I was alone praying in one of the rooms in church when i realised that i had switched off the air-conditioner by mistake a few minutes before when it got too cold with only me in the room. I had meant to raise the temperature.
When the air-conditioner isn't running, there's no maintaining the temperature in the room, and the air in the room becomes stuffy instead. So because of my "thoughtless" action... i ended up feeling warm...
As i got up to turn on the air-conditioner, and also raise the temperature to a more comfortable level, this spiritual truth was dropped in my heart:
We cannot depend on our past prayers and stale manna (manna here referring to the word of God becoming alive in our lives) to keep us going in our relationship with God, and growing in the things of God.
Jude 20 (AMP)
But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
We have to "keep the temperature up" in our walk with God, and one important way to do it is to pray in the Holy Spirit often. It's like charging ourselves up, encouraging ourselves to keep on going in the midst of difficult circumstances, or
even just in our daily lives.
Rev 3:15-16 (NJKV)
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
It takes consistency to maintain status quo; it takes intensity to make progress and rise higher and higher as stated in the amplified version of Jude 20.
We don't want just to maintain what we have by being consistent though that's a good basic step. We want to grow, and impact lives around us, and that takes more out of us. But you know what, i've found it easy because God gives us grace - His unmerited, undeserved favour and blessing; His strength and ability - and really, He is my source and my strength. I just have to remain in Him.
Be intense in order to affect the world around us for Him -
Intensely seeking Him
Intensely reading His Word
Intensely worshiping Him
Being lukewarm or having a nonchalant attitude regarding the things of God does not take us anywhere or help us do anything - in fact the Lord HATES it!
Turn the heat up a couple of notches and watch what happens in your life and in the lives of those around you.
Sunday 24 June 2007
Saturday 23 June 2007
waves and sand
We were at beach resort at Bintan Island with my husband's family a couple of weeks ago. It was a great FUN time for 10 of us including 2 children under one roof. We ate, played, bbq-ed, cooked, swam, watched tv together for 3 days 2 nights. We celebrated our nephew's 2nd birthday, and mum in law's belated birthday too! We bonded...we've been doing this for a few years now.
On the 2nd evening, my husband and i took our almost 7-year old niece for a ride in the buggy to the beach to play in the sunset. It was beautiful. Not many people were at the beach as it was almost dinner time. At first, my niece didn't want to go onto the sand or into the water, so i stayed with her just above the sand on the grass. But really, the sand and sea were simply irresistable.
After a while, we found ourselves with our feet in the soft sand, and soon we were letting the waves come up to where we were, and wash away the sand from around our feet. Each time the waves came, we sank a little into the sand. This was a childhood "game" which i still enjoy. ;D
We told her about the holes in the sand made by the crabs - countless little ones with the occasional large ones. We philosophised about the shaped of clouds. We ran away from the waves.
Then, my husband found a little toy rake, abandoned by its owner. My ever-energetic niece began to make shapes and letters in the sand, which were promptly flattened by the waves - wiped clean like on a magna-doodle board. I would have been frustrated by the waves destroying my calligraphic efforts, but my niece took them in her stride, making more shapes to be erased, almost as if she were competing with the sand how much she could draw before the waves relentlessly "attacked" her creative endeavours.
As i watched her, i was reminded of how our sins have been "erased" by the Love of God. The scriptures describe the love of God as relentless, tough, uncompromising and unconditional - never-failing no matter what we have done, or what we are doing. "nothing can separate us from His Love"! His love is amazing!
As we rode in the buggy the long way (we intentionally took the long route) back to the villa, my husband started asking our niece about church and worship - what she enjoyed about sunday school, what her favourite praise song was. She declared that every songs was her favourite. I don't know how it happened, but 3 of us started singing "Light of the world...Here i am to worship" even as the day turned to dusk, and light was diminishing before our very eyes. What an apt time of worship to end a beautiful day created by the Lord just for us...
On the 2nd evening, my husband and i took our almost 7-year old niece for a ride in the buggy to the beach to play in the sunset. It was beautiful. Not many people were at the beach as it was almost dinner time. At first, my niece didn't want to go onto the sand or into the water, so i stayed with her just above the sand on the grass. But really, the sand and sea were simply irresistable.
After a while, we found ourselves with our feet in the soft sand, and soon we were letting the waves come up to where we were, and wash away the sand from around our feet. Each time the waves came, we sank a little into the sand. This was a childhood "game" which i still enjoy. ;D
We told her about the holes in the sand made by the crabs - countless little ones with the occasional large ones. We philosophised about the shaped of clouds. We ran away from the waves.
Then, my husband found a little toy rake, abandoned by its owner. My ever-energetic niece began to make shapes and letters in the sand, which were promptly flattened by the waves - wiped clean like on a magna-doodle board. I would have been frustrated by the waves destroying my calligraphic efforts, but my niece took them in her stride, making more shapes to be erased, almost as if she were competing with the sand how much she could draw before the waves relentlessly "attacked" her creative endeavours.
As i watched her, i was reminded of how our sins have been "erased" by the Love of God. The scriptures describe the love of God as relentless, tough, uncompromising and unconditional - never-failing no matter what we have done, or what we are doing. "nothing can separate us from His Love"! His love is amazing!
As we rode in the buggy the long way (we intentionally took the long route) back to the villa, my husband started asking our niece about church and worship - what she enjoyed about sunday school, what her favourite praise song was. She declared that every songs was her favourite. I don't know how it happened, but 3 of us started singing "Light of the world...Here i am to worship" even as the day turned to dusk, and light was diminishing before our very eyes. What an apt time of worship to end a beautiful day created by the Lord just for us...
