Saved to Save

As I was preparing for cell last week, I was somehow prompted in the morning and thought of The Salvation Army. For a long time, I have thought that the two "S" donned by Salvation Army officers on their uniforms used to mean "Saved to Serve". But as I read about the meaning of it, I felt the Lord teaching me that our main business should not be "Saved to Serve" more than we should be "Saved to Save". And just, as I was leaving for cell, I visited the Our Daily Bread website and, lo and behold, the article for the day is "Seek and Save". It was clear that God was making a point here and I would just like to share the article which I shared with cell last Friday here. You are saved to save.

Saved and Saving

Image adapted from Source

D L Moody: “One day I saw a steel engraving that I liked very much. I thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen, at the time, and I bought it. It was a picture of a woman coming out of the water, and clinging with both arms to the cross. There she came out of the drowning waves with both arms around the cross perfectly safe. Afterwards, I saw another picture that spoiled this one for me entirely, it was so much more lovely. It was a picture of a person coming out of the dark waters, with one arm clinging to the cross and with the other she was lifting some one else out of the waves. That is what I like. Keep a firm hold upon the cross, but always try to rescue another from the drowning.”

Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19830/19830-h/19830-h.htm

About The Salvation Army's S S Badges

by Major Sanjivani Dushing

“… Saving' is a very close and a personal related word for one's life. (The human). A Person takes a good education, search for a good job, work hard & earn a big salary or income to have a better life living standard but at the same time a person tries to save something for his future. Some parents start to save money or open a saving account in the bank for their children from the time of their birth. Saving is an important and hard process but essential for the human's life.

The Bible also tells about saving but not about the worldly saving. God himself sent his only son to save the sinners from their sins. God is counting us as His treasure of Heaven. He does not want any single soul to be destroyed or to be perished but he wishes that every single soul should be with him forever, safe in Heaven.

The Salvation Army is in process of saving souls since 145 years around the world. The Founders William & Catherine Booth had taken this responsibility to cooperate with God in saving souls.

The SS (as shown above) on Salvation Army uniforms used to mean” Saved to save.” It was a statement of early Salvationists' faith that they were saved so that they could lead others to Salvation. People also refer it as “Saved to Serve” but When William Booth started The Salvation Army it was a Christian mission. In fact, that is what he called it. The aim of the mission was to” go for souls and go for worst.” There was nothing greater than saving souls. The Salvation Army saved the drunkards from their drink, the criminals from the prisons and girls from the streets by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If I show my love & compassion by giving him food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to rest in but if I don't put a thought of God's word in his heart, my mission remains incomplete.
 

... Dear readers, Let us go forward day by day, with Love & Compassion for dying men to save.”

Source: http://web.salvationarmy.org/ind%5Cwww_ind.nsf/vw-issue/164A063C5C9F1F076525776C00355CB3?opendocument&id=5FFB38DEF45186A76525776C003507B1

Seek And Save

August 10, 2012 — by Marvin Williams

Read: Luke 19:1-10

The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. —Luke 19:10

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Lachlan Macquarie, governor of New South Wales from 1810–1821, had a way of making everyone feel included in the new colony. When the “exclusives” (free settlers, civil servants, and military officers) shunned the society of the “emancipists” (transported convicts given conditional or absolute pardon), Governor Macquarie insisted that they be treated as social equals.

Jesus showed interest in Zacchaeus, a shunned tax collector in Jericho, and included him in the recipients of His salvation plan (Luke 19:1-10). A marginalized and hated man because of his profession, Zacchaeus was desperate to see Jesus and climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Him. When Jesus passed by, He saw Zacchaeus’ desire and told him to come down because he had a divine appointment at his house. Some complained that Jesus was spending time with a sinner. His loving attention changed Zacchaeus’ life. He repented and offered restitution for those he had defrauded. Salvation had come to his house.

Jesus’ mission was simple: Diligently search for lost people, whatever their social standing, and offer them God’s salvation plan. As followers of Christ, we too have that as our mission.

