In our family, we try to make it a point to date our children individually, a practice we picked up from our spiritual mentors. Besides setting time aside to have our time together as husband and wife, we have to bear in mind our dates with our kids. That's quite a bit to keep up with though our individual dates with them are not weekly. We do it as regularly as possible. Through it we are creating memories. They look forward to each date eagerly. Their special time with Mum or Dad! Just one at a time. No sharing attention. All of Dad. All of Mum.

Today, Nat woke up early and got ready to go out breakfast with Dad - on the motorcycle. The last time they went off on the bike was up to Penang Hill; a ride that thrilled Nat and carved an adventurous memory in her. Today was simpler. Just to Grandpa's place to pick some plants for gardening. The rest of the date was gardening together (our garden needs a facelift) while her two other sisters did Art with Mum. What she did were simple things in life but above all else, she was so satisfied with the precious time with Dad. Now Ash and Chrisa are just awaiting for their turns this round to have Daddy by themselves.

A tremendous joy fills my heart as I watch my girls enjoying their Daddy, and how the man I courted and married are taking effort to make his princesses feel special. Just recently, his own sister commented how Ed has become so domestic now as she watched him do laundry for his pregnant wife :) You will never know what fatherhood can do even to the toughest man!

I am a daughter of the Heavenly Daddy. His love pursues me. Watching my own girls desiring so much to spend time with their dad, I can't help to think of my dates with my Heavenly Dad. How deep is my longing? Just like no one can take daddy's place in a lil' girl's heart, no one can fill the deep longing in the daughter of the Heavenly Father except He alone.

I wonder how much he loves me? Seems like a silly question. A redundant one. Yet my mind raises many questions...

Can we ever understand how much our parents love us as we are growing up? Somehow we know they do but how much is a relative term. Its a norm to hear parents proclaim they love their kids. On the other hand, the kids complain their parents don't love them. The tension is real. Many times we can blame the temperament clash and the different love languages. Some kids may truly understand they are loved but how deep is questionable.

I grew up knowing I am being loved very much. Dad slogged hard to be the sole breadwinner while mum laboured at home to raise her young. Though we were in the lower income bracket but never did I feel I lack love. I enjoyed my childhood. My parents love me. That's a truth.

It was not till I became a parent myself did I realized how deep my parents' love is - or any parent for that matter. We may not always agree with everything they do yet who can compare to their love for their very own flesh and blood. The Bible says even those who are evil know how to give good gifts to their children (Matt.7:9-11).

Even the animals care deeply for their young. A couple of weeks ago, Ed discovered four kittens in our backyard. The discovery was a horror to me - simply because I don't fancy cats! The stray cats cause me lots of work. Very often they come into the backyard and leave fish bones, poops and vomitus around. Ya, sounds disgusting, right? And this is the second time our backyard had become the nursery for the newborn kitties. What is a horror to me is a delight to my kids! Ooos and aahs..."they are soooo cute..." The kids were all over the kittens that day. Honestly, they were cute. Ok, yes...they were cute kittens but not anymore soon when they are grown. That I am sure. Cats and dogs are a no-no in my home. The kids know that. Ed and I just don't like cats. He thinks cats are dumb (amongst many more valid reasons). Sorry, this sounds terrible to the cat lovers. And dogs...one got a piece of my rump when I was 8 and I've been too traumatised ever since.
Anyway, the kids attempted to plead for mercy for the cute creatures to stay. Oh well, I may not be friendly with cats but I am not as heartless. I thought hard together with Ed how to dispose them in the best way. Being a mum whom had nursed three babies and now expecting the fourth, I thought of how it would be for the mother cat to find her young missing. I was in a dilemma. Should I wait for them to be weaned off? If yes, there's a list of consequences which I may not be prepared to face. Finally, Ed drove them to a friend who loves cats and he adopted them. Don't know how they will fair but at least they are in better hands.
Soon enough the mother cat kept coming back daily meowing at my backyard. The cries were pathetic and pitiful to a human mother's heart. It is time to nurse. I remember how anxious I need to nurse my baby when they were hungry.

An earthly parent's love is no comparison to all others except...my mind was brought back to two scripture verses:

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. (Psalm 103:13)
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15)

As I thought about God's love, I can never ever comprehend the height, width and depth of his great love. I began singing an old song, "Think about his love...think about his goodness...think about his grace that brought us through...how could I forget his love..."

How could I forget his love?! I need not wonder. I just need to continue to believe and embrace the truth. He loves me and I am not forgotten. My heart is drawn to him whose passion is me (and the whole world) and my tears trickled down. I was comforted in his presence despite the difficulties and trials of daily life.

Happy Birthday and God's blessings, Kwang (more affectionately called at home)!

How most adults underestimate the power of play. Every child needs to play. Play IS work to these tender hearts. Early childhood education emphazies play as a crucial part in the learning process. Our world is so caught up with academic achievement that so many kids are deprived of good creative play.

I love observing children playing. They tell you so much through their play. The past year end break gave great opportunites for my kids to have their friends for sleepover. As they engaged in their talking and playing, I sat quietly to listen and learn from them. It was an interesting lesson for me. The simplicity of children brings me the joy of daily learning.