Tuesday 19 June 2007
earthen vessels of PRECIOUS TREASURE (continued from the previous entry: The Cracked Cup
2 Corinthians 4:7 (AMP)
However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.
This precious treasures in us is the very person and power of God. He made us a new creation so that are able to contain His Holy presence. He purchased this transformation with the life and blood of His only Son, so that
in Him, we are chosen
in Him, we have redemption;
in Him, we are enriched with every good thing;
in Him, we are MORE than conquerors;
in Him, we ARE the righteousness of God;
in Him, we can bear MUCH fruit;
in Him, God supplies ALL our need;
in Him, we are established and built up;
in Him, we can do ALL things...
The list goes on... just look up the epistles and gospels and underline all verses containing the words - In Him and Through Him, and you will get a clearer picture of how PRECIOUS the TREASURE which has been placed in us so that
we can live in victory, and not in defeat;
we can have health, and not sickness;
we can be blessed (to be a blessing), and not be cursed;
we can have an abundant life, and not live in lack;
we can be the head, and not the tail;
we can have eternal life, and not be condemned;
we can have an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father, and not be separated from our creator and saviour.
1 John 4:4 (AMP)
Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
The most amazing thing is that He chose to live in us. When God created Adam and Eve, He enjoyed fellowshipping with them in the garden every day . He chatted and laughed and had fun with them. But He didn't live in them. He lives in us now. Our bodies become His Tabernacle. When we grasp this whole mind-boggling, gut-wrenching, beyond-beautiful design of our Heavenly FATHER, and begin to comprehend the explosive significance of God's redemption plan, we will live differently - yes, triumphantly and boldly - as carriers of His PRECIOUS TREASURE!
However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.
This precious treasures in us is the very person and power of God. He made us a new creation so that are able to contain His Holy presence. He purchased this transformation with the life and blood of His only Son, so that
in Him, we are chosen
in Him, we have redemption;
in Him, we are enriched with every good thing;
in Him, we are MORE than conquerors;
in Him, we ARE the righteousness of God;
in Him, we can bear MUCH fruit;
in Him, God supplies ALL our need;
in Him, we are established and built up;
in Him, we can do ALL things...
The list goes on... just look up the epistles and gospels and underline all verses containing the words - In Him and Through Him, and you will get a clearer picture of how PRECIOUS the TREASURE which has been placed in us so that
we can live in victory, and not in defeat;
we can have health, and not sickness;
we can be blessed (to be a blessing), and not be cursed;
we can have an abundant life, and not live in lack;
we can be the head, and not the tail;
we can have eternal life, and not be condemned;
we can have an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father, and not be separated from our creator and saviour.
1 John 4:4 (AMP)
Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
The most amazing thing is that He chose to live in us. When God created Adam and Eve, He enjoyed fellowshipping with them in the garden every day . He chatted and laughed and had fun with them. But He didn't live in them. He lives in us now. Our bodies become His Tabernacle. When we grasp this whole mind-boggling, gut-wrenching, beyond-beautiful design of our Heavenly FATHER, and begin to comprehend the explosive significance of God's redemption plan, we will live differently - yes, triumphantly and boldly - as carriers of His PRECIOUS TREASURE!
Monday 18 June 2007
the cracked cup
My husband and I were at a buffet a few weeks ago with another couple. We had a great time - loads of salmon sushi (i love mine with wasabi) and some durian puffs, among other delicacies - with good company.
I remember i was getting drinks from the dispenser - peach tea for me and green tea for him - and was going to move away from the dispenser, when i noticed my plastic cup leaking. It's the kind of plastic cup that looks like frosted glass, so it was kind of difficult to see the crack. It really looked perfect.
But there it was, hardly noticeable; once you knew where it was, it became obvious.
As i poured the drink from this cracked "plastic glass" to a new one, it struck me that it was difficult to contain the blessings and love and goodness of God to overflowing if you are not whole. The blessings will leak. We can't contain all of it. And there's so much God wants to bless us with. That's why we need to be saved.
Praise God! He is in the business of salvation - of spirit, soul and body. When we confess Jesus as Lord, we are made a new creation - our spirit is recreated, made new - so we can contain all that He gives to us, including an intimate relationship with Him as our Heavenly Father.
As a new creation, we are no longer in darkness but part of His Kingdom of light. His Spirit indwells us always. We are no longer alone.
As His beloved children, we can approach Him with boldness and obtain grace and mercy just at the time we need them.
He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, and we are able to receive and enjoy all because we are whole and no longer "cracked".
I remember i was getting drinks from the dispenser - peach tea for me and green tea for him - and was going to move away from the dispenser, when i noticed my plastic cup leaking. It's the kind of plastic cup that looks like frosted glass, so it was kind of difficult to see the crack. It really looked perfect.
But there it was, hardly noticeable; once you knew where it was, it became obvious.
As i poured the drink from this cracked "plastic glass" to a new one, it struck me that it was difficult to contain the blessings and love and goodness of God to overflowing if you are not whole. The blessings will leak. We can't contain all of it. And there's so much God wants to bless us with. That's why we need to be saved.
Praise God! He is in the business of salvation - of spirit, soul and body. When we confess Jesus as Lord, we are made a new creation - our spirit is recreated, made new - so we can contain all that He gives to us, including an intimate relationship with Him as our Heavenly Father.
As a new creation, we are no longer in darkness but part of His Kingdom of light. His Spirit indwells us always. We are no longer alone.
As His beloved children, we can approach Him with boldness and obtain grace and mercy just at the time we need them.
He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, and we are able to receive and enjoy all because we are whole and no longer "cracked".
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