I see in part..

He is all we need

2009-03-01T16:52:00.005+11:00

When times are tough, sometimes we can feel that God has abandoned us. Have you ever wondered why God puts us in such situations - situations when the odds are stacked against us and it looks like a losing battle. Sometimes we don't recognise that God may be the author of that very difficult situation. He sets us up in difficult circumstances so that He can show us that He is all that we really need and that we don't need to rely on ourselves. We see this in the life of Gideon.

The Israelite army of 32,000 men led by Gideon was getting ready to fight the Midianites when the Lord intervened and reduced the size of the army to a mere 300!
Judges 7:2-4
The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, 'My own strength has saved me.' Now announce to the army, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go."
When God was done with the sifting, Gideon's army was reduced to 300, less than 1% of the original size of 32,000.

Undoubtedly, Gideon was shaken and wondering whether God had abandoned him and was even against him. But God gave Gideon encouragement to make him realise that He was in control and He was with them! God woke Gideon at night and enabled him to overhear a Midianite soldier recounting a terrifying dream - a vision of Israelite victory! This dream assured Gideon that the Lord was at work even in his seemingly imposible situation. And we know that Gideon went on to win the battle against the Midianites (Judges 7). Like Gideon, sometimes God may put us in a challenging, hopeless situation with the odds stacked against us. We need to realise that God never abandons us and that we can boldly rely on His faithfulness and His strength. He will make a way out for us so that His name is glorified!
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Matthew 28:20
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

What are the challenges that you are facing? In this life, we will face heartache, difficulties, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As a child of God, are you relying on your strength and abilities or instead are you relying on God's strength and His abilities. Realise that sometimes God wants us to know that He is sufficient for us. Yes, He is all that we need. Stand firm and be encouraged because our God is faithful and He leads us to definite victory!

Desire....

2009-02-10T20:59:00.005+11:00

Have you wondered why Jesus would ask the invalid man who was lying by the pool of Bethesda whether he wanted to get well? Does it not seem rather callous? To understand, we need to step into this man's shoes. When you are an invalid for 38 years, you can sort of get used to where you are at, kill your desire to get well and resign to your situation and rely on others to help you get by. Jesus by asking him whether he wanted to get well, opens up in him a desire that he has long given up on.
John 5:1-6:
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

Desire is often looked down as a bad thing or something to be supressed and overcome. We need to realise that the ability to desire is a God given gift placed in us. To connect with God and to live in His will, we need to develop Godly desires. God is not interested in soul killing spirituality, a life lived by duty and obligations. Instead God is looking for mankind to live to its fullest, in total surrender, in total desire of Him alone. This is perhaps the secret to King David's full life, as he constantly declares his desires for God alone and that God will fulfill his desires.
Psalm 42:1-2
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Sometimes, we are fearful of getting in touch with our desires because we are afraid of what might be lurking in our hearts. However, we need to believe that we are children of the new covenant, and though we struggle with sin and have a tendency to go after false desires, we are really a new creation with a new heart given by God and empowered by the Spirit to desire and live in a way that brings glory to Him!
Ezekiel 36:25-27
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

This year, how do you want to live? Do you want to live just the way you always have - just going about the same motions of life and doing things out of duty and obligation or do you want to awaken the desires in you that God has placed in your heart alone and live a rich abundant life? What do you really desire? Saint Iraneus said that "The glory of God is man fully alive". Blessed indeed are the ones who hunger and thirst after God!

Good Tidings of Great Joy!

2008-12-19T11:05:00.005+11:00

Christmas is a time to rejoice as God's promised Messiah has been given to us! It is time to celebrate as we are reminded again that we are not left to our own devices but that God, the Creator of the universe is inteested in us and loves us and wants a relationship with us.

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

God of grace and mercy
Looked down from up above
To see a world in chaos
Without hope and love
He saw the only way
Is to send His precious son
To be born of a woman
Bringing hope to everyone
He came into the world
Just a babe in swaddling cloth
Who one day grew to be
The saviour of the lost.

Luke 2:8-14
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Wishing you a very special Christmas and a blessed New Year 2009! May you experience His love, joy and peace continually this season.

ps: I am taking a break from blogging and will write more in January!

Prepare Him Room

2008-12-11T21:55:00.003+11:00

Christmas is the celebration of the good news that the amazing, all powerful, omniscient God, the creator of the universe chose to come in human likeness so that we may have an abundant eternal life.
Philippians 2:5b-7
..Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Jesus could have chosen to come to earth as a popular rich King but He chose to come in a humble way as an unknown to let us all know that He identifies with all of humanity. There was no room for the King of Kings anywhere that He had to be born in a lowly manger.
Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The life of Jesus even from His birth was one of sorrow - people rejected Him or crowded Him out of their lives.
Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Could it be that even we who have embraced Him sometimes live our lives not esteeming Him who gave up all the joys and comforts of heaven for our sake? There are many things that possibly crowd out Jesus from our hearts and lives and leave Him with little or no room. These things could include busyness, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, disappointment, doubt, self pity, selfishness.. When Jesus is not in the centre of our hearts, we create room for entanglements.

This Christmas, its time to clean up our hearts and lives and prepare Him room! Its time to get rid of all entanglements that draw us away from having Him at the centre and whole of our hearts and minds and lives. When we are entangled and things of this world crowd our heart, we are violating the first and greatest commandment that the Lord gave us.
Matthew 22:36-38
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
The heart is the centre and core of our being and if we honor God with all our heart and mind, then we will have true joy! We can get rid of all entanglements and get Jesus to fill our whole hearts by reading and obeying His word, confessing sin, examining our heart, guarding what we set our affections on and living according to truth rather than feeling.
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

How is your heart this Christmas season? Is it crowded with the busyness or worry or doubt or pain or anger.. that Christ is moved to the periphery? An old medieval Christmas poem says "Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, if He's not born in you, your heart is still forlorn". Prepare Him room in your heart this season by getting rid of all entanglements and crown Him the King of your whole heart and experience the joy of knowing and living for Him!
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Follow the Star!

2008-12-08T21:27:00.011+11:00

No Christmas story is complete without mentioning the three wise men who came from afar bearing gifts to worship the new born King! The three wise men when they came to pay homage to Jesus had to make a lot of decisions - they had to start on a very long journey not really knowing the destination by just following the star, they gave Herod news that they were seeking a new born King by following a star but they also chose not to return to Herod and returned home by another way. We know this decision by the wise men was important. On the highway to decision making, we all have some processes - some decisions are spontaneous, some are intuitive, others are thought through to discern which way to choose. For some decisions, we rely on the wisdom and counsel of others and some decisions are made on what “feels” good. We can look at the story of the wise men and learn on how we should make decisions.

The three wise men were seekers - seeking and worshipping the Son of God was their utmost priority. They probably waited and longed for the Messiah king, studying the heavens for signs and decided to give up the comfort of their homes to set out on an adventurous journey making every effort to seek and worship the One who is worthy of all worship. They were able to seek and worship God because they understood in humility that inspite of their wisdom and riches that in God is the ultimate fulfillment all our seeking and longing.
Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."......When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

The second thing that the three wise men did was to discern what God wanted them to do. Discerning what God wants us to do in life is necessary to make wise decisions and avoid unplesant compromising consequences. Discernment is the ability to think in a Godly manner about all areas of life and is indispensable to an uncompromising life. The wise men were able to discern from their dream not to return to Herod and they did the right thing and avoided any unpleasant consequence.
Matthew 2:12-13
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
Knowing God will enable us to develop the gift of discernment. The wise men clearly knew who Jesus was - bringing Him gifts of gold, incense and myrrh that signified His royalty, His priesthood and His sacrifice.
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Reflect on the kind of decisions you have made in your life. Have they been wise and Godly? Do you want to make Godly wise decisions? Make it a priority to seek God in humility and to know Him so well so that you can discern God's will. God wants to guide you just like He guided the three wise men to the Messiah child through His star. We just need to seek Him and find His star and follow it!

Fuel of Faith - Obedience!

2008-11-27T22:27:00.006+11:00

The fundamental thing that keeps a house together is the structure - the foundation and the load bearing walls. If we can liken Christianity to a house, faith in Christ is the foundation stone and the walls that hold our house together. However, obedience is the roof over the house of faith that keeps us protected from the outside elements and attacks of the enemy. Our feelings and emotions are merely the outer cover like paint and decorations that finishes the house but alone it does not stand up! The problem with most of us is that we largely like to live our life going purely by feelings and emotions. "If it ain't gonna feel good, I am not doing it", is our favourite slogan. When we live like this, we are subject to every attack of the enemy as we have no protection because we are like a house without a roof. Obedience is central to a faith that is growing and is central to walking in God's will.

Obedience is not having a strong will but rather it is aligning ourselves with God's plan, will, call and purpose for our lives. It is surrendering of our will knowing that God's will is far superior and better as a result of knowing who He truly is and knowing that He can be trsuted implicitly.
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
It is surrendering our will so that we decrease and He increases just as John the Baptist said (John 3:30).
Throughout the Bible, God's heart is for people to come into a true relationship with Him, to come to a place of obedience resulting from complete trust. That is why in the Old Testament, though there was an elaborate system of sacrifices for sin and covering disobedience, God says that He delights in obedience rather than sacrifices.
Isaiah 1:11
The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?" says the LORD. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

According to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, the definition of obey is as follows: 1. To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of; 2. To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by; 3. To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm. The opposite of obedience is disobedience, defiance and rebellion. With these attitudes, we are moving away from God's love, ignoring His call and wanting to do our own thing. It is setting us up for a life of chaos and destruction, openly exposed without His protection.
Romans 2:13
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
If we truly love the Lord and our relationship with Him is of primary importance, obedience will naturally result.
John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
1 John 2:5-6
But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Is your faith fuelled by obedience? Does your house of faith have a roof of obedience or are you only concerned with the paint and cosmetic effects without a roof? Come into a true love relationship with Him and know that He can be trusted implicitly at all times. Choose life and His blessings rather the sure destruction of your own rebellious ways.
1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
1 John 2:17
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Break up the fallow ground

2008-11-27T20:55:00.004+11:00

Farmers clearly know that nothing grows in fallow ground. Fallow ground is a field that may have yielded much fruit in the past, but has been left unworked for a while or ground that has never been used. As a result, it becomes hard and yields nothing but weeds. The ground needs to be tilled, fertilized, watered and prepared in order that plans can take root to grow. Often times, we allow parts of our lives to lie dormant and is not fed by the Spirit and we do not grow in grace as a result. We keep parts of our lives hidden from God and sometimes from ourselves. Past hurts lie buried like the rocks in a farmers field that discourage strong, healthy growth. Relationships become strained because of weeds that are allowed to grow in the gardens of our lives. The call of God through Hosea is break such fallow ground if we are to be productive.
Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Jesus is calling each and every one of us to sow in righteousness and reap in mercy. He calls us to plant our fields with His good works. He asks us to dig up those rocks and pull out those weeds. He tells us to break up our fallow ground for it is time to grow. Life will become a rut if we neglect the garden of our soul and just rush about attending to the things that we need to. So where do we begin? The first step and responsibility to break up the falow ground lies with each of us.
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
What can we do? Our repsonsibility is to plow the ground with prayer and break the clods by coming to Him with a broken humble spirit.
Colossians 4:2-4:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Once the ground of our heart is open to the Lord in prayer in humility, we are then ready to sow the seed of God's word. As God shows us righteousness from His word, we need to obey and walk away from unrighteousness. When we do this, the weeds do not choke the word of God but the word of God will start producing fruit and the Holy Spirit will Himself water our souls!
2 Corinthians 9:6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
John 7:37b-39a
..If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive..

Is there a part of your life or heart that has become fallow ground? Are there weeds and rocks hindering the garden of your soul? Break up your fallow ground with prayer and coming back to His word and allow the Holy Spirit to water your soul and walk in righteousness. Seek the Lord with your whole heart, soul and mind! Then along with David you can truly say, "He restores my soul, my cup runs over."

Are you ready for the Bridegroom?

2008-11-26T22:24:00.004+11:00

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 is story of great drama, intrigue, romance and adventure. In it we see a wooing, a calling into deeper devotion to God but is also is a warning to us that we should be prepared to meet with the Bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1-13
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The arrival of the Bridegroom is expected. His Holy Spirit, which represents the oil has been provided ahead of time ensuring eternal light and joy to the bridal party. Even at the midnight hour in an hour of deep darkness, the bridal party are ready to go out to meet with the Bridegroom. The wise virgins are clearly different from the others as they have taken the time to prepare knowing fully well that a period of darkness awaits before joining the Bridegroom. The foolish ones experience "burnout" and eventually miss out on joining the bridegroom. The extra oil thus represents the spiritual preparation ahead of an anticipated time of darkness required for persevering and enduring just before meeting the Bridegroom.
2 Corinthians 11:2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

The overall thrust of the parable is that Christ will return at an unknown hour and that His people must be ready. Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency arises in our lives and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times while we eagerly await His coming. Saving faith in Jesus Christ will need to manifest itself in every aspect of our lives and the fruit of the Spirit needs to be produced. A desire for greater holiness and less sin should be apparent and a consistent looking for His coming will mark our lives. Paul's letter to Titus sums this well in the below verses:
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Are you prepared to meet the Bridegroom? Ten virgins had intended to go out and meet the Bridegroom, however only five of them will. This is the high drama which unfolds in the storyline. May we not be found “going away to make the purchase” when Christ returns. Take the time now to fill your lamp with oil and take extra along. See that you are not asleep and unprepared but instead keep preparing, waiting and watching for His return with joy and anticipation!

United we stand

2008-11-25T21:44:00.007+11:00

The disciples when they were with Jesus before His death and resurrection, constantly quibbled among themselves as to who was the greatest and who would get the most prominent position in Heaven and so on. There is little evidence of unity among the disciples. Jesus when He prayed for the disciples, He prayed for one thing - that they may be one as He was one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He prayed for unity.
John 17:11
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:20-21
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The message of the Gospel is a message of reconciliation, a message of unity, to bring all things together under Christ. The writer of the epistle to the Ephesians sums up the gospel thus:
Ephesians 1:9-10
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
From the foundation of the world, God had a plan and purpose for all of us and this is unity of all things under Christ. This process of unification is already started with the coming of Christ. This unity is radically all inclusive!
So it is imperative that we demonstrate this unity in the way we interact with one another, especially with other believers in the Church.

What does this unity mean? Unity means reflecting the fruit of the Spirit outwardly.
Ephesians 4:2-6
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Being humble is that disposition which makes us not easily provoked or offended, an ability to forgive. When we are humble, we are able to be patient and forbearing in love and we will be able to reflect the unity of Christ and maintain the bond of peace. The emphasis may not always be to have common convictions but to maintain common care and concern and love for another.

Do you reflect the unity of Christ in your relationships? Do you emphasize more on the differences and minor points of faith or do you really maintain unity by demonstrating care and love? Let us work with the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to others in Christ. Let us be reminded again that the Lord wants us to be in unity just as He is one. Let us reflect Him!

Prepare for World Impact

2008-11-24T22:43:00.007+11:00

Guess most of us would love to make a significant impact in this world. We all long for significance and this is not necessarily fame or wealth but knowledge that we have lived our lives to the maximum potential and impacted others. Jesus had probably the most important mission in the world, a mission that will impact every human and history. The impact of a person's life is often in direct proportion to the quality of preparation. Let us have a look at the life of Jesus and learn how He prepared for significant impact.
Luke 3:21-22
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

We can draw a few lessons from the event of baptism.
Total Surrender: Jesus totally surrendered to the will of the Father. He was the Son of God, Creator of the world. He was totally sinless and there was no need to be baptised as John was preaching a baptism of repentance. However, Jesus chose to surrender absolutely to the will of the Father and this is demonstrated in His life - from baptism, continuing daily, all the way to the Cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Like Jesus, when we surrender to God's will, we will lead significant lives.

Relationship with the Father: Jesus had a strong relationship with His Father. If anyone knew the Father intimately, it was Jesus and yet He spent quality time inspite of his hectic schedule or tiredness and made this a priority. The strong foundation of Jesus' ministry was based on His identity, acceptance and approval out of a deep intimate relationship with the Father. When we have a strong intimate relationship with the Father like Jesus, we will not give in to fear or rejection or performance pressue but be able to carry out His will secure in the knowledge of His love.
Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Empowerment by the Spirit: Jesus lived by the Spirit allowing the Holy Spirit to direct and empower Him each day to execute the will of God as He walked in obedience. His dependence on the Holy Spirit was not occasional but continual. When we live like that we need not strive by ourselves, as the Holy Spirit will help us.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Do you desire to live a significant life that has powerful impact according to God's plan and purposes for you? If so, reflect on which of these three aspects you need to improve and prepare and build on these so that your life can have maximum impact. Our mission is to impact the world!
Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

You will sing again..

