Tonight's Word 🌱

 

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
- Jeremiah 29: 12-13

Fun Fact: Did you know that this year (2024), more than 1 billion people around the world will be celebrating the New Year on February 10? While this may sound a bit late to many of us who follow the Gregorian calendar and would have typically celebrated on January 01, Chinese citizens and the diaspora follow the lunar calendar in which the new year falls at this time for them, and varies every year. Great importance is placed on celebrating and spending this time with family, with traditional meals, reunion dinners, and prior cleaning and renewal of ones environment.

Interestingly enough, my appreciation for Chinese culture has mostly been limited to Chinese cuisine and a visit to a dragon boat festival last year. I have usually perceived it as out of reach due to the language barrier, until recently, when I started attempting to learn a bit of Mandarin with the help of a teacher. While it is a difficult language, thankfully a few short words and expressions are managing to stay with me so far. 

An example of some basic greetings in Mandarin
(iteachchinese.wordpress.com)

 

A beautiful picture is painted in Revelation 7:9-10 which says: "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” As a believer, we know that Christ loved and died for all peoples, and as such, we embrace opportunities for understanding and community with all peoples. Efforts at learning a language helps to break barriers and build bridges with others, and plays a big part in broadening our horizons and awareness of more of the world around us, even in our own island home, where we have a beautiful melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, races, religions, etc. This is His desire for all peoples:

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

- Jeremiah 29: 12-13

Prayer:
Father, You have created such a beautifully diverse world. Thank You for the privilege of being able to speak to You, to cry out to You, to worship You in any language at any time in any place. You understand us, and You see our hearts. Thank You for loving us with an everlasting love that desires for all of us to be with You eternally in Your kingdom. Guide us all on the path that leads to You. Bless our Chinese brothers and the diaspora as they welcome the lunar New Year. Bless their families with the peace and joy that passes all understanding. Bring them wisdom, healing and renewal. In Jesus' name. Amen.

I came across this song in English recently, which I learned originated in China, and I decided to share my favorite version of it this evening. It speaks simply to the gift of prayer and God's willingness to hear and answer. As you listen to it, I trust that you too will be able to appreciate the sentiments of the song, and perhaps even attempt singing along to the lyrics in Mandarin that I have included in the video. Be blessed. 🎧😊🙏

I come to You in Prayer (Ara Kimbo)