lives. Perhaps that is because we habitually underestimate the power of favor, and of God's willingness to grant heavenly favor to people on earth.
In Esther's day and for centuries afterward, a king's favor was the most powerful earthly force available. A king's favor could actually cover and pardon a convicted criminal from all criminal charges and punishments. It could countermand the rulings of the highest court, and set aside the most ancient of laws.
The king's favor simultaneously deals a death blow to the evil designs of enemies while distributing blessings and abundant provision to “those the king wishes to honor.”
Are you facing an impossible situation right now? Do you feel unjust persecution and false accusation have positioned you for misunderstanding, separation, or outright persecution?
“Most of us will encounter difficult days or overwhelming crises when we need a ‘that night.' Not just any day will do; we need a ‘that night' or a ‘that day' to set in motion the intervening favor of a King who never forgets ” (p. 169).
Our heavenly King really doesn't forget the good things we've done, and He actually says so in His Word: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Will you set your eyes and your faith upon Him? Believe God, and never underestimate the power of favor!
Prayer: Father, You know what I face each day. You also know about my failures and fears—even though I sometimes try to hide them. Many times in the past, I actually underestimated the power of Your favor in my life and I feel missed out because of it. But today is a new day, with new hope and new faith.
I thank You that divine favor is at work on my behalf at this very moment, moving and shifting resources, obstacles, and even the hearts of people. Thank You.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A week of Mum and Baby Bonding (part 1)
Daddy is finally on biz trip (1st time since we got married in 2008). 1 week trip might not sound long during our single days, but now with baby around, I guess daddy starts to miss us the moment he step into Penang International Airport.
Mummy thus keeps a week journal recording all big and small events happened when daddy is away. This is just half of the journal, just in case mummy fail her memory test again...
Day 1 10Jul10
- daddy took a super early flight at 6+am and left when Clement was still sleeping. When Clement wakes up, only mummy is seen but I think he's ok since mummy is his main source of food. Mummy kept telling Clement that daddy is away and will be back after a week. Actually mummy already missed daddy... Since MIL left for her Spore trip yesterday and FIL is out working, left mummy, Clement and maid at home. Clement is pretty cooperative today, poo poo before lunch and willing to open mouth mam mam during lunch. Mummy introduced potato for the first time and Clement seems to like it. Look at Clement waiting patiently in his baby cot... Mummy think this photo can convience daddy that Clement is really waiting for his return this saturday.
Clement's favourite past time in the baby cot is too stand up holding on to the side rail and try to pull his mobile friend. Mummy thought that baby cot is a safe place to play since Clement can sit there for minutes playing with his penguin, books and other toys, and sometimes holding on the the rails doing some stretching and leg exercise, until this happened....
Let's see the innocent face....
Day 2
- mummy introduced breakfast time with Clement. Haha... actually is because mummy is short handed but still cannot skip breakfast. Thus by putting Clement in high chair next to the dining table mummy can enjoy her milk and bread and cheese while Clement gets some tiny bites of the whole meal bread and water. Mummy was so happy that so far the home alone experience is pretty good. Unfortunately in the afternoon while Clement was having nap and mummy rushed down to store EBM, mummy heard Clement crying while she's rushing upstairs. Oh no... Mummy saw Cement in sitting position in the floor next to the bed. Clement fell down from the bed for the second time in his life... Mummy felt so bad. We apply ice on his head hoping no blueblack or swollen...
Day 3
- today is a super careful day. everything mummy also play safe, esp when Clement is sleeping. Thanks God Clement's head bump disappeared. When I was so glad today is not an eventful day as yesterday, in the evening I was so shocked to see a visiting awaiting in my room. A BLACK AND GRAY CAT!!! argh... the cat bang through our magnetic mosquito net and entered our 3rd floor room. Worse still, he was panicked and could not get out the same way since the net dropped and covered the "path". I screamed and ran downstairs. Argh.... That was the worst night I ever have, cant really sleep since am worried there is more than one cat entered my room, and if is stil in my room!!