2008-11-23T21:46:00.007+11:00

The book of Joel was written around 5 BC when Israel experienced a plague of locusts. This plague of locusts was devastating for Israel as every crop was destroyed and the lives of the Israelites were at stake as they faced famine and hardship. Joel records the plight of the Israelites with these words:
Joel 1: 10-12
The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil fails. Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed. The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree— all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the joy of mankind is withered away.
Sometimes in our lives, metaphorically we too can feel as though locusts have eaten away years of effort. Sometimes, we can face hardship after hardship and not see a breakthrough and wonder whether we will ever be restored and whether we will ever sing again.

We can take encouragement today that Joel did not stop just describing the plague and its devastation and leave us without hope. He goes on to record, the promise of God that He will restore the years that the locusts have eaten! We need to understand that the devastation of the locusts does not last just a few days or even months, the devastation can last years. Notice that God's promise is not just to restore weeks or months but whole years, all the wasted years!
Joel 2:25a-27
I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.....You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.

Between the locusts eating up and complete utter devastation, and the promise of restoration, there is an act that causes God to relent and have compassion on His people. This act is repentance, a complete 180 degree turn to walk in the way of righteousness and away from unrighteousness. God wants our hearts to be restored to Him and sometimes the difficulties are a way to awaken us to come back to Him.
Joel 2:12-13
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Our God is a God of compassion and He is faithful. He is in the business of restoration - of making whole of broken things. We just need to draw near to Him...
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Do you feel like that which has been lost will not be found, that which is broken will never be repaired? Do you wonder when you will sing again? Take hold of this message from Joel that God wants to restore you for all the years that was lost and build you up, as you draw near to Him in repentance! You will sing again because He is faithful and He is a restorer! Return to Him!
Joel 2:21a
Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice.

God's Masterpiece

2008-11-23T15:20:00.004+11:00

God's creation is beautiful.. every little flower to the starry hosts in the sky, from the birds in their splendid colors to the beauty of sunsets, from the waves of the ocean on the shore to the mighty thunderstorms...our heart does not tire as we gaze at the wondrous things that the Lord has made. Just yesterday, I was gazing of the window admiring the beauty of the trees swaying in the wind and the rain and the changing beauty of the scenery as the light danced and dimmed throughout the day. There is no greater artist that the Lord and what's even more amazing is that He does not consider any of this, His masterpiece. The God of the Universe, the Creator, the ultimate Artist considers you and I as His masterpiece! He delights over us!
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The Lords says that we are the Apple of His Eye!
Zechariah 2:8
For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.
We are the object of His unending love and He continues to pursue us by loving us even when we were far away from Him! Yes, no one can love us the way the Lord loves us!
Romans 5:6b-8
Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We cannot grasp the immense value that God places on each and every one of us! He seeks after each and everyone of us individually and His heart longs for communion and fellowship with each of us. It blows my mind that God, the Creator - the Omniscient and Omnipresent Great God loves us so much!
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

How do you feel about yourself and how do you value yourself? You need to understand that God places immense value on you - you are His apple of His eye, the object of His eternal everlasting love that He died for you. Never ever forget your true worth - you are purchased by Jesus' blood paid by Him through His suffering on the cross. You are His masterpiece, His workmanship.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Living with constancy among shifting shadows

2008-11-17T22:36:00.009+11:00

We live in a world that is so transient, things are always changing - fads, trends, technologies, the way we live life, moral values, stock market.. basically everything. In a year or less, we will see so much change that perhaps in the centuries past people saw in their lifetime. How do we maintain our stability in our lives when everything is changing like shifting shadows around us?
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
The Bible says that our God is One who does not change like shifting shadows. Just like how children feel secure with parents of consistent behaviour, we too can feel secure knowing that the God we worship is constant and unchanging! Let us look at some unchanging immutable charcateristics of God!

God is unchanging in His character: God is always present; His knowledge is always complete; His power is always unlimited. His justice is unchanging, for He is righteous in everything He does. He requires holiness of his people because He Himself is always holy. The Bible affirms that God is good, that His faithfulness endures to all generations and that He loves His children with an everlasting (immutable) love and He continually pours out his mercy upon humankind.
Malachi 3:6
I the LORD do not change.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last because He is unchanging!

God is unchanging in His purpose: Just as God's nature is immutable, so are His plans and purposes. The Lord has promised to bring people into relationship with himself. In the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we see the fulfillment of this plan so that people have a way to come back into relationship with Christ. The Lord’s unchanging purposes are also personal.
Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of Your hands.
While we are free to make choices, God still accomplishes His own intentions and can work out all circumstances for our good according to His purposes!
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

God is unchanging in His promises:God’s nature is consistent, it follows that His promises are also consistent as He does not break his word. Rather, his immutability necessitates fulfillment of His promises.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
2 Corinthians 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

How do you feel when situations around you change? Do not be afraid, instead trust in Him and rest in His constancy as He is unchanging. Rely on His Unchanging Character, Purpose and Promises! Let Him be the Everlasting Rock upon whom you can stand! The better we know Him as the immutable God, the more we shall be able to trust Him and hold on to Him for stability and strength when everything around us is changing.
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Fitting God in or Fitting into God?

2008-11-16T21:37:00.006+11:00

Very often we try fitting God into our life and busy schedules by doing our customary bit by attending church, perhaps even attend a fellowship, serve and even maybe read the Bible and pray where possible. The real centre and focus on our lives still continues to revolve around around our priorities, our schedules and our conveniences, postpoing the call of God in our lives. When we live like this continually, we can easily become frustrated and disillusioned and we wonder why we don't experience God in a fuller measure in ou rlives. We need to understand that God is too big for Him to just fit into our lives. We can only live a life of full measure and be satisfied, if we learn instead to fit into Him and give Him the first place and allow Him to dictate our priorities!

This was a similar predicament that Haggai faced. The Jews has just returned from exile from Babylon to Jerusalem and they wanted to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. They faced some opposition and instead of pressing forward, they became discouraged and gave in to disillusionment and abandonment of the call of God. They instead foucssed their lives and energy on themselves, their own interests and building comfortable houses and settling down forgetting the bigger call of God. In such a contect, God had a message for His people through the prophet Haggai:
Haggai 1:2-8
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.' " Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD.

If we really want the pleasure of God in our lives, we need to put Him first and fit into Him and His plans for us. We are so often like the people in Haggai's time - we are not overtly saying 'No' to God's work and His plans for us, instead we just postpone it as we do not have the time or the convenience to focus on Him now. We instead focus on ourselves and our priorities. We need to understand that we are missing out on God's best for us and settling on less when we don't honor God and please Him. When we put God's kingdom and His work first, He promises to look after every aspect of our lives!
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Matthew 6:30b-33
...O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I believe God's message to Haggai is the same to us today - He wants us to consider our ways. Are you fitting God into your life where possible and living below what God has for us or are we fitting into Him giving Him the first priority? It is time to evaluate your life and rearrange your priorities. When the Jewish people rebuilt the temple of God, they could see the glory of God and they felt His pleasure. Consider Him and live your life so that you feel His pleasure!

Taming the Tongue

2008-11-12T20:40:00.004+11:00

We live in a culture that considers it 'cool' to swear and use strong colorful language. Perhaps for most Christians, this is not a real problem. However, there is a more subtle way of how we use our tongue and this could be tiny white lie, a little insinuation, a clever belittling retort, a small bit of information and so on. The tongue has the power of life and death(Provers 18:21a), and we can use this God given ability for good or harm.
James 3:5-8
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

The Bible says that it is important to use the power of the tongue for good if it were to go well with us.
Psalm 34:12-13
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
We need to be purposeful in our conversation and speak carefully chosen words that will not only produce victory and blessing in our own life but in the lives of others as well. Our words have power as demonstrated by how Jesus used his mouth to curse a fig tree that failed to produce its fruit in season and how Jesus used his words on many occasions to heal and forgive. As a rudder controls the direction of a ship, our tongue controls the direction of our life. We are our own prophets - what we say today impacts our tomorrow! So it is important to confess the blessings and promises from the Word of God over our life than give in to negative self-talk. The Word of God is Spirit and Life and these words will guide us!
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Jesus made the clear connection between the heart and the mouth. Basically Jesus said, GIGO - Garbage in, Garbage out. If we are to speak more wholesomely, there is no substitute than to put in more of God's words into our hearts.
Matthew 12:34b-37
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
When we do this, our conversation will be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, and we will know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:6).
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

How do you use your tongue - as intruments for good or evil? Remember that the Lord has given you the ability to talk so that you can declare His promises and blesings over your life and those of others. Confess any talk that is negative, coarse, harmful or bends the truth and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to speak wholesome words as you feed on His word.
Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Overcoming a Critical Spirit

2008-11-09T15:31:00.004+11:00

It is very easy to see the faults in others and even criticize them for it than to see our own faults and accept it. It is very important to understand that a critical spirit hinders our faith and can even block the power of God being demonstrated in our own lives as we end up condemning ourselves when we condemn others.
Matthew 7:1-5
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Romans 1:2
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

A critical spirit is negative, willing to condemn, criticize and tear down a person and is likely due to pride or self-righteousness or unforgiveness. A critical spirit imitates Satan, the accuser. This is exactly what the the Pharisees and onlookers were like when a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus. Jesus asked those who did not have any sin to cast the first stone against her and no one did!
John 8:7-11
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

We need to realise that just like us, others are also a Work in Progress and God has not finished with all of us yet. We need to strive to be a positive witness for Christ who came not to condemn but to save the world. Jesus, the rightful Judge Himself is always positive and restorative and we need to reflect Him! What then is the cure for a critical spirit? It is Grace. We need to reflect on the grace God has bestowed on us, setting us free when we deserved judgement and death. We need to give this grace to others and extend the mercy we ourselves have received.
Matthew 10:8b
Freely you have received, freely give.
James 2:12-13
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Are you a fault finder? If you are reflect on why you are one. Confess your sin before God and accept His grace in your life and pass it on to others! Overcome by doing good to them practically and praying for them! Get rid of the critical spirit so that you can live freely without condemnation ourselves.

Self-Control..

2008-11-09T12:39:00.007+11:00

Self-control is not something we hear outside of the Christian circle. We live in a culture that prods us to be indulgent and to fulfill our every whim and fancy while we celebrate ourselves. The only time self-control is popular is with regard to dieting and exercise to have a great physical image. Is this the kind of self-control that God wants us to exercise? Yes, maybe as God does not want to be gluttons who do not look after our physical being. However, the message of self-control in the Bible is more than that - it is to say 'Yes' to God and 'No' to anything that hinders us from walking closely with God.

When viewed by the world, self-control, especially when linked with self-denial and self-sacrifice seems to be essentially negative. However, when confronted with a true understanding of what human nature produces, we can see that the fruits of self-control are entirely positive. Lack of self-control is destructive as a person without self-control has no rule over themselves and is defenceless and is controlled by externals.
Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
The greek word for self-control includes the notions of having good sense, sober wisdom, moderation, and soundness of mind in addition to controlling our passions and apetites. Paul urges us to lay aside every 'weight' that hinders us from running the race that God has set for us. Self-control includes even throwing off 'weights' from our lives that are time and mind consuming, not necessarily sin by themselves but that which prevents us from running light and with vigour the full length and course that God has called us to.
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Self control is absolutely essential if we are achieve our potential.

Self-control is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. Self-control is not produced by our will and determination alone but it is achieved by obeying and living in co-operation with the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25
..the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us so that we can live as over-comers and God pleasers, sober and sensible, not as people who are defeated and controlled by externals and living with blind passion and governed by the flesh. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can fan into flame this gift!
2 Timothy 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

What are the areas in your life where you think you could do with more self-control and discipline? Bring them to the Lord in prayer and rely and co-operate with the Holy Spirit to help you overcome these and live a life of discipline. Remember that a life of self control is saying 'Yes' to God and will help you live to the highest calling and purpose that God has for you. Why settle for less when God wants the best for you?

Appreciation of Life

2008-11-06T20:03:00.005+11:00

A new driver for an interstate trucking company was having a difficult time. He found the long cross-country trips extremely tiring. The older driver who traveled with him, however, seemed to thrive on those long trips. He always seemed to look as fresh at the end of the ride as he did at the beginning. One day, the young man asked the older what his secret was. “Well, it’s really all in the way you look at it,” he replied. “While you went to work this morning, I went for a ride through the country.” Isn't that amazing? Just the focus and appreciation that we have on the same situation, can change our perspective and our experience! That is why the Bible says:
Proverbs 15:15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Cheerfulness is hard especially in this world when life is full of disappointments, frustrations and difficulties. However, the Bible says that though a righteous man will have troubles, the Lord will deliver him!
Psalm 34:19
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
John 16:33
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
How we look at the troubles we face makes all the difference in the world! If we focus only the problems and create a mountain out of a molehill and have an attitude of despair, we are only compounding our problems. If we instead put on an attitude of cheerfulness with the knowledge and expectation that God will intervene on our behalf and deliver us, we are choosing to appreciate life and enjoy it, no matter what!

If we reflect on the reasons why difficulties occur to a righteous person, it is mostly for one of these reasons - that God may be glorified, to perfect our faith and character, to correct our sinful ways or as a consequence of our foolishness for bad choices. If we consider these wisely, they are all for our benefit even if it is not comfortable! God's glory should be our constant goal; growth in faith and character is a great blessing; correction is proof of God's love for us and is for our profit; and consequences from foolish choices drive us to wisdom. So we can lift up our heart and rejoice! That is what Paul was able to do when he was afflicted - able to be cheerful and rejoice!
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

What are you worried about that is robbing you of your appreciation of life? Get your perspective right! Remember that God is your future and there is no future greater than that! What's even better - there are benefits from all the troubles that we face and God will deliver us from it all for His glory! Choose an attitude of cheerfulness over despair and change your perspective and live a full abundant life rather a defeated life! The kind of life you have is your choice...
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Purpose in the Storm

2008-10-31T23:23:00.008+11:00

There is pretty much nobody who has not faced problems or pain or one kind or another. We see it in our own lives, in the lives of others and in the world. If we are going through tough times, it helps to know why, and what we should do when we are in them. If not we can become frustrated and disillusioned. In King David's life, we see the dificulties he faces time after time and yet we see David still trust and obey God through it all. While problems and pain are the result of a fallen world, God uses these opportunities to develop us. However, it really depends on us - whether we co-operate with God and allow adversities to shape and build us or allow the difficulties and circumstances to overcome us.

God uses problems for various purposes. Here is a look at some of them:
- For Direction
Sometimes God must light a fire under us to get us moving! Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change.
- For Introspection
There is a saying that people are like teabags, you drop them in hot water to see what they are made of! Problems should help us to introspect - to see the strength of our character and to produce patience and even joy despite circumstances.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- For Correction
God uses problems to correct us. We sometimes are able to reach out to God and listen to Him and correct our course when in pain.
Psalm 119:71
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

- For our Protection
A problem can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. In Joseph's life, we see how God used the problems that he faced to take him to a place so that he could be a blessing to an entire nation!
Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
- For Perfection
God ultimate aim is to perfect us, to be like Christ. God is not as much concerned about our comfort as He is about us our character.
Romans 5:3-5
..but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

How do you see the storms that you face - as opportunities for growth and betterment or as a crisis and setback? Reflect on how God can use adversity to shape your life and learn to find joy and comfort in the midst of the problem and gleen the lessons of maturity that God wants to impart to you. Life is full of problem solving opportunities and if we co-operate with God, we will come out stronger and better for it!
Romans 8:28
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

So near yet so far...

2008-10-31T22:50:00.008+11:00

It is quite well known that for most Christians there is a big knowing - doing gap. We all know far more than we ever put to practice. Yet we run around, trying to listen to the messages of the greatest preachers trying to gain more knowledge. We can be in church and surrounded by truth and yet let the truth have no impact in our own lives. Truth needs to be put into action for it to change our lives. There are sad consequences when truth is not applied personally as can be seen in the lives of Gehazi and also that of Ananias and Sapphira.

Let us look at the tragedy of not applying truth in one's own life from the life of Gehazi, a servant of Elisha. Elisha had cured Namaan of leprosy and sent him on his way taking nothing in return for the healing. Gehazi on seeing that Elisha took no gift followed Namaan and asked for a gift lying that it was not for himself but for two other visiting ministry of prophets. Here is what happened when Elisha questioned Gehazi on his return.
2 Kings 5:25-27
Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. "Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. "Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.

