Fireproof: Responding to the Urgent Call in Extreme Conditions

The last month I have been busy working on a writing project. Lorraine has written an awesome blog describing her ministry God is growing in her everyday life. Next week I will post about my "Double Portion Holidays" In the meantime, "Take It Easy in all of God's Blessings" this Christmas Season

Pastor Tom

If you have been following my unfolding story on My TIE, you may notice that God has been using my dual storms of family and work to prepare me to do His work. 

While God is using these trying times to make me fireproof, I have learned that the only way to find hope is to find Jesus.  This includes journeying alongside with others who are struggling through their painful moments.  This is how we can grow together and support one another to become stronger in the Lord. 

Hope Is Where the Lord Is

A terrible tragedy happened on June 4, 2014 in a small city called Moncton in New Brunswick Canada.  Three Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers were killed recklessly by a 24-year old gunman.  It was a tragedy that turned the entire city, country and the police community into a state of mourning.

One of the three fallen officers was a young father 32 years of age.  He was survived by his wife who was six-month pregnant at the time and his then 18-month old son.  This police officer received a call about a gunman walking through the city’s north end.  He was making dinner for his family at the time but he ran to the rescue immediately leaving the barbecue lid and the garage door open.  He never returned home – he was shot and killed in the line of duty.

This young RCMP officer was someone who loved the Lord, his family, and his community.  He had always wanted to serve the Lord and his country as a police officer.  He wanted to live where hope is.  This is exactly where he is today – with Jesus his Lord.

Jesus is our protector, He stands between us and danger because He loves us – and this RCMP officer, together with his two colleagues did just that to protect their community and gave their lives for the safety of the people they serve and love. 

We may not know exactly why God allowed this terrible tragedy to happen, nor do we know why He put us through life’s many storms; but we know the ultimate purpose is to let His glory be shone.  RCMP officers are frontline servants whose mandate is to serve and protect.  As Christ’s followers, we are also frontline servants whose mandate is to serve the Lord and to bring His people to Him by shining His light everywhere He places us.

At the funeral service where the country bid our final farewell to these three fallen RCMP officers, we were encouraged to find hope in Jesus as the pastor of the 32-year old fallen officer reminded us that:

·         “Life is a gift to be lived one day at a time;

·         Life is not about what you get, but what you give;

·         The only true lasting hope that brings comfort in a tragic world in which we live is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ; and

·         This is not about putting our hope in something, but putting our hope in someone – our Lord Jesus Christ.”

*Message of Pastor Jerry Reddy delivered at the regimental funeral for the fallen RCMP officers on June 10, 2014 in Moncton.

Every Opportunity Around Us is an Urgent Call

It has been five months since my mom has gone home to be with the Lord and God has continued to call me to be His hands and feet in this broken world.  I now have an increased passion to bring hope to those who are struggling as I continue to live through my dual storms of family and work.

God further revealed this urgency to bring hope to everyone the week of October 19, 2014 when two Canadian soldiers were attacked and killed two days apart on home soil by extremists.  Neither soldier was armed at the time; one was only 24 years old.  When the news broke, my first reaction was “do any of them know Jesus?”

Since then, I have received more urgent prayer requests of co-workers or their family members battling serious health challenges.  Like me, others at my work are struggling to find morale in a darkening environment.  Many are trying to look for work elsewhere and some of us have not had much luck despite our tireless efforts.  Facing such a situation five days a week, there is only one thought in my mind: we need to find hope that would strengthen us to persevere. 

God would prepare us for His good work in a broken world.  To do so, He puts us through challenging situations as “basic training” so that we can increase our confidence, strength and resiliency to build endurance to do His work.  Through these challenges, He is asking us to add to our faith the characters of “goodness; knowledge; self-control; perseverance; godliness; mutual affection; and love” 2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV) so that we can serve Him everywhere.