Day 4
- first day manage Clement alone without daddy in the morning. It was pretty efficient and was glad everything was done as per planned. first time drive to work on my own since i join this company. first time using the seasonal pass since I apply it. 1st time customer visit too today.... wow... Is it an eventful day today? I thought I escaped until the car key slipped from my palm and dropped into the drain while trying to open the gate lock when i arrived home. Yes, still an eventful day.
Day 5
- this morning i guess i can see 2 top front teeth popping out. Haha... happy 8th month, Clement :) Hope you'll stop doing this,
But more of this in coming days ya, since those are not for your teeth but your eyes and hands and brains....
Was raining heavily in the morning and went it turned to drizzling, I quickly left home to avoid being late. Still an eventful day - car key rosak cos kena air longkang the day before... and I couldnt start the car thanks to Honda's safety feature. Called international call to daddy asking for help. Most expensive helpline I ever called. However, I was cheered up by my little darling sleeping pattern tonight. Like daddy like son. He had a very quiet baby snore when he first fall asleep. haha... so cute!!
3 more days left and daddy is coming home!!! yeah!!!
Mummy thus keeps a week journal recording all big and small events happened when daddy is away. This is just half of the journal, just in case mummy fail her memory test again...
Day 1 10Jul10
- daddy took a super early flight at 6+am and left when Clement was still sleeping. When Clement wakes up, only mummy is seen but I think he's ok since mummy is his main source of food. Mummy kept telling Clement that daddy is away and will be back after a week. Actually mummy already missed daddy... Since MIL left for her Spore trip yesterday and FIL is out working, left mummy, Clement and maid at home. Clement is pretty cooperative today, poo poo before lunch and willing to open mouth mam mam during lunch. Mummy introduced potato for the first time and Clement seems to like it. Look at Clement waiting patiently in his baby cot... Mummy think this photo can convience daddy that Clement is really waiting for his return this saturday.
Clement's favourite past time in the baby cot is too stand up holding on to the side rail and try to pull his mobile friend. Mummy thought that baby cot is a safe place to play since Clement can sit there for minutes playing with his penguin, books and other toys, and sometimes holding on the the rails doing some stretching and leg exercise, until this happened....
Let's see the innocent face....
Day 2
- mummy introduced breakfast time with Clement. Haha... actually is because mummy is short handed but still cannot skip breakfast. Thus by putting Clement in high chair next to the dining table mummy can enjoy her milk and bread and cheese while Clement gets some tiny bites of the whole meal bread and water. Mummy was so happy that so far the home alone experience is pretty good. Unfortunately in the afternoon while Clement was having nap and mummy rushed down to store EBM, mummy heard Clement crying while she's rushing upstairs. Oh no... Mummy saw Cement in sitting position in the floor next to the bed. Clement fell down from the bed for the second time in his life... Mummy felt so bad. We apply ice on his head hoping no blueblack or swollen...
Day 3
- today is a super careful day. everything mummy also play safe, esp when Clement is sleeping. Thanks God Clement's head bump disappeared. When I was so glad today is not an eventful day as yesterday, in the evening I was so shocked to see a visiting awaiting in my room. A BLACK AND GRAY CAT!!! argh... the cat bang through our magnetic mosquito net and entered our 3rd floor room. Worse still, he was panicked and could not get out the same way since the net dropped and covered the "path". I screamed and ran downstairs. Argh.... That was the worst night I ever have, cant really sleep since am worried there is more than one cat entered my room, and if is stil in my room!!
Day 4
- first day manage Clement alone without daddy in the morning. It was pretty efficient and was glad everything was done as per planned. first time drive to work on my own since i join this company. first time using the seasonal pass since I apply it. 1st time customer visit too today.... wow... Is it an eventful day today? I thought I escaped until the car key slipped from my palm and dropped into the drain while trying to open the gate lock when i arrived home. Yes, still an eventful day.
Day 5
- this morning i guess i can see 2 top front teeth popping out. Haha... happy 8th month, Clement :) Hope you'll stop doing this,
But more of this in coming days ya, since those are not for your teeth but your eyes and hands and brains....
