I Owe Jesus My All

When Depressed

2010-02-25T11:03:00.000+08:00

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.
Psalm 42:5-6, NLT

Depression is one of the most common emotional ailments. One antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God’s goodness to his people. This will take your mind off the present situation and give hope that it will improve. It will focus your thoughts on God’s ability to help you rather than on your inability to help yourself.

When you feel depressed, take advantage of this psalm’s antidepressant. Read the Bible’s accounts of God’s goodness, and meditate on them.

How's Your Vision?

2010-02-22T20:25:00.002+08:00

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
Proverbs 29:18

Robert Fritz wrote, “It is not what a vision is; it’s what a vision does.” What does a vision do? Vision is the ability to see. Helen Keller was asked, “Is there anything worse than being blind?” “Yes,” she replied, “having eyesight but no vision!”

Leaders imagine a preferred future. Vision is the stuff of the future. Vision is the vivid image of the compelling future God wants to create through you. Leaders can stand up and say this is where we are going.

Mike Vance tells of being at Walt Disney World soon after its completion when someone said, “It’s too bad Walt Disney didn’t live to see this.” Vance replied, “He DID see it—that’s why it’s here.”

What kind of vision do you have?

Myopic vision. Leaders with myopic vision are so terribly nearsighted that they live only for today. Their vision of the future is fuzzy. They can barely see beyond their noses.

Peripheral vision. Leaders with peripheral vision are blindsided by side issues. These visionaries are hampered in moving forward because they catch the threatening images of lurking problems in the corners of their eyes. They are fearful of shadowy difficulties and people lurking on the sidelines who will defeat their efforts. These folks are easily distracted.

Tunnel vision. Leaders with tunnel vision see only what’s dead ahead of them and assume that their slender view of reality reflects the whole world. They don’t see other persons or other issues.

Panoramic vision. Leaders with panoramic vision see the big picture. They see beyond today. They see what is ahead of them. They see what is to their sides. They have a basic understanding of the key ingredients of a healthy organization and know the steps that it will take to get them there.

Vision is perhaps the greatest need of leadership today. As someone said regarding the church but it pertains to any organization, “Our preachers aren’t dreaming. That’s why the church is such a nightmare.”

How’s your vision? Without it your organization will be like an unbridled horse. With it the organization will be focused, moving toward the fulfillment of the dream.

Life's Short

2010-02-22T19:27:00.000+08:00

LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.
Psalm 39:4, NLT

Life is short no matter how long we live. If there is something important we want to do, we must not put it off for a better day.

Ask yourself, “If I had only six months to live, what would I do?” Tell someone that you love him or her? Deal with an undisciplined area in your life? Tell someone about Jesus? Because life is short, don’t neglect what is truly important.

Word Among Us - Reading & Meditation for February 19, 2010

2010-02-22T18:06:00.000+08:00

Meditation: Isaiah 58:1-9

Come help us, O Lord!

O Lord, open our eyes to the contradictions that are around us and within us. Just as you confronted the Israelites long ago, help us to see our own inconsistencies. You saw through the emptiness of your people’s fasting and called them to take on a fast that would change their hearts—a fast that would lead them to care for the poor, the forgotten, and the weak.

Come, Lord, and do the same for us! Give us a that long not just for your blessings but to do your will as well. Teach us to offer the kind of fast that pleases you, a fast that fills us with compassion for those oppressed by sin or injustice. Free us from our pride over having the truth, and give us hearts that burn with the desire to share your atruth. Give us opportunities to tell people about your kingdom, and help us take advantage of those opportunities.

O Lord, may our fast not just be one day of physical deprivation among many days of comfort! Instead, help us to pray throughout our fast, so that our hearts may become like yours. Purify our faith so that we can see you in our family members, our neighbors, and our co-workers. Ignite our spirits to love the troubled and downtrodden, and to work for justice.

Heavenly Father, send us out in the name of Jesus, your Son, to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless. Show us how to help in practical, not just sentimental, ways. Teach us to live more simply so that we can share our resources with the unfortunate. Embolden us to give not just from our excess but from our substance. Remove the blinders that shield us from the hurt, need, and loneliness all around us. Help us to see all your children as you see them, and to love them as you love them.

Lord, help us! Our skipped meals have no value unless they are coupled with acts of mercy. And our acts of mercy are diminished when we lack prayer. Grant us wisdom to make the sacrifices of time, food, and money that will bless your people and build your kingdom.

“Lord, may I be a blessing to others as I share your truth and your provisions with them.”

Psalm 51:3-6,18-19; Matthew 9:14-15

Joy is an Inside Job

2010-02-17T18:32:00.000+08:00

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

Dr. Victor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, was imprisoned by the Nazis in World War II because he was a Jew. His wife, his children, and his parents were all killed in the Holocaust. The Gestapo stripped him of his clothes. He stood totally naked before them. As they cut off his wedding band, Viktor said to himself, “You can take away my wife, you can take away my children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing no person can ever take away from me--and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me!” Even under the most difficult of circumstances, joy is a choice which transforms our tragedies into triumph.

Let’s face it, not everything goes our way. Things don’t always work out as we planned. Some days are disasters. Other days are worse than that.

Happiness comes easily when things go our way. Joy is different. It’s deeper. Joy is an attitude we select. Happiness is external and subject to what happens. Joy is an inside job in which we opt to rejoice regardless of the circumstances.

Don’t confuse happiness with joy. Happiness is a buoyant emotion that results from the momentary plateaus of well-being. Joy is bedrock stuff. Joy is a confidence that operates irrespective of our moods. Joy is the certainty that all is well, however we feel.

Joy is a divine dimension of living that is not shackled by circumstances simply because we have chosen to respond in a positive manner. Paul is saying in Philippians 4:4 that joy is not something that happens to me but rather something I deliberately and consciously select. Circumstances seldom generate lasting smiles and laughter. Joy comes to those who determine to choose it in spite of their circumstances.

Attitude of Gratitude

2010-02-17T12:47:00.002+08:00

Many people, even many Christians, find it very difficult to be thankful. Yet, the Bible repeatedly tells us to be thankful in everything. We should live overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7).