This is so similar to what happened with Ananias and Sapphira in the Book of Acts. They sold a piece of property and they agreed to keep back part of the money but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet lying to them that it was the whole money. Here is what Peter told Ananias.
Acts 1:3-4
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
Ananias heard this and dropped dead. Sapphira came in a little later and not knowing that Ananias was judged by God, lied that all of the money was brought to the apostles feet and she too died immediately and fear fell upon the whole church.

What is similar to Gehazi, and Ananias and Sapphira is that they lived in a context of truth, so near to the truth and yet so far from it themselves. They heard the ways of the Lord, they saw it applied in the lives of others so close to them and yet they chose not to apply it in their own lives. I believe that Gehazi, Ananias and Sapphira did not fall into greed on a particular day they chose to seek after money and lie to possess it, but they had made a habit of ignoring the still small voice of God and failed to practice truth in obedience. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we can ignore the voice of God and procrastinate our obedience to Him.

Are you applying the truth that you know in your life? Do you know more than you practise? Bridge the knowing - doing gap and learn to apply truth in obedience. Not applying the truth but professing the faith might deceive a few people but never God.
Luke 11:28
He (Jesus) replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

I am not ashamed of the Gospel

2008-10-30T21:52:00.007+11:00

Have you ever felt ashamed of the Gospel? The world does not value the Gospel - the good news that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and the world mocks at the things we believe considering it religious mumbo jumbo, a fairy tale and even thinking that we are believing something that is not true to use as a crutch for our weakness. To the world, a crucified Savior is obviously an oxymoron, a contradiction and is foolishness. The Gospel message is a counter intuitive message - a message that does not come from our wisdom but God's.
1 Corinthians 1:18-21
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

What we need to understand is that we did not come to the knowledge of Christ through our own understanding or wisdom but through Christ's power working in us. The problem is that human beings want to be seen as self-sufficient, independent, able to take care of themselves and do not want to be seen as weak, as needing someone outside of themselves to save them. Paul tells us that he is not ashamed of the gospel message because it is the power of salvation for those who believe!
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Paul faced a situation when people were deserting the faith because they were ashamed of the Gospel. Paul is in prison and under fire because the government sees him preaching a new heresy about a different king. He writes to Timothy to continue in the faith and not to be ashamed of the suffering that comes with following the Gospel because we have believed in the person of Christ who is our salvation prepared for us even before the beginning of time!
2 Timothy 1:8-10,12b
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel..... Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Do you feel ashamed of the Gospel especially that is contrary to the world's wisdom? You are right, it is contrary to the world's wisdom and rightly so because it is God's wisdom and power. So there is no need to feel ashamed. Be bold because your faith is based on the person of the Jesus Christ.

Our image of God

2008-10-29T22:24:00.013+11:00

Most of us probably have known people who are demanding, who always seem to want more than they give. We feel manipulated to be in such relationships and come away after each encounter feeling drained. Sometimes we can be demanding and manipulative in our relationship with God. We can treat God like a giant cosmic vending machine or even as a fool proof insurance policy. We expect God to pander to our every request and when things don't go our way, wonder why God is not concerned about us!

If we consider God to be a giant vending machine, then prayer is our currency. We think God will answer every prayer and we only need ask. If God answered every prayer, what a disaster this world would be! He knows better than we do.
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We need to understand that God is sovereign, omniscient and He knows what is best and has our best interests in His heart, even more than we do! Sometimes, He answers, “No,” just as a good parent does. When our prayers are not answered the way we expect it, we need to understand that God has not disappointed us, but the image of God that we have has disappointed us.

Another image that we can have of God is that of God as a fail proof insurance policy. We think that we just need to go to church, tithe, pray everyday and as long as we do what a good Christian will do, that God owes us to keep us out of trouble. Another image that we can have is of God as a Superhero who will swoop down and rescue us in the nick of time when we are in trouble. Though there is an element of truth in each of these characters, just building our image of God solely on any of these images, is setting us for disappointment. We need to understand that God is always there for us - through the bad and the good times, in the stable times and the storm, in the joy and the pain.
Hebrews 13:5
...God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Matthew 28:20b
..."And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
At no time has God left us to our own devices. At no time have we been forsaken. God has always been present, whether we felt God or not. In short, God has never disappointed us but only our image of God has.

Are you disappointed with God? Reflect on what your image of God has been. If you have been thinking of God as a vending machine, an insurance policy or a SuperHero - you have set yourself up for disappointment. God is there for you, He knows what is best for you. Reflect on God's answer to Job when Job was disappointed with the image of God he had in his mind.
Job 38:3-11
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? "Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'? .... (read Job 38:42)
Correct yourself like how Job corrected himself and have a real understanding of who He is.
Job 42:3,5-6
Then Job replied to the LORD : "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.... My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

Am I my Brother's Keeper?

2008-10-29T22:10:00.006+11:00

Perhaps one of the most poignant questions asked in the Bible is when Cain asks the Lord "Am I my brother's keeper?". This was in response to the Lord's question as to where was his brother Abel.
Genesis 4:8-9
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field.". And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
This is a question we would do well to ask ourselves today. Cain's attaitude was bad and ours may be the same too. Are we our brother's keeper? Do we have a responsibility to watch out for and care for one another?

The Bible says that we are to love our brothers and even our enemies. The Bible clearly tells us that love is to be demonstrated - through action, through works. It is not enough to have a fluffy warm feeling in our heart and just pray, but love is to be demonstrated.
1 John 3:11-12,16-17
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.
1 John 3:16-17
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

We are not to be our brothers' keeper for the proverbial pat on the back, or for that medal, or for any other recognition or egotistic reward. We are to bless and help our brother in need, because we love them.
1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
We love because He first loved us and while we were still sinners, died for us. If we refuse to help our brother in need, the Bible tells us that God's love is not in us.
1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Our love for God is to be demonstrated by our love for His people.

Are you your brother's keeper? Yes, you are. God will hold you accountable for the people around you, those you could have helped. Our relationship with Christ is not just a personal relationship but also a social and communal one. We are in grave danger of living as an hyper-individualistic Christian if we forget that we are our brother's keeper.

Guarding our Minds

2008-10-27T21:08:00.009+11:00

Have you seen an icicle form? Dripping water when frozen, one drop at a time, results in an icicle. If the water is clean, the icicle is clear and sparkles brightly in the sun; but if the water is even slightly muddy, the icicle is cloudy and its beauty spoiled. Our character is formed in like manner. Each thought or decision we make adds its influence and contributes its part. Everything we allow into our minds and souls - impressions, experiences, images - helps create our character. At all times, we must be aware of the "droplets" we allow to drip into our lives. That is why Jesus warns us to be careful of what is in our hearts and minds.
Matthew 15:19
"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Solomon advises us to "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).. In other words, it means "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." The heart is the starting point of the activities of life; it determines the course of life. We have the duty of guarding our hearts and minds. The eyes and ears are the gateway into what enters our minds and we need to be careful to what we take in through these two senses and also what we say with our mouths as it is powerful. We cannot open our lives to every influence but we need to discern between the good and the bad and train ourselves to be Godly.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

The Psalmist says that I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me (Psalm 101:3). This means that we should be careful of what we watch with our eyes - even television and movies. Are we exposing ourselves to wickedness daily and deceiving ourselves into thinking that it is not reality? Jesus says that the eyes is the lamp of the body!
Matthew 6:22-23
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
The Word of God says that faith comes from hearing (Romans 10:17). What are we listening to - the words of Christ or the words of the world? We need to hide God's word in our hearts so that we do not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).

Are you guarding your mind or do you let every whim of thought and imagery into your mind? Remember that what you think determines the course of your life. Choose to spend your time wisely and meditate on God's word and exercise Godliness and you are choosing a whole life.
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Silence of the Lamb

2008-10-26T14:42:00.004+11:00

Have you ever been accused falsely? Perhaps like me, you have also experienced that the motivation to defend and speak out for ourselves is very strong under such circumstances. Let us look at Jesus, who was falsely accused and evidence falsely fabricated against. The intent of the accusers was not to know the Truth but to get their will done which was to crucify Jesus. In the midst of all the false accusations, Jesus remained silent. The only time Jesus answered anything was when He was asked who He was. Jesus could not deny Himself, His own identity.
Mark 14:55-62
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " Yet even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?". "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Jesus had come to fulfill a mission - to pave a way through His subsitutional death for us to reconcile man to God. He could have answered His accusers and not taken the path of the cross but He did not choose that path because He had us in His mind and wanted to save us. He fulfilled the prophecy that Isaiah made - that as a sheep before her shearers, Christ will be silent as He is led to His sacrificial slaughter.
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
We wonder and marvel and find it difficult to accept Jesus' silence because it is not easy to accept our own weakness and our own suffering and to forfeit our control if we are silent.

Scripture teaches us that if God is our portion, then we need to wait in silence for His salvation! Our rebuttal and vengeance in such situations will show our lack of trust in God. When we retaliate, we forfeit the blessing and reward that suffering is meant to bring. It shows that we lack the confidence we ought to have in God's ability to make things right in His own time, which will include clearing our name and bringing all things to light.
Lamentations 3:24-26
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Peter too clearly says that we are to model Christ in this aspect, especially when we are falsely accused.
1 Peter 2:19-23
For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Are you currently going through a situation where you are wrongly accused? Do you feel compelled to talk to others or confront others so that your name is cleared? Reflect on Jesus' silence when He was accused falsely and ask God to give you wisdom to know whether you need to wait quietly and trust in Him instead of taking the matter into your own hands.

Broken and Poured Out - Wasteful or Beautiful?

2008-10-22T22:26:00.008+11:00

As Christians, one of the sacraments we celebrate as a community is the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus at the last Passover dinner he had with his disciples the day before he was crucified. He was pointing to the disciples that He was going to die as a sacrifical Lamb, as a perfect offering for the sins of the world. His broken Body was to be represented by the bread and His innocent blood that would be poured out was to be represented by the wine. Jesus' loving sacrifical act as our substitute through His broken body and poured blood paved the way for humankind to be reconciled back to God and to freed from the hold of sin and death!
Mark 14:22-25
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."

In our lives, we often don't like being in a broken state and wonder what good can come out of a state of brokenness. When we reflect on Jesus's death on the cross - His broken body and poured out blood, we realise that it was a beautiful noble thing! The lady who annointed Jesus prior to His death with the expensive perfume clearly understood this. That is why, she had no problem breaking the beautiful alabaster jar to pour out the perfume which was worth a year's wages and anoint Jesus with it! While many questioned her act as wasteful, Jesus commended her heart and said it was a beautiful act!
Mark 14:3-6
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.."

To be broken and then poured out is the secret of spreading the fragrance of the Lord through our lives. Many a time we can't be poured out and be effective because we are not willing to be broken. Each one of us has 'perfume'- the presence of the Holy Spirit inside our jars of clay. Our inner jar of selfishness and self-centredness must be broken, if the sweet fragrance of the perfume is to be released and poured out. This brokenness can be the result of repentance from sin, the acceptance of circumstances in our lives like hardship or the willingness to offer to the Lord that which is very dear to us inorder to obey Him. The result will be that a sweet aroma will flow into our own souls and through it to people around us because it is Christ's life at work in us!
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

What are the hardships and brokenness in your own life? Take heart and be encouraged today as a state of brokenness is not a wasteful thing but a beautiful thing in the Lord's hands! He will use it to allow His fragrance to be poured out through you.
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

The Race of Life

2008-10-20T21:58:00.006+11:00

It is important not just to start but to finish well! in the Bible, Christians are likened to athletes - more marathon runners rather than sprinters and definitely not as people going for a stroll in the park! There is something that marathon runners need to finish the race and that is perseverance or endurance! Today, I am encouraged from Hebrews chapter 12. Let me share a few thoughts from these incredible verses!
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We are encouraged by God to throw off everything that hinders us from completing the race. As we run the race, we are surrounded and encouraged not only by God but also by all the faithful witnesses who have gone before us! If we were to view life as lived out for God's glory, what do you think are some of the distractions that come before you? Pre-occupation or living in the grip of past sins and patterns, daily temptations that face us, anxieties of life and the lure of wordly fame and wealth and success will be certainly some of the things we can run towards instead of running the real race!

If we were to watch a marathon race on television and see a few runners just going off on a different route rather than towards the finish line, would not we laugh and pity them? But that's exactly what we sometimes do! We get distracted and instead of running towards Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith we run after the little distractions. The only way we will continue to run the endurance race of life in the right direction is we fix our eyes on Jesus and look to Him for guidance along the way and live based on His wisdom and His ways!
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Running an endurance event is not easy because we can just get discouraged and weary. Thankfully, we do not have a God who is at the finish line but we have a God who too ran the race of human life! He understands and sympathizes with our weaknesses and endured all the pain and suffering and even overcame all the distractions that entangles us!
Hebrews 4:16-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
When we consider Him, really reflect on Him as our example, we too can run with passion and determination, being confident that we too can finish well!

How are you running the race of life - as a sprint, marathon or a stroll in the park? What is the goal or finish line for you? If it is anything other than eternity and Jesus Christ, then most likely you are satisfied with the little distractions rather than the True Signifance and Meaning of life. How is your heart as your run? You are in a race, don't sit down or turn back but instead run with endurance. If you are weary and discouraged, consider Him who ran the same race on the same road as you and you will be encouraged to finish well and meet Him at the finish line!
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Down the Via Dolorosa

2008-10-19T22:32:00.002+11:00

Via Dolorosa (Latin for "Way of Grief") is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem. Traditionally, it is held to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion, although this is uncertain. It is marked by nine of the fourteen Stations of the Cross. The last five stations are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is a focus of pilgrimage. Whereas the names of many roads in Jerusalem are translated into English, Hebrew, and Arabic for their signs, the name Via Dolorosa is used in all three languages. Sandi Patti sings an awesome song with that exact title. Here are some of the lyrics:
Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of
His love for you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

Crucifixtion on the cross signified the loss of everything, utter humiliation. Jesus did not die any death but was "given up for us all" in a very cruel and contemptible way.
Galatians 3:13-14
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Here Paul quotes from Deuteronomy explaining that Christ Himself bore the curse which was ours to bear. Man deserves to die because He doesn’t measure up to God’s holiness, yet Christ bore upon Himself the curse which should have been ours along with the penalty of death. This is the significance of the cross, that our curse could be exchanged for an eternal blessing because Christ bore our curse by being hung on a tree.

Through the cross, we are given freedom:
- Freedom from the law
Romans 7:6 - But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
- Freedom from being slaves of sin and passions
Romans 6:6-7 - For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
- Freedom from being enslaved by death
Romans 8:1-2 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
- Freedom to overcome the world and the evil one
1 John 5:4-5 - For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
With this freedom, we are to be slaves of righteousness, slaves of Jesus Christ. He died for us so we may live for him (2 Cor. 5:14-15). This is how we should respond to the love of God shown to us in the cross of Christ.

When we consider the cross and all that Christ has done for us, we have to be encouraged and not grow weary and lose heart. Let us not sit on the sideline but instead take claim to the life that He has given to us!
Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Poverty - God's cry for Justice

2008-10-15T21:55:00.005+11:00

Today (Oct 15) is Blog Action day when bloggers all over the world unite to talk about one topic - Poverty. This is the reason for today's post. This is also something that is very close to God's heart. Throughout the Bible, God's cry has been that the poor and widow and the orphans are not left out but looked after. We first must love the Lord our God with our entire being. Then, we are equipped to pursue loving our neighbor as ourselves through the pursuit of social justice. Over and over the law instructs Israelites to remember the foreigner, the orphan and the widow — those most vulnerable to hunger and poverty.
Leviticus 23:22
When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.

Other laws provided for sharing one-tenth of the harvest with immigrants, orphans and widows (Deut 14:28-29), for lending at no interest to those in need (Ex 22:25), and for the cancellation of debts every seventh year (Deut 15:1-2). Every fiftieth year was to be a Year of Jubilee during which property was to be returned to the family of the original owner so as to prevent the concentration of wealth and make sure that each family had the means to feed itself. The prophets too picked up on this theme and cried for social justice.
Isaiah 10:1-3
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

Jesus when He walked the earth ministered to the bottom and most vulnerable people in the social pyramid. Jesus made it clear that when we minister to hingry or the sick or the stranger, we are really ministering to Him.
Matthew 25:37-40
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? hen did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'. The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Social justice is the necessary extension of a true relationship with God as revealed through Jesus Christ. Through discipleship with Jesus, we receive the divine mandate to oppose structural sin and oppression and are given the sustenance of the Holy Spirit to do so.
Romans 15:26
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

How is your heart towards the poor and needy? Are you moved into action to help those who are not as fortunate as you? It is important that we do our part and be the good Samaritan for the needy around us and stand up against structural sin in the community we live in.
James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Let us not be deceived into thinking that we are walking in God's righteousness if we turn a blind eye to the needy...
Isaiah 58:6-10
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Freedom from sin in Christ!

