Dicky

A ‘small’ request but a ‘big’ blessing

November 11, 2011

Hole Punch - Wikipedia

Near the end of September this year, my co-workers and I moved to another office suite. As we settled in our new place, we discovered that something was missing. A 3-hole punch. My manager and I presented our request to the office manager.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile affable. “Sure, I will order one. It will come in about a week.”

“Great.” My manager returned the smile, then walked beside me to his office.

We waited…

A week later, there was no sign of a 3-hole punch. I let out a deep sigh, stood from my chair and strode over to the office manager. My gaze kind and my tone soft, I asked her, “Have you ordered a 3-hole punch yet?”

In an instant, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She bit her bottom lip as she cast her eyes to the floor, then looked back up and cracked a smile. “There was a backorder. Let me follow up.”

I could hear her heart hammering against her chest. It wasn’t your fault, I thought to myself. “Thank you.” I gave her a nod and left.

I waited…

This past Monday, the subject line of an email grabbed my attention: 3-hole punch. I read the email once and then twice as if I could not believe my eyes. It is finally here. I took my documents from my desk, walked to the printing room and glanced around. But I could not see the punch. Where is it?

I looked again, and this time my face lit up when an electric 3-hole punch appeared before my eyes. It was on the shelf that stood against the back wall. How did I miss it the first time? I approached the device and peered at it. It’s brand-new, and it’s really electric.

During our one-month waiting period, we just expected to have a manual 3-hole punch because we were told that the company would not buy an expensive electric punch. It did not really matter to me as long as I would have something to punch holes in my documents. But the Lord provided us with a better machine, far beyond our expectations. I acknowledged that God’s provision came from His Love, and I thanked Him and praised Him for His faithfulness.

Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV)
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

6 Comments | Short Stories | Permalink
Posted by Dicky

Shoe Box

November 6, 2011

Dear friends,

Every year around November, Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world, collects Shoe Boxes and distribute them to children around the globe as a way to tell them about the Love of Jesus.

My family and I have participated in this special program Operation Christmas Child for years now. It is fun and easy to pack a shoe box. For more information, please click the link above.

I hope that you may participate in this project as well, and I also pray that our Lord may continue to bring His Good News to millions of children through such a meaningful ministry.

In Christ,
Dicky

6 Comments | Christian Living, Family, Friends | Tagged: children, Jesus, love, Operation Christmas Child, shoe box | Permalink
Posted by Dicky

Follow me

November 5, 2011

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

John 10:27 (NIV)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

“Lord, that’s where I want to go.” I pointed in the direction of my own path.

“No.” He shook His head, then pointed His finger toward a faraway place that my eyesight could not reach. “See that place? That’s where I want you to go.”

“Where?”

“There.”

“I can’t see it.” I narrowed my eyes. “But, God, don’t you think my way is a lot easier? Look.” I jabbed my thumb toward my path. “It’s very beautiful, and there are no obstacles. I think I can reach my goal in no time.”

His voice very tender and His gaze very warm, the Lord spoke to me, “Are you certain that you’ll achieve what you hope for? Are you sure that what you hope for is really what I have planned for you in your life?”

“Hmm…” I became speechless and cast my eyes to the ground.

He waited patiently for my answer.

After brief seconds, I let out a deep sigh and turned my head to where He wanted me to go, then fixed my eyes on Him. “Lord, the path You’ve chosen for me looks very tough. What if I need Your help?”

“You can count on me.”

“What if I fall?”

“I’ll carry you.”

“What if…”

“Don’t doubt. Just follow me. Give me your right hand.” He extended His hand, His palm waiting.

Without a bit of hesitation, I obeyed His command. Without a backward glance, I walked beside the Almighty, following His guidance and walking toward the place He had chosen for me as I totally trusted in Him that He would reveal the unknown place to me in His own time.