Lord, help us show compassion
To a world that’s lost in sin,
So when we share the gospel,
Hungry souls for Christ we’ll win. —Sper
 

Christ’s mission is our mission.

Source: http://odb.org/2012/08/10/seek-and-save/

We have two hands, one to hold on to God and another to save another. What are you doing with your hands today?

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Chopsticks or Drumsticks

Image Source

Reflection: I saw a youth walking around with two sticks in his hands. Though they look like chopsticks, I knew they are drum sticks. But had I not known about drums, it would have puzzled me why he is walking around with chopsticks.

And I started to come to appreciate how God loves you and me. Do you know that He loves you, and you have been blessed to be able to know Him and now understand His love in your life?

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ". (2 Cor 4:6 NKJV)

It is God who chose you and me and gave us revelation of who He is. And after He shoned this light, and we responded in faith, we are no longer blinded. We no longer need see drum sticks as chopsticks, which is indeed puzzling to see someone walking around with. God revealed Himself to us.

"At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Cor 5:16, 17 NLT).

The question now is that: with God revealing Himself so plainly to us, what is your response to Him through your life, if indeed you believe in Him? Are you indeed living that new life God gave you?

In Matt 11:12-26, we catch a glimpse of what kind of life pleases the Lord and what kind displeases Him. A life of unfruitfulness, of defiling His sacred temple (our bodies) displeases Him greatly, while a life of faith and of forgiveness, which He spoke of, pleases Him.

What is your response through your life?

Our reactions is and must be congruent with our revelation.

Be the Song You Are Meant to Be

Thanks to my sister for sharing this with me...

Yep, we are all a symphony written from above, written out of God's love.

Each of us have notes to play; we need to stay in tune and also in unison with fellow instruments.

We will then be a wonderful symphony that brings hope, comfort and warmth.

And yes, the less I get in the way, thinking I know best, the more God can let the music play.

Be the best song you are meant to be...

YOUR SONG
Music and Lyrics by Corrinne May, ‘Crooked Lines’ 2012

Silent, wordless
Everything was still
You breathed us, yearned for us
Our hearts began to thrill
A brand new creation
A symphony
Written from above
Written out of Love

Chorus:
Let me be Your instrument
Let me be Your voice
Let me be the reservoir
Where thirsty hearts rejoice
Let me be the hand
That wipes the tears away
Oh Lord,
If it be Your will
Let me be Your Song

A violin, a piano
Each one has a role
Major or minor
Or just a single note
So take the time to stay in tune
Cause we’ll never know
When we’re called to play
It could be today



A song of hope for the hopeless
A song of comfort for the pain
A song that warms the frozen heart that
It might beat again

For what am I but a single breath
That only You sustain
The less I get in the way,
The more the Master can let the music play

Good Friday: Reflections of God's Love

Throughout the last few months, I have grown weary with all that happened in my life, which turned my life topsy turvy; having to manage quite a great deal including illness, loss of direction, death, disappointment, grief etc. 

And despite God speaking very clearly in the past few weeks through sermon, chapel, department devotions, "Roadmap to Maturity" course and quiet time, asking me to take up my cross, I wrestled with God and wanted to run away, just as Jonah did. "I am just too tired Lord and it's just not worth it".

But this this Good Friday, God has helped me to come to realize the full extent of His love for us, which demanded from me a response. I have come to realize that in the last hours of Jesus' life, it came to be an intense demonstration of the full extent of His love (John 13:1b, NIV84).

In the verse following John 13:1, we see the disciple John providing the only account, among the gospels, of the Lord Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. More than just a simple act, it was an act with profound significance. As one commentary puts it: "it was an act of Jesus' love that would stoop to even the most menial service. It was a spiritual cleansing. And it was an example of how Christians should treat each other. In these ways, the washing of the disciples' feet prefigured the Crucifixion" (Asbury Bible Commentary).

Starting with feet washing, Jesus here showed the full extent of His love for us every step of the way, from the last supper, struggling at the Garden of Gethsemane where He had to face the reality that He would have to go through the pain of crucifixion soon, all the way to the cross. All these because Jesus wants to cleanse us.