Was raining heavily in the morning and went it turned to drizzling, I quickly left home to avoid being late. Still an eventful day - car key rosak cos kena air longkang the day before... and I couldnt start the car thanks to Honda's safety feature. Called international call to daddy asking for help. Most expensive helpline I ever called. However, I was cheered up by my little darling sleeping pattern tonight. Like daddy like son. He had a very quiet baby snore when he first fall asleep. haha... so cute!!
3 more days left and daddy is coming home!!! yeah!!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Clearing the mushrooms
It's been sometime since I last visited this blog... Ehm, sorry, I mean, manage this blog.... It's time to clean up the cendawan, wild grass and fungus here, and to bring some updates through these few MONTHS!!
Daddy's first tears: Clement felt down from the bed when he was 5months+ old. It happended in the midnight around 12.30am when daddy and mummy were sleeping soundly. BANG!!! "Oh, Clement leh?" followed by daddy picking up Clement from the wooden floor and Clement crying in high pitch. While mummy took over Clement to pacify him, mummy see daddy's first tears and cracking voice asking how could that happen since we still could not figure out how he felt down the bed till today. From that day onwards, there is a noisy rattles near the edge of the bed, nearby to where Clement sleeps. We even did some minor reorganising of the bed and baby cot to reduce the chance of history happen again. Mummy remembered the "bad memory" red and white t- shirt Clement wore that night and did not let him wear that again so that won't remind her of the sad event.
Starting solid: Clement started on solid on 14 May, the day he turns 6 months nett. We had him started with Neslac (green packaging) + breast milk only as his first solid. He had that for a week and we were so glad he is so ready to mam mam. So week after week we add in pear, apple, carrot, apricot, spinach, pumpkin etc into his food vocabulary. Due to his teething milestone, there were times he refused to eat and just close his mouth tight. You can really see the determination he has there. However, I really salute the creativity my MIL has which can trick him to open his mouth so that she can feed him food. Lately we pinch some whole meal bread and let him taste. Haha he's so happy :) Oh ya, he has his first two bottom front teeth on his 6th month 4th week. And the two upper front teeth gonna say HELLO WORLD anytime soon...
Being more mobile: Old people says, 7th month can sit, 8th month can crawl, 9th month grow teeth. But nowadays the milestones are achieved at earlier age, based on some data collected from friends around. Clement is able to sit around 5-6th months. And 6-7th months he can crawl caterpillar style. Lately his crawling is more profesional and steady, even on hard floors. 7th months onwards he has been trying to pull to stand. He likes to do it with his baby cot bars. His latest hobby is to stand on our bed, holding on to his baby cot bars, trying to catch his mobile's butterfly, snail, frog or bee. Haha... During his 7th month 2nd week, he started to transit around holding on to our bed headboard and his baby cot handles. Occasionally he will let go his hand and try to reach you if you are sitting nearby. Yo, dangerous lo... He enjoy most while holding both your hands walking towards you. On 20 June Clement participated in Sunshine Farlim's Baby Crawling Competition. It was a good experince for Clement and daddy and mummy were able to witness the steady, confidence, determined youngest baby in action. Hahha... probably he didn't even know he's in a competition and might not understand the discouraging words some aunty spoke while he was on his ABC mats. Life should be like that, I learnt. Aim for the goal, complete the race, keep the faith. There's one more coming up in Sunshine Square on 17 Jul. Not sure if Clement can go since daddy won't be around on that day. Haha... Babies 6-14months out there, go while you are still eligible. Just for the fun and memory :)
Updates on mummy: Mummy made a big change recently. A leap of faith. haha.... Mummy change job. Is now officially an Avagone and renamed 3Mer. It was a great 7 years journey in my official first company, a place where I grew from a fresh grad, to YS girlfriend, to YS wife, and then Clement's mummy. VinM says that so far he has not met someone who fulfill so many milestones in the first company. A place I've met a lot nice friends and colleagues too. It's not a bad place to work, just some new challenges and ventures I'm looking for. Moving on in the new company, so far still ok. It's a new beginning with new faces, new culture, new working style. I'm glad I'm still committed in pumping sessions and brave enough to make known the needs. And I really thank God for His favour and understanding colleagues so far. Guess what, 7 Jul is a public holiday in new company. So nice....