Rather than finding something to complain about, we should find something to be thankful for. There is always something in life for which to thank God; indeed, we should always [be] giving thanks to God the Father for everything (Ephesians 5:20).

Furthermore, Psalm 100:4 tells us: Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Notice that just entering his gates demands that we be thankful.

Being thankful is important to God. Therefore, decide to live with an attitude of gratitude.

The Pastor's Ass

2010-01-28T17:01:00.000+08:00

The pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won. The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race. Again, and it won again.The local paper read:

PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the Pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.The next day, the local paper headline read:

BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey. The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day:

NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.

The bishop fainted. He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10.The next day the paper read:

NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the Donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild. The next day the headlines read:

NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.

The bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is... Being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery & even shorten your Life. So be yourself and enjoy life... Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and You'll be a lot happier and live longer!

Real or Superficial Faith

2010-01-28T16:55:00.000+08:00

Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is!"
Job 1:9-10, NLT

Satan attacked Job's motives, saying that Job was blameless and had integrity only because he had no reason to turn against God. Satan wanted to prove that Job worshipped God, not out of love, but because God had given him so much. Satan accurately analyzed why many people trust God. They are fair-weather believers, following God only when everything is going well or for what they can get. Adversity destroys the superficial faith. But adversity strengthens real faith by causing believers to dig their roots deeper into God in order to withstand storms. How deep does your faith go? Put the roots of your faith down deep into God so that you can withstand any storm you may face.

Gratitude

2010-01-22T12:15:00.000+08:00

But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24, NLT

Samuel reminded the people to take time to consider what great things God had done for them. Taking time for reflection allows us to focus our attention upon God's goodness and strengthens our faith.Sometimes we are so progress- and future-oriented that we fail to take time to recall all that God has already done.

Remember what God has done for you so that you may move ahead with gratitude.

A Fair Umpire

2010-01-12T20:33:00.003+08:00

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." Colossians 3:15

The Greek word translated rule in this verse means “to umpire.” The apostle Paul says that we should let the peace of Christ be the umpire in our lives. An umpire keeps the peace. He makes sure the game is played in a smooth and orderly fashion. God wants to give us an internal umpire who will keep us at peace even when everything seems chaotic.

Only as we submit to Christ’s control and authority can we experience spiritual peace. We may think all we need to do is to get away, but that is not true. We can’t run away to get peace. It won’t come from divorcing our spouse, giving our kids up for adoption, changing jobs, or living as a hermit on the backside of nowhere. Only when we submit our internal world to the lordship of Christ will we experience peace.

If we really want God’s peace, we should ask for it. A psychiatrist was quoted in the newspaper as saying that he could not improve upon the apostle Paul’s prescription for human worry. Paul wrote, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). Notice the order: first prayer and then peace. A cause-and-effect relationship exists in this prescription. Prayer is the cause; peace is the effect.

If you and I are not praying, we’re likely to be worrying. And worry is such a useless emotion and activity. Worry is the opposite of peace; they cannot coexist. Worry, like a pressure cooker, builds up our internal pressure with negative emotions and concerns. Prayer, on the other hand, functions like a safety valve. When life’s stresses become too great and we feel like we are about to explode, prayer releases the stress and frustration. Everyone needs an unconditional listener to unload on and a fair umpire to call the game. In God we have the perfect embodiment of both roles. We can dump on him and know that he will not get stressed out by what we tell him. We can be confident that he will bring order and calm to our daily lives.

Faithfulness

2010-01-12T09:46:00.000+08:00

Original Source: http://kimilo.tumblr.com/post/156823559/almostmoon-via-followandreblog

The Devil & the Duck

2009-12-08T17:12:00.001+08:00

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his Sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes'

But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.'

Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?'

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.'

Sally just smiled and said, 'well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help?

She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he Finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'

Thought for the day and every day thereafter:
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done...? And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)....whatever it is...You need to know that: God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.

He has seen your whole life... He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness;
He not only forgives you, but He forgets.
It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.
Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.
Share this with a friend and always remember:
God is at the window!

Remember in hard times...

2009-10-05T19:01:00.001+08:00

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT

Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. We should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits:

(1) they remind us of Christ's suffering for us;

(2) they keep us from pride;

(3) they cause us to look beyond this brief life;

(4) they prove our faith to others; and

(5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. See your troubles as opportunities!

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee

2009-09-11T19:11:00.000+08:00

This is Not written by me but it is a good read.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Sins crying to Heaven for Vengeance

2009-08-27T15:17:00.001+08:00

The Seven Deadly Sins

We should not be satisfied merely to keep the commandments of God, but should always be ready to do good deeds, even when they are not commanded. The commandments of God state the minimum requirements for salvation. They should be kept not merely according to the letter, but also according to the spirit, which obliges us to strive for greater perfection.

Actual sin is any willful thought, desire, word, action or ommission forbidden by the law of God.

PRIDE: Unrestrained appreciation of our own worth.
GREED: Immoderate desire for earthly goods.
LUST: Hankering for impure pleasures.
ANGER: Inordinate desire for revenge.
GLUTTONY: Unrestrained use of food and drink.
ENVY: Sorrow over another's good fortune.
SLOTH: Laxity in keeping the Faith and the practice of virtue, due to the effort involved.

THE FOUR SINS CRYING TO HEAVEN FOR VENGEANCE

Willful murder (including abortion)
The sin of Sodom.
Oppression of the poor.
Defrauding laborers of their wages.

THE SIX SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

Presumption of God's mercy.
Despair.
Impugning the known truth.
Envy at another's spiritual good.
Obstinacy in sin.
Final impenitence.

9 Ways Of Being Accessory To Another's Sin

By counsel.
By command.
By consent.
By provocation.
By praise or flattery.
By concealment.
By partaking.
By silence.
By defense of the ill done

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

2009-08-01T22:03:00.001+08:00

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

2009-08-01T21:44:00.001+08:00

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Family photos - Vintage pics

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

2009-08-01T21:40:00.001+08:00

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

Genealogy Celebrity Style

2009-01-16T23:49:00.002+08:00

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

"I" Problem

2008-05-11T03:07:00.005+08:00

It has been some time since I did this blog. Things are tough as usual but guess I'm getting the hang of it. What spurred me on to blog was what Father Gino said today on the 2nd day of Pentecostal rally.