Do you now understand the full extent of His love for you? And what would your response be to His love for you?

Came across this beautiful song "I Then Shall Live" which I hope will minister to you, in the way we should live our lives as a response to the Lord Jesus Christ's work on the cross for us.

Once again, we are reminded that we have been cleansed by Jesus. Now, live your life as cleansed...

Been Thinking - Our Choice

Been thinking - Who we are today is largely determined by what we give entry into our lives. God made us wonderful biological life systems with choice. So we choose: positive & negative thoughts, love & unforgiveness, friends & influences, wholesome & flawed perspectives, emotions, decisions, food, exercise etc. All our choice & consequences will largely determine who we are today…

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. " (Romans 12:2)

Song: Forever Reign (Hillsong)

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost its sting

Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

My heart will sing
no other Name
Jesus, Jesus

Showing Grace and Truth

For the past few weeks, I have been pondering how to work with at-risk youths, as God called me to my current new role here, working with at-risk youths; something which is very new to me. Following home visits, God has helped me to see a side which I never have expected to; how both youths and their parents are usually people who are hurting in their own ways. Similarly, I have recently also been asking God how I can increase in my capacity to work alongside with people to facilitate restoration and healing in ministry.

I thank God for an answered prayer as He brought me to Borders yesterday, since I had time to spare in between a planning retreat and another appointment. I had just intended to just go and just browse some books but had never thought that I would be blessed by finding a book, that helped me answered both my questions above and yet also teach me something about a spiritual matter I have been wanting to get some insights on.

As I browsed the shelves of Borders, God brought me to a book that looked old and dated; a book with a cover that had some defects as well. But the title caught my attention: "Changes that Heal" by Dr Henry Cloud. I picked up the book and started reading there and found myself getting quite a lot from the initial few chapters.

The first chapter spoke about how in wanting to help others to be helped in a sustained manner and to grow into the person who God has intended him/her to be, we need to first examine and understand two major qualities of God's character: Grace and Truth. The book started with an unlikely but powerful story which really sets one thinking about our view of God.

Once upon a time in a faraway galaxy, there was a highly advanced people. They had everything they could ever desire: technology to solve every problem, and more leisure than we get in a life time. But they were bored. Bored to tears. They needed something new-something exciting-to liven up their planet.

A committee was established to look into the matter. They discussed coming up with a new sport. Or developing a new amusement park. Finally, an alien named Beezy proposed the winning idea. "How about creating a god?" he suggested.

Everyone agreed it was a wonderful idea. "It will give our people something to do Sunday," one said. "And it will be great for conversations," said another.

So they tried to invent a god. But to no avail. Beezy, who had been placed in charge  of the research and development of a new god, called the committee members together.

"Look, this just isn't working," he said. "What good is a god we can invent ourselves? We're smart enough to know that's not a real god. Why don't we find us a god instead--like the God the earthlings worship?"

The committee agreed, and soon afterward Beezy took a business trip to the Planet Earth.  Under his invisible cloak, he visited dozens and dozens of churches and religious institutions. He took copious notes and spent hours writing up his report.

When he returned, the committee gathered, eager to hear of his findings. "Fellow aliens,"  he greeted them.  "I have returned not with one god, but with two."

A gasp of astonishment rippled through the room.  "The name of the first god, or should I say goddess,  is Grace.  A very attractive Goddess she is. She talked about love often. "Get along,  be friends, be nice,  she would say. 'And if you can't be good, I'll forgive you anyway." Beezy looked perplexed.  "The only thing is, I'm not sure what she would forgive, since they didn't seem to have any rules to break."

Beezy went on. "I especially liked the things the followers of Grace did, like feeding poor  people, and visiting prisoners in jail. However"--he shook his head--"these followers of grace seemed so lost. They kept doing the same bad things over and over, and they never seemed to know where they were going.