2008-10-11T14:17:00.005+11:00

Sometimes we can feel that we are unable to get out of a bad habit or sin. We can feel that there is only wickedness in us and that we are always confessing sin but going back to doing it all over again and feel like sin has mastery over us. Is that true that even Paul struggled with this after he became a Christian when he says?
Romans 7:18-20
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Paul here is talking about the life before Christ when sin has mastery over us. He is presenting a case for life before Christ when we live as slaves to sin and says that we are wreteched to live this way. But there is a solution for sin through Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:21-25
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Yes, thanks be to Christ who has broken the mastery of sin over us! Paul expounds in Romans that our old self was crucified with Christ and therefore sin and death have no mastery over us! In fact, we are dead to sin!
Romans 6:6-10
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Yes we are dead to sin! However, it does not mean that we no longer sin at all. Even after we become new people in Christ, we still sin once in a while and we still need to confess those sins. A new person who is in Jesus Christ and who has a change of heart is not a "slave to sin". There is a difference.

What sin are you struggling with? Now, reflect on what is your theology? Are you holding onto the verses where Paul states that he struggled with sin, as a basis for your sinfulness without realising that Paul was talking about life before Christ? Jesus Christ has set you free and you are no longer a slave of sin! Ask God to help you understand the freedom He has given you and walk free from sin!
John 8:31-36
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

You have got mail!

2008-10-08T19:54:00.007+11:00

We all receive so much mail and it is hard to keep up and respond. In this world of over-communication like email, sms, facebook messages etc, it becomes difficult to pick up our mail from God! Yes, mail from God! God sends us mail or rather messages all the time, in various ways and it is upto us to pick them up. He is a gentleman and is never loud.. but He always communicates because we are His beloved.

God communicates to us through nature, through everything He has created for us. The psalmist, King David said "When I look at your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you created - who are we that you should be mindful of us, that you should care for us?" - Psalm 8:1-91.
Paul also records that God has revealed His presence and power through nature.
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
C.S. Lewis stated that God has chosen to use nature to allow us to connect, if only in a limited way, with the glory of God - "Nature is only the image, the symbol; but it is the symbol Scripture invites me to use. We are summoned to pass in through Nature, beyond her, into that splendour which she fitfully reflects."

Yes, God has communicated to man beyond nature. He has been constantly speaking to man through His prophets and He also spoken through His son Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-3
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
It is God's nature to communicate but due to our fallen nature, it is difficult to perceive God's voice as He speaks to us in His small still voice....

There are ways to hear His still small voice. Here are some of them:
-- Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
-- The Holy Spirit speaking to our heart: Hebrews 8:10-11 - This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
-- Godly counsel: Proverbs 11:14 - For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
-- The peace of God: Colossians 3:15 - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace...
-- Circumstances and God's Timing: Acts 18:1-3 - After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Circumstances led Paul to meet with Aquila and Priscilla and they partnered with Paul in spreading the Gospel.

God is speaking to you. Even as you pick up all your mails and messages, are you picking up the messages that He has left you. Pray that you hear His voice clearly...Seek Him and you will find Him!

Easy to get along

2008-10-06T20:49:00.004+11:00

I guess all of us can agree that it is easier to show kindness to people who are kind than who are not. The truth is that kindness is to be extended to all people, not just those who deserve it, else it is not kindness! God extended His kindness to us by loving us and not condemning us.. It is this goodness and long suffering patience of God that caused us to repent.
Romans 2:4
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

How much more then do we need to show kindness to people around us even though they may not deserve it? We can reflect the goodness and mercy of God when we do not treat people as they deserve but display kindness. We need kindness if we are to be easy to get along with and live at peace with others.
Romans 12:14-19
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

The Lord says that payment comes from Him. God will not only take care of our enemies but also of us! When we try and take matters in our own hands and repay people in unkindness, then we will reap the same and we limit God from working in our lives. The Bible says that He will give us double honor if we let God take care of our shame and disgrace!
Isaiah 61:7
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.

Are you the sort who is easy to get along with and showing kindness to all even though they may not deserve it? Reflect on God's unconditional loving kindness and mercy towards you and you will be moved to reflect His love and mercy to others even if you may not initially feel like it. Don't take matters in your hands when you have God who wants to take care of evreything for you - including your hurts.. to turn them into everlasting joy!
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do?

2008-10-02T21:20:00.008+10:00

The world is much smaller than ever before and travelling and changing or acquiring new citizenships are much more common than ever before in history. The world says "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". But is that how we are called to live? We were born as citizens of this world and the Bible tells us that following the ways of this world and living according to our sinful nature will bring God's wrath.
Ephesians 2:1-3
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

As Christians, we are reminded that we are pilgrims passing through this world and our final and lasting citizenship is in Heaven! We need not live as a slave to our sinful nature as it has been conquered by Christ. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to live as citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom!
Philippians 3:18-21
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

If we are living with the perspective that we are just earthly citizens, then our mind is set on earthly things. Like the rich fool of Luke 12 in Jesus' parable, you would believe that life consists in the abundance of the things that we have in this life and look for satisfying our lust and greed for wealth, success or image. If we live with the perspective that we are citizens of heaven, then we are not so enamored by the world but by what is eternal and we pursue God and all the values that His kingdom represents and this will bring us life and peace.
Romans 8:5-6
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

"Everyone may do what he wants so long as he doesn't hurt anyone else." That would be the code of a citizen of this world. What is the code that you are living under - as a mere citizen of the world or as a citizen of heaven? Remember that you are called and purchased by the blood of Christ and it is far better for us to live as citizens of heaven than doing everything that the Romans do when in Rome.

Rock of Ages, Cleft for me

2008-09-30T21:49:00.005+10:00

Have you heard the old hymn Rock of Ages, Cleft for me?
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.
According to a famous story, Rev. Augustus Montague Toplady wrote this hymn when he was travelling along a gorge and was caught in a storm. Finding shelter in a gap in the gorge, he was struck by the title and scribbled down the initial lyrics.

Life is so much like that. There are storms we have to face everyday - they may not always be natural calamities but storms in financial markets, or our jobs or in our relationships. Whatever the nature of our storm, the Lord wants to let us know that He is our refuge and shelter and our ever present help. He is our rock, eternal and steadfast. We can have perfect peace if we learn to trust Him even in the midst of the storm.
Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

David was faced with many problems. As a young man, he was hunted down for his life by King Saul, someone whom he looked upto as a father figure. He faced heartache and was fleeing for his life everyday but he understood that he would be safe as long as he trusted in God, who was a rock higher than any problem or rock he would ever face.
Psalm 61:1-4
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

When faced with trials and tribulations, what do you do? Do you fear and hide within yourself? Or do you hide yourself in the Rock that is higher than you? Make God your hiding place and He will protect you and deliver you!
Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Food for thought?!

2008-09-28T22:02:00.007+10:00

What are we living for? If we are living to work so that we can have food to eat and earn our living, then we are totally missing the point for which Jesus came for. Life is far worth than just satisfying our apetities for food and material goods. We do not live so that we can eat nor do we eat so that we can live. Life is not meant to be lived as though we are consuming entities but it is meant to be lived in relation with God and people! This was evidenced from the way Jesus answered His tempter in the desert.
Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Well, here is more food for thought. Jesus when he ministered to the Samaritan woman, said that he would give her living water so that she would never thrist again. This is because Jesus realised that her hunger was far more than for food or drink. There is an interesting lesson that we can learn from the exchange between Jesus and his disciples when the disciples got back from buying some food while Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman. Here is a snippet:
John 4:27,31-34
Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" ... Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Here Jesus is saying that a fulfilled life can only be lived if the focus is to do will God's will rather than pandering to the apetite of the flesh.

What are you pursuing? If you are pursuing the temporal material things, you will never be satisfied. Jesus asks us to pursue Him if we want complete fulfillment.
John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
Food is a metaphor not just for nourishment but for real eternal fellowship. The invitation to join Jesus in an eternal relationship is given to you. Will you seek eternal spiritual food or settle only for the temporal?
Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Little Things Matter..

2008-09-26T09:24:00.007+10:00

All of us would like to increase our ability and resources and be all that we can be so that we can live to our maximum potential. One of the essential qualities that Jesus says inorder to achieve that is - faithfulness in little things. I for one hated it when I was chided by my parents for not putting back things in its proper place or not handling little things the way I should have but I have now appreciate the lesson that the way we handle small things matter...
Luke 16:10-12
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?"

Sometimes we think that we need not be faithful in little things as they do not really matter or that no one will ever notice the difference. If we think that when it comes to a big job or a big opportunity, then suddenly we will do the right thing and execute things faithfully, we are deceived. This is because sometimes we are so conditioned to cutting corners or doing things unfaithfully, we will fall into the same pattern whether it is important or not and others too will not trust us as we are not faithful. At other times, God will not entrust us with bigger opportunities as we are not faithful with the little.

Often being faithful in the little things is preparing us for the bigger things that God is waiting to entrust us with! This is clearly taught by Jesus in the parable of the talents as well:
Matthew 25:22-26a
"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant!"
Faithfulness means to be faithful all the time - not most of the time.

Are you trustworthy and reliable with the little things that God has entrusted you with? You can measure your faithfulness by reflecting on how you have handled tasks when no one is watching you, by the way you have handled someone else's possessions or even with what you do with your time and resources and treat other people. God wants you to stop deceiving yourself into thinking that small things do not matter.. they always do. God wants to entrust you with more but He wants to see how faithful you are with what you have now..
Matthew 24:45-47
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions."

Directions for Life

2008-09-25T23:01:00.004+10:00

Have you ever taken directions from anyone to get to a particular place? Let us suppose you were asked to take the first left, followed by the third right and then the second left to arrive at the destination. If the first turn you took was wrong, say for example, you took the first right instead of the first left but followed every direction after that correctly, do you know that you will not arrive at the correct destination? That's what God says about wisdom. True wisdom and understanding starts when we first come to God and know Him for who He is and that's why Solomon wrote the following famous proverb:
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

So if you are a Christian, we are atleast on the right path to wisdom as we know Him. But sometimes instead of letting God doing the leading, we decide to take the control. If we liken the Christian life to driving the car, we have Jesus in the car. The question is whether He has the full control at the front seat or are we the ones really in control telling God what He needs to do by being a back seat driver! An important truth we need to realise is that if God is providing directions for our lives, He needs to be in the front seat and in full control! Jesus is the shepherd, the good shepherd who knows what we need and will do everything to provide, protect, nurture and establish us! We just need to follow as His sheep.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

God desires to truly direct us each day. Like a shepherd who leads his sheep step by step, we can too get directions for each step from God's words. We need to spend time with the Good Shepherd to get wisdom, guidance so that we can prepared to do His will!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Be encouraged that if you are a Christian that you have access to God - the source of all wisdom and knowledge! Be also encouraged that God is our shepherd and He wants to lead us step by step. Are you as His sheep, listening for His voice everyday from His word and giving Him full control to lead you?
John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Be Passionate and Not Lukewarm!

2008-09-24T18:04:00.002+10:00

The recurring theme throughout all of the letters written by the senior devil named Screwtape to the novice devil Wormwood in the book "The Screwtape Letters" by the famous theologian C.S.Lewis, is to make Christians indifferent so that they are rendered ineffective for the kingdom. The devils in this satirical book were not trying to get Christians to do things that were outrightly evil but rather make them live in idleness and lukewarmth. Today, if we were to look at churches, fellowships and even our own lives, lack of passion and lukewarmness is a very real problem.

In the book of Revelation, Christ when speaking to the city of Laodicea, chided the Laodicean church for their lack of passion. Laodicea had the dubious distinction of having the dirtiest and foulest water supply in Asia Minor. Not only that, but the water was tepid - neither hot nor cold. Christ therefore compared their spiritual state to the water supply of that city.
Revelation 3:15-16
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

The bottom line is that God wants us to be fired up. He wants us to be zealous, passionate, full of life and focussed. He does not want us to idle, standing in the sidelines but He desires our participation and involvement with passion! Jesus Himself fulfilled the prophecy that zeal for His Father's house will consume Him when he drove the monet changers out of the Temple of Jerusalem(Psalm 69:9).
John 2:13-17
Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

How would someone you know describe your Christian walk - as lukewarm or passionate? If you have been lukewarm, it is time to confess this sin and resolve to be passionate as Jesus was. We cannot be apathetic and half hearted about such a great salvation. Such a great salvation demands our life, our all - to be lived with passion! Let's move out from the sidelines from being mere observers and let us participate to lead an active, wholehearted and passionate Christian life!

The Potters Hand

2008-09-23T18:57:00.009+10:00

Throughout the Bible, we are likened to clay and to God as the potter fashioning us. Clay cannot be transformed without the potter. It takes the potter's skill, artistry, creativity and patience to create a unique piece. It takes the potter to apply just the right amount of pressure when and where it is needed. It takes the potter's hands! In Genesis, God tells us how he fashioned Adam from clay and then made Eve out of his side. God not only initially formed us and but wants to continue shaping our lives.

Clay has two defining characteristics: Firstly, it can be fashioned into a particular shape as it is moldable, pliable and totally submissive and can retain the shape it is cast into and secondly, when it is fired, its makeup is transformed, so it becomes nearly impervious to any decay or corrosion. Moreover, the clay has to be "turned" or "moved." No shaping takes place without movement.

Sometimes we can think of ourselves as marred or unredeemable. But in the below verse is a picture of God, reshaping us to to be the best. In order for God to do this, we need to be available to Him - totally yielded and allowing to be turned in His skillful hands! When we surrender ourselves to Christ, God can take our sins, shame and problems and spin them into a design that glorifies Him.
Jeremiah 18:1-6
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

As clay vessels, each of us must take a journey. The steps in this journey can be painful but are necessary for us to be transformed from broken bits of clay into anointed vessels that reflect the glory of the Lord.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

What is the reality of your life - as the clay in the Potters hand or as someone trying to direct your own life? Confess your sins and draw near to Him yielded and submissive so that God can shape your life into something beautiful!
Isaiah 64:8
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
In the words of the Hillsong song Potters Hand, make this your prayer:
Take me, mould me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand.

Be a Clear Reflection of Christ!

2008-09-21T12:44:00.011+10:00

Have you ever wondered why the truth of the gospel is not embraced by many? I think that one of the reasons that the gospel is not accepted is because our words are not supported by actions. When the words of the gospel are not reflected in our lives, we lack credibility and acceptance. Another reason is our fear, fear that causes us to communicate without conviction in what we believe. Let us have a look at the word to see what the Bible says to us to deal with these two specific issues.

James says that faith without action is dead. No one wants to follow a faith that is hollow, without substance. If we live a life that is coherant with what we preach, then naturally many will be attracted.
James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

John writes that perfect love casts out fear. We need to understand that God loves us inspite of everything we are and we could possibly do. So take the pressure of yourself because it is the Holy Spirit who will bring abut conviction.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
However, we can share the gospel with boldness and conviction because it is the truth.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

How is the gospel message that you share being received by your audience? Do you think that you need to improve your credibility by uniting your words with the way you live? Or is it fear that is robbing you of communicating the truth with conviction and love? Make a decision to deal with whatever area you are struggling with inorder to not be a stumbling block for others. Be a clear reflection of who Christ is so that many will come to the knowledge of Christ!

When the music fades...

2008-09-18T22:43:00.007+10:00

When we often think of worship, we mostly associate singing worship songs and playing music to the Lord. I love the lyrics from Matt Redman's worship song that echoes that music and singing is not the heart of worship but the heart of worship is really OUR HEART!
When the music fades, And all is stripped away
And I simply come, Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth, That will bless your heart
I'll bring You more than a song, For a song in itself
Is not what You have required, You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear, You're looking into my heart.

Since true worship is about God and not about us, what is it that He desires? Jesus taught on what worship is and He said that true worship is worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
John 4:21-14
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
What Jesus means is that worship is not an outward demonstration but an inner connection from our heart to God out of a real relationship with Him! True worship is a lifestyle borne out of a continual relationship with God and is not restricted to a place or time of day!