He mentioned about the "I" problem that many people have. People who have been touched by God and people who have been healed by God. Why do catholics and christians keep running after great preachers, rallies, masses? There are many who look for healing masses. (in actual fact, all masses bring healing)

People can be healed physically by God, but are they healed spiritually? It is only when we are spiritually healed can we then take our eyes off ourselves. We all have the "I" problem. Thinking of how sad our lives are, thinking of how we can improve our lives, wondering why things aren't going so well with us.. But in actual fact, we are on earth as God's answers to other peoples' prayers. People who pray for money because they are in need, people who pray for love, people who crave for life...

If everyone looks only for his or her own well-being, then no one is going to help each other. We are answers to each others' problems. In many ways. Each person is gifted in one way or another, and we have different number of people which whom we can or are able to touch. To bring loving kindness to another...

In my beloved cell group, we reached a certain dry point. I was very concerned but was not too sure why... One of our dear sisters mentioned that she was starting to feel a drag coming and wondered where in the world we were heading. And she was not the only one, even as one of the leaders, I myself felt it to be a burden to go for cell meetings... If not for the love of God and the love of the people I would have failed to appear. But each time I felt tempted to slack, I remembered those lives that were entrusted to me. Perhaps on that day, a brother or sister needed advice or comfort. And so I would drag my lazy butt off to be there, hoping to find some hope and light for us all.

In intercessory, Our Dearest Merciful God highlighted that we all have reached a certain saturation point and need to grow deeper in the word, something that needs to be done again, breaking of the word instead of simply just coming together and sharing about our pitiful little problems, it is a cell group to grow leaders, not a professional mourner's organization for people to come and lament together... But to come and build one another with the word of God. And sharing testimonies and to lift up each others' spirits.

Another thing Father Gino shared was how simply people could minister to each other. He highlighted the importance of touch. Jesus, whenever He would heal someone, He would touch the part that needed healing. He put His hands on the eyes of a blind man... He touched a dead girl and brought her back to life... When a lady needed healing, she just touched His cloak and was healed... It was a touch of faith, a touch of hope, a touch to bring love and life...

There was a study I heard on Joyce Meyer's podcast, a professor found out that a lack of hugs could shorten a woman's life... Imagine that... I believe it to be true, not because it was by a preacher, but let's look at it this way. We all need touches to give us assurance, we need touches to communicate to us love, we need touches to bring us comfort, we need touches to know that somebody else out there does care. not just any touch, but one of sincerity, of compassion, of love. A deliberate rub, a hug or any other form depending on the person's relationship with you. Touch brings life. God touches people bringing life to them. People can communicate God's love to each other through touch. When we pray for healing, it would really help a lot more just to touch the person. For through the knowledge of love, people can be healed.

So let's work it out, touching others and looking less at ourselves, knowing that our Good Lord, who knows our needs will send help our way. We're all blessed to be a blessing. If everyone looks out for each other, then nobody will have to be in need. Lord, help us to touch people, touch lives. Show us with Your wisdom, we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Understanding Women

2008-03-12T16:18:00.004+08:00

What I am going to mention in here is a summary of what I read in a book by Jeff and Shaunti Feldhan called 'For men only'. Guys, if you got trouble understanding your loved female friends or wives or whoever matters to you, go get a copy. It is not expensive and super worth it.

It was only last night I was having yet another issue with Jane, the true love of my life... But having read what was mentioned on a summary paper just behind the front cover made a big difference and brought an entire new perspective in for me. And when I saw it in what was mentioned and acted accordingly in response, the effect was amazing, a record breaking reconciliation in at most an hour from a "many weeks long built up problem" that blew. Best part is, I now know what I can do to help her feel better too. (I'll only put in the summary cos that's the part that helped and it won't be fair to the couple who wrote this as they put in tonnes of effort, surveying hundreds to thousands of women around etc etc. So let's be fair, I encourage you to buy their book.) Feel free to feedback if you find this so so true... hmmm... maybe by tagging me or something.. ha ha..

So here's what's on the summary (called the quick start guide):

1) Why does she...
- Ask, "Do you love me?" even though you just said "I love you" this morning?
- Take your need for space as a signal that you're upset with her and are trying to get away from her?
- Want to talk about your relationship... Mostly at those times you least want to?

Answer:
- Women have an underlying insecurity about whether their man really loves them.
- When that latent insecurity is triggered, they are often preoccupied with getting the relationship back on track.

What to do:
- Reassure her that you love her.
- If you need space, say something that will ease her mind, like, "I need space now, but I want you to know that we're okay."

2) Why does she...
- Out of nowhere, bring up something that happened 2 years ago?
- Seem so obsessed about something better left alone?
- Get an idea in her head and fixate on it, even if you've already explained why it's no big deal?

Answer:
- Women have involuntary emotional "pop-ups" that rise up from the present or the past.
- Women often can't "compartmentalize" and just decide not to think about something that is bothering them.
(By compartmentalize, we mean organize it into sections where they will deal with it later since it is related to something else. eg: if the tap at home is leaking, they have to get something done about it even when they are at work and cannot be present at home to see to it. They can't just put it aside to wait til they get home.)

What to do:
- Don't say, "Just don't think about it." That may be physically and mentally impossible for most women. (God made them this way)
- Help her "close those windows" by encouraging her to take whatever action is necessary to resolve her concern.

3) Why does she...
- Accuse you of "not caring about her" when you're working long hours to provide security for her and the kids?
- Say she wants you around more, but also seems to want the nice things that can only come if you have a higher-paying job?
- Say she doesn't feel close to you, when you 2 are married, in the same house, and sharing the same bed? (For unmarried, been together for years, sharing your lives through thick and thin?)

Answer:
- For a woman, "emotional security" and closeness are far more important than financial security.
- For a woman, security means you will always be there for her and closeness means you are best friends.

What to do:
- Realize that if she says she wants you around more, she's probably willing to downsize your lifestyle if it is necessary to make that happen.
- Since it's the little things that build a sense of closeness, one example is to leave her a 30 seconds voice mail during the day just telling her how much you love her.
- Realize you don't have to stay in a job you dislike; your wife or girlfriend prefers you to be happy.

