Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Yesterday when I was studying Matthew 14, I came across this talk by Elder D. Todd Christofferson. In actual fact, I heard 3 video clips from Mormon channel before this, I kind of like it and I remembered it.

I shared with E Chin yesterday on this message too. I shared with her one of the video clip. I shared with her frankly that I too, face the tight financial challenge every month.

Though I still pay my tithing, that is the least thing that I can do as I have covenanted with the Lord before my baptism. Paying tithing was one of the important matters that I pondered a lot before my baptism, besides the Word of Wisdom. I do not know but I just know that some how I would be ok even sometimes it is really so stress out.

“Some time before I was called as a General Authority, I faced a personal economic challenge that persisted for several years. It did not come about as a consequence of anyone’s wrongdoing or ill will; it was just one of those things that sometimes come into our lives. It ebbed and flowed in seriousness and urgency, but it never went away completely. At times this challenge threatened the welfare of my family and me, and I thought we might be facing financial ruin. I prayed for some miraculous intervention to deliver us. Although I offered that prayer many times with great sincerity and earnest desire, the answer in the end was “No.” Finally I learned to pray as the Savior did: “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). I sought the Lord’s help with each tiny step along the way to a final resolution.”

“There were times when I had exhausted all my resources, when I had nowhere or no one to turn to at that moment, when there was simply no other human being I could call on to help meet the exigency before me. With no other recourse, more than once I fell down before my Heavenly Father begging in tears for His help. And He did help. Sometimes it was nothing more than a sense of peace, a feeling of assurance that things would work out. I might not see how or what the path would be, but He gave me to know that, directly or indirectly, He would open a way. Circumstances might change, a new and helpful idea might come to mind, some unanticipated income or other resource might appear at just the right time. Somehow there was a resolution.”

“Though I suffered then, as I look back now, I am grateful that there was not a quick solution to my problem. The fact that I was forced to turn to God for help almost daily over an extended period of years taught me truly how to pray and get answers to prayer and taught me in a very practical way to have faith in God. I came to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way and to a degree that might not have happened otherwise or that might have taken me much longer to achieve. I learned that daily bread is a precious commodity. I learned that manna today can be as real as the physical manna of biblical history. I learned to trust in the Lord with all my heart. I learned to walk with Him day by day.”

“Asking God for our daily bread, rather than our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread, is also a way to focus us on the smaller, more manageable bits of a problem. To deal with something very big, we may need to work at it in small, daily bites. Sometimes all we can handle is one day (or even just part of one day) at a time.”

“The Spirit can guide us when to look ahead and when we should just deal with this one day, with this one moment. If we ask, the Lord will let us know through the Holy Ghost when it may be appropriate for us to apply in our lives the commandment He gave His ancient Apostles: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof” (3 Nephi 13:34; see also Matthew 6:34).”

I was so touched with Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s testimony. His testimony made me feel as I have to learn to be humble like he is. He is not spare from trials and challenges too, even he is an apostle of the Lord. He taught me something: When we expect the Lord will give us quick solutions to our problems, we fail to see the greater purpose in the delay of His aid.

Then, I read the talk and especially love how Elder D. Todd Christofferson began his talk inviting us to look to God for what is needed each day. It gives me a new perspective or moment of learning to pray and get answers from the Lord and how to put it practically.

“Thoughtful planning and preparation are key to a rewarding future, but we do not live in the future—we live in the present. It is day by day that we work out our plans for the future; it is day by day that we achieve our goals. It is one day at a time that we raise and nurture our families. It is one day at a time that we overcome imperfections. We endure in faith to the end one day at a time. It is the accumulation of many days well-lived that adds up to a full life and a saintly person. And so I would like to talk to you about living well day by day.”

“Included in the Lord’s Prayer is the petition “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11) or “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). I believe that we would all readily acknowledge that we have needs each day that we want our Heavenly Father’s help in dealing with. For some, on some days, it is quite literally bread—that is, the food needed to sustain life that day. It could also be spiritual and physical strength to deal with one more day of chronic illness or a painfully slow rehabilitation. In other cases it may be less tangible needs, such as things related to one’s obligations or activities in that day—teaching a lesson or taking a test, for example.”

“Jesus is teaching us, His disciples, that we should look to God each day for the bread—the help and sustenance—we require in that particular day. This is consistent with the counsel to “pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul” (2 Nephi 32:9).”