"Then there's the other god."  Beezy took a deep breath. "This god is definitely a man, a his name is Truth. Truth is just as mean as Grace is nice. He kept telling the people all sorts of things about them that made them feel very bad, and his followers did the same thing. But there's a good side to Truth,"  Beezy reassured the committee. "He campaigns against some very nasty enemies, such as lying, cheating, adultery, abortion, and drunkenness. He's like a big religious street sweeper, sweeping away all his enemies. The only trouble is, he not only sweeps away bad things; he also sweeps away the people who do the bad things. As for the smiles you see on the followers of Grace--forget it.  All Truth's followers do is scowl and scream."

Needless to say, after hearing Beezy report, the committee were ready to opt for the new amusement park because they didn't like either god. But Beezy had on last suggestion.

"We have all this wonderful technology for mixing repelling elements, like oil and water," he said. "How about if we try mixing Grace and Truth?"

As I read this part of the chapter, it forces me to think about how we view our God. Do we recognise the two aspects of God's character or do we just "invent" a god we are comfortable with, focusing only on one aspect?

With the first god of Grace, there is compassion and relationship and her followers did all kinds of loving things, both for one another and also for those in pain. The only problem is that they heard little truth spoken and keeps falling, again and again, into same old bad situations and patterns. They needed directions to prevent this from happening.

With the second god of Truth, the followers receive a lot of direction, knowing what if right and what is wrong, knowing what they can do and cannot do. The only problem is that the god "seems" uncaring and mean and not to care about the people who were violating the standards; wiping them out.

The fact is...

• Our God is a God full of grace and truth (John 1:14) and grace and truth came through Jesus (John 1:16)
• God gave us the truth in the form of the law which provided a blueprint of life to offer us guidelines and limits but 
• ... no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Rom 3:19-20, NIV)
• The law was added so that the trespass might increase.(Rom 5:20, NIV)
• Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.(Rom 7:9-10, NIV)
• For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (Jam 2:10)
• You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Gal 5:4)
• God gives us Grace which is unmerited favour of God  towards us because we have not earned it and do not deserve it; the unconditional love and acceptance God gave to us but
• What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!(Rom 6:15-16, NIV)
• The acts of the sinful nature are obvious... those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(Gal 5:19-21, NIV)
• You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. (Gal 5:13, NIV)
• Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.(Col 3:5, NIV)

According to Henry Cloud, Truth without Grace is judgment and Grace without Truth is License (to sin). Both are essential as seen in John 8:3-11, where Jesus addressed the Pharisees who brought a woman caught in adultery and asked how she should be dealt with. Jesus showed grace and yet also emphasised the truth "Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11).

In similar way, we will sometimes cross paths with hurting people in the body of Christ. But how do we work with them to help them be liberated and grow to be the person God intends him/her to be? Some of us may have experienced it ourselves or even seen how some would come from the angle and may say things like "they are in sin", "they don't have enough faith", "they are not obedient", "they don't spend enough time in the Word" etc, sort of like the friends of Job. According to Cloud, while they may contain some elements of truth, it does cause more pain; "the pain she originally had, plus the guilt over not being able to apply the answers she was given". If not handled well, those struggling would either learn to fake healing to remain in church or leave church, deciding their faith provides little solace. In the same reverse way, we have also heard know how grace without emphasis on the truth rarely helps, as in parenting. The bible does clearly says that:

• He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.(Proverbs 13:24)
• "...because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son... God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. ." (Hebrews 12:6, 10-11)
• "...because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.  (Proverbs 3:12)

Grace and truth goes together in helping people we come across with to heal: an atmosphere of grace to help the hurting cope with guilt and shame and feel the love of God, beginning the process of healing and truth to help facilitate growth as we grow in Christ-likeness.

This is of course the part we play in extending a hand to those who need healing in the Lord and on the other end, whoever is receiving help from us would also need to respond by allowing the real self (rather than the portrayed front) to come forth to receive ministry. For some, it might take some time, a community and God for that to happen and for growth to take place, just as a plant takes time to grow. The plant needs to be anchored, rooted, receiving nutrients and it does not grow in a vacuum but receives sunlight and water from the outside, doing its part of photosynthesis to grow under the heavens.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6)

I hope this would bless you as it blessed me in thinking how to go about blessing others. I believe God will bring into your path someone who you can help heal.

