Loveburst!!

I wanted to do my reporting when I came home but I think I am quite suffocated from work already. Now that I am home, I just wanna do something that I like - Write.

I was reading "Everyone needs a miracle - He still moves stones" by Max Lucado and into Chapter 12 today - The hardest thing God ever did. He related through the passage in Mark 2:1-12 focusing mainly on verse 9 "Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, "your sins are forgiven," or to tell him, "stand up. Take your mat and walk"?"

I was caught by Max's first opening statement - Let's talk about Lovebursts. He described Loveburst as a spontaneous affection. Tender moments of radiant love. Ignited devotion. Explosion of tenderness. Examples were given. I can't help sharing it really!! Ever since I read it, I was dying for the moment to blog it!! (Examples were added with a little of my imagination in it)

1) You and your husband are in a party. You are the wife and you look across the hall and you see your husband. You did not marry the most perfect husband. Yet, you know in your heart that he changed more than his share of diapers, he has given up on his favourite hobby to spend time with you and child. He has grown slightly balder, paunchier.. Yet in your eyes, all you saw was the man you fell in love with, the man who stole your heart. When your eyes locked with his, you both smiled. That's a loveburst.

2) You are now a grandpapa. It's been a long while that you held a baby. But now, your children are out and your wife is out grocery shopping. You are alone with the baby. You held him tight to your arms. When you look at his face, when you look into his eyes, you wonder about the future - First steps, first word, first fall, etc. And you know deep in your heart - you want to protect him. You pledge to the baby in your arms that whatever that happens, I will be here for you. That's a loveburst.

3) A husband is who are now. Today is just the day that everything goes wrong. Deadlines moved up. Arguments at work. It downpoured and you got stuck. You got home and grumpy. As you sit at the dining table with your wife and child, your child said grace. "Dear God, it's me. How are you? I'm fine, thank you. Mom and Dad are mad. I don't know why. We've got birds and toys and mash potatoes and each other. Maybe you can get them to stop being mad? Please do, or it's just gonna be you and me having any fun tonight. Amen." Suddenly, when you look up, you look at your wife and you both burst out laughing, shake head and apologized. That's loveburst.

After the examples Max gave, he said "Jesus has loveburst too!!" In the miracle that Jesus performed to the paralyzed man, Jesus said "Your sins are forgiven" instead of "Stand up, take up your mat and walk.". For a long time, I wondered what was Jesus trying to tell the teachers of the law.

I learned this: To have our sins forgiven, Jesus' blood was shed on the cross. To stand up and walk, a simple command by Jesus to perform the miracle. Which was more important? Our soul or the ability to walk?

Jesus, when on earth, already knew the cost of grace, the cost of His love for us. He knew it already. He knew the price of forgiveness. When He looked at His hands, He saw my name written on his palm and He gladly allow the nail to pierce through. That's Jesus' loveburst for us!

Today, in one of my marital counseling session, towards the end of the session, I saw the couple smiled at each other, held hands and reminded each other that things will get better. That's loveburst! They know what matters!

Loveburst reminds you about what really matters. We matter to Jesus!! Does the examples Max gave sound extreme? Thought you will never experience it? It's in the little details in life. Did we miss it? Did it just slip us by?

I had lovebursts over the past few days..! I was feeling upset over the death of a friend and I was chatting with a friend on MSN who's overseas. Though he was busy and left the conversation real fast, the next day, he apologized to me telling me that he had to work. Then he took time to hear me out. Allowed me to ventilate. That, to me, was a loveburst. From a friend to a friend. The willingness to apologize, the willingness to listen gave me the assurance that I matter as a friend. The knowledge that we both possess that in the hearts of hearts, our friendship matters.

Not too long ago just now, I had a wonderful conversation with a friend about how much she matters to me! And with that, I realised how much I matter to her..! We apologized for misunderstandings that happened unknowingly. This unseen support and love that I have is priceless.

When I come back home everyday, there will be bound to be either soup on the stove or a cup of herbal tea on my table. My dogs will always come out running whenever they heard my keys. When my sister return home from outside, she will often pop her head in to make her presence known. My dad will always remind me to eat despite working late. Love overflowing..!

Yesterday, CG went to Great World City (with the exception of Noel and Yanling who was at work) to celebrate Zann's and Eugene's birthday. In all honesty, there have been struggles at work! (but God is still good!!!! He gave me patience wrapped up in endless gifts!) Yet, when I met CG, there seemed to be this assurance in my heart that no matter how I sway, no matter how down I can get, no matter how bad things seem, my friends in my CG will never leave me coz I matter to them.

I guess.. Just wanna appreciate the little things that life has to offer. To give thanks for the little things in life. The simplicity of life is really in the small things in life.

Zann pretending to drink and Eugene trying his best to look like an alcoholic but he looked drunk instead! Haa!! CG at Ichiban.. Chawamushi was fabulicious!

Beng trying to look blur? Drunk? *shrug* Nel trying to act like a Jap man getting drunk. Penn, poor gal, played along as the "lady beside the man".. :P

I REALLY REALLY wonder....! WHY IS IT A HORSE AND NOT A REINDEER????!!!! I don't get it.. But well, we still enjoy taking photos with the horsy-sleigh.

FYI, pictures are taken with my all time favourite Samsung E720C. It's amazing how 6 of us squeeze into the small cam.. ( ",)/