4) Why does she...
- Say she doesn't want you to fix it, she just wants you to listen? And what does that mean anyway?
- Say "You're not listening!" when you've already been listening to her for half an hour?

Answer:
- When she is sharing an emotional problem (as opposed to, say, "The car has a flat tire"), what she is feeling about the problem is actually more important to her than the problem itself.
- What she is feeling is actually the "real problem". Therefore, listening to her feelings solves the problem.

What to do:
- Instead of filtering out her emotions to focus on the problem, learn to filter out the problem in order to focus on her feelings.
- Only after you have acknowledged her feelings will she then want to focus on a solution.

5) Why does she...
- Rarely initiate sex?
- Say she enjoys it, but never seems to really want to start it?
- Say "Not tonight, honey," but still claim she finds you irresistable?
- Say she doesn't feel "close enough" for sex - when sex would bring you closer?

Answer:
- Most women (not all) are physically wired to crave sex less than men do. But they do enjoy it just as much.
- When most women avoid their husband's advances, it has nothing to do with his desirability - it has to do with the woman's physical differences, need for closeness in the relationship outside the bedroom, and need for "anticipation" time

What to do:
- Give her either "warm up" time, or time to flirt and anticipate.
- Pursue her so she knows she's sexy to you outside the bedroom.
- Create a context of closeness and emotional security outside the bedroom.

6) Why does she...
- Ask, "Do these pants make me look fat?"
- Ask, "How do I look?" then make you think you did something wrong when you tell her that she looks just fine?
- Get upset just because you noticed that scantily-clad woman walking past - even though no man who still has a pulse could have done otherwise?

Answer:
- A woman has a deep need to know that her husband or boyfriend finds her beautiful.
- When she asks you how she looks, she is not asking whether she's presentable for the party. She wants to
know that she still rocks your world.
- In this culture, where women subconsciously compare themselves with the scantily-clad women in the mall and on television, your wife or girlfriend looks to you for cues about whether she measures up in your eyes.

What to do:
- This one is a simple action with big impact: Tell her she's beautiful. Regularly.
- Make sure your visual choices tell her that she's the only woman for you.

Wow.. That's a lot.. But do take the effort guys, I tell you, it is always going to be worth the effort. I got the "for women only" for Jane, hope she'd read it and understand about guys too.. ha ha.. Perhaps i ought to borrow it back to see what they say and share it for you girls to benefit too. Let's see how that goes.

Finally Back

2008-03-12T16:09:00.002+08:00

Wow! Been so long since I last did this blog again. You guys thought I'd give up on it didn't you? Ha ha.. Well, life's been really eventful the whole time, so many events happening, so many things to do, I've learnt so many things, there's joys, there's pains. But all worth the while. From company shifting to Christmas to Camps and Trips to Leadership position in Cell Group to planning for my next step in life to getting a Mac Book Pro to Freelance jobs to church retreats to my new haircut etc etc.. you get the picture..

But I'm just gonna say one key thing here, the blogging is gonna start again. Got so much to share.. ha ha.. stay tuned.. =)

I AM Beautiful!

2007-11-03T14:02:00.000+08:00

Lately I have not been posting anything up... Things have been pretty rough. I fell ill, got 4 days worth of MC, it was a very terrible time. After that, I was so very busy at work. My Project manager is going to reservist in the army. And I had to take over half of his job, I'm not complaining cos I see it as an honour. But work load was very heavy. One major website to finish before clients come down from the States, taking care of 3 of the project manager's email blasts, Clients of my previous proposed designs came back liking my ideas and I have just as tight a deadline as the website. On top of that, the best designer is going to leave the company and I am the only one who can helpl the Creative Director in print... Oh boy...So I was pretty busy and stressed.

Out of all that business and burdens, there're many times I don't feel up to the job. I lack especially in skills in actionscripting in flash. And that brings another headache later. At home, my dad, one thing about him, you can do right or wrong, he's gonna nag and criticize you and never was I really encouraged by him. I feel like a failure, why am I on earth. Not to say the love of my life undergoes her set o spiritual attacks, where the evil one kept telling her she and I are not for each other, or I'm suited for someone else or she is not good enough (WHAT LIES!!!). I adore her from the day God brought us both together. So things have not been easy.

What I wanna share about is what happened just now. I woke around 10am, still sleepy so I went back to sleep, but during that whole time, I heard my dad rattling on and on to my bro and I tell you, it was so very stressful to hear it. I slept late last night so I wanted to give myself more rest this morning, but dad came in and grumbled and criticized again. I was frustrated but since tired, I paid little attention to it.

Finally woke at 12.30pm. Feeling very down. Felt like everything I did or said are wrong. Very frustrated. But I stayed in bed to talk to Jesus. At that very moment, I felt Him come over and put His hands under my body (it was huge and seemed to take the place of my bed). He just said, I told you many times and I'll tell you again. I love you. No matter what. I cried. I saw my life as consistent in failure. Never felt much parental love, only criticisms. Felt really worthless. But God kept whispering to me, to Him, what He saw was my heart. My heart that cared for others. Who cared for the broken-hearted. Who put in lots of effort to try love the most tough to love people. And He wanted me to rest in Him. Peace came over me as I wept.

I was like a little child. He told me I am beautiful to Him. That there aren't many on earth who really yearned for Him and He loves that I do love Him. I can't stop crying, for I never knew what I had in my heart or intentions was ever known. People only want results, and even if I did something with the best of intentions but with bad results, I get snuffed off. But here is a God who sees all and knows all. And He came down to little insignificant me. And assured me of His attention and love. The God of all time, all creation, all universe and heavens, assured me of His love. It was a really emotionally wondeful time with Him.

He next dealt with my physical looks. No He didn't alter it, He changed my perspective. In my teen years, I didn't like fat. To me, it comes with stink and slowness. (Ironically, my most faithful and close friend from there is very fat). Well, I am a bit fat now, and people have been poking fun at it. It does affect me though I don't show it to them. God dealt with that. He told me doesn't matter what I look like, I am loved and I am still beautiful. At that I did what I used to do when in primary school. I looked at my hands and appreciated every little skin fold on it. every tiny trand of hair. God HAS made me beautiful and wonderful.

