10 September 2011

Lord! Will I sell you for a few pieces of silver?

Lord! One day when I meet some temptations,
will I sell you just for a few pieces of silver?

One day, meeting the temptation of thirty pieces of silver, will I sell you just as Judas Iscariot did?

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.” (Matthew 26:14-15)

One day, when I am very tired and thirsty, seeing a bowl of red stew, will I sell you as Esau did?

“And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!’ … So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.” (Genesis 25:30-34)

One day, meeting the temptation, will I sell you just for a pair of shoes?

“… They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.” (Amos 2:6)
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. … Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:35-45)

Lord, Paul rather suffered the thorn in his flesh, even being rejected after three times of prayer, he was still willing to obey and suffer;
but one day, will I sell you just because there is sorcery which can effectively solve the pain from the thorn in my flesh?

“… Used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD…” (2 Kings 17:17)
Lord, you prayed in the wilderness for forty days, being hungry and thirsty, meeting the temptation from the devil, you rather suffered hunger and rejected the suggestion from the devil;
but one day when I am hungry and thirsty, meeting the temptation of stones being turned into bread by the devil, will I sell you just for some bread?

Lord, Satan thinks that people believe and trust in God just because they want good health. As long as people suffer serious diseases, they will abandon their faith. Nevertheless, Jacob endured these suffering, did not abandon his faith because of suffering diseases;
but one day, if I am seriously ill, suffering great pain, if someone use enchantments that are against biblical teachings to heal me, will I sell you just to gain my healthiness?


Lord!
How many pieces of silver are you worth?
How many bowls of red stew are you worth?
How many pairs of shoes are you worth?
How many pieces of bread are you worth?

Lord!
Are you really worth those only?
In my heart, are You this cheap?
Is the value of You less than my prosperity and success?
Is the value of You less than my healthiness?
Has it turned out that, I am worthier than You?
Is it true that for my need and desire, You can be sold away?
Has it turned out that, my faith is so worthless, so unable to go through trials or temptations?
Has it turned out that, ‘Lord of Lords, King of Kings’ from my mouth is only a slogan, a slogan that is unable to go through trials or temptations?
Will I sell you one day when I meet the temptations?

Lord! Help me to resist those trials even facing temptations,
even if I have to die in illness, thirst, or poorness for this!
But may you give me strength, allow me to be faithful until my death, and receive the crown of life.

“… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35)
“… Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’…” (John 21:15)
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24)

My dear brothers and sisters!
When one day some temptations come, the Lord asks us,
“So-and-so, do you love me more than these?”
How will our answer be?

Does God really want to record this in heaven,
 “So-and-so sold Jesus for something.”?

May the Lord help us!
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Original Article ‘主啊!我會為了幾塊錢,就把你賣了? ’(http://blog.roodo.com/yml/archives/14834619.html) was written by Little Little Sheep(小小羊), a Taiwanese Christian Blogger;
Translated by Yuan3y.

This copy of translation can be re-posted or reprinted online or offline freely, provided that:
*the Original Author is credited,
*and a URL link to the original article is attached,
*and for non-profit purpose. 

05 September 2011

Beach at Aloha Changi

Author: Yuan3y
Date of Source: 3 Sept 2011
Date of Release: 5 Sept 2011
License: CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)

02 September 2011

Tell it to my daughter

* An official English version is found afterwards and was not referred to during my process of translating, it can be found here: http://www.oc.org/web/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=49

1.
My child, first of all we hope you always set pursuing the truth as your goal in life. You can be a famous person, or a nobody; a boss, or an employee, can be rich, or be poor… But we hope you are a person who pursue after the truth.

When you were a kid, we were blessed to know God, brought you up with Bible as principles. We let you be brave to challenge, we let you study hard, and we let you get exposed to poem, music, dance, arts, history, geography and beautiful Nature; We let you see the limitations of humanity and the corruptions in human nature, we let you learn to build up healthy inter-person relations, all these is to let you develop a noble temperament and the ability in appreciating what’s true, good and beautiful. This temperament and ability of appreciation will accompany you with your life of joy, allow you to see the feast that God set for those who faithfully trust in Him, through the valley of death.

