Hope of a watchman

What is it like to wait for the sun rise in the dark silent night? And, who would and why would they wait for the morning? What is more certain to happen as a day-break to a watchman waiting in the dark?

Yesterday's worship at "Yung Fok" was a divine moment. God spoke as soon as we were called to worship from Psalm 130:5-6:

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

God's greatness continued to expand that I couldn't sing but were afraid tears would pour out if I opened my mouth. To God be the glory and praise.

Our times are in your hands

It will be hard to not missing Robert. Ever since he has been confirmed his cancer has recurred, I have been praying his remaining times on earth will be easy and blessed, and his departure will be painless...like what he has said, "It is a blessing to die in a sleep."

Last night, it raised an alarm to us as he mentioned Dr Chan has scheduled numerous tests for him to diagnose the cause of his lose of 10 lbs in 3 months. Am I not worry for him and Diana who is so used to be with Robert for the last 44+ years? Haven't I ever wondered and blamed the urologist has not been doing anything since a year ago when the sign of recurring was first shown?

A song based on Psalm 31 came to me this morning,

14 But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
...
21 Praise be to the LORD,
for he showed his wonderful love to me
when I was in a besieged city.

Our times are in His hands. We trust everything is in God's hands.

Better than plan

When I was about to graduate from the EMBA program in the summer of 2005, SFU's MBA programs was accredited by CMA, and their graduates are eligible for enrolling to the accelerated CMA designation program. To enroll to the program and obtaining the designation in one year after graduation, the student has to meet certain academic qualification and successfully complete a strategy analysis project in the following spring.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I applied to the program. CMA enrolled me in, and sent me application to register to a strategy analysis project that started in January 2006. However, the mail was lost among the pile accumulated and neglected from the busy schedule and excitement of preparing for my brother's wedding. When I came back from the wedding trip, it was too late to get myself in no matter how hard I tried. I prayed to God that it was a hard lesson to learn with letting the opportunity slipping by.

Months ago, I read a marketing email from CMA. After a few serious inquiries, I was considered to be admitted to their executive program which costs 5 digit $ value to study the subjects that I have already learned in the EMBA program. Yet, because CMA made a mistake on my mailing address, I didn't receive the letter in time to enroll to their executive program. To make up the mistake they have made and "deprived" me from enrolling to the program, I was allowed to be back on the original accelerated program track provided I would re-do an Operation Management course elsewhere (I didn't do well in that last time). It costs me just over $600.

Looking back, I am amazed by how all these fall out and how God has graciously lead me through to this step. Year 2006 was so eventful and stressful that I would not be able to complete the CMA requirements even if I was enrolled to the strategy project--I was promoted to be at director level; parents were both admitted to hospital in Hong Kong, and dad was in a critical condition that I had to go back again after barely four weeks later; mom had a total hip replacement operation later in the summer; there was an significant organizational change at work, and by spring 2007, 80% of my project management team were hired less than a year ago.

If I were to plan out this pursuit of CMA designation, it would have stressed me out completely by not doing it at the right timing. God knew what laid ahead of me and what lessons I should learn at differnt times. He has humbled me by opening my eyes to see His hands at work even the trivial mailing things were His accomplishing tools. At this, I can't but praise God for who He is:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8,9)

The first bend of the Yangtze River

To be continued...

Many rooms

Knowing that mom would have a complete hip replacement after parents coming back to Vancouver in March, I knew the need for adding a bathroom has become imminent. Dad has long indicated the need for an additional bathroom due to his prostate condition.

The renovation project started November last year, and there are still a few things to be finished off. The project has given me a lot of stress from negotiating with the contractors, to shopping for materials, to checking the budgets, and to making a place to retire at night. However, seeing the house got better each day, and knowing parents would be coming back to a more comfortable home makes the fuss payoff.

Just when the project coming to an end, the news came to Vancouver that both of my parents were admitted to a hospital in Hong Kong, and dad was in a critical condition. There and then I agonized over their health condition, and said to myself, “If dad and mom were unable to come back, why would I renovate the house? Dad, mom, come home! I have prepared a nicer home for you to come back. We have many rooms here.”

Jesus once said this to comfort his disciples when he was about to die on the cross, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms…. I am going there to prepare a place for you…. I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3)

It would be a shame and loss to me if my parents would not come back home that I have prepared for them. Likewise, Jesus will feel very sad if any of us unable to enjoy the place he has prepared for us by rejecting his invitation and love. Do you have a room in Jesus? Do you know it will be a great loss to you and him if you don’t?