The Lord place upon my heart to read the book of Proverbs during this season!!! And Oh my goodness...only then did I realised that I had never read the whole proverbs before....usually it's in bits and pieces...so anyway..here it is...turn your bible to Proverbs 3:1-4 *haha...like in cell group meeting right*
Emmanuel my dear son often reminds me of favour that he finds. The chinese term meaning "ren yuan"! And I always wonder...hmmm...why is it that when others see him, most of the time...even strangers.....straight away...they take a liking to him....! As I seek deeper and read the word of the Lord...I finally understood.
A baby is very simple minded....and a baby is very "real"! So when a baby is happy, he will laugh, giggle and smile.....but when a baby is upset, the baby will cry & scream....a baby doesn't know how to "hide" things......a baby is very true to his / her feelings! And I was so reminded that often times........I complain and say God...why this why that....why why why.........and the bible says "let love and faithfulness never leave you" but how often times, that when I complain, I don't show love and am not "faithful" to that person that I complain about....and more importantly...I am not faithful to God....cos He knows everything....so everything that happens, He is in control! And when I complain......I'm actually in a way lamenting and blaming the Lord for what happens...
What truth this is........that we don't just have to have FLAVOUR along life's journey...but FAVOUR along life's journey.
Today, do you feel that things are not going your way and there's no favour with God & man? Then today, come before the Lord, repent and remember to keep all His commandmants upon your heart! Tie it around your neck and never let it leave you!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Rest Day!
Genesis 2: 2-3
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
This being the seventh day of the week, has officially been declared rest day! God was one person that never forgot to rest. As he created his work, he had been busy all throughout the first six days of the week but he set aside a day to rest, to get his engine started again for the next week.
As this week is coming to a close, God wants us to be reminded that amidst the busy factor in our lives that we need to find rest in Him. Finding rest in Him would mean the literal rest where our agenda gets placed aside and where we simply get physical rest. It also means relying on God for strength and getting rest in His presence. I don’t know about all of you, but I find great rest and peace when I am in God’s house and when I sense His presence with me. A time where I can simply place everything under his feet and rest in His arms.
Have we been too busy or tight this week that we have forgotten to rest at the Lord’s feet? Have we become like Martha who was busy tending to many things that she forgot to rest in the Lord? Let us be like Mary today, to simply wait upon the Lord, enjoying his company and finding rest. As I was deciding on today’s entry, I felt prompted that there were many out there who were simply exhausted by many things and have forgotten to slow down and wait on God.
As I was giving tuition today, I was given a great opportunity to wait on the Lord and simply enjoy his company and presence. My tuition kid’s mum told me that my tuition kid had not finished his work and asked that I just time him and give him a paper to do. As she said that, she handed me newspapers to keep me occupied as I simply just invigilated and ensured he was not day dreaming and do his paper. Instead of turning to the newspapers, I took out a bible and decided on reading from the beginning of the bible. Genesis being a book that I thought I knew inside out suddenly became refreshingly interesting to me. If there was one word to describe how I was when I read the bible, it would be “addiction”. I was addicted to the bible and could not stop. I was enjoying soaking in God’s word. After tuition, I found myself, soaking in spending time with God by singing. I couldn’t help but sing “How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God” I felt in love with God again. Most importantly, though I initially had tons of things on my mind, I suddenly felt rested in His presence. Today, will you rest in Him? Let’s declare a rest day for the Lord=)
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
This being the seventh day of the week, has officially been declared rest day! God was one person that never forgot to rest. As he created his work, he had been busy all throughout the first six days of the week but he set aside a day to rest, to get his engine started again for the next week.
As this week is coming to a close, God wants us to be reminded that amidst the busy factor in our lives that we need to find rest in Him. Finding rest in Him would mean the literal rest where our agenda gets placed aside and where we simply get physical rest. It also means relying on God for strength and getting rest in His presence. I don’t know about all of you, but I find great rest and peace when I am in God’s house and when I sense His presence with me. A time where I can simply place everything under his feet and rest in His arms.
Have we been too busy or tight this week that we have forgotten to rest at the Lord’s feet? Have we become like Martha who was busy tending to many things that she forgot to rest in the Lord? Let us be like Mary today, to simply wait upon the Lord, enjoying his company and finding rest. As I was deciding on today’s entry, I felt prompted that there were many out there who were simply exhausted by many things and have forgotten to slow down and wait on God.