The Dedicated Temple of God

Hi everyone,

I was doing my quiet time today and felt spoken to from 1 King 8 and thought of sharing what God has placed in my heart.

In 1 King 8, we read about King Solomon has completed building the temple for the Lord and is dedicating it. And we read in verses 10 and 11 that the temple begin to be filled with the glory of the Lord:

1 King 8:10-11 (NIV)

When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. 

Solomon proceeds to pray what would happen in the temple of God. As I read, I sensed God speaking to me about my life because we are the temple of God now that we have the Holy Spirit residing in us.

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Therefore, let's see what happens to a life dedicated and consecrated to the Lord and reflect on where our lives are at this point in time.

Solomon prays that...

1. ... there be the forgiveness of the Lord in the temple.
   
   "Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place... and when you hear, forgive." (v30)
   
   In the temple of God, there is forgiveness of sin. Similarly, in our lives, we started off with the acknowledgment of our sins as we come before God to accept Him into our lives as Lord and Saviour. But, what other sins do you currently have that you need to deal with in the Lord. Remember that in the temple of the Lord, there is forgiveness of sins.
   
2. ... there be judging by the Lord in the temple.
   
   "When a man wrongs his neighbour and is required to take an oath and he comes and swears the oath, before your altar in this temple... Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty... declare the innocent not guilty and so establish his innocence." (v31-32)
   
   As the Lord's presence is in the temple and judges between people, He is also in our lives and watches over the choices we make and how we walk. And we will also have times where we may have been wronged but there is trust in the Lord that He will judge between the guilt and innocent and will eventually declare and establish our innocence. Sure there will be situations where you may have been wronged but will you trust in the Lord that He is the Judge and will vindicate you in His time?
   
3. ... there be restoration by the Lord, as we repent.
   
   "When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and confess your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their fathers." (v33-34)
   
   We know that as we come to the Lord, we will receive restoration in our lives to how God had intended it to be, restoration from hurts, pains, bitterness and a live lived apart from God and His blessings. Are there areas where you need restoration?
   
4. ... there be teaching of His ways, as we repent.
   
   "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance." (v35-36)
   
   The Lord longs to teach us His ways and decrees so we can walk according to His ways and stay in His approval, blessings and favour. So, as we continue to have the glory of God in our lives, He will teach you, step by step, to grow in righteousness and to His likeness. Are you still keeping your hearts and minds open to the Lord's teaching, rebuking and correction?
   
5. ... there be the fear of God.
   
   "When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel—each one aware of the afflictions of his own heart, and spreading out his hands toward this temple- then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men), so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers." (v37-40)
   
   A life with God's presence will also have the fear of the Lord because of who God is; the Almighty God who sees the heart of man and can do all things. Personally for me, I have seen what God can do in my life, especially when I grief Him, and so the fear of the Lord keeps me trying to always walk righteously. The day we do not have the fear of the Lord is the day we no longer stay within the boundaries of the Lord and of His love, peace, favour and blessings and we are in the danger of taking God for granted.
   
   Proverbs 16:6 (NIV)
   Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
   
   Proverbs 14:27 )NIV)
   The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
   
   Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)
   The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
   
   Do you have the fear of the Lord in your life?
   
6. ... that God's name be glorified.
   
   "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name- for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name." (v41-43)
   
   When the glory of the Lord is in the temple and in our lives, God's name will also be glorified through it because of the great things that He will do in you and through you, you will be seen as bearing His name and people will come to hear and know of God.
   
   Do you bear the glory of God in your lives that is a living testimony to others who have yet to know Him. A living testimony, likened a living bible, who will result in others wanting to know about God?
   
7. ... that there be favour.
   
   "When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause" (v44-45)
   When the temple of God is filled with the glory of God, there will be favour as we walk with the Lord and He upholds our cause.
   
   Are you experience God's favour in your life?
   
8. ... there be deliverance when we come in repentence.
   