“The Lord’s invitation to seek our daily bread at our Heavenly Father’s hand speaks of a loving God, aware of even the small, daily needs of His children and anxious to assist them, one by one. He is saying that we can ask in faith of that Being “that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given” (James 1:5). That is, of course, tremendously reassuring, but there is something at work here that is more significant than just help in getting by day to day. As we seek and receive divine bread daily, our faith and trust in God and His Son grow.”

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

CES Fireside for Young Adults • January 9, 2011 • Brigham Young University

I feel that since the day I have been set apart by the Branch Presidency, I can feel the Spirit easily and it does influence me to make the better choices. I have never experience it before. I feel grateful for the Lord on the calling and blessings which He gives me and my family daily.

Fix Our Eyes on Jesus during Storm

During lunch time Sister E Chin messaged me that she need to talk with someone, and if I can call her. I called her and I can hear that she was in sadness. Thieves broke in to her house yesterday. She sounded fine when I called her last night, but may be because she was busy handled all the aftermath of the broke in.

She told me that she is very tired as Chelsea and she had been through a lot lately – losing job, fallen sick, financially tight, and now house got broke in. The thieves broke in and took away only monies, but not other things.  Suddenly I understand what she meant. At least this is a blessing for her.

She felt sad and do not know what is the direction to go and seek for the Lord for answer and directions. She knows what she is doing is right but all those challenges come till she found herself in a very difficult situation financially now. She is having fear. She is seeking for what to do next. Her mind is troubled. I told her that I know what she experienced because I experience the same thing almost every month.

I was studying Matthew 14 this morning. Just as after I heard what she have to say, I have a feeling of telling her of what I have just learned. This chapter is about after learning of John the Baptist’s death, Jesus sought solitude, but He was followed by a multitude of people. He had compassion on them, healed their sick, and miraculously fed more than 5,000 of them.

I illustrated to her the same thing as she was very sad and do not know how to go on. It is almost the same thing like Jesus was. He tried to be alone to mourn or grieve, but others were seeking His attention. The next thing He did is showing compassion for others. It is almost the similar thing that Sister E Chin does with Sister Chelsea. Sister E Chin helped her going through her difficulties.

The second story in the Matthew chapter 14 is Jesus walks on the sea during a storm. He instructed His disciples to travel by ship to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while He sent the multitude away. It was evening when Jesus was alone on the mountain and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee, and then they seeing someone walking on the water. They were afraid. they thought He was a spirit. Jesus called to them, “It is I; be not afraid.”

In the story, Peter wanted to walk on the water too. Jesus told Peter to come to Him. Peter climbed out of the boat. He began to walk on the water toward the Savior. Because the wind was blowing hard, Peter became afraid. He began to sink into the water and cried our to Jesus to save him. The Savior took Peter’s hand. He asked Peter why he did not have more faith.

In our real life too, it is normal for us to be scared and afraid as what Peter felt. Like Peter we might sometimes fail to maintain our faith in Jesus Christ and might succumb to fear, doubt, and discouragement when we face our challenges. In another way, like Peter if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and maintain our faith in Him, we will not be overcome by our fears and doubts, but He can lift us from our fears and doubts.

It is normal that we would be afraid. I told her that even though God might not always spare us from struggles, He knows what we are experiencing and will, in His own time, come to our aid. It is the same thing that happened here, God knows what is happening to her now, and He definitely will come to comfort or comfort her.

E Chin told me that she was feeling better after talked to me. I told her frankly that I am not sure that if I manage to help her, but I just feel that I should share with her this chapter that I read.

I know that it is not only for her, but a reminder for myself as well. The Lord is counselling me in whatever circumstances that I am facing, it is just like this story of Matthew chapter 14. I should be focused on Jesus Christ and always show compassion for others even though I walk through or in the storm of life.

Chinese New Year Hamper for Me!

This is Chinese New Year Hamper from the office. Jessie asked Sharon and me took back home. Due to the office collegues know that I do not take coffee, tea and liquor, thus I took this hamper back. And, I am so happy with that! Share with my family!

Canaan Land Group CNY Celebration

Last night was the Canaan Land group Chinese New Year celebration at Tropicana Avenue. The members of the Shop.Com group get together last night and we had a pot luck style of dinner.

There are games for the children and the Chinese calligraphy writing for the adults too. Each of us wrote something so that everyone would have a good business of their own with the start of the New Year.

 

 

 

 

Finally we had a group photo of us together.

We lose Ourselves… We Find Ourselves

I was just wanted to start to read the General Conference talk that Sister Annie was shared in the Relief Society group chat, as I flipped through the pages on my hand, and my eyes spotted this sentence.