Perhaps to the adults, they are merely playing. To them it is living. Learning life through the power of play. Chrisa wanted to set up her "cafe" today because she had her friends at home. I told her we would not play "cafe" today because time didn't permit. She was crossed and exclaimed, "I am not playing. I am really mending a food stall. It is real." Yes, indeed it is real - real food and beverages, real money and real ceramic kitchen ware (to any child it is a pride to be able to handle real stuff). I am caught guilty in my own thoughts for not being sensitive to a child's play. So I pacified her by rephrasing my words and not undermining her "work". Afterall, she is learning so much through her "cafe".

They ended up in the favourite kitchen corner. To any young girl who comes to our lil' nest, they never fail to be fascinated by the Lynns' kitchen corner - furnished with cookery ware and all sorts of knick-knacks from our nest. Anything from yogurt cups to spoilt microwave oven and a cardboard sink! These are real stuff and any kid will love it. The cardboard sink is almost as old as Ashlynn but still standing strong and serving the kids over the many years. The 2 hours of slogging to put the sink to reality was sure a worthwhile feat. It just cost a lil' creativity, some junks and a few ringgit as opposed to a thousand ringgit or more for a sophisticated toy sink from renowned toy shops. They served the same purpose - so that the child can play while working or is it work while playing? Anyway, for children... play = work.

Chrisa's Cafe
(health science, art, writing, socio-emotional, math lesson at play)

The happy "customers" waiting to be served
(the yummy food came from mum's kitchen - sausages, cookies, juice, milk, tea, etc. The "boss" happily collected real money and "ting", dropped them in the cash register)

The Word of the Lord came...
The year of waiting...
The months of preparation...
The weeks of excitement...(also with some anxiety)

...we humbly present the Gateway City Church before God as we dedicated the new work to Him and rejoiced together with fellow saints as we gathered on 27 Jan 2008 evening. It was a significant moment as many came to witness the dedication, prayed and partnered with us as we seek to Empower the Generations, and Impact the Nations. Continue to dream big with us in this awesome assignment!

Bro. Chin Aik's words of encouragement was surely empowering and affirming. We are so grateful for his service and the partnership of MAPLINK. Our thanksgiving to God who made all things possible and city pastors, family and friends who walked this mile with us. Also for many who couldn't make it personally but showed their support in different ways. A big thank you!


For more information later http://www.gatewaycity.com.my

The call was to "be still" (Ex. 14:13-14) and watch the Mighty Hand of God moved as He already issued the command for consecration. "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." (Joshua 3:5)

"Tomorrow" is here.

We wait with anticipation as the good Lord unfolds the mystery of His doing.

As I trace the timeline of our journey, my heart is grateful for the year 2007. The call to be the modern "Joshuas" has a price to pay. It is His governing Presence that compelled us to move out from our position and followed the way that has never been walked before (Joshua 3:3-4). Armed with ambivalence, we crossed the year 2007 from 2006 full with uncertainties. Excitement married with anxiety, we only have the loving Father's Hands to hold and His promises to cling on. I scribbled on a little piece of paper as I run through the plans of 2007 and showed Ed. He glanced through and nodded in agreement what we hoped to accomplish. Yet we know it needed miraculous intervention of the Father. It did seem a long year ahead with so much planned and nothing to depend. Or at least within the limitation of the human mind.

It was a year of rest from the field and eat from our field of faith. We had to constantly and deliberately shut our ears from the voice of the world that injected doubt. Instead we had to discipline and proclaim the Father's promises to feed our faith. I thanked Him for giving me a man who was willing to walk this journey knowing that it was not going to be easy as a driven person and the sole breadwinner - to watch the year go by and supposedly rest, trusting divine provision every moment. It wasn't even daily but every moment. That spells "HUMILITY".

Those who fear the Lord lack nothing; in fact, lacks no good thing (Ps.34:9-10). What an assurance! The reality - the path is narrow. It is never meant to be easy but is purposed to quicken our spirit and awaken His grace. Some days were filled with interesting surprises. Others seemed hopeless and empty. It is never always easy to understand His doing and timing. Yet the Lord is our hope when we awoke in the morning and He is our song at night. There were tears of anxiety in the waiting but also tears of joy in overcoming.

The year passed quicker than we thought. Almost all the plans scribbled on the tiny piece of paper in the beginning of the year were endorsed and accomplished divinely. Together with the children we gathered on our bed an hour prior we bidded goodbye to 2007, we gave thanks to God who made it possible for us. Each of us shared some of the best happenings - the people, places, programmes, plans, protection, and above all else His Provision and Peace. Smiles, giggles and laughter filled the air as we talked and recalled the great times of the year. Woah! We realized we've done so much as a family. Experienced new things together. Entered a new horizon of faith.

The biblical Joshua and the Israelites laid 12 stones taken from the middle of Jordan when God parted the waters so they could cross on dry land. The 12 stones served as a memorial for them. This year we saw the miraculous act of our "sea" being parted too. Memories were created and cherished. A "monument" erected in our hearts and will be a memorial for the coming days. We echo the commitment of Joshua, "...as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)