Juanita’s blog

I know Christmas was 2 months ago and it would seem kindda strange to post something about Christmas when Easter is approaching soon. But, I came across a flyer that I brought to Perth all the way from Adelaide. It was from my cousin. He gave me a candy cane on Christmas day and this flyer was attached to it. I read it when he gave it to me and it really touched my heart. So, I would like to share it with all of you who read my blog.

The Legend of the Christmas Candy Cane

A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a testimony of his Christian faith, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He fashioned it using several symbols from the birth, ministry and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy: to remind us of the Virgin birth and the sinless nature of Christ; and hard candy to symbolize the solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of God’s promises.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Saviour. It also represents the staff of the "Good Shepard" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripes was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, over the years, candy cane became just another tasty treat and decoration, without any special significance. But the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear."

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" - John 3:16

Later on I did some research on it, and some websites claim that this statement is false. That’s why it’s called "The Legend of the Christmas Candy Cane". Well, believe it or not, there lots more claims out there that says Jesus did not rose from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of God today. But, the Bible says that He did rose again on the 3rd day and that He loves you and I to gave His precious life for us. So, whether how "candy cane is made" story is true or not, it’s not the main focus, the real significance is that Jesus did died on the cross and that He was wounded for our sins. He gave His life for those who believe so that we can have eternal life. He rose again on the 3rd day and ascended to heaven and hears and answers our prayers. One day, He’s coming again and if you do not know Him, you shall be judged. So, "turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful grace, for the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace".

It’s been a long while since I last posted my blog. I think my last blogging was sometime in August last year. Yes, I miss Adelaide, Hope church, my bros and sisters in Christ whom I have form special bonds with, the caring and loving aunties and uncles of Hope church, Pastor ki and Auntie myung who has showed so much love and good example to all of us, the senior citizens, the yummy food and fellowship, the cozy and warm stone mansion building…I love my hopefuls. They’re irreplacable.

But, I suppose life has to go on. A good sister in Christ told me that if we keep looking back, we cannot find the courage to move on. So, here I am, in a whole new place, opening another new chapter of my life, with a whole new steps to take - Perth is now my new home.

It’s been 2 months settling down in Perth. From going to uni, to being unemployed, to starting a new job. From establishing a close relationship with the people at Hope church to having to start all over again to know the people in BPCWA. From serving God as a single to being attached to Barry..all I would say is that it has been both a blessing and a challenge.

My first impression of BPCWA when I came for National Camp was "mmm…they’re really nice and friendly people. I can see that they’re really frevent in their service and are really on fire for God. I really like them". Then, my other impression of BPCWA when I came in dec was "This church is really blessed". My conversation with David Pang regarding Sunday school really shocked me. He said sometimes the teachers only get scheduled to teach twice a year. Man, this wouldn’t be the case in Hope. Our teachers get scheduled 3 times a month!! So, yeah, thank God for blessing BPCWA with talents and willing hearts. OOh, not to forget, their Gloria Patri is sung so differently from ours.

I had my first proper interview last 2 weeks. I wasn’t very scare, just wasn’t sure what to expect. If it wasn’t for Barry’s mom’s help, I’ll still be jobless. The whole time I just felt that the interview was circled around the issue of MONEY!! They want to train me to help them to earn big money, they want to give me a secure future of having lots of money (mind me, my future is only secure in God’s hands)…and all the time the word I hear is money. After the interview, only one verse came to my mind, which King Solomon said "Vanity of vanities…all is vanity". Someday, money will burn up. So, MONEY is not everything!!! I still end up having the job, but determine to honor God and stand firm with my Christian principals. The reason was because I can’t afford to be jobless, I have to think about my parents and my sister’s education. I have to pay rent and buy food. But, thank God that my first week went alright. I manage to tract the girl that was teaching me all the accounting stuff. Then, the second week was my last day working in Balcatta, this week my office will officially be in Adelaide Tce (which some ppl tried to crack jokes on that I’m still in Adelaide, kindda funny). So, before I left the firm in Balcatta, I was "scouting" around for a good place to put a tract so that people can read, eventually I left a tract on the table where there’s magazines for people to read when they come to the firm. So, I really pray that I can continue doing this for God. I know I’m so unworthy to do this, but when I think about the statement that George Whitfield made (thanks to Clara for the book) "Had I a hundred hands, I’d employed them all. The harvest is great. I’m afraid I can do no more for Him who has done so much for me". So, really, it’s never about me. I was wretched since I was born. It’s about the Saviour who deserves what He did on the cross two thousand years ago.

This new chapter of my life does seem preety daunting and uncertain at times, but, "I don’t know about tomorrow. I just live from day to day… Many things about tomorrow. I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand". Amen to that.