He then taught me. In scriptures, it says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Selah. (Think about it.) Knitted in our mothers' womb, in the secret place where no one can see til we're born. Let's break it up a little bit:

1. Fearfully made: I have a hobby of assembling robotic models. Gundam, Zoids, aeroplanes and a Helicopter, even dinosaur. Each of them have their own tiny parts. Some so small, I need a tweezer to hold them as my fingers are too big even if I used my nails. These parts break easily if I am not careful. There was once, I was assembling an F-16 Fighting Falcon plane. I had to use the tip of a toothpick to apply glue to its parts under a magnifying glass. I was so very careful, fearful of a sudden small slight jerk of the hand can put the glue in the wrong place. That's fearful. An expression of very minute detail that you don't want to miss. Wanting the creation to be perfect. That is how much God loves us. To the very last atom in our cells is very carefully made and constructed together to form who we are today.

2. Knitted: I find it is like pulling all the different parts of us together. Only God knows how many atoms and molecules is required for a cell, how many cells form up one part or organ, and how all is perfectly put in place. And not to say how life was put in us.

So we see here how precious we actually are. How God loves us so much to bother about the minor little details. And He'll do over and over again for love for us. Spend time with Him and ask Him to reveal to you today. How He can ever call you beautiful, think of it this way. You're not made in China or Singapore or whatever country. You're not massed produced in your mother's womb, you're professionally hand crafted by the Master Crafter of Everything. God. Therefore, WE ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Lord, please reveal to all their beauty, inner and outer. Blow away the spirit of low self-esteem. Help us to appreciate and accept ourselves and looks. And to know we are wonderful. And all around us is beautiful. Hand crafted by God. Amen.

Let go and let God

2007-10-11T19:46:00.000+08:00

One of the things I am still constantly trying to master is letting go. Sometimes when someone offends you, or when at work the pressure is great, I find myself holding it in.

Someone once asked me, why don't you let it out? As in tell that person on the spot. Problem is, when you are angry, at that moment you'd probably wanna lose you cool and lash out at the person. But God has always told us to practice self-control. In scriptures it says a fool speaks / answers without thinking but a wise man holds his tongue.

We all know this saying 'empty vessels make the most noise'. It is always wiser to remain silent first, analyze the situation and then consider options. People will see such a person as wise, not always recklessly allowing his emotions get the better of him then regret what he has said or done later. Thing about offence is, the devil will keep tempting you to nurse your 'wound'. To bear a grudge. But God says do not let the sun go down on your anger.

In the history of people blessed with the gift of healing, they have all noticed traits of people with diseases. First, disease comes from the term Dis-Ease. Discomfort. When are we not comfortable? Usually when we are offended and angry or are afraid to be offended, fearful. t has been found like chronic diseases, let's say cancer has the root cause of bitterness and unforgiveness. How you know you got it, when you are not at peace. Heart disease, when your heart is not at peace and thus constricts itself, trapping all the cholesterol and clogging up the arteries.

Therefore, having known that, we can realize then that forgiveness and the peace that the Lord, not the world, gives is essential to life! God wants to give us life, but we gotta let go of our anger and hatred and forgive! In the Our Father prayer, the sentence forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us is not just that God wants us to play fair to others but also to ourselves! Are you getting it, God loves us so much that He doesn't want us to sabotage ourselves! What a MAGNIFICENT and CARING God we serve! So therefore, forgiveness from God and ourselves is vital. Not just important but vital.

So back to where I was, 1 night I was tensed after work, I snapped at Jane (poor Jane) due to my stress from a collection of things. This happens when I do not spend time with God letting Him handle them and lifting up my problems to Him. (Now we see the importance of personal quiet time daily.) I collect the problems. And hope for a chance to spend time with God. It is due to wanting to practice self-control as bible instructed.

So if any of you watch Naruto, a Japanese animation, you will know what is rasengan. A ball of power spinning in many directions, compressed into that shape of a ball. Naruto used power to compress power to that shape and when it hits the enemy, the enemy suffers devastating effects. Same with my stress, I get stressed from various reasons, family, work etc... And in order to practice self-control, I used more energy (though there was no need to) to hold on, keep it all in so that I will not foolishly lash at anyone and later take my time to reflect it through before deciding on next course of action. But we as humans all have limits so Jane who happens to be near me got it. I'm sorry dear.

The key, is to spend consistent quiet time with God, pour your problems on Him, He is the only one who will be able to manage and so let Him do it. All things WILL work out well for ALL those who love Christ Jesus. So let's practice constant prayer and communication with God, you'll be surprised how much happier, carefree and full of faith you are.

Lord I pray for all who read this to have open hearts and to seek you more. Lead us all, especially me, a sinful person, along Your way, Your will. Search our hearts and know our thoughts, find anything that is evil in us, take care of that, and lead us along the path to life everlasting. Amen.

Blessed to be a blessing

2007-10-05T14:16:00.000+08:00

In the previous post I shared about the vision I had about a home called Haven. To me it is not just my house. But rather, it is a house that God is gonna bless me with, and it is not just about me. It is nothing I have done as I always feel in me I'm a very sinful person. Probably far more sinful than most of you reading this. But this is where grace is. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.

This morning I was a little late and I decided I gotta grab a cab. While I was waiting, a lorry pulled over with its window down. The guy inside asked me to get in. I thought for a moment someone was planning to kidnap me or something. I was stunned so I probed further, he said he needed extra cash and wanted to try picking guys waiting for cab. I was suspicious but I got in cos I believed God is with me... Well, I was praying the whole time even before he appeared.

The whole time during that journey, amidst the tongues I was praying for protection, I was listening to the driver. He has very low income, just transporting items for the market, the cost of the lorry was enough to take most of his pay, but what put him in a more desperate situation is that he has 4 sons schooling. They have barely enough pocket money. 2 in primary school, 2 just finished secondary school. (And I thought supporting one brother of mine was quite a burden already. Imagine 4.)