All these saddened events, including my mom’s passing have motivated me to share the good news with others who may not yet have a chance to get to know Jesus – God is indeed calling us to serve Him everywhere, even when we are struggling ourselves.

God tells us in His Word, “Therefore, my brothers and sisters make every effort to confirm your calling and election.  For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV).  God is asking us to respond to His urgent call to bring hope to those around us.

Let us lift each other in prayers as we serve our Lord together everywhere.  May His glorious name be praised!

Lorraine Fung

December 1, 2014

Get God's SWAG

I am excited to have Sophia as one of my guest bloggers. She loves life and God but most of all she loves to proclaim God in her life. Here is a recent proclamation that she recently made in our congregation that has inspired us. 

Take it Easy in God's Blessings

Tom

One of our cool young professionals brought up the word, “SWAG” during the casual conversation time at a recent church retreat. This word got my attention. SWAG sounded like a funny or odd word to me. So I asked, “What is SWAG Anyways?”  He briefly explained, “It means someone who has a lot of confidence. Like an abbreviation for swagger.”  

SWAG sounded very similar to the word "PHAT" from the 90's or  like the word  "bad", in the 80's. If I was a bit older then perhaps word "groovy" in the 60’s would had been that decade’s SWAG.

Since I have heard this term before with a different meaning, I decided to do my Google research. In the  urban dictionary, SWAG means "something we Asians got", (which I thought was funny since I am Asian). Another meaning that seems more common is that SWAG means, Stuff We All Get in reference to the gift bags given at conferences, or award shows.

Then I found an intelligent blogger who defines SWAG in the same way that my younger millennial church goers understand the term as “a type of style or presence that exudes confidence and is sometimes interpreted as arrogance.”

Now my thoughts turned back to the conversations from our church retreat. I began to recall all the people that I know who have SWAG. They exude confidence without even trying. They have SWAG no matter what they wear, say or behave. I thought to myself, “I should try to reinvent myself with some SWAG.” Then I asked my younger family members about how to get the kind of SWAG that would increase my confidence and cool factor just like the Millennials. As I learned about what it takes to get the cool up to date SWAG, I thought, “Wow, that’s a lot of effort to feel accepted as cool.”

Thank goodness being God’s child does not require that kind of effort.  Unfortunately, we like to set rules and definitions of how people should behave in order to receive acceptance. We allow popular culture to define us by the worldly SWAG  This type of phenomenon does not just happens in a secular society, it is also very common in the Christian circle, we want to be accepted by church goers and so we try to live according to their perceived rules. This merely Christianizes worldly SWAG into a form of Christian SWAG.

I remember not knowing how I should act when I first became a Christian and started to attended church. The concept of Christianity was so foreign to me.  I thought in order to be considered a "good and practice Christian" I should:

Go to Church every week

Be part of a fellowship

Pray before I eat

Use Christian jargons (ie. “Let go Let God”, “WWJD”, “We humbly bow” and “Lordship”)

Read the bible at least once a day

Hang out with Christians

And the list goes on Sometimes I did all these things and at other times I did not.  I really wanted to be a good Christian. As I reflect on that time in my life, what I really wanted was the Christian SWAG.

When I began to read the book of Galatians, I saw how the Jewish Christians were pressuring the new Gentile Christians to have their form Christian SWAG. Some these older believers thought that the Old Testament ceremonial practices must still be followed. They even believed that circumcision for new adult converts was necessary in order to be a called a Christian. I can identify with how these newly Gentiles Christians were a little confused about living a Christian life.

As I read Galatians 3:26-28; 4:7, I believe that I have found the real SWAG from God that gives me confidence because of the Salvation We All Get through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Chris have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew or Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus….So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (NIV)

(1) We ALL get to be His Children.

(2) We ALL get the to be Clothed in Christ’s character as we walk with Him in life.

(3) We ALL get to be important to Christ no matter our life’s status in the world may be 

(4) We ALL get to receive His inheritance of eternal life saved from judgment.

