Pure of Heart

Psalm 51:12-13 A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God

These 2 verse have stayed close to me since the pilgrimage. Matthew 5:8 was the beatitude that shouted out to me when we were going to the Mount where Jesus gave the sermon of the Beatitudes to the crowd. It holds 2 facinating parts 'clean of heart' and 'see God'. Isn't this wonderful to be able to see God? However what does clean of heart mean? It was really difficult and I struggled. Man can never be clean of heart, we sin and how can it ever be possible to be in a state that we will never sin. The pilgrimage taught me a real lesson on what sin really is. A sin is a sin, regardless if it is a small or big one, we just rationalise it as small and make ourselves feel better.

While on the pilgrimage, Fr. Terence one night started to teasing and giving Vincent Kong a hard time, so I thought. Then he said, Vincent Kong is a man with a clean heart! Vincent is a very generous person, he tries to understand what you tell him and does not second guess, he has no bad intention, he truly seeks to understand what you are trying to tell him with no intention of justifying himself. He speaks with good intention and with sincerity. Like a light bulb in a cartoon, it registered in my head.

Indeed Vincent has been very generous, he has made time to send me for my blood tests and treatments. And he calls to make the appointment and is even willing to change his schedule to be able to take me to Medical Center. During the prayer sessions, he was very sincere and apologetic when he was unwell and explained that he did not come because he could have passed me his 'bug' to me, he made a conscious decision to stay at home to pray for me so that I could attend the prayer session.
I really felt bad asking him and have him send me for my appointments but he made me feel so comfortable and I would have been 'ungenerous' to accept his generosity.

Thank You Vincent and Karen.

Michael Chua, Gillian, Eileen and Norbet, have been extremely patient and generous with their prayers, they call to check and give us surprise visits. Hardly a day pass without one of them calling Jo or myself. They have been great support for the kids as well.

Jo's cousins, I believe have also grown closer to God in our journey. Albert/Kathleen, Catherine/Murthi and Ramona are such wonderful people, they make time for us by coming over to my place with lots of food and truly they are good company. The boys now look forward to their visits for the company and the 'spirit'. Brian has been checking on what new 'spirits' he can surprise them with.

In all, this journey has been brought many people closer to God and more close to us. I thank everyone for their openess, love and their prayers. I pray that they will remain close to God and work daily towards a 'pure/clean heart' and the desire to be able to 'see God' (see God in those around us too and not only focus on the other side, because heaven is here and now. God is everywhere and God is in heaven, so I will conclude that where are are now must be a part of heaven!)

Tomorrow, April 1, I will have to do a blood test and X-ray in the morning, please pray that all will be well. Chemo is on thursday.

Love and Shalom
Peter James

Update 3/30

Hi, had a blood test last week at the end of my cycle 2 Chemo, I had a bacteria throat infection the previous week. However with the care, medication and 3 days of complete rest, the result was good. The full blood count was very positive. I am prepared to start cycle 3 this week. The doctor has scheduled a bllod test and x-ray on 1 April. They will do a comparision of this week's x-ray against the past 2. Hopefully the x-ray will show some improvements. At least the doctor will know if the medication is working. The blood test will also include the cancer markers CEA and CEA125, if these come down as well then things are looking positive.
The doctor will be reviewing the result on Thusday at 10.30am, and chemo cycle 3a should be on the same day. Going to the blood lab every week has been an expeience, never had so many bllod samples taken so far in my life, but the nurses at the lab and doctor's office especially Carol is pretty good at finding agood vein. Thankfully they can still find a good vein, in the past it was tough, too fat. Now with some weight loss, they can see it with less difficulty. Was at work last week and today. Spent most of the time on the new project that is to be implemented in August this year. would not call it a slam-dunk but still need to watch it does not fll into the cracks of the unexpected.

My sis, Rosemary has been a great help! She managed to help clear out Nicole and Gerard's pile which we failed miserably over the past years. She has been faithfully keeping me company at Dr. Khong and also nearly every Saturday morning helping Jo out at home. This is a time that I am opening my eyes and start to appreciate my sister much more than I have in the past.

Jo and I had nature walk the last 2 Saturdays. Bontanical Garden the previous week, It was after a heavy rain and the place was pretty wet. small crowd was there and there was a group of people 'getting energy form an old tree'. was amusing to watch them step on the roots and start moving, getting into difficult stretch positions which I made fun-off but Jo thought I was being mean. Last Saturday was a shorter walk, board walk between lower Pierce reservoir and Causuraina road. Good place to start, eat your prata and walk back. But we did not stop for any Prata!! There were many wildlife photographers with their massive tripod, lens and flashlights, waiting and waiting and waiting ... not sure if they managed to capture anything but it must be good exercise lugging the equipment 2km to the carpark.

Thanks to the earth hour, we got the whole family in one room with the Advent candle, and we had a good solid hour or Prayer, including Rosary and Divine Mercy. How did your earth hour go?

I am still in good shape. I am very thankful for the prayers and concerns of friend, Angels and Saints on earth too. Without them I doubt I will be able to remain positive. I trust in God and he will do what is best for me. We all will just have to trust and keep that in mind. Lent is drawing to a close, I pray that all of us will be able to make it for the sacrament of reconciliation, and draw refreshment on this journey.

Please also pray for my old friend Alphonsus father-in law and his sister's husband. May they place their illness at the foot of Jesus' cross and trust that He will take over.

Thank You each and everyone my Saints and Angels.....