As someone said, "It's not the art, but the heart". Jesus warned us that worshipping without our heart right is being a hypocite.
Matthew 15:7
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men
David who was a great worshipper, understood that if he cherished sin in his heart that God would accept his worship.
Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened
Jesus also said all strife and sin originate from the heart.
Matthew 15:16b-18
Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'
If our heart is not right with God, we cannot worship in spirit and in truth. That is why we need to confess our sin and come back to God!
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

How is your worship - is it once a week affair when you go to church or is it a lifestyle reflecting and connecting with God every moment of every day? If there is something fundamentally wrong with the relationship, then nothing we can do externally will actually make up for that. God is not after the songs that we sing but He wants our hearts.. Confess all sin and have a close heart relationship with God. Then when the music fades, our worship not cease but always be present as it borne out of a close relationship with Him!

Dare to be Different

2008-09-16T21:53:00.010+10:00

We live in a time when the popular culture is so against everything we believe and stand for. How can we live a Godly life when the pressure of the culture asks us to conform? We have an example in Daniel who lived a Godly life in a secular culture. As a young man, Daniel was uprooted from his Jewish home and sent to Bablyon in the service of the Babylonian king. Even in a secular hostile culture, Daniel lived a Godly life and the principles he lived by can still be applied by us today!

In the king's palace Daniel decided not to partake the king's food and wine because it was not kosher and also maybe it was sacrified to the idols. Daniel resolved in his heart to not dilute his principles and the standard that God expected even though he was in a secular culture.
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
The official guards decided to let Daniel and his four friends to eat only vegetables for 10 days for a test and miraculously they were heathier and nourished than the rest of the young men!
Daniel 1:15-16
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

We see that God honored their resolve and provided a way for them to practice their faith even in a secular culture! In addition, to that God decided to honor their obedience and blessed them with wisdom and knowledge! Godly obedience always leads to distinction far above what the world can offer!
Daniel 1:17-20
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

How are you living in the midst of the secular culture around you? Are you compromising your faith and belief because it is too hard or are you taking a stand for Him? Remember, it is worth resolving in your heart to follow Him though the way is narrow and is against the popular stream. Dare to be different! Dare to be a Daniel! And God will surely bless your obedience and lift you up! Don't settle for the lowly worldy standards when the highest Godly distinction awaits you!

On an exciting adventurous journey..

2008-09-15T20:29:00.008+10:00

As little children, we were more adventurous. In my childhood, I grew up on a staple diet of Famous Five, the Five Findouters, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys! I loved the mysteries and adventures that the children in the story ran into and my friends and I were confident that we too will run into mysteries that needed solving and prepared ourselves with key skills like climbing trees, writing an invisible letter and trying to open a locked door! As adults due to life's pressures, we somehow pull back and expect to live without risks and surprises because we fear the unknown. However, in the Christian life, God wants us to have an exciting adventurous life - full of suspense and surprises but with a difference - with the Lord by our side!

With Christ by our side, we are free once again, free to dream and to go on an adventure. No matter the risks, the drama or the suspense - He always promises to come through and be at our side! We only need to trust in Him and not fear as He alone has our best interests in His mind, even more than we think we do!
Isaiah 43:1-3, 13
But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.... Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"

What should we do we be ready without fear and go on an adventurous journey? We can ask the Holy Spirit who lives in us to strengthen us from the unlimited resources of God and cast out fear!
Ephesians 3:14-16 (NLT)
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Confident trust in the Lord is the key we need to carry throughout the adventurous journey if we are to come out shining!
Hebrews 10:35,36 (NLT)
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

How are you looking at your life - as an exciting adventurous journey with God or a dull existence with things to do because it needs to be done? God wants your life to be an exciting adventure - not always comfortable but definitely rich with experiences of His faithfulness and grace coming through every unknown unexpected situation! Ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to strengthen your inner being and nurture your trust in the Lord as you live out His will in an adventurous life!

You are not alone

2008-09-10T20:37:00.006+10:00

There are times when we can be in a crowd and still feel lonely. There are times when we feel totally unnoticed and wish there was someone who understood who we really are and our heart. Sometimes it can feel like the whole world is against us. But this perception that we feel, is it really true?

During the time of Elisha, the kings of Aram and Israel were at war. But because God told Elisha where the Aramaens were, and Elisha told the king of Israel, the Israelites were always winning. The king of Aram decided to take action against Elisha and went and surrounded Elisha and when he woke up, he was surrounded by a huge army. Let us read the following verses to see what happened.
2 Kings 6:15-17
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Here we see that the Lord knew the situation that Elisha was, and Elisha had the confidence that he was not alone even when in the natural it seemed so.

The new testament also shows us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We are not insignificant or alone - we are more than noticed by the God and even a great cloud of witnesses, the heroes of faith!
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Are you feeling alone against the whole world? Be confident that the Lord is with you just like He was with Elisha! Rest in the promise that our God will never leave you nor forsake you and is with you to the ends of the earth.
Psalm 27:1-3
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

Make a Choice for Commitment

2008-09-08T19:29:00.010+10:00

God loves our whole hearted commitment to Him and He does not want us to be double minded. Until there is commitment, there is hesitancy and a chance to draw back. The Bible describes such a person as one who is tossed about, unsure of everything, not dependable and lacking direction.
James 1:6-8
...when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
On the other hand, when we are totally committed, we move ahead no matter what the circumstance and this is when God will break through and reveal Himself in that situation!

Let us look at the story of Daniel's three friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were in training in Babylon under King Nebucchadnezer. These Jewish youth were very committed to their God and refused to bow down to a golden idol that Nebucchadnezer had built even though there was an edict passed that said they will be thrown into the furnace. They were brought to the king and their commitment questioned.
Daniel 3:14
.. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
Even before the king, the three friends did not flinch. They were wholeheartedly committed and they were ready to be thrown to the fire because they knew the God they served was steadfast, faithful, dependable and responsible.
Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

We know how the story ended. God rescued the boys from the fire and God was glorified.
Daniel 3:25-28
He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
When there is commitment, we will be tried but when we stick to it, God is glorified and God will bless our lives to have lasting impact.

Someone said that there are three kinds of Christians - tow boat Christians, sail boat Christians and steam boat Christians. The tow boat Christians never go unless somebody drags them along. The sail boat Christians go in fair weather. The steam boat Christians go at all times. Which one are you? Are you committed whole heartedly? Or are you double minded? If you are wavering, what is your concept of God? If you truly know the love and commitment God has for you, you will make a choice of commitment.

Evergreen Romance

2008-09-04T21:58:00.005+10:00

How many of you love a great love story? My favourite ones are Darcy and Elizabeth in Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice" and also of Rhett Butler and Scarlet O' Hara in "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. Your heart aches as you go through the story and feel so much for the protagonists - both the man and the woman who are caught up in pride and prejudice and oblivious of the love in each other's heart. It is a similar story with God's love for us and I believe it is the best love story ever.

Before everything was created, God in His trinity was in perfect communion and love. Then God created the angels and invited them to His heart and home and one of them, Lucifer decided that he wanted to take centre stage and be the main character and rebelled against God. This broke God's heart. Inpsite of God's heartbreak, He decided to create man and woman with a free will to choose Him, so that He could commune with them and enjoy close commanionship and a deep romance.
Ephesians 1:4-6,12 (The Message)
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.....Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

Like an unfeeling callous spouse who sleeps with a stranger on a honeymoon, Adam and Eve spurned God's love for them and believed in Satan's lies that God is holding out on them though they had no reason to believe in that. Paradise was lost and God's heart was deeply wounded.
Isaiah 57:8
Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked on their nakedness.

Yet inspite of being rejected, God instead of abandoning us, decides to go all out and woo us back! He decides to bestow on us grace and the long love story of His pursuit of humanity begins and continues with the offer of His own life - life of His only Son to woo us back into a deep romance with Him.
Jeremiah 2:2, 23b, 24 ;31:3 (The Message)
I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown...What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? ....You are a swift she-camel running here and there, a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving— in her heat who can restrain her? ....
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Do you realise the love that God has for you? Do you realise that He is pursuing you endlessly with an everlasting evergreen love.... Only He could love you this way, so deeply. Don't break His heart again and spurn His love, return your love to Him and make this greatest love story a beautiful one. It is now upto you... give Him your love, your heart, your life, your all.

Abundant Full Life

2008-09-02T16:15:00.010+10:00

When someone asks us how we are doing, are you able to answer that you are living abundantly? Jesus said, He came so that we can have life, abundant full life, not an ordinary unsatisfying average life.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Paul tells us that he knows the secret to be content in every situation and not let the situation rob his life of fulness.
Philippians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
What is the secret to live the abundant life that Jesus promised and to be content in every situation?

An aspect we forget is that we are new creations and the past has gone and has no hold on us unless we allow it to.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Our God is a God who is "I AM" and can empower us for every present moment no matter what happened in the past. His mercies are new every morning! When we live in the past, we either believe that things were better in the past than now or that if things were wrong in the past, we tend to believe that the present too will follow the pattern of the past. We need to stop living in the past and anticipate God to work through in our present - every moment, everyday!

Another aspect that robs us of our present day abundant life is to expect God to act according to our expectations and timetables. When we do this, we feel as though we have missed out on things in our life and unconsciously blame God and not enjoy our fellowship with Him. When we rest in God's timetable, we can enjoy each moment of life without stressing out that it has all passed us by. We can go through life being joyful when others succeed because we know that God hasn't forgotten our desires and dreams. In His perfect timing, He will answer our prayers as we delight in Him.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Are you joyful and living an abundant life? If you are not, examine whether you are living in the past or expecting God to act according to your timetable instead of His. God knows how to give good things to you as His child. Trust in Him today for today and for all your tomorrows and live abundantly!
Luke 11:9-13
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

A Heart for the Lost

2008-09-01T19:04:00.003+10:00

We all know the story from the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament. Jonah was the prophet who was asked by God to go to the city of Nineveh and preach to them so that they turn away from their wickedness. But Jonah was against God's plan as he did not think the Assyrian Gentile city was worth preaching to and he ran away instead to Tarshish on a ship. While at sea, he was thrown into the sea to calm the storm when the others in the ship discovered that Jonah was running away from God in disobedience.

God provided for a whale to swallow him and vomit him on the shore after 3 days. God again commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and this time Jonah obeyed albeit reluctantly. The city of Nineveh repented on Jonah's preaching and they were saved from God's anger. However, Jonah was angry with God. He could not understand why God had saved the people of Nineveh, who were Assyrians and a powerful kingdom that could rise against Israel. In order to make Jonah understand, God provided a vine to provide shade for Jonah but a worm ate the whole vine the next day and Jonah was very concerned and angry about the vine. Here is what God told Jonah in response:
Jonah 4:10-11
But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

Sometimes we can be very self-righteous and inward looking, focussing on our own little "vines", our small world around us. However, God's focus is always bigger and His heart beats for everyone, especially the lost. Notice in the verse below the focus on the lost.
II Timothy 2:24-26
And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

What is the condition of your heart? Are you worried about only what concerns you or does your heart feel for the millions who are lost and dying in this world? It is very easy to condemn but it is more needful to rescue. Let us not get caught up in our own righteousness and fail to see the lost and dying world around us.

Trading your Sorrows

2008-08-31T18:02:00.005+10:00

Have you ever received an unbelievable bargain and wondered what's the catch? Compared to most bargains in this world, the most unbelievable, radical offer comes from Jesus. He offers to take all our sorrows, our shame in exchange for His joy and glory!
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

We all go through hard times, everyone of us. But we need not do it alone. When we give our pain and circumstances to God, He will make beauty out of ashes because that is God's speciality!
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Sorrow is short lived but joy is eternal. The Lord says that in His kingdom, there will be no more pain or suffering or tears.
Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
In the interim until the final consummation of His kingdom, He promises to be with us and make everything beautiful in His time!

The psalmist David took up God on his offer. He allowed God to take up his pain and sufering! He realised that God can turn our sorrows into joy.
Psalm 30:5b
Weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:11-12
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
That my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

What burdens are you carrying? Jesus has already made an unbelievable offer to you. There is no reason for not trading with Jesus as He is a man of His word and will keep His end of the offer! What are you waiting for? Trade your sorrows and come out singing with joy!
I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

Truth in Love

2008-08-29T16:40:00.005+10:00

Sometimes we avoid speaking the truth for fear of offending someone and causing them pain or hurt. Sometimes when we decide to speak the truth we do it without any love. Either of this is wrong and is detrimental to a relationship. We are exhorted to speak the truth of God in love and both the elements are equally important.
Ephesians 4:15,16
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The reason we are exhorted to speak the truth in love is because we belong to one another in Christ, we are part of the same body. Not speaking in truth is deception.

How can we speak to one another God's truth in love? Here are some aspects of how this can be achieved. Paul had to do this with the church he established in Thessalonica and we can learn some principles from Paul's approach in dealing with the problems the church faced.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 Paul spoke words of affirmation. He praised them for their faithfulness to the gospel even though they were Christians for a short time. We need to affirm people, because God does not condemn anyone.

Then Paul told them of the relationship he shared with them in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. Paul emphasized that he cared for them and that they had a relationship like a father to a child. Often if we do not have a relationship with the person, we do not earn the right to speak into their lives and we will look like we are interfering.

Once Paul had affirmed the Thessalonicans and emphasized the relationship they shared, he then went on in the subsequent chapters to tell them the truth - warning and admonishing them on the basis of their relationship. After he had this, he finally ends with encouragement to walk in the truth of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

How do you communicate to others? Are you always speaking the truth without love or are you avoiding to speak the truth thinking that it is love? Analyse your motive, is it to build and encourage one another in love? Let us, with the help of God, speak the truth and always in love because love is the heart of all relationships!

Jehovah Jireh

2008-08-27T20:58:00.007+10:00

Jehovah Jireh is a declaration that God is our Provider. Sometimes we walk around worrying and thinking that we are working and providing for ourselves. But God wants to remind us that everything we are, everything we have comes from Him. He is our provider. He knows what is best for us and provides us for in every way. It was God who recognised our need for Him and He provided Himself for us. How much more then can He provide for our day to day needs?
Phil 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Do you remember how the Lord provided for the Israelites after He rescued them from Egypt? He provided for them manna every morning and quail every evening.
Exodus 16:13-15
That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

Similarly God wants to remind us that we need not worry about things that we need and run after them. The Lord knows our need and He will provide for us!
Matthew 6:28-34
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Sometimes God puts us in situations so that we can rely and depend upon Him! As a little child rests secure in the knowledge that his parents will provide for all his needs, how much more should we be confident and rely on God's ability to provide for us! God tested Abraham. He told him to sacrifice Isaac, the only son he loved so greatly. One can almost feel the pain and confusion Abraham must have experienced. His heart ached, but he was faithful to God. He was determined he would use Isaac as a sacrifice. At the right moment, God told Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac and God provided the sacrifice instead - a lamb. God called Abraham to do the impossible - sacrifice his own son. When Abraham obeyed, then God made the provision for the sacrifice. Consequently, the Bible says` "Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh" (Genesis 22:14).

What are you worrying about today? Quit worrying and rely on God who knows your every need. He will surely provide and God wants you to experience Him as Jehovah Jireh!
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Unity and Harmony

2008-08-26T13:43:00.009+10:00

Have you enjoyed an orchestra performance? All the musicians have their instruments tuned and when they all play, its just magic. Even if one instrument is out of tune, then its not pleasant. It is exactly the same in the church. Each member is unique but there is an underlying unity brought about by the one Spirit who is in all of us.
I Cor 12:12,13
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

When there is disunity, there is discord. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that he was concerned for them because he could see a lot of problems that arose from disunity.
2 Cor 12:20
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

When each of us are tuned to Christ, then we will automatically be tuned to one another. When we humble ourselves just like Christ did and esteem one another, we will not give in to selfish interests but will maintain unity.
Philippians 2:1-4
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
When we realise that Christ died for each one of us and that each of are baptised by the same Spirit into one body, then we will strive to ensure that our differences of opinion do not hinder us from being unified with each other. We may not see eye to eye on everything with fellow believers but we do not allow petty differences to destroy our unity.

How are your relationships especially in the church? Are they marked by unity or would you have to admit that you need restoration? Confess any pride and selfishness that destroys unity. Let us strive together to be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and one mind so that we are one united church for Christ.
Psalm 133:1
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

Where are you?

2008-08-25T16:14:00.006+10:00

Have you ever tried to reach someone deperately and then when you get hold of them say "Where are you?" rather than "How are you?". I have done this so many times especially when I get hold of my husband after a lot of tries when he was probably locked away in a meeting. The "where are you" expressed here is a sense of deep longing and loss of not having contact. This is exactly the phrase and longing that God expressed when He could not find Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden just after they had sinned.
Genesis 3:8-9
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

Everyday upto the fall, God enjoyed close fellowship with Adam and Eve by going for walks together. After the fall, Adam and Eve hid from God and avoided contact with God. It broke God's heart and He came looking for Adam and Eve and longing for their company. It is the same today. God is longing for you and asking "Where are you?"! We should spend time with the Lord daily. Fellowship with God was one of the privileges of man before the fall. Jesus Christ gave His life so that our fellowship with God could be restored.
1 John 1:3
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Because of what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross, our shame has been dealt with and we can come boldly before God because we are now adopted as His children!
Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Galatians 4:4-7
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Make a decision to spend time with the Lord daily. Don't spurn His love and longing for you. God has given His life to adopt you as His child. Don't make Him ask "Where are you?" all over again.