Pursuing the Truth will make you outstanding, pursuing the Truth will build up your temperament, pursuing the truth can make you glamorous. In contrast, no matter how beautiful a girl is, without the ideal of pursuing the Truth, she will become indifferent and pitiable.

2.
The way to your ideal tend to be difficult, and you will endure hardships for this either. However, my child, you must prepare your will to suffer and the ability to endure hardships since young. One who pursues lofty ideals, will never be self-pity or pessimistic. In the seemingly rough life, you will see many signs and wonders that others cannot experience. Choosing to be indifferent may be comfortable and secure, but sure to be colourless.

Ideals may not bring you any instantaneous profits, often bring no secular enjoyments. Hence you must prepare your heart, prepare to get used to the situation when nobody agree or appreciate you, or even times when people pity you. You should not be hesitated because of this, but to learn to keep the eternal truth alone, because the ultimate truth will never make you be ashamed.

Do never give up your ideals for profit of large or small, never change what you believe according to the fashions of the world, and root this belief deeply. The external materialistic world is gorgeous, glamorous and attractive, easy to make you confused, and unconsciously you may give up the pursuit of ideals; hence you have to keep awake, learn to refuse the temptation of vanity.

If you become a lovely girl because of pursuing ideals, there will be many people in fond of you. If you receive praises and honour more than what you should, it will make you be satisfied being superficial. Remember, charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

3.
You should learn to apologize to your mistakes. No mistake is greater than not admitting a mistake, never try to cover a mistake by another. Treat your own mistake with justice; do not be ruled by sin. Stop being evil and learn to do good, treat yourself and others with love and truth.

You need to understand and appreciate relationships. In fact among millions of people, knowing of any one is a miracle. In getting along with others, there may be misunderstandings, jealousies and hurts. Solely for the miracle of knowing each other, it is worth to forgive and treasure. You should seek harmony with people, for there is a happy end to the person of peace. Love, understand, and forgive yourself and others, because sometimes the other people are exactly yourself.

Learn to appreciate tragedies; tragedies make you understand the consequence of corrupting human nature. Learn to appreciate what’s true; See the truth under layers of masks.

No matter how the world’s fashions change, the best qualities of human will remain. There are many people who have multiple standards, but there are very few who can still be outstanding because of keeping the truth.

Sincerity is your intangible treasure. Sincerity will bring you unexpected regards and honours. Sincerity may not mean to point out the faults of others, but you must not compliment to those.

I hope you do not be kitsch. If flatter appears on your face, I will be shameful for you. You may not be powerful enough to battle with the evil of the world in outer appearance, but in your inner heart, you should let Jesus Christ who is the Truth be your Lord.

4.
God has made you into a prestigious and unique person. No one can hide your honour, unless you give it up by your will. As you grow up, you will meet many people who are stronger and more outstanding than you. You may feel depressed, and self-abased because of the shortcomings you found on yourself. But do remember your source, remember no matter how much shortcomings you have, you are precious in the eyes of God.

Also I hope you speak concisely and accurately, with the art of speaking. Don’t interrupt others’ speech. Get good habits in your life: keep clean and tidy; control your appetite, and intake food for your bodily need. Do more sports, do not be artificial, and do not have too much taboo. Read books and renew yourself every day. Don’t always think you what should others do for you, but think how the help others. Learn to rather suffer losses, but be alert those people who never will to suffer losses. Do not be insensitive or unconcerned about people and things around. Try the best to bring positive messages to others in interacting with others. Influence the people around with your words and actions. Never underestimate the effect of saying a good word or doing a good work. In humility consider others better than yourselves. Do not be opportunistic; do not belittle the things that you cannot do. Do not waste your time.

Lastly, we have to tell you that, first is, the above things that we have told you, we are too making our effort in doing them, yet we have not done all of them; second is, you are much more blessed than us, when you are still young, your parents know to tell you all these. Let us give thanks to the Lord for this! We have received you from God, if you can be a child of light who is pleasing to God, it will be wonderful.

Being our child may be hard, but happiness comes after hardships.
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* This is translated from an article by Li Jie on Overseas Campus Ministries (OCM) Magazine (, Page 54, Issue 0062, in December 2003). The author grew up in Beijing, is now living in Japan.
* This is not an authorized translation of the original article in Chinese, hence it is to be used only for the purpose of education or researches, no publication is allowed unless permission from the original author is granted.