I'm back to the beautiful city of Ipoh to celebrate Chinese New Year and I shall be facing one of my greatest challenges i.e. to over eat during this festive holiday. My mother-in-law is a fantastic cook and somehow, I always have trouble controlling how much I eat. So I told myself that I shall be very cautious to control my diet this round.
I was reading Mark 7 this morning on how the Pharisees were accusing Jesus and His disciples taking in food with unclean hands because they did not follow the Jewish traditions to wash their hands before eating. It is interesting to see Jesus' reply in versus 14-23; that nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' For food doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body. But what comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' Verse 21-23 records, "For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "
So as I was busy being concern of what and how much I should be eating this holiday, God reminds me once again to also keep a check on what my heart produces. Well, my prayer is that may this CNY be a time where I share of good and pure thoughts as well as a sharing of kind deeds with friends and family.
For those of you who are celebrating Chinese New Year, may this year be a year full of love, joy and serenity. And to those who are travelling or on trips, have a safe and enjoyable time!