I prayed for him though he doesn't know. I asked God to first, make a way for him to know God. Second, that God will bless him financially. At the end of the journey, I gave him a little more than the cab charges. I told him he'll need the extra for his sons. You have no idea how grateful the look on his face was, it was priceless. I told him God bless, to plant a little seed. Now I would very much want to keep this quiet and not boast my 'charity'. For if not for God, I'd be a very selfish person. But I want to encourage you guys to do a little something for someone.

In life we like to grumble about our miseries, but there are many many people in worse situations than us. Instead of finding fault, we can count our blessings. And testify! Testify to the goodness of our Lord. He blesses us daily according to our needs. One thing's for sure, complaining pisses God off alot. Look at the Israelites when they just got out of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, they grumbled and God got mad. The result is that that very generation will never enter into the promise land.

Joyce Meyer put it in a very humourous way, the Israelites took 40 years to make an 11 day trip. Circling a mountain and grumbling and complaining stupid mountains and oh poor me, what's wrong with me and yadayadaya... This applies to us. Let us not belittle what God has done for us. Praise God in everything, if we lack something, ask God with praise and thanksgiving. And remember, God's blessing for us always has a greater purpose than just us. It is not I, me and myself getting what I want that I think I will enjoy. That is so sad, rather, I've got a blessing, come share the joy with me.

Back to the vision I had, it was not a big quiet house, it is a big house with anointed worship of many. Bringing thanksgiving to God. That is so much better for us to look forward to, to share, to build others, to bring God's mercy to others, to help the lowly. So let's do this. Make our blessings and presence count, make a difference. Blessings shared are blessings magnified and multiplied.

A Vision from God: Haven

2007-10-04T17:00:00.000+08:00

This is one of my key visions I've had since I started out in ministry. At first I thought it was just me and what I wished I could see happen. I even once thought it was my greed at play. My lust for luxury perhaps? So many times I put it away.

I spoke with some of the Youth Arise Ministry leaders before, even shared it with our mentors last time. They all told me to keep it. I put it away, if it was from God, it will last and will come to pass. If not, knowing me, it'd be gone.

Later on I had to serve National Service, due to some injuries (or pain that came about that I do not even know would), I went Out-Of-Course. I was very free then and the sergeants and officers do not put high pressure on me. I considered that a blessing. One night, I woke and the thought of the place came again. The amazing thing is, the architecture of the place hasn't changed much, neither has the purpose. I drew. Well, I do not know where the drawing is now but I knew the main components.

Again I thought it was just me and what I wanted for a future dwelling place and so, I forgot about it. In my current financial state? I do not come from a rich family so I do not think any of this would be for real. (Talk about God-given dreams bigger than we can ever imagine.)

Last year, 2006 became a "nightmare" year for me as I really ran into financial trouble. I really thought all hope was gone. But... I started going for this nice gathering of Christians. Every Tuesday called the Tuesday Group. Christians from different denominations putting their differences aside to worship God together. During one of the prayer sessions after the teaching, a person named Ken told me one of the most amazing thing I'd ever heard from God, something I wished I could hear over and over again.

Through him, God told me He already prepared a place for me. And of course that is true in heaven, but He also has one on earth for me. I was so happy and overwhelmed. God told me that all that time while walking through a quiet neighbourhood, whenever I was praying and conversing with Him, I came to a point where I was describing to Him what I'd like for a future home, and that I'd like to dedicate that home to God. He was listening. Not just listening, He was listening gladly, with joy, preparing what I had in my heart for me.

Of course throught the course of time, I put it aside again. Until I read Kiss of Heaven by Darlene Zschech. The questions in the last post, I applied them. Only 2 of them though cos it was so mind-blowing, so awesome I could not contain it all at once. The house came to mind again. I wrote it all down in a book this time. And I'm going to hold on to this, and pray that it shall come to pass, I'm very excited about it.

Here's what I wrote down:
A place of freedom, of peace. A place where dreams can be dreamt and built on. A place of joy and laughter. A place within God's embrace. A big house, a garden. A place of worship. A big hall. In this place, youths are raising hands and worshipping Jesus. I'll build my family in such a place. Where my family can experience God everyday. Where parents meet and talk about God's grace and share to improve each others' family life. This is a place where many in need of God huddle together in His mercy. A 2-storey house. Outside Dining area, a big kitchen, study room. Cushions everywhere. Warm lights, white walls with scriptures crafted on it. God's favour blesses this whole place. This place protects His children. This place is Haven.

Without a Vision, the People will Perish

2007-10-03T16:35:00.000+08:00

Many people walk around in life not knowing what they are living for. They have no purpose and just walk around in life aimlessly, as if they are waiting for something to happen. How about you? What is your purpose in life? What are you on earth for? Do you know? Have you taken time to think about it?

It is a tragedy, to not know what you're for. To just wait for death or the next thing to interest you, it is like being a zombie. No purpose, no drive. But that is not how God created us, He has a plan before we're even born. In scriptures it says,"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to make you prosper and not despair, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 20:11. God has a plan for us all, and it is written in the book of days.

John Maxwell put it in a really good way,"God is a people person. Whenever there's a problem, He sent people to fix it. When India is full of people dying on the streets, He sent Mother Theresa, when there is going to be a worldwide flood, He sent Noah, when the Gentiles need to hear the Good news, He sent St Paul, when the Israelites are in slavery, He sent Moses, when Humankind needed a Savious, He sent Jesus. Everyone has a purpose, a reason to exist.

How do I know then? What has God made me to be or to do? The easiest way to know what God has created you for is to check your heart. What are my passions? Below is a set of questions to help you discern god's will in your life. If you notice, many of it has got to do with what you like or would like, that's cos when God created you for something, He gives you the heart and skills for you already. that's why He says "My grace is sufficient for you" whenever we have problems that are seemingly big, He has given us the required skills and passion, and if we need more, all we have to do is to ask Him and He will give more.