“When serving our God becomes our main priority in life, we lose ourselves, in due coarse, we find ourselves.”

And that sentences lead me to the following scriptures from Matthew 16:24-25 :

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

I remember the chat that I had with Sister Robinia last Saturday morning at Church, she were mentioning something like this as well.

As we are doing our ministering or missionary work, we would face challenges and we know our weaknesses and strengths, it is just like the process of discovering ourselves, and getting to know ourselves better and be perfected like our Savior Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful for the chat that Sister Robinia and I had last Saturday morning.

I really feel the love of Heavenly Father to me and us as daughters in His kingdom. I really can see His messages that come like a stream of water that flowing slowly as I can feel it.

Work to Do

To be honest, I feel myself as I was overwhelmed by the messages that flows in front of me for the past weeks since the day I have been sustained as Relief Society President. My mind was blank and do not know what to do about it.

I was thinking about Sister Sandy these few days and I do not feel good about it. I know I have to do something but I just feel that, that something I should do is the thing I do not want to do by my own. I was troubled.

I gave Sister E Chin a call and told her what was bothering my mind and she listened to whatever I have to say. Then, she advised me that I should do that thing which I do not want to do because it is the Lord’s work. If it is necessary that I should apply a non-paid leave to minister her, then let it be because the blessings that I already see and received are way more than that a day of unpaid leave…

Suddenly I just silence because what Sister E Chin said is true… I have been seeing the blessings that come into my life and my family – going to the temple with a minimal costs; I have been experienced the Spirit guiding me through the scriptures, the ministering of other sisters and I started to learn what the Lord wants me to do.

In Sister Sandy case, it seems as I received the inspirations which I should go and do but my heart is keep on resisting it. Sister E Chin said, that is what the Spirit wants me to do but of coarse it is my agency and choice to do it or not. Thus, she advised me to make a phone call to Sister Sandy just to talk to her and invite her to sit down and get to know more about what she has been through lately of her work issue, after Church this Sunday. Instead of resisting it and fear, let it comes as the Lord’s way. Especially now I am holding the calling now as a Relief Society President.

After my tele-conversation with Sister E Chin, I called Sister Sandy. She picked up the call on my second attempts, from the background I noticed that she was busy with some matters which need to settle. I checked with her, if she will be coming to Church this Sunday, may be we can have a talk after the Church session. She was fine with the arrangement.

I feel as my burden was lifted up. This reminds me that the scripture from 1 Nephi 3:7 earlier this year which the Lord wanted me to keep in my mind:

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men,save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

~ 1 Nephi 3:7

I have made a promise with the Lord that I will go and do the things which He had commanded and this including my calling as Relief Society President as well. I should have more faith in the Lord that he shall prepare a way for me too that I may accomplish the things which He commanded me to do!

7 Big Prawns

Last Sunday I was kind of rushed to go back from church because I need to cook for the children for their lunch and prepared some small bites for them before our dinner. Reason being is because I have to attend the B5 class of Market Malaysia at Taylors Lakeside University from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

We were having Bakuteh with white rice for our lunch after we came back from Church. Then, I made some oven baked chicken wings before I left for the Taylors around 2.30pm as the team wanted to meet early.

It was quite a tiring day as I was reaching home around 8.00pm. Both Issac and Annabelle were not yet had their dinner. They purposely wanted to wait for me for the dinner. I called them while I was driving back, and asked them to reheat the rice, Bakuteh and chicken wings.

Initially I was thinking want to cook Aglio Olio spaghetti with the 7 big prawns that I bought at Village Grocers Citta Mall.

But it was too late to cook the spaghetti, thus I decided just stir fried the big prawns with green spring onions and the abalone sauce.

Both Issac and Annabelle tasted the dish and so happy and said how nice it is! You can imagine, I have only 7 prawns, then they ate it really so tastefully and eat the rice with the sauce, of coarse with the Bakuteh and chicken wings as well.

Both children were so kind and considerate that they both ate 2 prawns each and let me have 3 prawns. I ate 2 and left the other one to share among for both. Annabelle just mentioned that let her brother have it.

I do not know how to express my feelings.. both really really understanding, kind hearted, and considerate children. They really indeed take care of me while their dad is not at home and I know that they will take care of their dad too if he is around.

Even though it is just a simple dish and their favourite, only 7 prawns and they love to eat it.. they still think of us.

I saw this big prawns dish and let me think of our beloved children. I messaged Alvin about this and said to him that, we are really blessed that we have both this children in our life.

Alvin replied that he felt the same and we are already blessed to have them in our life.