Sunday, February 26, 2006

It's all about ...

Ever wondered about the banner background and the little lamp on this blog?

My daughters said the banner is awful. Well, being kids, anything that isn't bright and colourful is awful. In fact, they wanted me to colour it yellow :)

The background is actually a picture of dawn, taken just as daylight was breaking through.
Dawn is almost always a beautiful sight - serene, quiet, promising. It signifies a new beginning, and the hope that comes with it. The crisp smell of fresh air, and the coat of dew on leaves and bougainvillas complete this awesomely powerful picture. It's little wonder that Romans 1:20 says "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." God's presence can clearly be felt if you will just soak in His creation. Just listening to the array of sounds from crickets to birds, before the first man-made sounds arrive for the day is enough to touch you where no man-made music can penetrate. Man-made music reaches the ears and numbs the mind; God's music reaches the heart and refreshes the soul.

The lamp? I love lamps, especially in the dark. Light, when contrasted with darkness, is especially endearing & meaningful. The Psalmist says in Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." I once ran at night to my grandma's place through a kampong in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. I chased the taillights of any passing motorcycles as they weaved their way through the muddy tracks to my grandma's house. It was such a warm feeling when I finally saw the soft glowing light of the kerosene lamp shining through the windows of my grandma's house.

Picture of a kampong house in Penang, but not my grandma's (source: http://www.bennenk.com/Maleisie/images/Thumbnails/19960814-08_Penang_Malay_kampung_Balik_Pulan_small.jpg)

The Bible says in Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

May you shine as a lamp to the world that is perishing, and may each new morning bring about new hope and promises for you.

God bless,
Thomas

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