Quote ' Path to Sainthood
Most people don't take sainthood seriously. They idealize saints, put them safely on a pedestal where they can admire but don't really want to believe that an "ordinary person" like them could ever become a siant. Cancer is an extraordinary thing that opens a special pathway towards sainthood, but it's your choice whether or not you want to take the path.... a path of surrender to the will of God.
A priest used the analogy of a vineyard to explain the process. When grapes are plucked and crushed are placed in a big vat to fement. (I had been crush by cancer) I was the grape that was crushed and fermenting but I had a choice to come out of the process as Vinegar or Wine. Bitter and closer in despair or holier and closer to God. I decided that I wanted to be Wine. It's choice that we all have to make' unquote; Lorene Hanley Duquin.

Guess what? I decide I wanted to be wine too....

God's Work Ministry - sharing from Agnes Ng

God's Work Ministry E-mail‏ Dwayne Savaya Mar 23, 2009 God's Work Ministry Inspirational and Encouragement E-Mail

Dear Friend,

We should always keep in mind that while we are in the world trials and tribulations are sure to come our way, but the good news is we have an Advocate that has promised that while the trials may come, our victory is promised regardless. We must simply stay in faith and have the right attitude knowing that we will get through any situation and come out from it better than we were before. Our confidence should always remain strong in the Lord. He has never failed His Saints. One merely needs to go through the Old Testament and New Testament to see that God is faithful to those who rely on and trust in Him. As long as we keep our eyes on the Lord, nothing shall overtake us or grasp us out of God's Mighty Hand. Be encouraged to reinvigorate your faith in the Lord and know that your trials are not here to stay, but they will soon pass and you will become better than you ever were before. (John 16:33) (Job 42:12-17) (James 1:2-5)

I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to remain in faith no matter what you may be going through right now. Be confident in God's ability to meet your needs and proclaim by faith that all things will work together for your good because you love God and are called according to His purposes.

GOD UNDERSTANDS

“He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. `I have had enough, Lord,' he said. `Take my life...'” 1 Kings 19:4 NIV. This is a remarkable chapter in the Bible. We think of Elijah as a rugged individualist and the strong prophet of the Lord. Now here we have the eminent Elijah sinking from triumph to despair! We find that he is subject to the human emotions we all feel at times. Who of us has not said, “I have had enough of this!” But God doesn't answer this prayer; instead, He sends an angel, not once but twice, to Elijah to feed him.

When Elijah is strong again, he travels on to Mt. Horeb--and then he hides in a cave -- how human! God isn't going to let him get away with that, either. “What are you doing here, Elijah, so far away from your duties? What are you doing here, Elijah, you of all My people who should have remained at your post? My past compassions to you should have strengthened and served you especially for a time such as this.”

God understands when we cry out in exhaustion and heartache and despair. The strain of Mount Carmel, Jezebel's threat to kill him, and utter fatigue simply overwhelmed Elijah. Elijah's heart withered at the thought that he had failed, so he headed for a cave, and God loved him still. Just as God brought Elijah out of the cave of his anguish, so God will bring us out of the darkness of our personal cave into His light once again (Psalm 18:28). Elijah thought his labor was useless; that it had come to nothing. Those with the highest and holiest purposes are often the very ones who experience such intense dejection and rejection.

A saint left this thought for us: “So, in the Lord's ministry, the nucleus of the Church was not found in the applauding multitudes on Olivet, but in the few faithful ones in the garden of Gethsemane.” Sometimes we have to enter the cave for the contrast of light and darkness, and then come out for an even better perspective and service for our Lord. One of the lessons I digested from this wonderful chapter is that God is very concerned about our physical welfare. He sent an angel to refresh Elijah with food and sleep, and God sends us an angel to refresh us. After our son's death, I lost my appetite for a while, which is normal. When I read this particular chapter, I realized that God is telling us that He wants us to keep up our strength for He has special plans for us. Indeed, in the loving friends who come with physical and spiritual sustenance for us, God is sending His angels!

O Father, thank You for the angels You send every day to minister to us. And may we become angels in our turn to minister to others in their needs, as our hearts and bodies heal.

By Patricia Erwin Nordman Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Psalm 103:10-14 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Romans 10:9-11 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”


All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: HE TOOK MY PLACE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem170.htm Today's Selected Testimony: MY GOD IS AWESOME Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony3.htm In Christ’s Service, Dwayne Savaya God’s Work Ministry Please feel free to visit the Website to read more Encouraging and Inspirational stories, poems and testimonies. Our E-mail Archives are available as well to read the messages that have been sent in the past. You can now hear our stories and poems right on our website. Volume One contains 15 messages that can be heard and enjoyed at Godswork.org. To hear our messages, please click on this link: http://www.Godswork.org/Audio.htm You can also send Free E-cards to friends and loved ones with the many choices available. You are also welcome to post your prayer requests in our Prayer Forum. All this and more available at --- http://www.Godswork.org

Eucharistic Celebration for Peter on 25 Mar 2009

A Big Thank You to all who joined us for Mass at Church of Christ the King.

We are deeply touched to see so many of you. We want to thank you for your support and prayers and we believe that the Lord WILL heal Pete in HIS time.



As I shared last night, without your prayers, Pete would not have taken his chemotherapy sessions so well. Today he did his blood test and results are good! Praise the Lord!



Through this time of testing, we have received so many graces, blessings, love and generosity from so many people. We thank you for being the Prayer Community that we so badly need. We know that you
are all journeying with us and we can feel the Power of your Prayers! Thank you my dear friends and relatives!

Special thanks to the Altar Servers Council Members of Church of Christ the King, who had organized 3 weeks of Prayers for Pete, Frs Kenny and Stephen.

God bless you all.