Shalom Shalom!
Recently, a few weeks ago, I was praying and worshipping God. And while I was doing so, I believe He told me to read Isaiah 54.
It was talking about the LORD who will restore Yisrael and will make her whole.
As I was reading it, a verse caught me and touched me.
Isaiah 54:4-5
"Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called."
God loves us so much that even though He turns away from us in anger for a while, He still turns to us again in LOVE and COMPASSION.
He knows that we are weak and incapable of many things which when we do, will make us sad and dissapointed.
In verses 4-5... what struck me was that He said that we will forget the shame of our youth!
And that reminds me of what St. Paul said in his epistle to the Philippians
Philippians 3:13
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead...
Actually, lately i was dwelling much in the past but i thank God in Christ Jesus that He has reminded me to forget the past and move on because He has come to make all things new and give us life more abundantly!! Halleluyah!!
If you have been sad, depressed and dissapointed because of your past, look to Jesus and ask the HOly Spirit to help you forget the past and move forward with Him.
He will help you when you call to Him with a thirsty heart. He will fill you anew with strength for each day as you continue to seek Him and learn how to dwell in His presence
(which i am learning now too! ^_^")
GOd bless you richly in Christ JEsus!!
Friday, 25 December 2009
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Lets talk =)
Recently, i believe God is doing a new work among His people. Its is such a great thing that i want to be a part of. It is the work of God uniting the many denominations of Christianity into ONE BODY OF CHRIST. It is so great that satan desires to fail it.
And this is one tool that he uses to divide the holy Catholic church.... judging
St Paul says in his epistle to the Romans:
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."
Its true, we are all sinners who fall short of God's glory and we cannot judge. We are in NO PLACE to judge becos we are imperfect.
Sometimes, it pains me to see pastors and members among my brethren to judge and evaluate other people and ministries. And sometimes, I TOO DO THE SAME.
Truthfully, it is very tempting to judge and evaluate something academically like what our schools and learning places teach us to do.
But if we do so, that is not how we as a church will be growing. We will be hurting others and ourselves in the end. We will sin against God and be puffed up like a over-sized souffle.
Its very hurting and painful towards someone if we judge and evaluate someone's work. It so does not build them up. In turn, it tears them down and then hurts them on the inside. It makes them turn cold towards us.
No wonder our LORD Jesus told us:
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. "
and
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."
Let us instead in GENUINE LOVE build up and help one another.
Lets ask our dear Abba to grant us strength to love one another that we may be able to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace which the Holy Spirit desires so much.
And let us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God too =)
God bless you all in Christ Jesus richly!
if you all need anything in prayer do leave a comment =)
And this is one tool that he uses to divide the holy Catholic church.... judging
St Paul says in his epistle to the Romans:
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."
Its true, we are all sinners who fall short of God's glory and we cannot judge. We are in NO PLACE to judge becos we are imperfect.
Sometimes, it pains me to see pastors and members among my brethren to judge and evaluate other people and ministries. And sometimes, I TOO DO THE SAME.
Truthfully, it is very tempting to judge and evaluate something academically like what our schools and learning places teach us to do.
But if we do so, that is not how we as a church will be growing. We will be hurting others and ourselves in the end. We will sin against God and be puffed up like a over-sized souffle.
Its very hurting and painful towards someone if we judge and evaluate someone's work. It so does not build them up. In turn, it tears them down and then hurts them on the inside. It makes them turn cold towards us.
No wonder our LORD Jesus told us:
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. "
and
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."
Let us instead in GENUINE LOVE build up and help one another.
Lets ask our dear Abba to grant us strength to love one another that we may be able to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace which the Holy Spirit desires so much.
And let us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God too =)
God bless you all in Christ Jesus richly!
if you all need anything in prayer do leave a comment =)
Friday, 28 August 2009
Malchus and us
Shalom viewers!
Thank God for a week of holiday. Its a good breather for me although it might be boring for me sometimes but still thank God!
I'd like to share something with you which really touched me when meditating on the 2nd station of the cross where Jesus was betrayed and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane
This is a picture where Peter cuts off Malchus' ear in wanting to protect Jesus.
I was looking at the Gospel according to John ( John 18:1-11)
What God impressed on my heart was the high priest's servant Malchus whose ear Peter cut off with a knife in responding to defend Jesus.
As i meditated on it, it strikes me that we too are like Malchus.
We deserve to be cut into pieces because of our sins. BUT Jesus in His infinite mercies has not done so.
INSTEAD He took our infirmities, our sins, our wounds and pains, our wrongdoings and put them on His body.