Questions:
1. What is in your heart to do?
2. What are the secret petitions of your heart? (what you wish to see or have a dream to come true)
3. What do you wish you could be? (your personal ambition)
4. What could you do, or be part of, to bless someone else's world? (making a difference)
5. What are you good at? (your skills given and blessed by God)
6. What would you do if time and resources were unlimited to you? (if only i had... i would...)
7. What do you find easy? (your abilities)
8. What moves you? (what makes you wanna act on what you know is right? or things hapening around you that you wish you can change)
9. What idea are you hesitant to speak out loud because it seems too big and too daring? (God's visions given are usually humanly impossible cos we'e suppose to rely on Him with what little we have)

How to test if it is God's will?
1. Will this desire bless others?
2. Will it help to build the kingdom of God?
3. Is it in line with God's desire for my life? (first 9 questions)
4. Note that God's plan for your life/ministry will not contradict His Word. Don't ever let anyone else tell you otherwise. Compromise is dangerous.
*All questions taken from Darlene Zschech's book 'A Kiss of Heaven'.

With these, I hope that you will find God's will and purpose for your life if you have not done so already. If you are feeling uncomfortable, that's a good sign that you're hungering for something and there's a very good chance it is what you desire to see happen, according to God's will.

Pray and ask God to guide you through. If you see something too big for you to handle, don't worry, when God wants you to do something impossible, it is because He wants to do it together with you.

Do NOT waste time, start now! You only live once, life is too precious to waste on misery.

Offence Blocks God's grace

2007-09-28T19:33:00.000+08:00

A week or so ago I listened to Joyce Meyer's podcast called 'The Bait of satan'. Basically she invited guest speaker and author of the book named 'the bait of satan', John Bevere to come and talk about offence and what it does.

John Bevere shared of how destructive being offended is and how it can bring bitterness and stop the flow of God's grace to the offended person. He also shared that although he was the author of such a book, he himself found himself falling into the trap.

It was very subtle. I became more quick-tempered, he can be driving and playing worship songs in the car, his wife sitting next to him lifting her hands in worship, but when she asked him to sing along, he refused saying his silence was a way to worship too. He was offended, hurt by a roll model pastor in church whom he learned and trusted when that pastor made some grave mistakes. The more John saw this pastor prosper since he is preaching God's word, the more angry he got as he could no believe God would still use that man. To cut the story short, he finally asked God if he was offended, and with the loudest answer he's ever heard from God, a 'YES!'.

I can also identify with him. Recently just when things look very well and I was really doing my best to pray lots and my involvement in ministry started growing, someone made a bad remark on the ministry and I just told myself and everyone else it's ok, just pray for him. For the upcoming week, I found myself struggling. I prayed prayers that seemed to fall on the ground. I found no peace in them, I got more and more tired even if I tried sleeping earlier. I felt frustrated and very restless. I didnt know what was going on. (As you guys noticed, I also have not been updating this blog as I could not connect with God or what He wanted to do.)

Then this morning, I was suppose to return a book on healing to a ministry friend. I flipped a few pages and the word bitterness and unforgiveness jumped up at me. I realised then, I was offended without even knowing it. How it crept up and attached itself on me when I was so unaware. Right after that, I could feel healing, a peace coming upon me. I could reflect and pray. Praise God!

It is such a lesson to really guard my heart cos it really is true that offence and bitterness can block my connection with God. I'm still not completely clear but I know for sure the healing has begun. Reminds me of the previous post, to forgive my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. And love them just as Jesus loves them.

Family in Christ

2007-09-24T16:25:00.000+08:00

In the entire time in ministry, I have seen lots of undesirable things happen. Back-stabbing, strong dislikes and even discrimination, people who looked out for themselves, I've seen an entire ministry up to 50 strong crumble and it's members separated and divided, I have seen people manipulating each other, people disobeying their leaders and thus you see rebellion and leaders are demoralized etc etc.

Throughout the course of history, we see people and all kinds of sin with them. Jesus died for us all. Yes, for everyone. And He calls us to die to ourselves too and carry the cross so we can share in His suffering and later share in His Glory. Why are people in ministry doing all these then?

I saw a person in ministry walking away from my group after cursing and swearing it saying it is good for nothing. Such anger jus because his/her idea of it has not been met. It started off from another leader wanting to allow another of our ministry brothers into the group, seeing that he needs a good community. Is it wrong to reach out? Is a ministry suppose to remain the same size and not grow? Why oppose God's will or His leaders whether or not someone else should enter a group? Why so against the one person who offended you? Why discriminate a person Jesus died for?

Popularity, lust, manipulation, destroying another's reputation, jealousy, envy, anger, deceitfulness... My friends, brothers and sisters, all this is to destroy the unity and family in Christ. When a kingdom fights against itself, it will not last. Instead we're called to love one another.

What does it mean to love? Love is not that very warm fluttering feeling you get (that's affection, one of the expressions of love), it is the fact that you wish for the best to someone even when that person has hurt you to your guts. You want true love, find it from the person who dares to hurt you for your own good and still sticks to you and believes in you even when you screwed up. Where is best? Family. It is the place of true love and definitely full of forgiveness as all of us are created differently.

When you want to call someone your loved one, or brother or sister, be prepared to forgive. Forgiveness is a definite sign of love. We cannot avoid hurting each other, but we can choose to forgive and continue on. God called us to be a family of believers. Brothers and Sisters in Christ because we eat of His Body and Drink of His Blood in Mass.

In ministry, I have offended many and many have offended me. Those who remain, I have grown very close. One such person is Samantha. I realized just last Saturday. We fight over each other's methods of doing things, we fight over each other's beliefs. But we always forgave, we kept working together, we share good times as well. And on Saturday, I realize I trust her most to play guitar for worships I lead. Because we know how each other function, we work well together in the Spirit. I knew what she needed, she knew what I needed. Hand signals, styles and all...

So let's be tolerant of one another, loving and forgiving one another. Be on the same side, look at others as better than yourself, work together in humility and let the world see. That Christ is all about love. Hate the sin, love the sinner.

See how many Scriptural passages there are talking about it. It is obvious the seriousness and importance of this matter. So let's do our best and live as Jesus commands.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34-35

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:9-11

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12

Fear Maims, Faith Shields

2007-09-21T13:07:00.000+08:00

I recently got really fired up about sharing and testifying for my Lord through this blog. But someone is not happy and will keep trying to stop that. Well, welcome to spiritual warfare.

God and the devil are top enemies, you'll never find greater enmity anywhere else except from here. But since the devil cannot beat God (duh..), he turns his attention to those whom God loves, people. Yes he is such a sore loser.