As I was giving tuition today, I was given a great opportunity to wait on the Lord and simply enjoy his company and presence. My tuition kid’s mum told me that my tuition kid had not finished his work and asked that I just time him and give him a paper to do. As she said that, she handed me newspapers to keep me occupied as I simply just invigilated and ensured he was not day dreaming and do his paper. Instead of turning to the newspapers, I took out a bible and decided on reading from the beginning of the bible. Genesis being a book that I thought I knew inside out suddenly became refreshingly interesting to me. If there was one word to describe how I was when I read the bible, it would be “addiction”. I was addicted to the bible and could not stop. I was enjoying soaking in God’s word. After tuition, I found myself, soaking in spending time with God by singing. I couldn’t help but sing “How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God” I felt in love with God again. Most importantly, though I initially had tons of things on my mind, I suddenly felt rested in His presence. Today, will you rest in Him? Let’s declare a rest day for the Lord=)
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Thank You Lord!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Today, I received an email from UBS that my application for an internship there has been rejected. Looking at the heading of my entry, many might think I actually got that internship. But as I got the news, I surprisingly felt rather ok and thankful. Weird eh! As much as this would have been a fantastic company to be placed on my resume, but yet this was not the job God intended for me to take.
Thinking back, on the day of my interview, I did not feel at peace at all. It was one of those days when you seek the Lord for favor and yet you found no peace in what you were doing. Though I must say, the Lord calmed me down enough to be able to answer the interviewer’s questions, but I didn’t feel God going before me and giving me that peace that surpasses all understanding. I could not find the comfort and certainty that God would have wanted me to work there. Till after the interview, I did not even know if it went well or not. As I went through this week of waiting for the news, I told the Lord that if this was his plan for me to work there, I will do it and will believe his presence will go with me, if not I seek that He will not place me there. I knew that if God were to give me this internship just because I wanted it and cos’ it would look good on my resume, his presence will not be with me; just as how I felt that his presence was not with me at the interview.
Though like any other, a little disappointment may have crept into my heart, however, I am thankful. Thankful that I was even given an opportunity to go for this interview. Thankful that God shows how real He is in my life. Thankful that I got Him to turn to. Thankful that I did not get that internship. In all circumstances, not just the good in my life, but the bad as well, I am thankful! This is going to be my prayer this coming week. To be joyful always (as the joy of the Lord is my strength), to pray continually (till something happens) and to give thanks in every (not just one or two) but every situation in my life. Is this your prayer today?
Is God’s presence going with you today? Did you have a rough week or rough time so far? Will you look at your circumstances and still give thanks, trusting that God is your provider and is in control? Or did you have a great week, but have yet to give thanks and praise to the Lord for what He has done. Let us give thanks today, cos’ our Lord is good and his mercies endures forever.
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Today, I received an email from UBS that my application for an internship there has been rejected. Looking at the heading of my entry, many might think I actually got that internship. But as I got the news, I surprisingly felt rather ok and thankful. Weird eh! As much as this would have been a fantastic company to be placed on my resume, but yet this was not the job God intended for me to take.
Thinking back, on the day of my interview, I did not feel at peace at all. It was one of those days when you seek the Lord for favor and yet you found no peace in what you were doing. Though I must say, the Lord calmed me down enough to be able to answer the interviewer’s questions, but I didn’t feel God going before me and giving me that peace that surpasses all understanding. I could not find the comfort and certainty that God would have wanted me to work there. Till after the interview, I did not even know if it went well or not. As I went through this week of waiting for the news, I told the Lord that if this was his plan for me to work there, I will do it and will believe his presence will go with me, if not I seek that He will not place me there. I knew that if God were to give me this internship just because I wanted it and cos’ it would look good on my resume, his presence will not be with me; just as how I felt that his presence was not with me at the interview.
Though like any other, a little disappointment may have crept into my heart, however, I am thankful. Thankful that I was even given an opportunity to go for this interview. Thankful that God shows how real He is in my life. Thankful that I got Him to turn to. Thankful that I did not get that internship. In all circumstances, not just the good in my life, but the bad as well, I am thankful! This is going to be my prayer this coming week. To be joyful always (as the joy of the Lord is my strength), to pray continually (till something happens) and to give thanks in every (not just one or two) but every situation in my life. Is this your prayer today?