The good news is that we are all able to receive God’s SWAG! 

This is the SWAG I want for my life. What about you?

Sophia Vi-Tsang
October 2014

Does the Message of Christ Live in Our Lives?

My TIE Value: "Trust in the Lord and do good..." Psalm 37:3a

The time that I spent in the US Army Reserve as a Chaplain’s Assistant served as an intensive training for my future ministries. A portion of my time was in Desert Storm / Shield (1990-91) where adding ammunition to weapons gave every problem an opportunity to go sideways to disaster. Knowing this, there were several individuals who gave their problems and fears to the Lord.

One such person was in his fourth year at Clemson University. He grew up in a family whose faith was genuine and engaged in God’s Kingdom. Like many university students, he took a sabbatical from church as he went to university. He enjoyed being caught up in the spirit of university life.

Being mobilized for war motivated him to pick up his faith and Bible once more. The place I got to know this individual was in one of our remote water detachments where his unit lived outside of a couple of dangerous villages and among the Bedouin nomads who were known for their shifting loyalties.

The chaplain and I would spend the night during our weekly travels to our remote units. We would often slept in the tent where the media resources were set up during our visit. Individuals would come to watch tame movies around us as well as engage in conversation about life, theology and the Bible. This particular individual turned out to be one of the best Bible students throughout our travels.

On one such road trip, he received a care package from his university buddies. He was excited to share the package that consisted of packaged snacks in the university's colors and logos. Then there was a video tape. He had not seen it yet but wanted to see what messages his friends wanted to send him. He told us, “They should have lots of encouragement for me.”

Here is what we saw when we plugged in the 30 minute video:

-          Drinking games played in route to the weekly football game

-          Flashes of female body parts with the phrase “For the troops”

-          Practical jokes played on competing fraternities and unsuspecting loners.

-          And a lot of shout outs, “Stay safe. We wish you were here BUUUDDY!”

He turned off the video and said, “I’ve received better encouragement from my Bible than from these friends.”

My TIE Moment: Deepen the Message of Christ in Life

I have reflected on this experience many times in the last 20+ years. Like the soldier receiving the video from his friends, he found no real encouragement in the fun but shallow relationships they had to offer one another.

Sadly, we church going Christians can offer a G-Rated shallowness of the story I had just described by allowing our conversations be consumed by the:

-          Movies we have seen

-          Video games we have played

-          New items we have bought

-          Great food we have ate

-          And other fun times we have spent with our friends

In the end, there was no room for the message of Christ to enter in our conversations.  Unfortunately, there was no faith investment that will help each of us get through trying times we will face.

Paul writes to the Colossians,

 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

How do we allow Christ’s message to deepen its roots in such an expression of worship?

Colossians 3:1 states, “Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (NIV)

#1 We let the Message of Christ live in our lives when His resurrection is a daily reality 

We have the opportunity to choose words, actions, and support from people who enrich our lives with God’s practical wisdom. We can experience trust and strength when we lack certainty about our present life’s outcomes.

#2 We let the Message of Christ Live in our lives when we place our passion where Christ is Present

There is no higher place than God’s right hand to put our passion. God’s right hand is the place of God’s eternal strength, and authority that cannot be affected by instabilities. God’s right hand is the place where our forgiveness is secured through Jesus. And God’s right hand is the place where our prayers and praises are heard by God Himself. We can be assured that Christ has given us access to the highest place possible to put our passions of joy, calling, and even our suffering.

#3 We let the Message of Christ live in our lives when we put to death our sinful passions so that God’s passion for life may flourish in our lives 

In Colossians 3:5-17 Paul shows that we often let our sins of impurity, lust, and greed that make us place our heart in a lower worldly place. This is where we lack courage when we need it. Even worse, lack the faith that God is present in all of our life’s circumstances.  But by putting to death such passions the end result is that we are able to “[Live] all of life in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17b).

