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

Image Source

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?

Image Source

Buying from the Right Source

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. -Isaiah 55:1-3 (NIV).

It's interesting when I read this this morning and realized the word "buy".  Went to search dictionary.com and to buy would also mean to acquire by way of exchange. Webster states to buy is "to obtain in exchange for something often at a sacrifice"

"What are we exchanging our lives, effort, time, resources for?" I feel God reminding us to buy from him, and that He gives not as the world gives (conditional and with money) but He gives so we can acquire life (see v1). He is a faithful God of covenant. "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -John 10:10b (NIV). And yes, the buying do involve sacrifice, or shall I say--setting priorities. David said that he will not sacrifice a burnt offering that costs him nothing. - 1 Chronicles 21:24 (NIV).

What are you "buying"? Are you seeking and acquiring security, joy and peace from things, obsession/addictions, people, jobs or other things other than God? We need to buy from the right source.

Worship

Hi everyone, in my recent QT, God has been showing me much about devotion and worship. As I pondered on it and after our cell discussion last week, found this video quite nicely helped me to understand about it. So simple but yet, sometimes I can miss it:

Be blessed! :D

Precursor to a Miracle

Hi everyone, as we talked about miracles the last week, one important character that we see in Jesus is that of obedience and faith, even as He broke the bread to serve the five thousand (Mark 6: 30-44).


Precursor to a Miracle from The Ark Church on Vimeo.

Return the Call

Return the Call
Karen Ehman

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer."

Psalm 4:1 (NIV)

Devotion:
"Ughhh!" I sighed as the telephone rang that morning...again. My frustration mounted as I replayed my morning's activities thus far in my mind.

I'd already answered a phone call from church, one from my son's teacher and yet another one from my other son's coach. I'd chatted with my hairdresser and made an appointment with the dentist, among about a half-dozen more connections that had to be made by phone. And it wasn't even noon yet!

My mind pondered as my heart began to race. "When am I ever going to get to the bottom of my never-ending "to do" list?"

I glanced at my caller ID to see who it was this time. The number flashing on my phone was a familiar one; that of my father. He is a retiree who has a great love for his grandkids and lots of time on his hands. I reasoned, since his schedule isn't nearly as full as mine, that I could call him back later at a time more convenient for me. So I ignored his call and turned my attention to my list.

On it were many tasks; some noble, some mundane. Normal errands such as "Pick up bread and milk" "Return library books" or "Fill car up with gas." But there were important items too like call a relative who was struggling with depression and ask the neighbor next door, who'd just had surgery, if he'd like our family to mow his lawn. There were even kingdom-building, ministry activities; finish my Bible study lesson and pray for a friend's operation taking place later that day.

Yes, my day was full; full of people and purpose. Why then did I feel so empty?

My thoughts returned to the call from my father. How many times had I ignored his calls, reasoning that, since his life as a retiree wasn't packed with activity, I could easily chat with him at a later time? But the reality of my hectic schedule, along with other relationship commitments, often meant that connecting with my father took a nearly permanent place on the back burner of life.

He was waiting; I was ignoring. I refused to return his call. And our relationship was at risk of suffering because of it.

It isn't just earthy fathers that sometimes get ignored. How many times have we "ignored" our Heavenly Father because of our screaming schedule and earthly relationship demands? Even though our lives may be full of good and "God" things—duties at church, connections with people—oft times we are so busy serving God and loving it, that we don't make time to actually love the God that we serve.

Today's key verse paints a picture of our loving God who is never too busy to answer us when we call. And He not only hears and answers, He gives us relief from our distress—even the too-busy-for-my-own-good kind of distress. The problem in our connection lies with us. He is calling. We ignore. And then, we don't bother returning His call.

Thankfully, God never gets tired of hitting or answering a "redial." He is waiting and longing, as He always has been, to have a deep, intimate relationship connection with us; one that requires we make one simple switch: We put Him at the top of our "to do" and our "must call" lists.

He is willing to answer, if only we will call.

Dear Lord, forgive me for ignoring Your calls to come and connect with You, free from any distractions. I'm ready now. Speak. I'm listening. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

For more on this topic and a Jesus Calling basket giveaway, visit Karen's blog
Living Life on Purpose by Lysa TerKeurst
Rest Assured: Devotions for Souls in a Restless World by Nancy McGuirk

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity! Your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps:
When it comes to carving out time to spend with God, do you:

a. Consistently make it a high priority

b. Have great intentions of doing it but often get sidetracked by life

c. Fit it in when you feel like it or happen to "find time"

d. Don't really have any plan for connecting one-on-one with God

Take action this week to get God off the back burner and into the forefront of your life.