Is God’s presence going with you today? Did you have a rough week or rough time so far? Will you look at your circumstances and still give thanks, trusting that God is your provider and is in control? Or did you have a great week, but have yet to give thanks and praise to the Lord for what He has done. Let us give thanks today, cos’ our Lord is good and his mercies endures forever.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Fear not, Be Still.
Genesis 14: 13-14
“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Even though this is a year of victory, yet this year spells more battles than victories for many. In fact, some of us find ourselves facing a rougher year than ever in our lifetime. Me myself undeniably had several battles this year and even before the year of victory began. Sometimes we then ask the Lord, “where is my victory?” Despite the battles, I was reminded that there cannot be or will not have any victories till we undergo battles and win them! Think about it. How can there be victory when there is no battle for you to claim victory for? It is when we overcome the battles in our lives then we can come out victorious, shining as God’s light.
As I look at the verse, I found myself like the Israelites, being all afraid and sometimes wavering due to my own uncertainties in life. Today, God reminded me that amidst my fears, anxieties and struggles in life, He wanted me to be still before him. To be still and know that He is Lord over everything (and that includes my fears, anxieties, struggles and all). That He is a God who has gone before me and won the battles in my life. Sometimes, I find myself trying to outsmart God and spend half the time being swallowed by the battles I face. More than often we find it hard to even be still before the Lord and wait on Him to do His work. To us, we may feel that we cannot simply just watch and wait for things to happen. Today, let us not be anxious, know that we are not fighting alone or fighting against flesh and blood, but our battle is against the evil one. Let us stand firm today and not be shaken by our greatest enemy. The battle belongs to the Lord! Amen! Most importantly, let us simply be still and wait on our heavenly father, to do his work at his timing.
Do you fear something in your life today? Do you feel like you have been shaken and beaten by the battles in your life? If yes, let us be still in this coming weekend and allow God to deliver us from all our fears and to simply wait on Him.
“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Even though this is a year of victory, yet this year spells more battles than victories for many. In fact, some of us find ourselves facing a rougher year than ever in our lifetime. Me myself undeniably had several battles this year and even before the year of victory began. Sometimes we then ask the Lord, “where is my victory?” Despite the battles, I was reminded that there cannot be or will not have any victories till we undergo battles and win them! Think about it. How can there be victory when there is no battle for you to claim victory for? It is when we overcome the battles in our lives then we can come out victorious, shining as God’s light.
As I look at the verse, I found myself like the Israelites, being all afraid and sometimes wavering due to my own uncertainties in life. Today, God reminded me that amidst my fears, anxieties and struggles in life, He wanted me to be still before him. To be still and know that He is Lord over everything (and that includes my fears, anxieties, struggles and all). That He is a God who has gone before me and won the battles in my life. Sometimes, I find myself trying to outsmart God and spend half the time being swallowed by the battles I face. More than often we find it hard to even be still before the Lord and wait on Him to do His work. To us, we may feel that we cannot simply just watch and wait for things to happen. Today, let us not be anxious, know that we are not fighting alone or fighting against flesh and blood, but our battle is against the evil one. Let us stand firm today and not be shaken by our greatest enemy. The battle belongs to the Lord! Amen! Most importantly, let us simply be still and wait on our heavenly father, to do his work at his timing.
Do you fear something in your life today? Do you feel like you have been shaken and beaten by the battles in your life? If yes, let us be still in this coming weekend and allow God to deliver us from all our fears and to simply wait on Him.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Tell Him ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.
Jonah 2: 1-2
“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said, in my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”
This week my cell group has decided on doing on the book of Jonah. I believe Jonah and the story of how he has been swallowed by a big fish is known to many, including myself. But as I read this book again, a new truth came upon me.
Here was Jonah, who ran away from the Lord, as He ran, he tried means and ways to run further and further. In the first chapter, Jonah ran from one side to the other of the region, then went down to Joppa, then got on a ship and went down to the deck. To calm the storm, he got thrown down into the sea and then down the big fish’s stomach. Looking at how many times, I used the word “down”, clearly shows how far Jonah was from the Lord as he ran. He simply went further and further down to hide from the Lord. Yet when Jonah was at the furthest place possible, He cried out to the Lord and the Lord listened! When I realized this truth, it dawned upon me that I can be anywhere (Like Jonah down deep into the sea), at anytime (when he was in distress and in a fish’s stomach) and God will still listen to me. God not only listened, but He answered Jonah’s cries.