A Final thought, as we live in community with other Christians let's be determined to let the message of Christ to live in us so that we can let the courage of Christ's message live through us everyday.

Grass Roots: When Christ's Peace Rules

My TIE Value: "Commit your way to the Lord...He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn" (Psalm 37:5a;6a)

In my third year of Bible College, I was suddenly taken out of a fun puppet ministry and put in charge of the dreaded grades 4th-6th Children's Church by my church's Senior Pastor. These kids gave their volunteer leaders a tough time. They damaged the room, and refused to listen to the leaders. 

The last straw was that a group of Bible College students tried to be fun Bible dudes only to become victims of an organized escape plan that was launched during free time. These kids tackled the leaders and ran out of the room. Then they busted into the worship service screaming as they ran into the front door and out the back door behind the stage area. Perfectly timed during the song of reflection and calling after the sermon.

Like any good soldier, I made a battle plan:

1. I enlisted a couple of good friends who were bigger than me to serve as my holy bouncers at the door.

2. I instituted rules like respect teachers, each other, and church property. 

3. Everyone was made to face the wall and serve a timeout when one of our 3 rules were violated after a single warning. 

And 4.  I was determined to have an age appropriate worship service complete with songs, prayer, sermon, discussion, and fun games.

My first Sunday with bouncers in position and ministry format ready to teach the Wide and Narrow Gates of Matthew 7:13-14, the 15 kids tested our resolve that we never made it to the short sermon. It was a continual violation of our simple rules and a lot of time facing the walls.

Afterwards, I believe the Lord gave me insight to just come back the next week with the same plan and see how far we get. And so the following week we had the same 15 kids with much face time with the walls, but we made through the Scripture reading and 3 minutes of a 15 minute sermon. The following week we had the same 15 kids plus 5 friends who were invited to come experience this strange church with “Mr. Meanie.” We made it through half of the sermon before time was done.

It took 6 weeks to have a complete worship service. However what was different is we had 20 minutes to spare and our attendance grew from 15 kids to just over 30. In many of the Sundays to come, going outdoors to play at the church’s playground became the normal habit.

I thought that the lesson I learned during those 6 weeks was that discipline and obedience allows us more freedom. While having well behaved kids allowed us to do more with our time at church as well as fun outings all over Southern California. But over the next 3 years God taught me a lesson that has shaped my ministry forever.

My TIE Moment: Christ's Peace Rules

In short time, my bouncers were no longer needed. They were replaced by a couple of guys who loved preteens and the Gospel. Rare was a time out given. But throughout that time many of these kids came to know Christ as their Savior. The Gospel proclaimed and the Gospel received was normal. I remembered one girl who once labeled me “Mr. Meanie” came to tell me during her high school years, “You were no Mr. Meanie, you just love Jesus.”

We are called to “Let the “Peace of Christ rule [take over] your hearts.” (Col. 3:15a)  What did God teach me about letting His peace rule our hearts?

The narrow gate leads to life and not destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). The Wide Gate leads to destruction and not life.  Yet we often teach the Bible in ways that leaves people walking around the narrow gate in hopes of finding their own way to have peace with God.  We need to teach people that we are seeking peace with God not making God at peace with us.

Also, learning to do what is right helps us to allow God’s grace rule or over take our lives. Romans 5:21 states: “Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NIV)

Learning to respect or honor God’s Word, person, authority, people, and even property helps us to grow His grace. Doing what is right helps us to cooperate better as a community. Doing what is right assists us to make a correction from what we do that is wrong.

Most of all, doing what is right brings us to the narrow gate that leads to eternal life through Jesus. Ultimately we have to acknowledge that what we do wrong has consequences that we never can correct. We need Jesus to save us from the coming judgment.

What I learned is that our experiences of discipline and God’s Word helped to lead these kids to Jesus. Since then, the same narrow path also leads us all to Jesus. 