2 Comments | Christian Living | Tagged: follow, Guidance, tender, trust, wait, warm | Permalink
Posted by Dicky

In my distress

November 4, 2011

Lord, in my distress,
You speak softly to me,
and I lift my eyes toward You.
You renew my strength,
and I stand up and walk again.

Lord, forgive my transgressions,
for You are a merciful God.
Lord, help me trust You with all my heart,
for You are the same yesterday, today and forever.

2 Comments | Christian Living | Tagged: distress, forgive, merciful, strength, transgression, trust | Permalink
Posted by Dicky

Until we meet again

November 2, 2011

Dear Kody,

I wish you could receive my letter; I wish you could read my words.

I recall the day you first stepped into our church and worshipped our Lord together. Your visit gave us a lift and we welcomed you into our church family.

I recall the moments we talked about ministries. Your willingness and eagerness to serve the Lord encouraged us so much that I felt my heart leaping with joy.

I recall the times the two of us spent together: we ate out; we shopped; we saw a movie; we attended a Christian concert; … Our friendship grew as dear brothers in Christ.

I recall the day you came over to my home to celebrate Christmas together with my family. Our joyous laughter rang loudly in every corner of my place. The gift that you gave me is still treasured in my cabinet and well kept within my heart.

All these precious moments seem new as if they were now happening before my eyes; all these cherished moments seem fresh as if I were now hearing your voice.

Your physical pain I did not feel; it was the emotional pain that gave me the ache in my heart, the ache so deep and so immeasurable for me to say farewell to you as my dear friend and my dear brother in our Lord Jesus Christ.

You fell asleep in the loving arms of our Lord. You are now dwelling in the room He has prepared for you in His Kingdom.

Until we meet again, I will forever remember your kind face that shone with love, and it still does.

Until we meet again, I will forever remember your tender voice that reflected your warm-heartedness, and it still does.

Until we meet again, I will forever remember our friendship that connected the two of us in Christian brotherhood, and it still does.

Until we meet again, I will forever think of you within my heart.

Romans 6:5 (NIV): If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

2 Comments | Short Stories | Tagged: forever, Lord, remember, resurrection, sleep | Permalink
Posted by Dicky

Do not lean on your own understanding

October 26, 2011

Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

In March 1994, a miracle happened in my life.

During my job interview process, I sat alone in the human resources office as I was filling out an application. I paused when a question asked me about my status. I knew I had to choose ‘Married’ or ‘Single’.

I was a foreign student without a residence or citizenship status. If I chose ‘Married’, then I would move to the next line to tell the company that my wife was a US citizen, and they would know that I could legally work in the country, but I would have lied because I had not been married yet. If I chose ‘Single’, they would probably reject my application.

Down deep within my heart, I knew that I would sin against the Lord if I lied. I also believed that if it was God’s will for me to have that job, I would get it no matter what was in His way. With these thoughts in mind, I decided to choose ‘Single’ and let God do the rest according to His own will.

Two weeks later, the company interviewed me again, and on the same day they offered me the job.

One day as I was working in the office, my manager stopped by my cubicle and told me something beyond my expectations…

“Hey, Dicky,” he said to me. “Right after I gave you the job offer, I thought about your work status. Then I immediately rushed to the human resources to check your application. I was relieved when I saw that you marked ‘Married’.”

My eyes widened as I smiled. He did not realize that it was God who worked behind the scenes.

5 Comments | Testimonies | Tagged: faith, miracle, trust, truth, understanding | Permalink
Posted by Dicky

I wish we could meet

October 24, 2011

There has been a desire in my heart: Read the rest of this entry »

Comments Off on I wish we could meet | Friends | Tagged: bloggers, Christians, desire, faith, friends, meet | Permalink
Posted by Dicky

Lunch with Daddy

October 20, 2011

There is a new Chinese restaurant near where I live. My wife and I tried its lunch buffet on a Friday, and we thought it was pretty good. Read the rest of this entry »

2 Comments | Family | Permalink
Posted by Dicky