He then took us from the doom which we were going towards and set us on a place where we could stand. He healed our wounds and restored us to become the person He wants us to be.
How loving is our God!
Jesus too is so loving as He in His painful and bitter baptism showed such great mercy!
As the redeemed, let us strive to become like Him each day!
I hope you are encouraged by this post =)
Shalom and blessings to you in Jesus Name!
Thank God for a week of holiday. Its a good breather for me although it might be boring for me sometimes but still thank God!
I'd like to share something with you which really touched me when meditating on the 2nd station of the cross where Jesus was betrayed and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane
This is a picture where Peter cuts off Malchus' ear in wanting to protect Jesus.
I was looking at the Gospel according to John ( John 18:1-11)
What God impressed on my heart was the high priest's servant Malchus whose ear Peter cut off with a knife in responding to defend Jesus.
As i meditated on it, it strikes me that we too are like Malchus.
We deserve to be cut into pieces because of our sins. BUT Jesus in His infinite mercies has not done so.
INSTEAD He took our infirmities, our sins, our wounds and pains, our wrongdoings and put them on His body.
He then took us from the doom which we were going towards and set us on a place where we could stand. He healed our wounds and restored us to become the person He wants us to be.
How loving is our God!
Jesus too is so loving as He in His painful and bitter baptism showed such great mercy!
As the redeemed, let us strive to become like Him each day!
I hope you are encouraged by this post =)
Shalom and blessings to you in Jesus Name!
Monday, 8 June 2009
Prayer filled with praise
This post is from Chinese Christian Prayer Mountain (CCPM) conference in Genting Highlands on April 5 2009
Psalm 103:1 -- Bless the Lord, O my soul,and all that is within me,bless his holy name!
From this first verse, we are given a hint that the psalmist met hardship because, most of the time, psalmist do praise God even in hardship and that is one virtue we must learn from.
But, why in prayer should we have praise and worship?
Psalm 22:1-3 says:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Ps 22:3 says "Yet you are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel."
Let us praise and worship God and pray until God establish His throne not only in our lives but also in the area we live in. Where his throne is established we will feel His presence, His peace, His power working. =)
Below is an example of the Shilach Paul and his companion Silas praising and worshipping God in the midst of their suffering:
Acts 16:25-28--About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
Praise and worship can cause amazing miracles to take place!
But to pray and have it filled with praise and worship we must have faith.. we must worship in Spirit and in truth.
Psalm 11:3-- In the Lord I take refuge ; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain..."
Romans 8:9-- You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
When we praise and worship God we can repeat on and on until His joy enters into our hearts and becomes our strength. Soon, God's throne will be set in our hearts as we continue in praise and worship and our lives will be directed by God Himself. =)
Psalm 103:1b--...and all that is within me,bless his holy name!
We have to worship and praise God with all of our inward being.
The only way is by obeying the greatest command which is
וְאָהַבְתָּ, אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ, וּבְכָל-מְאֹדֶךָ.
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Dt6:5)
Let us worship God throughout our lives. May our live be a pleasing sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him.
Blessings be with you all in Christ Jesus!
Psalm 103:1 -- Bless the Lord, O my soul,and all that is within me,bless his holy name!
From this first verse, we are given a hint that the psalmist met hardship because, most of the time, psalmist do praise God even in hardship and that is one virtue we must learn from.
But, why in prayer should we have praise and worship?
Psalm 22:1-3 says:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Ps 22:3 says "Yet you are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel."
Let us praise and worship God and pray until God establish His throne not only in our lives but also in the area we live in. Where his throne is established we will feel His presence, His peace, His power working. =)
Below is an example of the Shilach Paul and his companion Silas praising and worshipping God in the midst of their suffering:
Acts 16:25-28--About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
Praise and worship can cause amazing miracles to take place!
But to pray and have it filled with praise and worship we must have faith.. we must worship in Spirit and in truth.
Psalm 11:3-- In the Lord I take refuge ; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain..."
Romans 8:9-- You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
When we praise and worship God we can repeat on and on until His joy enters into our hearts and becomes our strength. Soon, God's throne will be set in our hearts as we continue in praise and worship and our lives will be directed by God Himself. =)
Psalm 103:1b--...and all that is within me,bless his holy name!
We have to worship and praise God with all of our inward being.
The only way is by obeying the greatest command which is
וְאָהַבְתָּ, אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ, וּבְכָל-מְאֹדֶךָ.
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Dt6:5)
Let us worship God throughout our lives. May our live be a pleasing sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him.
Blessings be with you all in Christ Jesus!
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