Live in style

Scripture Rreference: Philippians 4:8-9

Hi all! Today marked the last entry I would be writing for the blog.... Maybe a recap of what the Lord had spoken to us this week:-

1. Monday - Believing in your people
2. Tuesday - Taming of tongue - To edify/encourage
3. Wednesday - Putting love into practice
4. Thursday -Being God conscious - The approval of God to man
5. Friday - Never cease praising - Praise looks good on you!
6. Saturday - To submit - Out of reverence to the Lord.....
7. Sunday -?????

Today's devo is an adaption to the daily bread..... As I was reading thr my QT with God.... this portion of the story kinda caught me attention... The author says:" .... After he preached the same sermon for the 3rd week in a row.. the leaders met with him to find out what was going on... The pastor assured them:" I know what I am doing. When you start living out this sermon, I'll go on to my next one." Woah! How true it is izznt it!?? Have we been a "doers" of the Word or merely a passerby??? Even as you read thr this wk's devotional... is it just a head knowledge to you??

Sometimes, we take the advices of our parents, leaders, authority too lightly.. more often than not.. we find the advices passe and naggy... and is the Lord's Word in the same league with the above?? In v8-9 "..........if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things...... put it into practice" Today let us not walk away this week or later after service with just simply nodding our heads and say "Yah.. today's message is so gd!!!! I love his preaching!!!" Lets put aside this "idolising" manner but go beyond the superficial and lets embrace His word and be His model daily!!

Food for thot: Practising His commands take discipline... Be accountable to someone (preferably a leader) who is interested in seeing victory in your life. Have a fun-filled journey with the Lord... Practise makes prefect!!!!

Just 4 You!

Scripture Rreference: Eph 5:22-23

As I am typing today's devotion.... I just want to give praise thanks to the Lord... Why? Cos' in the morning, I was fliping through the bible when I chanced upon this passage.. without knowing that today's daily bread key passage was the same one I read this morning! Izzit amazing how the Lord wants to catch our attention by revealing things more than one time? Oh well... only God knows and He sure knows me well! I was quite upset with Roger as we made our way home yesterday.. so was pretty much pouting and sulking throughout the trip home... Even when I reached home and settled down... I was still upset. certain passages really speak volumes to me! v22 "Wives, submit to your husband as to the Lord... and v33b "....the wife must respect her husband." Indeed, if I am to "fight" all the way to prove that I am right... I think Roger will still "let me win" but is that what I want...? Of cos... not!!!! Like I mentioned in the earlier devo (i think.. hee).. its about the win-win situation and not a lobsided one!!! 2nd thing that spoke to me was.... in Eph 4:26 says "In your anger do not sin.. Do not let the sun goes down while you are still angry." I had a choice.. to ruin the day by pouting/throwing tantrums or to forgive and forget and end the day nicely... I must admit that I used to take a few days just to not harped on the matters.. (btw trival matters) which overtime.. it makes me look rather silly....!!!! But today... Praise be to God! I chose to forgive and forget.

Food for thot: Today, are you angry with your loved one and meanwhile even if you are attached or not... we still have people to submit to, have you been a humble servant...? I would end off with this: which path will you choose... ?

Just keep praising!

Scripture Reference: Psalm 66

Thank God its Friday.... or is it so?? Today's central theme is on praising the Lord at all times! Have this been a tough week for you that the only time you are praising the Lord is when you doing your quiet time? Have we let the mundane things we do each day to weigh us down? As I was pondering on this Psalm, I can picture the author praising the Lord in the most sincere and eagerly anticipating manner... v2 "Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!" v3 "Say to God, "How awesome your deeds are......" And how many of us is still filled with that kind of zeal as the weekend is approaching? Are you busy thinking of catching up with your "own life" and when Sun comes.. you feel the "anti-climax" as you need to "appear" for church service???? I repented as I thought through these questions... I admit I do feel that way too. Have we forgotten about our 1st love as other aspects of our lives are craving for our attention as well?

Today before you start the day be it at home, in school or at work...utter this prayer to Him... And may He dwell in our hearts each and every day.... :

"Dear Lord, will you give us this one desire, that is to pursue your heart..? Lord, still our hearts in all circumstances, do not let our emotions overwhelmed us but by your blood we will be overcomers of sins. Lord show your everlasting love for us/for mankind"

Food for thot: "When our efforts falter, we need to keep praising and lifting up Jesus. It's all about Him anyway. (From Daily Bread) Let us not lose heart.... and remember.. "Praise looks good on you!"

"Numbfounded"

Scripture Reference: Acts 24:16; Galations 1:10

Do you know how it feels like when your toes are numb? No matter how you poke them, you cannot feel anything? This is exactly what today's daily bread passage was talking about... Have you always been God-conscious or men-conscious? This is a rather "unique week" for me even as I agreed to do the devotions for this wk's blog, I did not realise that it was after G12 conference. In addition,all my weekday nights are being filled up. I have been coming home latest by 11.30pm and it will probably go on till the end of this week. And to be honest! I am struggling to write the blog because I am physically tired and hee hee I am typing away on my bed lah! Furthermore, there are more things crying out for my attention as well... So yah.... until this verse spoke to me... v16 " So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and men" I was reminded of why we are doing is... is not just for the people to read and do their QT (as this is the season of growing deep) but it is because the Lord wants me to grow deep in Him... and frankly... Praise be to God! I do feel more connected to the Lord and God-conscious this week more than ever before! And I really want to please the Lord by practising what the Lord has spoken to me to the people around me. Today, are you busy seeking the approval of men, approval of deadlines, approval from performance appraisal.. wats your motive as you go about doing your daily routines? Have you been too "busy" to please the Lord?

