Monday, February 20, 2006

Believe in the One He Sent. - John 6:29

"Jesus replied, This is the work [service] that God asks of you: that you believe in the One whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on & have faith in His Messenger]. John 6:29 [Amplified Bible] I was asked by one of the brother in Christ,"why are people who worship idols in the World prospering in the material aspect of life? Why God does not seem to take away my pile of Debts since we are prince of the World? "No it's Not true, I..." before I can even start, the same reply comes, "It's only you Godwyn you are blessed...Not me..."

I have witnessed quite a number of sisters & brothers in Christ back-sliding thinking God do not love them because their debts are not taken away, or maybe they get rejected by another part of opposite sex all kinds of lies that are deception created by the Devil.

Do you believe what was said in John 6:29? "Yes... then rely, have faith & trust Jesus!" "Till I am bankrupt? Is that till then God will come & save me?" said the brother. Hard words, sensitive issues & complex answer..."I believe & rely on Jesus, as I know blessings are not from our World we live, it is super-natural, that is why it is called Miracle & Blessing. I truly believe "I do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you for on Him the Father, God has set His seal." John 6:27 [NASB] Amen?!

Do you like it when people label you before they know you? We often applied the label before we looked inside of many...some examples

"So, you're unemployed?" [Label: - Bum]

"Hmnn you are an accountant.." [Label: - Boring people who knows numbers few words]

" So you are in Sales..." [Label: - Compulsive liars made up of all the sales executives]

"Oh you are in real estate work..." [Label: - One of those disgusting housing agent]

Labels. So convenient. Stick them on a person, & you know what pantry to use. What if God did that with us? What if God judged us by our outward appearance? What if He judged us based on where we grew up? Or what we do for a living? Or mistakes we made when we were young? He wouldn't do that, would he?

John tells us a time the disciples applied a label. Jesus & his followers came upon a man who had been blind from birth. Here the questions the disciples asked Jesus: "Teacher, whose sin caused this man to be born blind - his own sin or his parents' sin?"
[John 9:2]

How can they be so harsh? So insensitive? The answer? It's easier to talk about a person than to help a person. It's easier to debate homosexuality than to be a friend to a gay friend. It's easier to discuss divorce than to help the divorced. It's easier to argue abortion than to support an orphanage. It's easier to complain about the welfare system than to help the poor. It's easier to label than to love. It's especially easy to talk theology. Such discussions make us feel righteous. Self-righteous!

Who do you best relate to in this story? Some of you relate to the man born blind. You have been the topic of conversation. You have been left on the outside looking in. You've been labeled. If so, learn what this man learned: When everyone else rejects you, Christ accepts you. When everyone else leaves you, Christ finds you. When no one else wants you, christ claims you. When no one else wise will give you the time of the day, Jesus will give you the words of eternity.

Others of you will relate to the observers. You've judged. You've labeled. You've slammed the gavel & proclaimed the guilt before know the facts. If that is you, go back to John 9:4 & understand what the work of God is "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work."

What is the work of God? Accepting People. Loving people before judgment. Caring before condemning! Look Before you Label.

Inspired by:

Max Lucardo

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Jesus Christ Our - Valentine

"Love is patient, Love is kind & is not jealous; love does not brag & is not arrogant...bears all things, believes all things, hopes al things, endures all things." a verse that is so wide spread even unbeliever knows, 1st Cor 13:4

Day of Valentine is near, 3 more days, are you planning for a date or out of one? I have been enjoying the last 3 years being single since the last emotional fiasco, it's not that I am sad, desperate & unwanted [We are prince of the World, as our Father is the creator of the universe, No One is unwanted Amen?!] I simply fear to be in one [I will run or avoid if I sense that I am falling in love] & I want a relationship that is Christ Centered, else with our human imperfect love, it will not last, I guess many of us 'have been there', experienced it.

I love Pastor Prince's quote on love, "When it comes to daily living where all the Romance wear off, one need rock solid love. A love that sees you at the worst and still love you. A love that will forgive you, when you fall down and pick you up again...You want someone, who loves you because he/she can't live without you..."