Today is there a deep cry in your heart? Are you wondering if God is there listening? If God listened to Jonah who was so far away from him, will He not listen to you? Yes he will! Or have some of you grown far from the Lord? Today, no matter how far you are, God will find you and God knows where you are and what you are going through, just as how He was with Jonah. Let us come back to the Lord and turn to Him in all circumstances. Cos’ we can be assured that when we cry out to Him, He will save us from any and all situations. So tell Him anytime and anywhere today. He will be listening!
“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said, in my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”
This week my cell group has decided on doing on the book of Jonah. I believe Jonah and the story of how he has been swallowed by a big fish is known to many, including myself. But as I read this book again, a new truth came upon me.
Here was Jonah, who ran away from the Lord, as He ran, he tried means and ways to run further and further. In the first chapter, Jonah ran from one side to the other of the region, then went down to Joppa, then got on a ship and went down to the deck. To calm the storm, he got thrown down into the sea and then down the big fish’s stomach. Looking at how many times, I used the word “down”, clearly shows how far Jonah was from the Lord as he ran. He simply went further and further down to hide from the Lord. Yet when Jonah was at the furthest place possible, He cried out to the Lord and the Lord listened! When I realized this truth, it dawned upon me that I can be anywhere (Like Jonah down deep into the sea), at anytime (when he was in distress and in a fish’s stomach) and God will still listen to me. God not only listened, but He answered Jonah’s cries.
Today is there a deep cry in your heart? Are you wondering if God is there listening? If God listened to Jonah who was so far away from him, will He not listen to you? Yes he will! Or have some of you grown far from the Lord? Today, no matter how far you are, God will find you and God knows where you are and what you are going through, just as how He was with Jonah. Let us come back to the Lord and turn to Him in all circumstances. Cos’ we can be assured that when we cry out to Him, He will save us from any and all situations. So tell Him anytime and anywhere today. He will be listening!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
No more WHYS
Isaiah 55: 8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
More than often, I cannot seem to understand WHY certain things happen in my life, WHY I meet certain people, WHY things don’t seem to go my way. Then I was reminded, not to ask why, but rather to know WHO my God is. The God, in whom we worship, is one who is greater than all our whys, a God who is in control, a God who jolly well knows what He is doing and what’s best for us. This verse caused me to realize how silly I am to question a God whose ways and thoughts are far greater than mine.
I got reminded of my past, when I was not accepted into any universities. Then I cried and asked the Lord “why?” I could not understand why people who got lousier grades got in and I did not. I could not understand what God was doing in my life. I had planned going to the university after my A levels, but that was not God’s plan for my life. It was only after one year that I got accepted into SMU. Within that year of waiting, God had better plans for me to do a diploma in mass com at MDIS and most importantly, do his work. A girl out there in MDIS was waiting for someone from FCBC to bring her back and God had planned to use me. At that moment when I got rejected from 3 unis, I could not understand why. It took me a year later, to see what God had intended. Indeed his plans were far greater than mine, higher than what I had intended or planned for. In fact, it was a better plan for me!
Sometimes, I find myself planning ahead of time what I want to do, according to what the world deems best for my life, or what I feel is best. Yet God reminded me, that my best or the world’s best may not be the best after all. God wanted me to trust in him, a God who wants the best for me and who has ways that are better and greater than what I can imagine or plan for.
Have we neglected God’s best in our lives? Have we neglected Him in our plans? Is God part of our decisions or plans today? If you are feeling discouraged, lost or confused, God wants to remind you today, that He’s ways and thoughts are higher than what we have, He is one who knows best. Let us trust in our God who knows best and quit asking “WHY”.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
More than often, I cannot seem to understand WHY certain things happen in my life, WHY I meet certain people, WHY things don’t seem to go my way. Then I was reminded, not to ask why, but rather to know WHO my God is. The God, in whom we worship, is one who is greater than all our whys, a God who is in control, a God who jolly well knows what He is doing and what’s best for us. This verse caused me to realize how silly I am to question a God whose ways and thoughts are far greater than mine.
I got reminded of my past, when I was not accepted into any universities. Then I cried and asked the Lord “why?” I could not understand why people who got lousier grades got in and I did not. I could not understand what God was doing in my life. I had planned going to the university after my A levels, but that was not God’s plan for my life. It was only after one year that I got accepted into SMU. Within that year of waiting, God had better plans for me to do a diploma in mass com at MDIS and most importantly, do his work. A girl out there in MDIS was waiting for someone from FCBC to bring her back and God had planned to use me. At that moment when I got rejected from 3 unis, I could not understand why. It took me a year later, to see what God had intended. Indeed his plans were far greater than mine, higher than what I had intended or planned for. In fact, it was a better plan for me!