Food for thot: We live in a world where compromising has become the benchmark in the way we live our lives. Have you compromise too much that you become "numbfounded"??... Will you ask the Lord to renew your mind daily? Will you be a Mary and sit by the Lord's feet and listen to what He has to say to you??

Ready.... 1, 2,3..... ACTION!!!

Scripture Reference: 1 John 3:11-20

Hi all, hows your walk with the Lord been? As I am typing today's devotion, I realised that the Lord is really interested in working in our life... Mon's devo was on believing in our ppl, ydae was on taming of the tongues and today's Word is abt loving in action. How apt izznt it?! That the Lord do not want us to read His Word and walk away with only the head knowledge but with personal application!

Today's devo speaks to me alot esp the part from v18-20 "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth...... For God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything." Is it not true that it is so easy to say the 3 words "I love you" but its so difficult to put it into action? I was reminded of 2 issues that I am working on it... Some of you would know about my relationship with my eldest brother... We have not been on talking terms for the longest time, often, when my mum tell me certain things abt my brother, my immediate reaction was to make some sacrastic remarks/comments. However, this yr, one of the areas I want to see a breakthrough is that I will not say any bad things about my bro to the people around me. Honestly, it is not easy! Are you in the same situation with me? Cannot see eye to eye with a fellow project mate, classmates or colleague. Today will you exercise love in action and not just mere words? Remember talk is cheap; rather walk the talk!

The 2nd thing that I was reminded of it.... I always tell my daughters to love one other, to build one another up.. to be united etc. However, I realised I did not "model" for my people to see what is means to love one another. And recently I told myself to call this particular daughter of mine at least once a wk...wah.. since then.. I feel a change of heart in me towards her... somehow I do feel closer and more connected with her... With a change of heart, there comes a positive impression you have towards the person... maybe tats really what it means to love the person for who he/she is? Today, will you take the first step to pick up the phone to give up your 5 mins to talk to your loved one?

Food for thot: God sees your heart. He knows everything! In the midst of giving... remember to give not to expect for returns, give not out of compulsion but give with a willing heart.

R u a quarrelsome frend, daughter, leader, gf, wife or all of the above?!!!

Scripture Reference: James 3:1-12

Today's devotion is adopted from the Daily Bread "A Word from the Wise" Hmmm.. if your answer to the above the title is "All of the above." Its a wake up call to you! How many times as girls/ladies that we let our emotions/feelings come first before going through our thot processes. And usually, the ending is a sad one or pretty much guilt-ridden. James made 2 very strong statement in verse 1, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers..... cos' you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly" and in verse 10 "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be"

As I was working on these verses, I was reminded of what one of my daughters who shared with me that she was afraid to share things for fear that she will be scolded by me (heh.. sounds familiar hor, del!), that actually caught me thinking have I been too harshed with my approach? Many times as leaders, we forget to put on a more humane, motherly approach to their issues that they are going through and immediately put on the "you-should-know-better-and-i-have-told-you-so" approach to our children which is why misgivings were surfaced. Today, will you ask the Lord to work in your heart to be "quick to listen" and "slow to speak" so as to edify and build one another up?

In addition, during the woman session, one of the 12 pts that Ps Nina shared abt the "noble woman" was "She is wise and she speaks graciously" - to the gfs, wives and wife-to-be! Have you been too harsh on your man? At the end of the day, it is not about who is right and who is wrong... because wat gd will it be if it is a win-lose situation. Proverbs 21:19 says "Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered woman." !!!!! Gosh.... Sahara desert anyone??? Today, will you ask the Lord a gentle spirit to fill you up?

Food for thot:

The Lord knows that we wear many hats daily... but will you take the extra mile to be genuinely nice to one another or to put your own agenda/desires before others? 'Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Prov 16:24)

I believe in you!

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 11:8-12

As the title saes... "I believe in you" and who is this "you"? Am I referring to God? If not, who else? Hee.. today's devotion is adapted on Shawna's sharing at the congre. I do not know if her sharing spoke to you or not but it certainly did to me.... Frankly speaking, it was not the 3 points that she shared tat inspired me... but it was the speaker's leader that inspired me... The reason why Shawna was able to stand there to speak was because someone believe in her.. someone tinks she is special, she is a princess of God.. that she is worthy before the Lord... and someone who did not give up on her.

To my dear sisters/leaders out there:

Have you stop believing in your people? I questioned myself on that all the time. As most of u noe that I have some sec gals in my cell... It was never a easy journey since day 1... many times I really want to surrender... (not to the Lord but to throw in the towel! haha) but I noe the Lord refused to let me let go of them.. why? Cos' I choose to see them using my own naked eyes, my perception of them, their past behaviours to determine who they are.. who there will become... I have stop believing in them. But thx be to God... during the G12 conference..... I managed to speak to one of them.. a heart to heart talk for the longest time.. tats when I realised that how broken, how confused they are... Today, will you choose to hear the felt needs and love them for who they are or demand them to meet up with your "Godly" expectations?

To those who wants to serve but...:

In 2 Tim 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." What is holding you back from serving Him.... if today you lacked the courage because of the baggages/experiences you have.. will you surrender it before the Lord and said I let it go... I no longer want to be timid... I want to move in boldness... don't say you are too young, too old, too busy for the Lord...... Today, will you make a stand once and for all?!!

Food for thot: If Abraham can be used by the Lord (though he was sooo wishy-washy in the beginning), certainly the Lord can use you...would you want to pursue a life of faithfulness and obedience or a life of self-indulgence and disillusions?