Reflections:
Have I ever scheduled an "appointment with God," just as I would with a business contact, doctor, or friend? How could that help me in my quest to grow in relationship Him?

Power Verses:
Psalm 91:14-16: "The Lord says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.'" (NLT)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want...

All the Way my Savior Leads Me

All the way my Savior leads me

Who have I to ask beside

How could I doubt His tender mercy

Who through life has been my guide

All the way my Savior leads me

Cheers each winding path I tread

Gives me grace for every trial

Feeds me with the living Bread

You lead me and keep me from falling

You carry me close to Your heart

And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me

All the way my Savior leads me

O, the fullness of His love

O, the sureness of His promise

In the triumph of His blood

And when my spirit clothed immortal

Wings its flight to realms of day

This my song through endless ages

Jesus led me all the way

Jesus led me all the way

All the way my Savior leads me

All the way my Savior leads me

"I Can No Longer Trust in You Lord" ~ Me

This very song, ministered to my heart last Sunday as we worshipped in church. I had been praying to the Lord for something which has been close to my heart but I was coming to a stage where I can no longer trust the Lord. I remember that as the worship leader led us in worship and sang the very words "I will trust in you", asking us to put our hands on our hearts, I just could not do it and I could not mouth these very words...Have you ever felt this way and felt that no matter what happens, you just seem to lose faith and in what God is doing in your life?

"Remember how I have walked with you?" ~ The Lord

It was until this song that came up that the Lord was prompting me gently that He has been there with me all the time and He has guided me through to where I am. And true enough, there had been such changes and miracles in my life, so much so I know it is not from man but from God. From how He has brought me back, to how He had placed people around me, helped me overcome my severe inferior complex, brought me a partner, helped and led me in ministry, healed and restored me from a hurt I had years ago, all these within a short span of 5 years, it just had to be God. And how could I doubt Him? And frankly, as the lyrics expresses it well "who have I to ask beside?". This is one such time when the praise and worship session was already enough to minister to me, even before sermon. And of course, by the time the sermon came and it was a hammer to the nail's head as I am reminded again that the Lord is my Shepherd and He cares for us and knows what is best for us; more than we know what is good for us.

The Life of Fanny Crosby

And the Lord continued to speak into my heart throughout the week, even as I prepared for cell. I later come to know that the hymn, from which this song has been adapted from, was written by a God fearing lady Fanny Crosby. She had, in her lifetime, written over 8000 Christian hymns, despite her handicap that she had to struggle with during her life. Fanny had lost her sight from the age of six week after a botched medical procedure by an inept doctor, which left her blind from henceforth. Imagine losing your sight and not  knowing what this world is like. But yet, God used her and she wrote many wonderful hymns including "All the Way my Savior Leads Me" and "Blessed Assurance". 

This beloved hymn came to Fanny as a result of a prayer. Struggling financially, she desperately needed some money. As her usual custom, Fanny began to pray. A few minutes later, a gentleman offered her five dollars, the exact amount she needed. Later recalling the incident, she said, “I have no way of accounting for this except to believe that God put it into the heart of this good man to bring the money.”  The poem she wrote afterward became “All The Way My Savior Leads Me.” 

She later said, “ If per­fect earth­ly sight were of­fered me to­mor­row I would not ac­­cept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been dis­tract­ed by the beau­ti­ful and in­ter­est­ing things about me.”

Speaking about trusting in the Lord. Fanny's example humbled me.

The Sudden Promotion of Glory of The Salvation Army's Territorial Commander

It's interesting how as Elder Freddy was preaching on Psalm 23, a psalm that one would usually see at funerals (and some would also associate with funerals), my whole week has come to be dominated by the sudden departure of one of our beloved leaders in The Salvation Army. And even as we go through a heart-wrenching week, coping emotionally with the sudden promotion to glory of our late Territorial Commander, God continued to minister to me and prepared me for cell.

It had been a difficult week as many of us struggled to come to terms with the sudden death because the weekend before, we had a carnival and our commander was amidst us, having fun with us and taking photos. His wife has also remarked how he had such great fun, going around to just be around our staff as we raised funds to bless our counterpart's work in Myanmar. And on Sunday evening, he had a simple dinner fellowship with all the heads of departments and officers, just hours before his departure. 