Sometimes, I find myself planning ahead of time what I want to do, according to what the world deems best for my life, or what I feel is best. Yet God reminded me, that my best or the world’s best may not be the best after all. God wanted me to trust in him, a God who wants the best for me and who has ways that are better and greater than what I can imagine or plan for.
Have we neglected God’s best in our lives? Have we neglected Him in our plans? Is God part of our decisions or plans today? If you are feeling discouraged, lost or confused, God wants to remind you today, that He’s ways and thoughts are higher than what we have, He is one who knows best. Let us trust in our God who knows best and quit asking “WHY”.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Looking through heaven’s eyes
Philippians 2: 4-5
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
This is something that the Lord has been trying to teach me all day, or for days.
Just last night I accompanied Carolyn to 3 homes, homes that were broken. Though Carolyn and I were both physically and mentally tired, we went to hear out from the lives of the people living in these homes. Before I went, I was clueless as to what I was in for. Each home we stepped into, gave me a surprise (one that was not exactly pleasant, but shocking). Living in the comforts of my home, I never knew how many broken families there were out there. For once in my life, I felt that my worries and current problems were strangely small compared to people who were worried about having no place to stay, worried that they can’t pay their bills, pay for textbooks and for uniforms. These were simple things that I have obviously taken for granted. To me, these were given, something I never had to worry for. Yet here was I, fretting on whether I would get a $1000 internship, when people out there got about $1000 or even less to support their families. I felt ashamed of myself that I have thought so much of myself and not to others.
What does it mean to be Christ-like? One of it was compassion for the lost. The Lord we worshipped is one who came for the lost and the poor. Gradually over the years, I found myself becoming tired and busy with many things of the world and at the same time losing the heart and love for the people around me. Today was one day, where God has called me to stop, pause and take some time off for others. I never knew what great delight it could be, to bring a smile and glow to others, just by listening and being there. Looking at the faces of the lost and the people who were less off brimming with gratitude, made every single time spent worth it. (*Hehe* Though I must say, I and Carolyn were close to stoning when certain parts of the conversation got repetitive).
Due to the hustle and bustle we have cultivated in our daily lives, have we forgotten to pause, slow down and look at the people around us with God’s eyes? Be still today, pause, look around through heaven’s eyes and you might find your own problems gradually disappearing. Dear Lord Jesus I pray, may I open my eyes each day with your eyes and not mine.
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
This is something that the Lord has been trying to teach me all day, or for days.
Just last night I accompanied Carolyn to 3 homes, homes that were broken. Though Carolyn and I were both physically and mentally tired, we went to hear out from the lives of the people living in these homes. Before I went, I was clueless as to what I was in for. Each home we stepped into, gave me a surprise (one that was not exactly pleasant, but shocking). Living in the comforts of my home, I never knew how many broken families there were out there. For once in my life, I felt that my worries and current problems were strangely small compared to people who were worried about having no place to stay, worried that they can’t pay their bills, pay for textbooks and for uniforms. These were simple things that I have obviously taken for granted. To me, these were given, something I never had to worry for. Yet here was I, fretting on whether I would get a $1000 internship, when people out there got about $1000 or even less to support their families. I felt ashamed of myself that I have thought so much of myself and not to others.
What does it mean to be Christ-like? One of it was compassion for the lost. The Lord we worshipped is one who came for the lost and the poor. Gradually over the years, I found myself becoming tired and busy with many things of the world and at the same time losing the heart and love for the people around me. Today was one day, where God has called me to stop, pause and take some time off for others. I never knew what great delight it could be, to bring a smile and glow to others, just by listening and being there. Looking at the faces of the lost and the people who were less off brimming with gratitude, made every single time spent worth it. (*Hehe* Though I must say, I and Carolyn were close to stoning when certain parts of the conversation got repetitive).
Due to the hustle and bustle we have cultivated in our daily lives, have we forgotten to pause, slow down and look at the people around us with God’s eyes? Be still today, pause, look around through heaven’s eyes and you might find your own problems gradually disappearing. Dear Lord Jesus I pray, may I open my eyes each day with your eyes and not mine.
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