Be Response-Able

My TIE Value: Trust in the Lord and Do Good (Psalm 37:3)

 My Son's enjoyment for playing baseball prompted me to be involved with various baseball associations.

Like all youth sports associations, I have learned that successful baseball associations depend on the grassroots volunteers of its board members, coaches, and most of all parent involvement.  Without these three key groups of people there is no association, league or team.  Without all the adult volunteers youth baseball would disappear even if there was a massive interest to play baseball.

I was satisfied to be the #1 parent volunteer for our team each and every year.This is why I was always first in line to prepare the field for game day by squeegeeing the water off the field and filling in holes around the infield. I made time to run skill stations at practice so that all the players got their reps up in baseball basics. As an assistant coach in 2013, I was responsible for that our 5 team members (12-13 year old) who were new to the game. 4 out of these 5 players returned to play baseball in 2014. 

I was thrilled to be a small part in the bigger picture of grassroots baseball where first time players were excited to play and wanted to play again the following year. Then our director put me on the spot for 2014 season. He volunteered me to be a head coach for my son’s 14-15 year old team. I tried for months to get out of it. But his reply to me was, “You have dodged the real responsibility of having a team by not coaching.” He was right.

As I accepted this appointment with much inward trepidation, it was helpful for me to recall that I had all the experiences needed to have a successful baseball season as I prepared to be a head coach. 

•          I copied the practice plan of coaches I volunteered under who knew how to grow players by increasing everyone’s repetitions of baseball’s basic skills.

•         I went to the training sessions at the association where I was reacquainted with the basics of coaching and playing baseball.

•          I had the support of my family and church to be involved with the baseball community.

As I went through my first year as a head coach, I realized that I already possessed the basic knowledge and experiences to grow all the skill levels of my players. I came to realize by the end of the season that I did not fully understand grassroots sports until I was obligated to head coach a team.

MY Take It Easy Thoughts:

In our churches, we often misplace the true value of being involved in church ministry. While people in the church will serve on all the rotations, participate in the Bible studies, and plan for ministry related activities; they will often decline being the point person responsible for the ministry.

Like my avoidance of  head coaching responsibilities in baseball, the members in our churches feel they are too busy to be responsible for the ministry. Even if time was not the issue, they often see themselves as inadequately trained or lack of abilities compared to others to really be a good choice.  After all they do not want to “mess things up” and / or “receive complaints” from their fellow church goers.  Unfortunately, these are legitimate concerns.  

Even more unfortunate, these people become satisfied in being the #1 volunteer who is more concerned about running a safe program where someone else takes the heat or they can hide behind the anonymity of a committee.  No wonder we have little or no trust in the size of vision God as for each of our churches!

Growing into God’s greater vision requires us to step out of our lives and into His Calling. Being a called people is at the most basic element of not only serving God in the church which I see as a practice for serving his purposes everywhere (Matt. 4: 18-22; 8:18-22; 28:19-20).  In order to live as a called person we need to trust the resources that God has already given us.

#1: His Living Gospel

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both wise and foolish. That is why I am eager to preach the Gospel to you who are in Rome. I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes… - Romans 1:14-16a (NIV)

#2: His Living Word

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

#3: His Living Body, the Church

It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. – Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)

#4:  His Living Presence through the Holy Spirit

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. – John 14:26 (NIV)

Is there any reason why we can’t grow our “Response – Ability” to God’s daily calling?

Over the next few weeks I will write about elements that help us grow our grassroots in Christ found in Colossians 3:15-17. It is my hope to challenge each of us to respond to God so that we all CAN serve Him everywhere.

Great and Mighty Things Do Happen In Life's Storms

I am please to submit Lorraine's next installment as a guest writer in my blog. Since her mother's passing, God has been using Lorraine in a Great and Mighty Way to be a blessing in her world. May God inspire you through her continuing story.

Next week I will resume new blog postings in My TIE after taking a break from writing during July and August. Starting next week I will begin several post about being a "Grassroots Christian." 