Thanking God for His Grace

Then on Monday morning, we were told that he had gone home to be with the Lord. As we slowed down from all the funeral arrangements on Friday, I remember sitting down with my colleague and we both remarked how we really thank God for his life; how it had been a blessing to many. We thank God for how He had taken him home without prolonged pain and agony. We thank God for His grace in allowing us to have our last "farewell", so as to speak, with the commander on Saturday and also for the heads and officers to have their's on Sunday.

Trusting in God

But what was more heart-wrenching was even seeing our commander's wife, having to deal with the whole incident. They had been a loving couple who have served the Lord for over 40 years now and have just travelled to Singapore barely 3 years ago to serve their last leg before his retirement in June this year. I could imagine the shock and grief of losing someone you love in such a manner. But what really amazed me was her strength and calmness through it all, even in the midst of this when the icelandic volcano eruptions have grounded flights, making it impossible for her family to come and be with her and also for her and the body to be flown back to UK. 

Reflecting on it, I would have broken down long ago. But what was amazing was how this humble lady had calmly addressed us at the funeral, thanking God for a good companion, confidante and father who shared 45 years of life together. And something she had said became deeply entrenched in my heart... "I don''t understand why but I know and trust that it's God's will and therefore I know that this is God's timing for him to be called home". And it was not her strength which has spoken to me but the peace I sensed, genuine peace, which demonstrated to me how she has really trusted the Lord even through this circumstance. And thank God because halfway through the wake service, we received news that Singapore Airlines has managed to secure places for our late commander, his wife and an accompanying officer for them to travel back to UK to be with their family. 

Light Amidst Darkness

So while it was an emotion-filled week, it was also a positive week where God shined through... I like what Lydia shared during cell yesterday of her revelation from Psalm 23:4...

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

... that with every shadow, there is light. And so even amidst all the negativity, something positive came out for me too as I saw God at work.

"I shall not be in want"

But God did not stop there and continue to speak to me, both to me as a child and I also believe to all in the cell. Throughout the week, God continued to speak to me on this theme of Psalm 23:1 "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." Through my quiet time throughout the week, God brought me to various passages everyday and spoke about being contented in Him and keeping kingdom perspective. Many a times, we get so caught up with our perspective of things of the world, we lose sight of things of God. 

In quiet time yesterday, I read from Mark 8:33 when Jesus rebuked Peter after he rebuke Jesus for speaking about what is to happen to himself; rejected, killed and that He will rise again after 3 days. And Jesus spoke these words "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men". God later sent a colleague to come to me with a verse from Matthew 6:19-21:

Matthew 6:19-21

19. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It is true that after so much have happened this week, I have come to realise that anything can happen anytime. We can plan all we want, just as my commander and his wife has planned to retire and return to UK in June to be with their family. But ultimately, we do not know what's going to happen next. And this fact that we may go home to be with the Lord anytime became even more real as I was working to "close the emotional chapter" on the demise of my late commander, only to come to hear of another case of the son of a another, barely 30 years old, found suddenly dead in his room.

As the Psalmist wrote, "the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want". Do you truly believe in this verse and that the Lord knows what you need? Do you trust the Lord? As I reflect upon my episode on Sunday when I told God I can no longer trust in Him, I come to realise that the loss of faith and trust came not as a result that God is unfaithful etc. Someone at the funeral had mentioned that God is too wise and righteous to be wrong, too faithful to be unfaithful. But it lies with our contentment in the Lord and many a times how we have desired what the Lord has not intended for and yet feel annoyed, frustrated and angry with the Lord. The Lord ask us to keep our kingdom perspective of eternity and to trust in Him that He is the Almighty God. There are many things that we may not understand but He is always there in control and He has His plans for you.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

11. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Psalm 91: 1-2, 4, 14-15

1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

4. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

14.  "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

Isaiah 55:8-9

8. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

The Lord Holds You and Your Life

Even as I read from Ruth today, I am reminded about Naomi and the Lord's hand upon her and her life. She had lost both her husband and sons and was bitter, not knowing that the Lord has His plans for her. 

Ruth 1:20-21

"Don't call me Naomi (meaning pleasant)," she told them. "Call me Mara (meaning bitter), because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me". 

But little does she knows that Ruth would be a blessing to her, as they seek to survive, and will also be the blessed line where the Messiah Jesus would ultimately come from. 

Ruth 2:17-18

So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.