Guidance for our lives

2008-08-24T11:17:00.005+10:00

Light helps us to see. If we are in darkness, we do not see and perceive as things really are. It is when God shone His light into our hearts that we were able to see our need for Him as our Lord and Saviour and come to Him.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
How much more then God is able to show us His light in our life after we have come to know Him? How much more is He able to guide us through the pathways of life and take us where we need to be?! We can be confident that the same God who shone His light into our hearts will definitely light our paths and guide us in His purposes for us!

God will definitely guide us. He is waiting to help us because He does not want us to do it alone. The Bible shows us that God is guiding His people incrementally - as they focus on one step at a time. Although God sometimes gives believers a special glimpse of their future through prophecy etc, it is not the norm. God's direction and guidance can be likened to light from a lamp, enough light to softly illumine the plan just ahead so that we can take a step or two forward. When we view God's direction as a giant searchlight revealing the whole future rather than a lamp gently showing us the next steps, we are setting ourselves for disillusionment and disappointment. We need to accept that God's guidance comes step by step and this will enable us to walk our everyday with Him!
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

God truly wants to guide us and He always takes initiative to show us the way as He is our shepherd. The question is, as His sheep, are we listening actively for His voice everyday? The way we can truly have guidance from God is to meditate on His word and live in communion with Him every single day.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Are you reading and meditating on His word daily? Are you allowing God to direct your steps everyday? God desires to direct your steps.
Proverbs 20:24
A man's steps are directed by the LORD.How then can anyone understand his own way?

Keep on going..

2008-08-20T20:41:00.006+10:00

When things get tough, the tough get going. We have all heard that saying. How can we keep on going when things are really tough and when it is easier to give up rather than hang in there and persevere?

Let's look at Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Jesus was able to endure the cross and persevere because of the hope of the joy that He knew was coming after the suffering!
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
James encourages us to persevere and keep on going so that we become more mature and complete!
James 1:3-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Here is a real life Olympic inspiraton. At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Tanzanian marathon runner Stephen Akhwari badly injured his knee but limped on to finish over an hour behind the rest of the field. When asked by filmmaker Bud Greenspan after the finish why he had continued to run, Akhwari famously replied, “My country did not send me 7000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7000 miles to finish it”

That’s right. We may be tired and weary right now from an earlier fall and feel that we cannot go on anymore. But God didn’t send us this far only to start the race, He got us here to finish it! Now, let’s get up, brush off the dirt and keep on going! Let's put our hope on the author and perfector of our faith..
Jude 24,25
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Don't get sidetracked in your thinking..

2008-08-18T20:03:00.004+10:00

In this post-modern world, we are exposed to various kinds of thinking and theologies. It is very easy to get caught up in the intellectuasim of various thoughts, philosophies and theologies and get all messed up in what we believe. It is important what we take in into our minds as we are what we believe. Paul exhorts us not to get sidetracked by every whim of thinking but to make every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

What we think in our minds - our thoughts are what drives our emotions, our behaviours and actions. James Allen said - "You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." It is because of this that God commands us to renew our minds with His word and think great thoughts!
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer 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.

We need to overcome evil with good. Instead of focussing on what we are struggling with in our mind, we need to fill our minds with God's word and with thoughts that are in line with God's thinking and character. God's word hidden in our hearts and minds, becomes a plumb line against which we check every thought that enters our mind.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

What are you feeding your mind on? Feed your mind on His word, great books, listen to great music and personalise scripture. Think great thoughts about God, about yourself, about others, about life, about the past, about your future, about your challenges and you will not be sidetracked but will go on to live in God's perfect will!

Put on your armor!

2008-08-17T17:34:00.008+10:00

How many of you think that it is necessary for every country to have it's own army, navy and airforce in order to protect it's own people and resources? I would think it would be foolish if the country did not invest in it's defences so that it would have a chance to protect itself and not be ravaged in the event of an enemy attack. The Bible tells us that our enemy, Satan is prowling always looking for someone to devour.
I Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It is foolish on our part if we allow the enemy to steal, kill and destroy and render us powerless to lead defeated lives. God has already won the victory for us and we need to protect ourselves so that we are not defenceless in the face on an attack. We need to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God!
Ephesians 6:13-18
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

What is the armor of God? Here it is:
Belt of Truth - Jesus is the Way and the Truth. To win our spiritual battles, we neede to be anchored to the truth that is Jesus alone!
Breastplate of Righteousness - Our righteousness is worthless in battle. The only safe place to be is to rely on the righteousness of Jesus found in the cross.
Sandals of Peace - Our preparation for battle is the good news of Jesus's life, death and resurrection. Jesus's work on the cross brings us peace with God and this brings us boldness and confidence in battle!
Shield of faith - Jesus is the focus of our faith. Faith in Jesus alone can protect us from the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Helmet of Salvation - Jesus alone saved us and we can find deliverance in every situation. We cannot deliver ourselves, only Jeus can!
Sword of the Spirit, His word - Jesus is the Word of God, the written picture of Jesus! God's word is a powerful offensive weapon to the enemy. We must hide His word in our hearts and minds.

Don't be caught as a streaker with just your helmet of salvation! I certainly don't want to be caught defenceless without my armor and be defeated. What about you? Put on the armor of God and victory will surely be yours as you rely on Jesus, our Savior and Deliverer!

Don't look back but look ahead!!

2008-08-11T21:11:00.006+10:00

There are times when we feel we missed out on life, that we could have done differently and things would been better. We all have regrets but dwelling on them and constantly looking back will weigh us down and hinder our run to the front. Lately with the Olympics going on, you see that the athletes do not run or swim in a race constantly looking back, else vital seconds will be lost and the result will suffer. Similarly, dwelling on regrets in our life is like looking back in a race and this will cause us to lose focus, trip up and the final result will be robbed.

Jesus preached this too. What does the following mean?
Luke 9:62
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Plowing involves always moving ahead - moving ahead in a straight line to till the soil. No farmer ever goes back to the soil that he has already plowed. Jesus is essentially saying that we can't go back to where we have been and live in the past. The future is ours for the taking and we need to move ahead!

Philippians 3:13b,14
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
We cannot redeem the time from our past but God is able to redeem time for us! Let's press on heavenward in knowledge and obedience to our Lord Jesus and as we focus on what is ahead, we are sure to win!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
I want to run in a way to hit the tape and win! What about you? Decide not to look back but look ahead. Don't be sloppy but shape up!! Let's run to win..

Living in wonder and belief!

2008-08-10T16:18:00.009+10:00

We live in a time where many voices are beckoning for our attention and added to that we all live very busy lives with calendars packed. Sometimes, all we seem to be doing is running from one task after another with no time to reflect. It is very easy to lose sight of our purpose and vision and become discouraged.
Luke 11:33-36 (The Message)
No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It's put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they're going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.

How can we live in wonder and belief and avoid being stale, musty and murky? How can we keep our vision expanding and move ahead with hope and confidence? We can do this by regularly reflecting from God's word and allowing God's word to illumine our hearts and minds. When we hear God's voice through His word, we will become more focussed and clear, the murkiness and confusion will fade and we will begin to grasp the vision that He has for our lives! That is why Paul writes the following:
Ephesians 1:17-19 (The Message)
I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

Are you spending time daily in His presence? Are you hearing God's voice loud and clear above all the other voices that call for your attention? Is your vision clear and focussed and your life lived in wonder and belief? Let's read His word and be directed by Him and glow with light and shine brightly for His glory!
Proverbs 4:18-19
The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travelers can't see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.

Reaching in to God

2008-08-08T15:28:00.009+10:00

Prayer is conversation with God and it should come easy for us Christians. In the old testament times, one had to make a prilgrimage to the temple to talk to God, to make requests known to God and to worship Him. Today, we are so privileged to have the Holy Spirit reside in us if we are believers. Is it not amazing that the God who dwelt in the ark of the covenant and could not be touched by us unholy people, actually now lives in us?!
Ephesians 1:13,14
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
I Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

God's presence is continually with us! He is so close to us! It is upto us to make Him the centre of our lives. We need to reach in and commune with the Holy Spirit and make God a part of everything we do. When we involve God in our everyday life - from our waking up moments, in our work, play, relationships, everyday chores - life becomes exciting! We just need to be conscious that the Third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is within us and we can continually reach out to the Holy Spirit in prayer for strength, comfort, wisdom and help in time of our need!
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do you feel that you are going through life alone? Do you wish you had help in time of need? The Holy Spirit, God himself dwells richly in you and wants to be your help and comfort and be involved in everything you do... There is no one better to come to our aid than God Himself, the supreme being and creator of the universe! Lets be encouraged to tap in through prayer and reach out to the Holy Spirit in everything we do for this is pleasing to God!
Psalm 141:2a
May my prayer be set before you like incense..

Enjoy your life now!

2008-08-06T21:26:00.006+10:00

Sometimes many of us postpone our happiness. We think that we can be happy only if we go on the next holiday or get that promotion or have a better relationship. But life is not meant to be lived by postponing our happiness. We need to learn to savour every moment and enjoy life! Happiness is for the now! C.S. Lewis said "Joy is the serious business of heaven" and let's get into that practice when we are here!

King Solomon, the wise man understood this and this is why he writes the following in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes!
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

God renews our hearts and lives with joys of laughter! If we are one of those Christians who walk around always serious and not enjoying life, people may get turned off and have nothing to do with us! We of all people have so much to be thankful and joyful about - God has rescued us from darkness, redeemed us, saved us, continues to bless us, provides for us, loves us, shows His grace to us everyday, sustains us and has already prepared places for us to reign with him eternally in heaven!
Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT)
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Someone said that love was the marketing plan of the early Christians and joy was their business card! That is why they could transform the world around them and so many joined in to find the secret of their joy! We have God's permission to enjoy life now! Our God is not a morose sorrowful God. Our God is a happy joyful God! Let us reflect His joy in our lives.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Reactive vs Proactive Living

2008-08-04T12:48:00.004+10:00

When God made us, He placed within us great potential - potential to live out our purpose to the maximum. Each of us is different because God created each one of us for a different purpose and He created each one of us with the unique mix of abilities, gifts and talents to achieve the specific purpose that God created us for.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are like icebergs. Just like icebergs, humans come in different shapes, sizes, colors, depths of understanding and travel through life in different drifting speeds to different destinations. 70 to 90 percent of an iceberg's mass is below the waterline and similarly most of who we really are is yet to be seen and need to be uncovered. Iceberg's are generally derived from bigger land masses than themselves and similarly we are derived from a source far greater than ourselves - God!

Ben Herbster said "The greatest waste in the world is the undeveloped difference between what we are and what we could become.". It is a waste if we live reactively and disengaged. We need to be proactive and purposeful if we are to live to our potential in our purpose. We need not know all the how's of how to get to our final destination but we need to start and God will show us the next steps. It's time to dream and take small steps proactively!

Are you proactively seeking out your God given purpose? Are you proactively investing your time, money, resources and talents towards uncovering your hidden potential? If you are just living reactively rather than proactively, chances are that you will miss out on living to your maximum potential. We discover our fullest potential and true fulfillment as we walk in the purposes and plans that God not only designed for us, but designed us for. Get proactive and live out your true potential to the glory of God!
Ephesians 1:9-12
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

More fruit

2008-08-01T23:18:00.004+10:00

The call of every Christian is to produce Christ like character or fruit. The fruit is singular referring to the unified Christ like character that the Holy Spirit produces and has the underlying orientation of selfless and outgoing concern for others as expressed in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Of the fruit listed, love is the primary fruit that should characterize every believer as every other fruit is an expression of love and reflects the eternal unchanging character of God which continues to remain even after everything else comes to an end.

A believer will produce spiritual fruit as long as the believer stays connected to Jesus, the True Vine. Just like a branch stays connected to the vine and allowing the sap to flow through, when we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit will flow from the vine to the branches, which is us. The spiritual fruit is thus naturally produced by the Holy Spirit as the believer abides in Jesus and lives in full consecration, perfect conformity, absolute dependence and undoubting confidence on Jesus and allowing his life to be taken in and receiving his life making “Abide in me and I in you” (Jn 15:4) a reality.
John 15:5-8
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The fruit in our lives can be measured by our willingness to lay our personal agenda behind and willing to serve God by serving others. The fruit is always in expressed in relation to one another in community and is not measured in isolation to ourself.
John 15:12-14
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

What is the measure of fruit in your life? Are you progressing in expressing Christ like character to others around you? Let us not be deceived, our love for God is always expressed by the way we treat our fellow being and our willingness to serve them.

Transition to Eternity

2008-07-29T19:12:00.009+10:00

Today I went to the memorial service of a friend's mother. It was beautiful.. as the children and many others who knew her, recollected her life and all the significant things she did and the lives that she had impacted. Everyone mentioned that she had loved much, gave her time so selflessly to invest in others especially the young. It brought to my mind, that life is fleeting..
James 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

This also made me think, what would I like to be said at my funeral? How would I like to be remembered? Would I be remembered for making impact on people's lives? Would my life be worth anything eternally? That is why King Solomon so wisely wrote that is good to go to funerals and to reflect on life when we still have the time.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NLT)
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart.

Many of us make plans - plans for a holiday, plans to marry, plans to have kids, plans to buy a home, plans for a career move, plans to even retire someday.. but do we have a transition plan for moving into eternity? Do we want to meet our Lord and Savior empty handed or do we want to walk over into eternity having done something of value for others and the Lord? Or are we living a life that has no eternal value?
Philippians 3:18-21
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

As the famous saying goes "Soon this life as we know it shall pass. Only what’s done for Jesus will last." It is time to reflect on the worth of what we spend our time and energy on and re-prioritise and focus on what is unseen and eternal and of lasting value..
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Living up to our true character..

2008-07-27T20:10:00.007+10:00

The word character literally means a unique mark or shape. Much like how letters in words are characters joined together to convey meaning, we were created by God in His image to not only exhibhit His character but also to exhibit our unique character or potential and make our mark in history! When God created Adam and Eve, He had plans for them, plans for them to live a life upto the potential that they were created for. The fall of man resulted in our true character to be marred by sin - not only robbing us from exhibhiting the character and holiness of God in whose image we were created but also robbing us from living into the full potential that we created for.

God's redemptive work in us involves putting off sin and putting on the character of God through the help of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
In addition to being restored to His image of holiness, we also need to be restored to live upto our true potential! The Bible tells us that God created everything with "seed in it according to their kinds." (Genesis 1:12. This means that hidden within us is a potential that is able to produce more than we can actually see. God paid the ultimate price, His own life to release our potential. It is upto us to work with our Creator, to understand what we were created for, to build on it and accomplish it!

We have the God given potential in us to accomplish all that God wants to accomplish with His help. The psalmist says that we need to cry out to God and seek His help in fulfilling our potential. Psalm 57:2- "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me."
Jesus also said that the Father will give us whatever we ask in His name especially to accomplish His purposes.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Let us not miss our mark but work together with God in living upto our true potential - the purpose that God has redeemed us for!!

The Supremacy of Christ

2008-07-23T20:49:00.007+10:00

Jesus Christ is the most unique person in human history - there was no one like Him and there will not be anyone like Him ever. He is the image of the invisible God and the fullness of God's deity dwells in Him. If we want to know God, we need to know Christ. Christ is the manifestation and true representation of the invisible God. That is why, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Paul understood that the nature, character and very being of God is found in Christ. That is why he writes to the Colossian church about the Supremacy of Christ.
Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Jesus Christ is supreme - He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, God Himself. He has supremacy over everything. Though there is no one superior to Him, He does not force Himself upon us and wants us to choose Him. He waits patiently at the door of your heart, waiting to be let in. Will you give Him the supremacy in your life and crown Him the Lord of your heart and life?
Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Live by Faith!

2008-07-21T20:12:00.011+10:00

The Bible describes Faith in Hebrews 11:1 as "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". Faith is trusting in God's ability and moving ahead knowing that He will act! I am reminded of the story of people gathering to pray for rain and the drought to be broken. No one had come expecting God to act except for a little boy who had come prepared with an umbrella!