TIE for now,

Pastor Tom Ford

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:3-7 New International Version (NIV)

To trust, delight and commit to the Lord is to praise Him under all circumstances.  As a guest blogger on My TIE, I have been sharing openly my painful journey with the Lord.  Slowly but surely, God has used my struggle to bless others in their life’s storms.

1. God has a bigger purpose

It’s been over two months since my mom has gone to be with the Lord and God continues to do great and mighty things while I am struggling to find my new life that He is creating for me within this dark season of grieve and adjustment.  The eulogy that I delivered at mom’s funeral in early July has touched people in various stages of faith / no faith.  It turned out to be a strong witness of God's grace for many in their life's storms.

I remember the day after mom’s funeral I received a LinkedIn invitation from a stranger who introduced herself to me as my brother’s friend.  She looked me up on LinkedIn as my eulogy for mom touched her.  She asked me to add her to my professional network and wanted me to know that she is praying for our family.   As someone who has been looking for a job for over two years, expanding my LinkedIn network is very important, but I would have never thought a connection could come through a funeral service.  God sure works in mysterious ways.

Through My TIE, people around the world have come to know my mom and God’s amazing grace.  Even people at my very dark workplace have asked about my blog.  God is indeed working and I take every opportunity to talk to them about the gospel and the peace that only God can give.  I have since continued to share mom’s passing openly and tears have been easy to come by, and this time from those who are listening to my story.  God has been using my struggle to bless others who are also struggling.

Many people are also sharing with me their struggles and how they have found my story comforting.  Some who have been through similar situation of losing a parent are also giving me support and words of encouragement.  All of a sudden, many more people are journeying with me, making my struggle less painful, and giving me more reasons to continue to praise our Lord even during this difficult time.

2. God answers prayer His way and in His time

Mom’s passing turned out to be the best part of God’s master plan.  The day before mom’s funeral, my dad told me he wanted to go where mom is and I indicated to him that he must first invite Jesus to live in his heart. 

Dad has been going to church with mom for many years but it was not until Jesus brought mom home to be with Him that he is questioning about the purpose behind Sunday worship and what it is like to give his life to Christ.  God took away the pain of mom’s illness to invite my dad on an unexpected journey with Him.  God answered my prayer (for over 10 years) for dad to seek Jesus by placing me in the darkest season of my life. 

Dad has since been taking the Alpha course which introduces the basics of the Christian faith.  He has started worshiping in a new church where he is being cared for and receiving spiritual support during this difficult time. God is always on time.  He took mom away for a much bigger purpose.  I will continue to praise Him and pray that despite the bumpy road ahead, dad’s passion to seek the Lord will lead him to finding true peace, the peace that only God can give.

3. Our struggle can be a blessing to others

God will take us to a place where we can be a blessing to others, even at the darkest point in our lives. The more we bless others, the more God will bless us.  We often pray for a miracle when we are in the midst of a life’s storm, but we can also become a miracle for someone else at the same time.

Helping my dad adjust to his new normal while trying to adjust to mine has been extremely challenging but I have learned so much more about our loving Father from above, who He is and what He does:

·         Jesus put us in the darkest season to equip us to live the rest of our lives;

·         We feel defeated at times because we put victory at the wrong time and in the wrong place;

·         Being at our lowest point in our lives gives us no choice but to rely on our Father for strengths and for resiliency to build endurance;

·         Although the situation may not be pleasant, the darkest season of our lives gives us the opportunity to learn to trust God for what He’s going to do; and

·         Learning how to handle our lives during life’s storms is to believe that God will bring it altogether in later seasons; that He will restore us from our brokenness to a state where we will be better and stronger than before.

We are blessed to bless others.  God is transforming the world around us by first transforming us.  We do not have to wait until we are delivered out of the fire before we give thanks; we are to turn our test of faith into a testimony for the Lord by praising Him even in extreme conditions.  God is here to make us fireproof.  His plan is bigger than ours and He is always on time.  As someone has once said, “the greatest test of faith is when you don’t get what you want, but still you are able to say thank you Lord.”