Yet Another Lesson in Trusting in the Lord

In fact, just another interesting point to note: I had initially been in a frenzy because God has spoken to me so clearly and so much throughout the week, I was approaching cell not knowing how to proceed, lest it becomes a very heavy session with all the scriptures and thoughts. I was in a frenzy because I had not known how to organise and bring across what God has spoken to me. For a moment, I had not trusted God, until a colleague came to me with Isaiah 50:4:

Isaiah 50:4

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

And as I reflect on last night and how God has given me to word and the prompting to speak the words, I thank Him and look back wondering why I had not trusted Him that He will be guiding the session. I thank God for that and for everyone of you who served and shared in love and edification. Thank you again.

In closing, I just want to encourage you with something from my devotion this week:

Psalm 91: 1-2, 4

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."... He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Ruth 2:12b

...May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.

Dalit Child Sponsorship

Today is the Mission Drive weekend. I thought it is good to share about how I came to sponsor one of the Dalit Child some weeks ago on 13th March. Before the CE course on that day, I saw the Dalit Child booths and the pictures of the Dalit children. There is a prompting within my heart to go to the other side of the booths and to look at one of the pictures in the middle row. I saw a little boy, he looks quite different from other boys, seems pretty mature for boy of his age? There is something outstanding about him. Then I look at the description, he had a elder sister who had paralysis and most of their family's income is spent for her treatment, they do not have enough to eat and pay for. When I read this, somehow it gripped my heart. I felt a prompting that I could be God's vessel to bless this family and this little boy by sponsoring him so that through education support, the family would be able to break out of current situation of poverty trap, also recognizing how tough it is for the family taking care of a young girl who is immobile. However I see a bright future ahead of this little boy as God will provide and bless even though I believe the situation maybe tougher than I could ever imagine. Therefore I really hope this little contribution will bring a little light into this little boy's life and his family, and he will be empowered to rise up to the calling God had put into his heart. Also I pray that the little boy and his family will witness God's love through the most simple way of giving and acts of love, may they see God's miracles in their life, especially his sister that God will cause her to walk one day! That many will testify the goodness of God and power of God at work! I thank God that I obey God when I felt prompting to be part of the Dalit Child Sponsorship program, it is always a blessing to give. It is also my first time involving in this program, felt privileged to give even though I had other concerns too. But I am glad I choose to put God's will above all in my heart. I hope I can pray constantly for the Dalit Child I am sponsoring, looking forward to exchanging letters and writing to encourage and show love, even though I am not quite sure what to really write. Also look forward to visit the Dalit Child maybe next year 2011, by God's grace and his good timing. As I ponder and share about the process of sponsoring the Dalit Child, is there anything God is prompting and challenging you in the area of mission? Dear fellow brothers and sisters, I urge you to respond to the call God had put in your heart. A little step of obedience will not only bless the lives of the individuals you are touching but will also bring you one step closer to the heart of God. It is all about God.

The Silent Sermon

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace...and waited.

The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.'

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!

I shall not want ----- that's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul -- that's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness -- that's Guidance!

For His name's sake ----- that's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death --that's Testing!

I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!

For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me -----that's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies ---that's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!

My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ---that's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord ----- that's Security!

Forever ----- that's Eternity!

Joy vs Happiness

What's Your Rug?

We all know what it feels like to have the rug pulled out from under us. I like this video because it nicely illustrates how we can sometimes be standing on wrong rugs... I am guilty of it and have once stood on the rug of career...

Psalm 23 for the Workplace

Hi everyone,

Came across this interesting article which is a good reminder, especially to us in the Onelife zone in this phase of our lives.

PSALM 23 FOR THE WORKPLACE

The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want.
He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.
He gently reminds me to pray and do all things
without murmuring and complaining.

He reminds me that he is my source and not my job.
He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions that I might honor him in all that I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn’t cooperate every morning, I still will not stop— for He is with me!
His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through.
He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.

He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go.
His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check.

His retirement plan beats every insurance plan there is!
When it’s all said and done, I’ll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I BLESS HIS NAME!!!!!!

The Choice

Choices @ the Heart of Life
Choices are at the heart of everything. Just as I was listening to the sermon last week on "Battling with Passion" and as I went about the week preparing for cell, reflecting on the things that happened throughout the week, I came to think more and more about choices.

How do you make choices in life? At cell, some of us has shared how some of us make choices based on our end goals in mind, some make choices base on opportunity cost and consequences, some base it on exprience, some base it on feelings, while some seek advice from friends and some seek the Lord.