The good news is that we are not alone, Jesus is with us, our lover that is the same yesterday today & forever...His love for us is eternal! For God so love us, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. God loves us, personally, powerfully & passionately. Others have promised & failed, But God has promised & succeeded. He loves us with an unfailing love, isn't it Good to know that Even when We don't love with a perfect love, Jesus does?

Some sharing:

The secret to loving is living loved. This is the forgotten first step in relationships. Since Jesus is kind to us, why don't we be kind to ourselves [just like me avoiding relationship] ? He forgives our faults. Why don't we do the same? He thinks tomorrow is worth living. Why don't you agree? [I am so silly I once thought of ending my life due to fail relationship, have you?]

I rejoiced to feel the peace & presence of Jesus in a tangible way, despite the pain of singleness. Jesus withholds what we desire in order to give us what we need. We desire a spouse; He gives Himself! Love never celebrates misfortune. You know your love is real when you weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Real love changes people. Love is willing to accept all things. Love always protects.

No one has unfailing love. No person can love with perfection. Surely no one can, but Jesus is not a person. Unlike our love, His never fails. His love is immensely different from ours. Our love depends on the receiver of the love. Our love is regulated by their appearances, by their personalities. Even we find a few people we like, our feeling will fluctuate. How they treat us will affect how we love them. The receiver regulates our love.

The good news is, it is not so with the Love of Jesus. We have no thermostatic impact on His love for us. The love of Jesus is born from within Him, not from where He finds in us. His love is uncaused & spontaneous. Does Jesus love us because of our goodness? Because of our kindness, & great faith? No He loves us because of His goodness, kindness & great faith as it is written in the Bible, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us." [1 John 4:10 NIV]

Doesn't this thought comfort us? God's love does not hinge on yours. The abundance of our love does not increase His. The lack of our love does not diminish His. Our goodness does not enhance His love, nor does our weakness dilute it. What a wonderful God we have! Christ our source of mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts & strengthens us in our hardship & trials!

For this Valentine:

To the grief stricken: "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" [Heb 13:5 NIV]

To the guilt ridden: "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" [Rom 8:1 NIV]

To the jobless: "In all things God works for the good of those who love him" [Rom 8:28 NIV]

To those who feel beyond God's grace: "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" [John 3:16 NIV]

Inspired by Max Lucado...

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Is your Grace sufficient?

A sister in Christ had just sent me a verse to put my trust in God for ONLY He is able to keep me till the end. I have been unwell [Fever, Sinus, Flu & throat infection] stressed related since the 29th of month of January, I was busy with mum & my siblings to prepare for the festive season [Chinese Lunar New Year] as we need to do visitation to relatives during C.N.Y, attend dinner celebration etc...

"And this is why I am suffering as I do. Still I am not ashamed, for I know [perceive, have knowledge of & am acquainted with] Him Whom I have believed [adhered to & trusted in & relied on] and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard & keep that which has been entrusted to me & which I committed [to Him] until that day." 2 Tim 1:12 [Amplified Bible]

The Lord woke me up with another verse nothing unfamiliar but with great impact I expect good things to happen to ALL as the Words of the Lord is full of loving-kindness, the Divine Healing. Amen?!

"But He said to me, My Grace [My favor & loving-kindness & mercy] is enough for you [sufficient against any danger & enables you to bear the trouble manually]; For my strength & power are made perfect [fulfilled & completed] & show themselves most effective in [Your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more glady glory in my weaknesses & infirmities, that strength & power of Christ [the Messiash) may rest [yes, may pitch a tent over & dwell on me!" 2 Cor 12:9 [Amplified Bible]

Some Sharing:

A long as Jesus is one of many options, He is no option.
As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer.
As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will recieve No comfort.
And as long as you can take Him or leave Him, you might well leave him, because He won't be taken half-heartedly.

But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow of sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on Him, & When there is truely no other name that you can call, then cast ALL your cares on Him, for He is awaiting in the midst of the storm...Just for you...