We ought to live our lives expecting God to act! God has already revealed to us so much of His heart and will in His word that we need to obey. When we move ahead in obedience trusting in God, we are ushering in His will and God will move on our behalf and we will see victory and progress in our lives! Often times we do not act and hence we do not see God work. Faith is obedience in action. God expects us to move first and then He will act.

Saul and Jonathan were facing a dire situation at the hand of the Phlistines. The Israelite army did not have a spear or sword except for Saul and Jonathan as there were no Israelite blacksmiths. However, Jonathan decided to move ahead along with his armor bearer because He knew that God was able to act on his behalf and it did not matter whether there were many or few with him. God moved on Israel's behalf and they won the battle!
I Samuel 13:22, 14:6
22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

Are you sitting on the fence, undecided on what you need to do in your walk with the Lord? Let's move ahead and act in faith on what we know like Jonathan did trusting God to act on our behalf! Nothing can hinder the Lord but let not your disobedience or lack of faith hinder the Lord from acting on your behalf!

Our story or His Story?

2008-07-16T14:15:00.008+10:00

The Bible is about God's story. The essence of God's story is that God created man for fellowship and He is in the process of separating out a people from every nation, tribe and language as His own! This is the end of history - God separating a people unto Himself! History is His Story!
Rev 7:9-10
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."

Often we live life oblivious that we and our lives are part of the story of God! We run our lives without realising that everything in our lives is part of a bigger story. We need to understand that everything we do - our studies, careers we are building, marrying, having kids, basically everything we do until the time we die, is to be lived in the context of God's story which is be fishers of men and bringing people into the kingdom of God!

Paul describes us as living epistles or letters that tell a story that points to God!
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
St. Francis of Assisi said "Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words."

Do our lives testify to the character of God and point others to the bigger picture of His Story in history? Let us live our lives, conscious that everything we do is part of the bigger story and has impact on the people that God is gathering to Himself!

His Compassions Fail Not

2008-07-15T19:53:00.004+10:00

Our God is merciful, gracious, anxious to forgive, slow to anger and full of loving kindness and compassion. He does not treat us as our sins deserve.

Every time we are down, we need to remember the past faithfulness and compassion of God towards us! This is our hope! Like dew every morning, His compassions are new every morning and they will never fail us!
Lamentations 3:20-26
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
It is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

It is because of God's loving kindness that we can trust Him! He is faithful and will never fail us! We have reason to hope in Him and as we hope, He is good to us!
Psalm 36:7 - How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Metamorphosis

2008-07-14T19:50:00.003+10:00

Change when driven by God in our life is beautiful! Have you looked at a caterpillar transforming itself to butterfly - it is an extraordinary change, the characteristics of the caterpillar are totally gone and a new creature, totally beautiful and free appears! Every aspect of the Christian life involves the same metamorphosis or change - irreversible and totally transformational.

The first Christian experience of repentance and conversion is a change, the daily process of sanctification of being renewed in the likeness of God is a change, and the final eschatological tranformation into Christ's likeness is a change! Change in the Christian life is inevitable. While our God is unchanging because He is perfect, we need change as we are imperfect and we need to be transformed more into His likeness!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

We are no longer called to live according to our old nature but to totally put it off and be renewed by the tranformation of our minds and hearts!
Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

God is not only interested in our own personal change but also in changing the situations, the communities and nations around us! He not only wants us to change but He wants us to be agents of change and be a change maker!

What are the changes you need to make? Embrace change that is directed by God because God is making something beautiful out of the transformation! Ask God to make you a change maker by bringing His transformation to the world we live in!

Be Bold, Be Strong!

2008-07-10T20:29:00.005+10:00

Be bold, be strong for the Lord your God is with you.
I am not afraid, I am not dismayed
Because I'm walking in faith and victory
Come on and walk in faith and victory
For the Lord your God is with you!
These words from a song are ringing in my ear today!

Boldness is a virtue! Our God asks us not to be fearful of anything except Him. When we are fearless of man and situations, we are free to walk according to God's ways and we can walk in faith and victory. When we fear God and not men, we are able to say:
Hebrews 13:6
We say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"

If we fear man, then we are most likely to live a life of compromise as we are busy safeguarding ourselves and our position. We will end up serving whom we fear. If we fear God, we wil serve Him. If we fear man, we will serve man. We have a choice to make and our choice will determine our destiny! People who feared God were never put to shame! Think of Daniel who was thrown into the lions den, who was cast into the furnace with his friends, all for his refusal to dishonor God! We know that God delivered Daniel from the fire and the mouth of the lion and restored his honor before men! Think of Joshua and Caleb who had a different report to what the other ten spies had, that the Israelites could conquer the "giants" in the land! We know that the Lord delivered the land of Canaan into the Israelites hands! Daniel, Joshu and Caleb are heroes because they chose not fear men but only to fear God!

When you stand up in boldness for God, He is our secure fortress!
Proverbs 14:26-27
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.
Fearing God is giving Him the reverential respect, honor, glory and preeminence that He alone deserves. Fearing God is telling God that nothing else matters to us and nothing else comes closer to knowing God and obeying Him!

Have you made your choice today? Our destiny depends on whom we fear and honor.
Psalm 31:19
How great is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in you.
Be bold, be strong and fear God and you will surely walk in faith and victory!

When I consider the heavens..

2008-07-09T19:15:00.006+10:00

Can you imagine the dark nights that David was on pastures along with the sheep and looking up at the starry hosts, pondering on the vastness and beauty of the universe and greatness of God? The days and nights David spent alone with the sheep in the pastures helped David understand the greatness of God and he became a worshipper. But David also recognised that he was someone precious in God's sight.

In the following psalm David writes about how great God is and small in comparison we are. However, David writes about how God has made us only a little lower than Himself! We are precious in God's sight even though we are very small and powerless and are nothing before Him!
Psalm 8:3-9(NLT)
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Why do you think that David wrote what he did - that we are precious to God, made a little lower than Him and crowned with glory and honor?! David wrote this because even though he knew and understood the surpassing greatness of God, he really communed with God and had a real relationship with Him. David was just awed that an omniscient, omnipresent, all powerful, great God loved to commune with Him!

The reason that God is able to commune with us is because we are made in His own image! Being created in God's image means that we have the communicable attributes of God like reasoning, speaking, making choices, have emotions, have a moral character, have a desire for love, realtionships and values like faithfulness, mercy and justice. Non-communicable attributes of God are the characteristics that make God, God. God made us in His image intentionally so that He can relate to us unlike anything else in creation!
Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Even now, centuries later, we can relate to David's psalm. We feel the same sense of awe when we look at the universe with the help of modern technology and understand the vastness of all that He has made. The same God who communed with David is now waiting to commune with you because you are precious to Him. That's why He made you in His own image...

Fellows together..

2008-07-08T19:31:00.004+10:00

Ever wondered why Christians gather together in church, in home groups and various other small groups to study God's word? Is it just because they have something in common that is different from the rest of the world? The word for meeting together is fellowship and it comes from the greek word koinonia which means "sharing in common". It means assimilation into a family, a people that God is separating to Himself, His family.

We were created for community - to be in community with our Creator and to be in community with one another. If we claim to have fellowship with God, we need to have fellowhip with one another.
1 John 1:6-7
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Why is fellowship so critical? The purpose is two fold. The first one is for each of our personal growth. When we meet together in fellowship, we encourage one another and in the process we grow in Christ.
Romans 1:11-12
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
The second reason for fellowship is so that the world knows about us. It is only when we meet together that we are able to show our love for one another. Love cannot be shown in isolation! It is by our unconditional love for one another that the world can come to know of the unconditional love of the Father for them!
John 17:22-23
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

If you are involved in a fellowship in a church or a small group, you are embracing the key value of God - to be in community! Continue to show your commitment for the people you are in fellowship with that is based on God's unconditional love and share the love of God! When you are in fellowship, you are reflecting God's heart!!

Joie de vivre!!!

2008-07-07T20:18:00.008+10:00

How many of us would love to have more joy in our lives? How many of us would love to live life feeling joyful inspite of the circumstances? This is actually how we are called to live!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

What is the key to feeling joyful? Is it really possible to be joyful even in difficult circumstances? Yes, it is possible and the key to true joy is thankfulness. Thankfulness is the position of the heart that is grateful to God for who He is and what He does for us. Since the focus of our thankfulness is God who is never changing, we can be thankful always. Joy is therefore not dependent on our situation but on our attitude of heart, a heart of thankfulness!

Paul was falsely accused and in jail, held for two years without trial when he wrote the letter to the Philippians. Yet, it is one of the most joyful epistles that Paul has written.
Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Notice how Paul begins. He starts by thanking God for the Philippian believers. Paul found a reason to thank God. No matter how dire the circumstance, there is reason to thank God! A thankful heart is a heart that honors God as there is no room for self pity and whinging about our circumstance. A thankful heart helps us to take our eyes off ourselves and help us to look toward God, our source of true joy!

What is your reason to be thankful to God today? Give thanks to God who is never changing. He is worthy of all our thanksgiving. Give thanks and you will soon find true joie de vivre despite your circumstance!

Build your house on the Rock!

2008-07-04T12:41:00.004+10:00

There is lovely kid's praise song that has so much wisdom in it. It is based on a parable that Jesus said - not to build your house on sandy land but on a good foundation. Here is how it goes:
Don't build your house on the sandy land,
don't build it too near the shore.
Well, it might look kind of nice
but you'll have to build it twice,
oh, you'll have to build your house once more.
You've got to build your house upon the rock,
make a good foundation on a solid spot.
Oh, the storms may come and go,
but the peace of God you will know.

And here is the parable:
Luke 6:46-49
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

You usually never hear people say "You have got a great foundation". Instead People notice and appreciate what can be seen, that is the beautiful house. Each of us is building the house of our lives and we are doing it on a foundation we have chosen. Jesus is concerned about the foundation we are building our lives on as the storms and floods that will come are a certainity. The foundation of our lives is unseen and invisible but it will be revealed when the storms of life come upon us.

We can choose to build our lives on family or career or wealth or fame or even church and religious trappings. However, all this is like building on sandy ground and our lives will crumble when a storm hits. The only lasting foundation on which we can build our lives confidently is on Jesus Christ, the eternal rock. Notice that in the parable, Jesus starts by saying why we are calling Him Lord and not doing what He says. Salvation in Christ is not sufficient to ensure that we are building our lives on a solid foundation. We need to walk in daily obedience and in dependence and submission on God. We cannot expect to be protected from the storms that come against us unless our lives are in complete obedience to God.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Let's commit afresh to building our lives on the sure foundation of complete obedience to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For such a time as this..

2008-07-02T17:02:00.013+10:00

Have you ever wondered why you are born at this particular time in history, in a particular place, in a particular setting that is uniquely yours? Perhaps we can understand something from the story of Esther.

Esther was a young Jewish girl living in exile. She won a beauty contest and won the favour of King Xerxes of Persia and was crowned his Queen. However, all the Jews in the land came under a death sentence and faced annihilation due to the scheming of wicked Hamaan. Mordecai, her uncle who raised her urged Esther to do something to save her people.
Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther, decided to make her supplication to the King even though her life was at risk as she was not invited into the King's presence.
Esther 4:15-16
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
Esther's bravery and action at the right time helped save all the Jews and to this day, the festival of Purim is celebrated to mark this deliverance.

In the book of Esther, not once is God mentioned. The book is pivoted around the central character Esther and what she did. Like Esther, you are specially chosen for such a time as this, placed in a unique position to reach the people that only you can reach. It is a wonderful thought to know that there is no one else like you in history and never will be. Like in the book of Esther, God is counting on you to do your part to bring hope and deliverance. Prayer alone is not sufficient to change a situation. Esther fasted and prayed along with the all the Jews but she also acted. There are times specifically when God expects us to act. God will never do something that we can do ourselves.

God trusts you and is waiting for you to act. He has a purpose for you. You are chosen for such a time as this... The question is, will you act?
Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Against All Odds

2008-07-02T15:58:00.007+10:00

Are you facing an impossible situation? Are you thinking that there is no way out of this one because the odds are so stacked against you? Well, as followers of Christ, we should eagerly anticipate such situations because such impossible situations are the point of intersection between our inability and God's ability, where God can supernaturally intervene to raise us up against all odds! Our God specializes in making the impossible, possible. Nothing is too difficult for Him!

God had told Abraham and Sarah that they would have children as numerous as the stars in the sky and they did not have a single child and they were too old. For God, this was not an impossible situation and they went on to have a child against all odds.
Genesis 18:13-14
Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."
The whole world was against Joseph including his own flesh and blood who sold him as a slave, and against all odds , inspite of wrong accusations and imprisonments and being forgotten, God raised him up to be only next to Pharoah in a foreign land!

The next time we are faced with a difficult or impossible situation, let us rise up in faith and look forward in anticipation of what God will do next. Let's remember that God loves us and that nothing can stand against what God has planned for His children!
Romans 8:31-39(The Message)
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Christian life is a life of adventure.. We don't know all the details of the journey and where we are headed but we know that the One we are following can be trusted and that come what may, we will rise up against all odds!
2 Cor 4:8-9,13
..we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed....It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

Overcoming Temptation

2008-07-01T18:45:00.004+10:00

A troubling addiction. A betraying thought. A compromising situation. These are the sort of things that comprise the various temptations that come to us. Temptations make us focus on the fleeting pleasures of sin and aims to take our eyes of God and His ways. Temptation is not sin but it is not to be taken lightly, as the way we respond to temptation determines whether we live in sin or live victoriously.

We cannot say that God is bringing the temptation to us. It is our own lustful desires that tempts us and leads us to sin. What we give authority to will have power over us.
James 1:13-16
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

How do we overcome sin? The way to overcome temptation is not a program but a person - the person of Jesus Christ. We can overcome temptation by standing firm on authority of God's word and living in the leading and power of the Holy Spirit. God will always provide a way out for us in every situation.
1 Cor 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

We need to learn to resist the devil and come under the authority of God's word and Spirit every time we are tempted. For every negative, wrong or evil thought that the enemy sows into our mind, there is a positive, right and good thought from God's word that we can ask God in prayer, confess with our mouth and tell the devil in reproof just like how Jesus did when He was tempted in the desert. We can overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)!
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Let us remember that the devil has been destroyed at the Cross. The enemy has no power or authority over us. The only power or authority that the enemy has over us is the power of influence. Let us not give into the deception of the devil and settle for the temporary pleasures but let us put on the armor of God and resist the devil and live victoriously!

Absolute Surrender

2008-06-30T19:31:00.004+10:00

What limits God from working powerfully in our life is our lack of Absolute Surrender. We are the temple of God and God lives in us but He can only work powerfully in our life if we are totally surrendered to Him. What does this mean? Jesus demonstrated this through crucifixtion - a person crucifixed is in a position of total surrender with his arms open to God, facing one way alone without ability to turn back and having no other plans of his own. This is what God expects from us when He asks to die to ourselves - die to ourselves and completely surrender to God's plans.

John 12:23-26
Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

The more we focus on ourselves, the less impact our life will have and less fulfillment too as we are not living our God given purpose. If we look at the life cycle of any living being, the organism is focussed at reproducing the next generation and starts the process of replacing itself at it's prime. Everything living reproduces itself. A seed needs to die to produce more fruit and seed. We need to die to our agenda and pick up God's agenda. God's agenda is always to serve - to serve God by serving others.

The kind of serving we are expected to do involves direct contact like a seed to the ground. If the seed is not planted in the ground, then it shrivels and life inside the seed suffocates and dies. The only way to truly live, live life to the fullest, is to lose our life by giving it all to God and others. When we do this, we will find true life, our life will automatically have complete fullness, satisfaction and know that we are all that created us to be!

Let's stop living by self-will, self-confidence and self-effort. For the joy set before Jesus He endured the cross. The cross was the birthplace of His everlasting glory. Let us desire more of God and die to ourselves and allow God to work death to self so that we can have the fullness of life.
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Strength for the Journey

2008-06-27T12:06:00.005+10:00

Life is a journey and sometimes we travel through green pastures and sometimes through parched desert areas. Where do we find strength for the journey especially in the dry and arid times? The psalmist continually states that God alone is our strength, refuge and consolation and that true strength is not found in our resources or even ourselves but only in God.

Psalm 84 especially brings this out so beautifully. When we feel drained and at the end of ourselves, God is there to refresh us and impart to us His strength.
Psalm 84:4-7
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

We can shift the valley experience also into a place of refreshing. It is up to us to do this. As the Psalm says, all we need to do is dwell in His presence and have our hearts set on Him as we journey through life. We need to go into His presence in worship, read and meditate on His word and wait on Him. We will then go from strength to strength and will not feel weary anymore. Isaiah too understood that God alone can be our everlasting source of strength as God does not grow tired or weary.
Isaiah 40:28-31
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.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
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.