Anyway, one of the favourite weapons of the devil I found was fear. Fear paralyzes you from what you are doing, makes you over-suspicious and traps you into your world where you'd feel most protected. It is the opposite of faith which is to trust God. To trust that He loves you and wants the best for you.

I happen to come across such a situation just yesterday. Due to stress, I took 3 long days trying to figure how to do a certain project. Usually I only needed 1 to do a good job. Everything I tried didnt work. Til someone told me just do a simple one, show client and let their comments guide me to what they want. I did just that.

The next day, a superior in the company saw my work and shot me a look I hated to see, it was a look of I am disgusted with what you did and you ought to get punished or scolded, or so I assumed. I didn't know she didnt mean it that way, and fear got the better of me and til this morning, I was highly cautious and worse, I found it hard to pray. I did try praying, but I felt judged and under high pressure of a God who is angry too. I knew God is a merciful God, but fear makes Him look otherwise and thus faith falters. I managed get out of it, thanks God, when I prayed with all my heart and God comforted me. Thus I felt ok enough to type this sharing.

Thing is, we do not have to succumb to fear. Well, I myself am on this journey as well so I am trying to practice what I say. When David, before he became King, in his youth, he volunteered to battle goliath, a giant whom all Israelites feared. Everyone kept telling David how big goliath was and how many Israelites he defeated, David simply rebutted them saying how God helped him fight the bear and the lion. And here's the focus, he boasted on how God helped him fight the bear and the lion, not he defeated the bear and the lion. He trusted God in faith. Furthermore, he decided to go into battle without armour cos it will only hinder his movement. Before the battle, goliath gloated at him and God. But David told him that he is going against goliath in the name og the Lord. As a result, he defeated goliath.

We face many goliaths in life. From the time Moses had to part the Red Sea so the Israelites can cross til now. Everyone has their goliaths to face. What will you do? Tremble in fear, or know that God loves you and is on your side to win your battle? As much as I can, I want to stand in the face of trouble and have faith that my God, my Jesus is with me. I will never give up trying. And I hope and pray that you do not give up too. You may have been in fear time and again, but don't worry, God will build you up as time passes. Let's grow together. Amen.

Hidden Pride

2007-09-19T10:27:00.000+08:00

Finally got a chance to type in yet another post. And reflecting upon it, it really is rather amazing the way God shows us hidden problems in our lives. Especially when you are in ministry for quite some time, it sometimes is easy to fall into complacency thinking you dun have much more for God to deal with.. I used to think I'm a very humble guy... Until He showed me my pride yesterday.

I had a bad corner at the top right tip of my ATM card for some time and I simply pasted Scotch-tape over it thinking it'll last. That tip tore again after a good few weeks and i pasted another. Now that was yesterday morning. I was late for work so I decided to grab a cab. However, to my dismay, the card was not accepted by the machine. So I got on the cab anywayand tried paying by nets. The machine could not detect it. Unwillingly but left with no choice, I used another that was supposedly strictly for my savings.

In the afternoon, I met Jane to go down to the bank during lunch to change the ATM card. When i got there, there was almost no queue and so I requested changing the card, halfway while that was done, I decided since I am there, may as well change my ever-evolving signature. And the process seem to take ages.

I am a person who loves simplicity. I do NOT like dificult and long processes. So already I was feeling tensed and uncomfortable. The next thing amused Jane greatly... I turned around to relax a little and Oh My Gosh... The queue behind me was very very very long. I got flustered and many thoughts ran through my mind like 'you held them back' or 'people are rushing'.

It made me so tensed that by the time I had to submit the new signature, my hand went hay-wired and i signed wrongly... In my mind... 'OH S**T!!' And that landed me on another long process whereby now they have to wait for a manager to come out and overwrite and yadayadayada. And people are whispering, I only need to do a small submission etc etc...
By the time I left the bank, the queue I was at (it was at the door, those where you ask for small enquiries before proceeding into the main queue) was far longer than the main queue, blocking almost the entire doorway. I was trembling... Jane even said I looked kinda fierce, like I was gonna get very aggressive.

This got me thinking. Why in the world did I get so flustered up? God whispered the word pride. I was afraid of what people would think of me taking so long. I was very self-conscious. Pride made me want to look good in front of others. And at that, I wondered, how may I change? Answer was far simpler than I imagined. Less of me and more of Him. Let God shine beyond me. Let Him be in control. To stop thinking of I me and myself and what my flesh wants and to think of Him He and what He wants. We come into the world without anything, we will definitely leave without physical things. Come to God just as you are.

Can't Believe This...

2007-09-17T15:47:00.000+08:00

Who'd believe I'd be starting a blog? Who in the world would expect me of all people? Me who cannot even finish a storybook nevermind writing a dairy or a blog. Yet recent events beckon me so. The things I see, feel and came to know of. The things Almighty has shown me to... The wonders I kept silent, mentioning to the few who'd see my face.

I cannot keep silent any longer. Telling a few who see me is just too few, I'm a web designer, I know the power of web. I've long avoided blogging cos I know one key flaw in me, the lack of patience to finish big things started. So this is a big step of faith for me. Pray I'd keep to it.

I knew that all testimonies for God is not for us to keep and go wow once in a while... In fact, I came to learn that as time goes by when you keep silent, you can even start doubting it despite the fact you've experienced the full-blown effects of it yourself. Many of my testimonies have been forgotten, some treated with nonchalance. Some were pretty good, showing the power that God has shown through simple acts of faith.

With all this forgetting, when the going gets tough, sometimes, you can even start wondering if God really cared. Talk about short-term memory to the max. A friend reminded me of one such testimony since i shared it once. It kind of revived my relationship and faith in God. Thus we see here what is important about testifying, re-living the day the miracle happened.

I dun care anymore how I look to others. Thus my title 'My foolishness for His Glory'. I'm a forgetful goofy fella, til now dun even know where exactly in any part of society I fit in. I used to pride myself many impressive titles, but God showed me those were foolish. You'd be laughing your head off if you heard them.

So this is created, not only to document what I've been through but also to share my God-given experiences and let it benefit you, me and most importantly, give Glory to God. Amen.