Monday, February 06, 2006

Tour of Duty...

2nd of February, 2006, I drove my brother & mother to the airport as my brother is ending his military training after this last 4 weeks training in Thailand. My younger sister was asleep & my Dad stayed at home to look after her. Please pray with me for his safety...My only brother...My beloved...

F.Y.I [Readers of Brothers & Sisters overseas] For every Singapore citizens, we have the mandatory obligation to serve the Nation for 1 year 10 months. I am the unlucky ones who served 2 years, 6 months in the past.

I laid my hand on my brother before he entered the departure gate, I found that I can hardly prayed in inspiration (in words) more in the spirit, I wonder is that a good? What are your opinions? I prefer writing...

There were brothers & sisters who asked me if I understand what I am praying, when I pray in Spirit, my answer is "Yes" but I do not know such prayer has syllabus. Personally, I believe it is a hidden prayer "Mr. Sa Tan" will never have the ability to understand. Praying in Spirit is like your 'chemistry' bonding between two love ones, as we are Jesus Bride Amen?!

I believe prayer in the spirit is a charisma or can aid us to be charismatic in our World of reality. I have a heap load of work yet to be done as every Monday we have insane meetings & conference. Yet I believe, "But Seek First His kingdom & His righteousness, & ALL these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 I expect Jesus’ favors over my work & grant me the wisdom to go through another exciting week of my life!

Pastor Prince today shared about the High Priest, led us to [Hebrews 4 14-16]

"In as much then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended & pass through Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand & sympathize & have a shared feeling with our weakness & infirmaries & ability to the assaults of temptation but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet, without sinning. Let us then fearlessly & confidently & boldly draw near to the throne of Grace [The throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners], that we may receive need [appropriate help & well-timed help, coming just when we need it]." [Amplified Bible].

How Bless! We have an almighty God, not mighty mouse! His name is Jesus, who has been tempted in every aspects, yet without sinning. He came willing from Heaven to Earth, how humble, being the Only Son of God, Kinds of Kings to understand us, shared our feeling & weakness in our life.

We cannot turn around & snap, "But He is God, I am human, God can't understand. Can He understand my financial problem? My depressing heart-break with my love ones? Can He understand My Dad is in the hospital fighting for his life?" Jesus is the way. He not only can understand all, He can reverse the situation, where there seem to be NO WAY! Our God we serve is not only a living God; He is a good God with ever-lasting love & compassion..

Some sharing, Certain things about God are easy to imagine. I can imagine Him creating the World & suspending the stars. I can envision Him as almighty, all-powerful, & in control. I can fathom a God who knows me, who needs me, & I can even fathom a God who hears me. But a God who hears me. But a God who is in love with me? A God who is crazy for me? A God who die for me?

That’s message of the Bible, Our Father is relentlessly in pursuit of His children. He has called us home with his words, paved the path with His Blood, & is longing for our arrival that is our God Amen?! When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can use any tragedy as a stumbling block or a stepping stone...God wants us to trust him in good times & the bad Amen?!

Let us think about God's joy. What can cloud it? What can quench it? What can kill it? Is God ever refused to rotate the earth because His feelings are hurt? No! Jesus is a joy which consequences cannot quench. Jesus is peace which circumstances can't steal.

God does not save us because of what we've done. Only a puny God could be bought with tithes. Only an egotistical God would be impressed with our pain. Only a temperamental God could satisfied by sacrifices. Only a heart less God would sell salvation to the highest bidders. And only a Great God does for His children what they can't do for themselves...

Thank you Jesus! Have you received Him as your Savior? Have you 'back-slide' thinking God will never want such a sinner, The Lord said, it is the sick that needs the doctor...Come back to Jesus...let Him take away all your emotional, physical or mental pain. "It is finished 2000 years ago" your every stripes, He took it on His broken body, the crown of thorns removing ALL emotional or mental deceptions the Devil 'creates' for you, all on the Old rugged Cross...