Paul and Silas too were in a valley experience as they were falsely accused and jailed. They did not sit down and complain but they looked to God and started praising God. Soon all the other prisioners joined them and God’s strength was supernaturally imparted and a earthquake broke their chains loose, the jailer believed and was baptized and they were released the next morning. (Acts Chapter 16). The whole situation changed because Paul and Silas chose to tap into God’s strength in their time of need. That is why Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 of God’s response to Paul’s prayer when he weak, “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in your weakness”.

Are you discouraged? Are you tired and weary? You have the capacity to change the situation. Tap into God’s everlasting and undying strength and He will impart His strength to you. You will soon feel refreshed and grow from strength to strength and soar on wings like eagles!

Rest for our Soul

2008-06-25T15:30:00.006+10:00

Our calling is not in struggling and striving to attain things. Our calling is to rest in God who has already completed His work for us. This is why Isaiah says “In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15). Salvation is by faith and simple trust in what God has accomplished for us and not by our work and striving. This principle also needs to be demonstrated in the way we live.

However, this does not mean that we do not have any work to do! Remember, even God worked for six days and then rested on the seventh day. We are to do our part and then rest and trust in what God will accomplish for us. There is no need to fret and worry as this will not accomplish much. Worry is telling God that we are not sure whether He will do His part. A farmer plants seed at the right time and also irrigates and fertilizes as necessary. Then the farmer rests and trusts in God for the seed to germinate, grow and produce fruit. The farmer knows that the seed will germinate if he has done all the right work. Similarly, we need to do the best that be done in any situation and then rest in God. We can trust God to come through because He can be trusted!

Mark 4:26-29
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

Jesus invites us to come to Him and unburden ourselves and find rest for our souls. We are not meant to go through life carrying the heavy loads and feeling all weary and burdened. God wants to do all the weight lifting for us! When we stop striving and rest after we have done our part, we are acknowledging that God is able to come through for us and that He can be trusted!
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Let’s do our best and then come ashore to Him and rest and trust in Him! He will do something beautiful while we rest..

Radical Identification, Radical Difference

2008-06-24T20:26:00.005+10:00

The single most important characteristic of Christianity and Christians should be love, love that is pure with no ulterior motive, love that is unconditional. Malcolm Muggeridge once said, "That there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents is an antistatistical proposition". Jesus demonstrated such a love for people - valuing each person as someone precious to God. There was no pecking order, no hierarchy, there were not some he reserved better treatment for than others.

Jesus demonstrated love by truly identifying with everyone including the sick, the poor, the marginalized, the weak and the powerless. He reached out to everyone in genuine love and they opened up to him and He touched their lives in a profound way. He demonstrated that there is nothing more valuable than human life. Though He radically identified with people, He was not identical to them but was radically different. He was radically counter cultural and shocked the religious people of His day. This radical difference stemmed from the way He demonstrated holiness. To Jesus, holiness was not just a superficial, keep at arms distance external holiness but a holiness that was internal and made Him approachable. The problem is that often we equate holiness with things that are superficial and external and keep away from people, thus failing to identify with them.

Jesus calls us to radically identify with the world in love and at the same time to be radically different with the world in holiness. We need to ask ourselves: Is my life characterized by religious activity and piety or true love demonstrated to people with inward holiness?

Luke 7:36-50
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Pride and Prejudice

2008-06-23T16:09:00.004+10:00

Pride is a deadly sin. Pride is so concerned with the self image, always wanting to be well thought of, always wanting to be seen doing as what is considered as the right and proper thing. Pride puts the self above what it is really worth. Pride has to do with our thinking, either with the way we think of ourselves or in the way we have judgemental thoughts about others. God hates pride and God opposes the proud.
1 Peter 5:5
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Humility is freedom from pride and arrogance and having a modest estimate of one's own worth, considering others better than ourselves. When we are humble, God will lift us up and there is no need for self promotion and trying so hard and as a result we are truly free!
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Humility is total dependency on God. It is trusting God to do the right thing in your life at the right time in the right way. Patience is always seen in the humble while the proud will be impatient as they are unable to trust in God.

King Saul's life was characterized by impatience, wanting to be in control, concerned about his self image. In contrast, King David on the most part was always depending on God, seeking God's direction patiently and wanting God's will done in God's way. Saul was so full of himself while David walked in humility before his God. The result of their lives was so different - pride resulted in Saul's fall whereas David's humility resulted in him and his line being lifted up and David is still remembered as the greatest king of Israel and the line from which Jesus, the Messiah was born.

Humbling ourselves is as simple as making the decision to suppress our pride whenever it rears its ugly head and not blow our own horns and have the right attitude towards others. The Holy Spirit will help us in exhibiting this fruit in our lives as we walk in Christ. Jesus is the perfect example of humility..

Philippians 2: 5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Core Motivation

2008-06-22T11:10:00.006+10:00

What is your core motivation for living? This is the window to who you really are and what will drive you in your life. This will explain the things you pursue and why you do them.

Many of us have right intentions but intentions do not define us or shape us. It is our desires that define us. Desire is what will define the path that we take.
James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

The difference between the desires and intentions, whether they are godly or not can be seen in the lives of the Israelites and their leader Moses. Moses, was brought up in Pharoah's house and enjoyed a good life and was in the cream of Egpytian society. He had much entanglements with Egypt but his inner desire was not to pursue the world but to pursue God. He gave up all that Egypt offered to him, to do what God called him to do. On the other hand, the Israelites were under slavery in Egypt and had a harsh time but everytime they underwent any discomfort they longed to go back to Egpyt and grumbled against Moses and God. If anyone truly should have missed Egypt it should have been Moses as he was brought up in the best of the Egyptian world, but you never see Moses complain. He gladly gave up all that Egypt stood for and suffered so that he could know God more.

The difference between the Israelites and Moses was that the Israelites intended to follow God while Moses truly desired God above all else. The core motivation for Moses' life was knowing God and loving Him for who He was. The core motivation of the Israelites was to follow God only if God met their desires.

What is your core motivation? Are you in the Moses camp or the camp of the Israelites? What is driving you? What are you pursuing? Let us ask God that we may be like Moses, having desires just to know God and pursue Him for who He is.There is nothing compared to knowing Him.

Mark 8:34-35
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Phil 3:7-8
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

Pitted, Potted and then 'Putted'

2008-06-21T09:03:00.007+10:00

A character from the Bible that never fails to amaze and challenge me is Joseph. His life can be summarized in three words - Pitted, Potted and Putted.

As the 11th child of 12, he was his fathers favourite and did not have the wisdom to keep his mouth shut but boasted about the prominence that God will give him which was revealed to him in a series of dreams. Joseph's brothers were jealous and decided to kill him but his eldest brother Reuben intervened and they decided to put him in a pit instead. Thus he was pitted and later sold as a slave to the Midianites who then sold him to an Egyptian man named Potiphar.

In Potiphar's house Joseph did exceedingly well in everything he was given and Potiphar saw that God blessed everything that Joseph did and so he was put in charge of everything Potiphar had. Potiphar's wife made passes at Joseph and once grabbed him but he fled away but was wrongly accused of trying to rape her and was thrown in prison unjustly. He was thus potted. In prison, he helped interpret the dreams of the butler and the cup bearer but the cup bearer forgot him even after he was released. However, years later, the cup bearer remembered him when the Pharoah had a difficult dream that no one else could interpret. Joseph interpreted the dream and Pharoah was very impressed with Joseph that he was "putted" in a place of authority as the Prime Minister of Egypt!

Genesis 41:37-39
The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

When his brothers were faced with a famine, Joseph was kind and helped them to come to Egypt and settle, provided for their needs and forgave them and did not pay back for their treachery. Joseph always did the right thing.

Joseph faced adversity after adversity and came out shining. His own brothers dealt treacherously and sold him as a slave. He was unjustly accused by Potiphar's wife and spent years in prison and the cup bearer whom he helped forgot him. But through it all, he never complained, never became bitter but continued to pursue God and did whatever he could to bless others and at the right time, God lifted him up. Joseph learnt humility, patience, resilience, faithfulness, obedience and did not tire in doing the right thing even if it cost him dearly. It took God yrs to prepare Joseph for being the prime minister of Egypt though his interview with the king just lasted a few minutes!

God is preparing you and me for something special. He may want us to go through adversity so that we have the wisdom and life lessons to be mature for that special place. What is our attitude as we are pitted and potted? What is our heart condition towards God, others around us and even towards ourselves? Let's not discouraged but be steady and faithful no matter what the circumstance is and we are sure to see victory and reap a harvest of blessing soon!

Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I Cor 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Amazing Grace

2008-06-20T18:55:00.005+10:00

Grace is so often talked about.. but what is it? It is often misunderstood as the great cover up that God has given us. Sometimes we do the wrong thing and then ask forgivesness and call that God's grace. Yes, in a way, it is true. Grace is "God's unmerited favor" - even we deserve judgement, God looks upon us in love and forgives us and does not treat us as we deserve.

Psalm 103:8-12
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

However, grace has another meaning and it is "God's enabling power". It is by God's enabling power that we are transformed. It is by grace that we can do what God has called us to do, which is always more than what we normally or humanly can do.

When Moses was asked to lead the whole nation of Israel from Egypt, Moses said he humanly could not do it. His immediate response was that he was nobody (Ex 3:11), that no one will believe him (Ex 4:1), that he was not eloquent (Ex 4:10) and that it might be someone else who had the calling (Ex 4:13). We know that when Moses stepped out, God's enabling power helped him to successfully lead a million people out of Egypt towards the promised land!

We do not need to feel overwhelmed when God asks us to do something or when we see a need and feel the tug of God. It is not our ability but God's ability, His grace that will enable us to do God's work. Let us not stop doing something that God is tugging at our hearts to do by citing our weakness or our natural ability. Instead, let us depend on God's grace, which will enable to do more than we can in the natural!

This has been my experience. Everytime, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and simply obeyed God, I am able to do things by His supernatuaral enablement and God then prepares me for something bigger. It is exciting and adventurous to follow God! His Grace is always sufficient for me as His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Carpe Diem

2008-06-19T21:30:00.003+10:00

I am reading Tony Campolo’s book with the above title. It means “Seize the day” in Latin. Often we don’t live but exist through each day, going through the motions and taking comfort in routine but all the time in quiet frustration. Tony challenges us that our call is not to exist as a living breathing apathetic human being but one who is fully alive, engaging with God, engaging with one another and engaging with the world we live in.

Tony is very much right in his analysis that apathy is one of the biggest problems of our generation. We live in a world that celebrates switching off and disengaging to live relaxing life styles that take us nowhere and leave us purposeless and empty. I remember being shocked some good fifteen years ago when my three old cousin whom I was babysitting woke up to declare that he was bored!

If Christ came to make all things new and make dead things alive, then this needs to be reflected in the way we live. Christ came not just to give us an eternal salvation somewhere in the future so that our future can be alive but Christ came so that in the NOW, in our everyday lives, we can have true joie de vivre and true meaning and purpose. This comes by being purposeful each day, in the way we engage with God, others and with the world.

Ephesians 2: 1-7
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

I need to say this to myself everyday: Am I fully alive? Am I engaged? Am I celebrating life?

Carpe Diem! Seize each day!

Is there meaning under the sun?

2008-06-16T14:23:00.007+10:00

The book of Ecclesiastes poignantly describes the yearning of man to find meaning in life. King Solomon of Israel who penned this book was extremely wealthy, wise, had fame and indulged in pleasure to the extreme. Inspite of heady success, he did not find meaning in life in his wealth, wisdom, fame or pleasures. He says "everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Eccl 2:11). This angst is quite evident even in our contemporary society. People who have it all are perhaps some of the most miserable as evidenced in the tragic life of many celebrities. Did Solomon, the wise one have a conclusion about the true meaning in life? Yes, but before we go there, here is a lovely story I stumbled across a while ago.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.

The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this". The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?".

There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted. "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one." But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?". Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!" But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?"
"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."
"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!" A man sitting on the second row shouted. "Now let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!".

God gave his son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The son, the son, who'll take the son?" Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

Well, this was Solomon's conclusion too. He ends the book of Ecclesiastes saying that true meaning in life under the sun, is only when we have an above the sun perspective, that is having God in the picture. Everything under the sun has it's meaning, beauty, significance and joy only when we acknowledge God and have an above the sun perspective!

Eccl 12:13
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.

Jesus says in John 10:10 (The Message)
I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

Reflections from 1 Corinthians

2008-06-16T13:47:00.003+10:00

Last year, our life group (small group) foucssed on studying the book of 1 Corinthians. I had prepared a summary of the book including key verses from each chapter, the kingdom principles and questions for reflection. Here it is!

The Great Omission?

2008-06-14T11:36:00.001+10:00

Well, we all know that before Jesus ascended to heaven post his resurrection, he gave a command to all Christians to “go into all the world and make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20). What does this mean today especially given that all of us may not be able to go to the mission field? The call is not to be a mere believer who just studies God's word, believes and attends church but someone who is actively involved in the lives of others, discipling them in the things of God and His kingdom. We are not asked to be students who just want to know what the Master knows but to be disciples who do what the Master does.

Jesus said, the two fundamental tenets in Christianity are “to love God with all your heart and soul and mind” and “to love others as we love ourselves” (Luke 6:31-36). One thing that is often not recognized is that the two tenets are linked. Our love for God is always expressed as our love for others.
I John 3:16-18
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

The kind of love that we are asked to demonstrate to others is not a "warm-fuzzy" love which is only feeling and emotion. God is calling us to a love that is based on choice, choosing to care about another person’s welfare even if that person is not someone we would naturally gravitate to. This is not always comfortable and could cost us. Salvation is free but discipleship will cost us something.

It is important to demonstrate our love for others by actively making disciples for His kingdom. It is not an option but a command given to every believer. Many times we make a decision to do something for God after the things we are pursuing are settled. However, this is not what Jesus is calling us to. He wants us to be everyday disciples in the everyday context of life.
Luke 14:25-27 (The Message)
One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.
Luke 14:33-34 (The Message)
"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.
"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

Imagine what the world would be like if every believer disciples a few, a few disciples could then go on to change a community, whole communities of disciples can then change nations and the world. Let’s make a conscious decision that we do not make the great Commission the great Omission in our lives.

Thy Word..

2008-06-12T14:55:00.001+10:00

.. is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 119:11 “ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”. Having God’s word hidden in our hearts is very important to stay on the right course in our walk with God and stay away from sin that so easily ensnares us. God’s word is our guiding light. There is no substitute for reading and meditating on God’s word and allowing it to renew our mind. Then in time of need, the Holy Spirit will remind us of God’s word that is applicable for our situation by providing guidance, admonition, encouragement, hope and wisdom.

In the Old Testament, God wrote the law on tablets of stone but now God writes His word on our hearts. The Word of God must enter us through our MIND—through our understanding—in order to change our hearts. Thus we are to meditate deeply on Scripture in order to understand it better, so that our hearts may be changed. Jesus is the word and the way to abide in Him like a branch to a vine, is to reflect daily on His word. According to Peter, one of our ongoing responsibilities is to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 3:18) and that we are to “make every effort to add to our faith goodness, and to goodness knowledge…” (2 Peter 1:5).

Indeed “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4).

Psalm 119: 9-16
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Right thinking -> Right living

2008-06-11T20:25:00.002+10:00

When things are not going too well, we often wonder where we are going wrong. We all really want everything to go right in our life, however wanting to live right is not going to result in right living. A kingdom principle that we often forget is that we will reap what we sow, however we might be deceived into thinking otherwise as we may not see it work in the short term.

Here's a profound statement I read somewhere on the internet:
Sow a thought -> reap an action
Sow an action -> reap a habit
Sow a habit -> reap a character
Sow a character -> reap a destiny

Making a practice of ignoring the still small voice of God and having the wrong attitude in the small things will result in an established pattern of wrongful thinking that will be destructive in the long run and will result in making bad choices when it comes to the big decisions in our lives. However, if we are faithful in the small things, doing everything in the right attitude and continually acting and obeying God as He reveals His will to us, we are making a life long habit of making the right choices and when it comes to making a big decision, we have the tools and wisdom to choose the right way. This is why Paul writes that God is not mocked and that we will reap what we sow....

Galatians 5: 7-10
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Reason..

2008-06-11T20:16:00.003+10:00

Well, the reason to start blogging is to write down thoughts and have a place to come back to it... Sometimes I do think some great thoughts mostly when I am meditating on God's word or reading books and I lose it except for the rememberance that it was a great thought! This blog is a repository to come back to, to reflect, to pick back up on something thought of a while ago and be inspired, touched and directed all over again...