Signing off for now. Will post some photos next round. Hopefully soon.
Daddy's first tears: Clement felt down from the bed when he was 5months+ old. It happended in the midnight around 12.30am when daddy and mummy were sleeping soundly. BANG!!! "Oh, Clement leh?" followed by daddy picking up Clement from the wooden floor and Clement crying in high pitch. While mummy took over Clement to pacify him, mummy see daddy's first tears and cracking voice asking how could that happen since we still could not figure out how he felt down the bed till today. From that day onwards, there is a noisy rattles near the edge of the bed, nearby to where Clement sleeps. We even did some minor reorganising of the bed and baby cot to reduce the chance of history happen again. Mummy remembered the "bad memory" red and white t- shirt Clement wore that night and did not let him wear that again so that won't remind her of the sad event.
Starting solid: Clement started on solid on 14 May, the day he turns 6 months nett. We had him started with Neslac (green packaging) + breast milk only as his first solid. He had that for a week and we were so glad he is so ready to mam mam. So week after week we add in pear, apple, carrot, apricot, spinach, pumpkin etc into his food vocabulary. Due to his teething milestone, there were times he refused to eat and just close his mouth tight. You can really see the determination he has there. However, I really salute the creativity my MIL has which can trick him to open his mouth so that she can feed him food. Lately we pinch some whole meal bread and let him taste. Haha he's so happy :) Oh ya, he has his first two bottom front teeth on his 6th month 4th week. And the two upper front teeth gonna say HELLO WORLD anytime soon...
Being more mobile: Old people says, 7th month can sit, 8th month can crawl, 9th month grow teeth. But nowadays the milestones are achieved at earlier age, based on some data collected from friends around. Clement is able to sit around 5-6th months. And 6-7th months he can crawl caterpillar style. Lately his crawling is more profesional and steady, even on hard floors. 7th months onwards he has been trying to pull to stand. He likes to do it with his baby cot bars. His latest hobby is to stand on our bed, holding on to his baby cot bars, trying to catch his mobile's butterfly, snail, frog or bee. Haha... During his 7th month 2nd week, he started to transit around holding on to our bed headboard and his baby cot handles. Occasionally he will let go his hand and try to reach you if you are sitting nearby. Yo, dangerous lo... He enjoy most while holding both your hands walking towards you. On 20 June Clement participated in Sunshine Farlim's Baby Crawling Competition. It was a good experince for Clement and daddy and mummy were able to witness the steady, confidence, determined youngest baby in action. Hahha... probably he didn't even know he's in a competition and might not understand the discouraging words some aunty spoke while he was on his ABC mats. Life should be like that, I learnt. Aim for the goal, complete the race, keep the faith. There's one more coming up in Sunshine Square on 17 Jul. Not sure if Clement can go since daddy won't be around on that day. Haha... Babies 6-14months out there, go while you are still eligible. Just for the fun and memory :)
Updates on mummy: Mummy made a big change recently. A leap of faith. haha.... Mummy change job. Is now officially an Avagone and renamed 3Mer. It was a great 7 years journey in my official first company, a place where I grew from a fresh grad, to YS girlfriend, to YS wife, and then Clement's mummy. VinM says that so far he has not met someone who fulfill so many milestones in the first company. A place I've met a lot nice friends and colleagues too. It's not a bad place to work, just some new challenges and ventures I'm looking for. Moving on in the new company, so far still ok. It's a new beginning with new faces, new culture, new working style. I'm glad I'm still committed in pumping sessions and brave enough to make known the needs. And I really thank God for His favour and understanding colleagues so far. Guess what, 7 Jul is a public holiday in new company. So nice....
Signing off for now. Will post some photos next round. Hopefully soon.
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