God tells us through His Word, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  For, in just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:36-37 New International Version (NIV)

I want to thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult time.  May the peace of the Lord be also with you as we journey together.  May our Father’s name be praised.

Lorraine Fung (September 1, 2014)

My Eulogy: Amazing Grace through Mom's Blessed Life

For everyone who has lost a parent, here is Lorraine's eulogy she gave about her mother. This message touched people in various stages of faith / no faith. I hope to that this message can challenge each of us to appreciate our mom's on both sides of eternity. - Pastor Tom

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) of the Bible read, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Today is not a sad but joyous occasion as we come together to celebrate my mom’s life in Christ.  We are also here to witness how our family has been truly blessed by the Lord through her.

1. A life of giving

Mom’s passing reminds me of the message of hope that was delivered at the recent regimental funeral for the three fallen Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers who died in the line of duty in Moncton, New Brunswick a month ago.  The pastor of one of the fallen officers reminded us this:

“Life is a gift to be lived one day at a time. Life is not about what you get, but what you give.”

For those who know my mom, they would know that she is all about giving.  Her love for her family, friends, and community and for the Lord is clearly demonstrated by the outpouring support we have received in the past week from around the world, and by the number of people who are gathering here today to give thanks to the Lord for her life.

We shall remember her professionalism in everything she did and all that she had given to others, whether it was her job as a pharmacist or her role as a homemaker.  She was a great wife, mother and grandmother.  Her cooking skills and knowledge of all things arts and crafts are legendary. 

I still remember the day when mom brought me and my brother to Canada by herself on July 1984 so that we could have a better education and future here.  She flew back to Hong Kong where she and my dad continued to work to save up money for their final move to Canada on October 1990. This was her love for us, to sacrifice our time together as a family for six long years so that we could all have a better life in Canada.

I am sure my brother and my nephew would agree with me that mom would go out of her way to spoil us with everything we want, and even things that we did not ask for. There was never a need for begging or for the question of “mom can I have that?”

2. Overcoming hardships

Mom was also resilient with life’s many hardships.  She was no stranger to the operating room.  From the complications of the birth of my brother and me, being a cancer survivor for over 17 years, to living with dementia in her final years of her life and everything else in between, mom overcame each and every one of life’s challenges being a stronger and a more loving person.  Even with all of the hardships that she endured; mom always wore that beautiful smile on her face because she knew Jesus was with her.  God gave her a blessed life that she lived to bless others.

3. God’s grace is sufficient for us

Mom had always been a believer in Christ and she made us go to church on Christmas morning as criteria to open our gifts.  I never understood why that was important until I too chose to give my life to Christ when I was older, and especially when God began to transform me the day I came to my current church in Mississauga in 2004.  Even after she was diagnosed with dementia, mom still committed to going to church every week, serving the Lord and reading God’s Word daily.

God’s grace is sufficient for all of us.  Mom was diagnosed with a mixed type of dementia in November 2009.  Although it was challenging at times for us to watch her condition deteriorate year after year, we were able to enjoy many happy moments with her during those times. 

God has also worked through my mom to bless me and to make me a stronger person during these trying times.  Through my mom, God let me know that trust is having faith in Him that He will do what He has promised.  He will love us and never forsake us.  From when we first learned in early April of this year about the possibility that mom could be leaving us at any time, God has everything planned to prepare us for what happened last Friday when mom passed away.  God is always on time, He is never early and He is never late.

God tells us through His Word in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Father we praise you for mom’s life, and we thank you for letting us witness your love and your work through her.  We are truly blessed with her wonderful life.  In Jesus’ glorious name we pray, and in His glorious name we praise!  Amen.

Praising the Lord for Mom’s Blessed Life by Lorraine Fung

Delivered on July 5, 2014