   "When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy; for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace." (v46-51)
   
   When our lives are filled with the glory of God, we will receive deliverance from bondages and things that we are caught in captivity by. Do you need something which you are captive of now that you need God to deliver you from? Just as God delivered the Israelite from Egypt? God indeed has the power to "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1), both Himself and through His servants doing His will in your life.
   
9. ... there be the honour of being chosen by God.
   
   "For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, O Sovereign LORD, brought our fathers out of Egypt." (v53)
   
   Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV)
   For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
   
   God chose you and what a privilege it is to be called sons and daughters of the living and Almighty God. And we are reminded that "we were by nature objects of wrath" because of our sin but God in His love and grace and mercy, gave us His son so we can be made alive in Christ while we were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:3). That's the wonders of accepting the work of Jesus on the cross and appropriating it to our lives. Do you believe in your position as a child of God in your life?
   
10. ... there will be turning of peoples' hearts back to God.
    
    "May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers." (v57-58)
    
    Often times, when we become restored and have experienced the love, grace and mercy of God and His work in our lives, we will naturally want to share this wonderful privilege with others who have yet to know and experience Him. And hearts will be turned to God through the work of our hands and the testimony of our mouths.

So, is your life filled with the glory of God...

• ... so much so there is forgiveness of your sins?
• ... so much so, there is trust in your life of God as the Ultimate Judge; that He knows everything that happens and is capable of vindicating you of wrong done to you?
• ... so much so there is restoration in our lives as we come to him in repentence?
• ... so much so we are receiving teaching from the Lord day after day as He continues to work in us?
• ... so much so we will have the fear of the Lord which will keep us within His boundaries, approval, blessings and favour?
• ... so much so God's name is glorified through us?
• ... so much so we experience God's favour in our lives?
• ... so much so we receive deliverance from things which keeps us captive?
• ... so much so we know and are affirmed of our position as children loved by God?
• ... so much so we see the turning of peoples' hearts back to God?

I know I am not there yet but yes, I pray that my life will be a wonderful temple, consecrated and dedicated to the Lord, filled with the glory of God.

How about you?

Instead of Shame

12 May 2010
Susanne Scheppmann

"Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs." Isaiah 61:7 (NIV)

I turned and walked away from God in anger and disappointment. I tossed away the calling of ministry on my life. The Lord had hurt my feelings, so I left my faith to find a fresh path.

This happened during my twenties. With two toddlers climbing up my legs during the day and crying intermittently during the night, I was physically exhausted. Emotional turmoil began to disintegrate my marriage. My immature faith lacked the stamina to hold to God tightly. So, for seven years I wandered through sin, divorce, and miserable meanderings of my own making. It was a time of spiritual drought—the years of shame.

Although I walked away from God, He did not walk away from me. The Lord allowed me to experience life in the wilderness of doubt, but He was right there watching over me and waiting for me to return to the call of ministry placed on my life at age eighteen.

Eventually, I allowed myself to feel His presence in my life. Little by little, the Lord Jesus wooed me back to Himself. I remember the exact time and place that I felt Him whisper to my spirit, "Let's start over and do it right this time." I wept with relief and joy. I began to study the Bible and allowed it to change my damaged spiritual heart. This time it wasn't going to be head knowledge, but heart knowledge.

My faith was back on track, but I did not think my calling to ministry could ever be restored. Hadn't I traveled too far off the godly path? Surely, God didn't want me anymore in service to His Kingdom. Surely, He had more qualified daughters that could minister to others without the shame of a sullied past such as mine.

However, that is not how God thinks at all. The Bible says, "For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29, NIV). The Lord desires for us to move beyond the shame of past mistakes and into His calling for our lives. He will restore us to useful service in the Kingdom. It takes time and it is a process, but the Almighty God still has a plan for each of our lives. He intends to replace disgrace with rejoicing, so that we may show our world that we are living miracles.

Do I hear an "Amen"?

Dear Lord, thank You for having mercy on me. Display Your will for my life. Enable me to fulfill the gifts and call in my life, so that others will understand Your grace and mighty power. In Jesus' Name, Amen.