I always remember the time I made a choice which I still remember ultimately changed my college life. It was the second intake for college and I was given a choice to change my subject combination. Then, I was taking "A" levels Chinese. Though I did not understand why I choose to take "A" levels Chinese (given I didn;t seem to have the flair for it) but I made the choice to continue on with my subject combination because I had not wanted to leave my friends who I have come to know. And, well, as they say, the rest is history and I chartered this part of my life story and made a decision based on my feelings.

Everyday in our lives, we are confronted with choices to make. From our attire, to our meals, to how we respond to various matters, we make choices everyday. Even in our spiritual life, we are faced with choices, starting from the choice we make to make Jesus our Lord and Saviour, to the challenges we face daily in making choices which would impact our walk with the Lord e.g. making priorities about our quiet time, participation in church, ministry, prayer meetings, cell vis-a-vis other priorities in life or even making choices between succumbing to temptation vis-a-vis choosing how God would like us to respond as children of light. Choices are real and part and parcel of our life.

Choices & Life
Just last week, I have had the opportunity to speak to 3 very different people who made different choices... one was sharing with me about his younger days and how he was in triads and how he met his wife who changed him. As he shared about the horrors of what happens at the gallows for some of his friends, I can see him being all relieved that he has turned back in time to not be in the shoes of some of hos friends. Equally, I have also spoken to different ones who responded very differently to trials and also in their choices to either let God triumph over circumstances or circumstances "over" God.

In Pastor Chye Aik's sermon the previous week, he spoke from Galatians 5. To me, as I read, it spoke to me clearly about life and the choices we make.

In Galatians 5: 16-18, we see that there are two extremes: life by the Spirit and life by the flesh...

16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

There is a clear conflict between the two and we are to choose from them.

And Galatians 5:19-25 further goes to show the outcome of life by the Spirit and by the flesh:

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Verse 21 mentioned that those who live life by the flesh "will not inherit the kingdom of God" but those who live by the Spirit will experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This is a choice we have to make.

But how do we live by the Spirit? Basically, it does come down to choices we make... Indeed, I don't think there is a "7 step formula" for being able to live by the Spirit. But, when I reflect upon it and also look at my own spiritual walk, I wonder why is it that some people seem to have some much passion for God that keeps them going despite all circumstances? What about Jesus; Son of God, born as Son of man? What kept Him going that, amidst all the agony of knowing He is to be crucified on the cross, that He would go on to say the familiar "not my will, but yours be done", ultimately dying a horrible death on the cross for our sakes? The passion of Christ? To me, it became clear it is a choice.

As I did my quiet time last week and read from John 8:12-30, several things spoke to me:

1. Jesus knows where He is from and where He is going (v14)
   
2. Jesus knows He does not stand alone but with the Father (v16, 29)
3. Jesus knows Father God (v19)
4. Jesus knows the Father's purposes for Him (v28-29)
   

Jesus knew all these and had made the choice to yield Himself to God. Jesus knows who He is and where He is going and yielded to God.

As I look back at my life and realised how, thanks be to God, I have matured relatively in how I make choices in my life. But even so saying, at present, I do still struggle with some decisions I which have a big bearing on my ministry and life. But as I reflect, I have realised how I have moved from choices made based on "me-centric-ness" ("me, me, me") to more or less "God-centric-ness" ("God, what's your will for this?"). And it becomes clear that yieldnesses to God is so critical in our life by the Spirit because unless we yield ourselves and the choices we make to God, we will be living life based on ourselves, our flesh, our emotions, our strength.

Do you know who you are and where you are going?
Do you know that despite all circumstances that God is always with you?
Do you know the Father's heart and His purposes for you; not only to restore you to Him and refine you but also to restore many others to Him, what Paul calls the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor 5:11-21).

I have to admit that it can be a journey of uncertainty but God is an Almighty God and nothing is impossible for Him:

I know I am had been saved by grace by God;
I know that I am redeemed and restored by God through all the work He has done in my life;
I know that I do not need to go through life alone and can trust in Him becaase I saw how He provided and brought me out of the pits when I held on;
I know that God is a sovereign God and has His plans for me;
I know He has restored me to be a blessing to many others
I know that I am a child of God;
I know where I am going after passing on from life.

To live life by the Spirit, choose to see all He has done in your life and choose to yield to Him. Do not do life alone or with your own strength. Nothing is everlasting, not even our lives, our riches we have, our jobs, our ministry, except for God, His will and His love.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.