#48 What did I do to deserve this? (22ndjune2005)

....happy is that people, whose God is the Lord'

Psalm 144:15



Happy is the angelic baby with a clean nappy

Happy is that ignoramus old chappy next door who is always napping

Happy is the surefire you whose every detail is scrutinized in your neighbours' wagging



But, does innocence, ignorance or adoration truly bring you to a permanent state of bliss and peace??



'..because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched'

2 Chronicles 34:25



I was all of the above in different shades and time, but what about now??



'Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest His words against this place......

Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thous shalt be gathered in thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same.'

2 Chronicles 34:27-28



The last one month has been particularly tumultous.



'We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken.....'

2 Corinthians 4:8-9



The 'good' thing was that throughout it all, I have been buying myself nice presents(unlike others who gobble their way through troubles), culminating in what better day than my 44th Geogian year two days back to buy myself the ultimate present, a nice loft up in the air in Mt Sinai(not in Mid-East but in Singapore)





Presents are nice, but truly, in this 'whirlwind-like' month for my family, nothing can compare to the presence of our God Almighty who has been very real and reassuring and have not just anchored us safely but led us with peace and joy through the sometimes virulent turbulence.



'For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...'

2 Corinthians 4:17





So, what did I do to be so buffeted yet blessed??



'who can understand his errrors?

Cleanse thou me from secret faults'

Psalm 19:12



I was humbled by the Lord but not humiliated.

I stumbled from my follies, but the Lord did not allow me to crumble

I grumbled but I did not allow my rumbles to shake my faith and focus on the Lord.

Through it all, the Lord was with me, He had to cleanse me through and through,

Before He allowed the truth to dawn on me, at His time and not mine.



'To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of satan unto God...'

Isaiah 40:3



'That he might present to himself a glorious church, not having a spot....'

Ephesians 5:26-27



It is not what I do, but what the Lord does and really all I did was



'....yield yourselves unto God..'

Romans 6:13





Indeed, God will and has blessed all of us



'And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.



'For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son....'



'If God be for us, who can be against us?'

Romans 8:28-31





We did not do anything to deserve His grace.



If anything, be still to hear Him, be willing to abide by His will and you will find that beyond the drudgery of life's daily mill, is a willing and loving God waiting for us to take up His blessings, for which there is no bill for us to feel any chill.



On the contrary, by not following but instead wallowing in our sins, may these forewarnings from God instil a dosage of healthy fear and repentance and response in all of us



'And I will fill his mountains with his slain men; in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword. I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return;

and ye shall know that I am the Lord......'

Ezekiel 35:8-12



Moving from River Valley to Mt Sinai will not save me from the wrath of God. It is God who we must turn to, before this option(not leasehold or freehold properties but eternity in Heaven) given to us expires.



God Blesses



Eng Hieang

(see attached link for my new abode, not even near to Heaven but God still more than provides for us on Earth)

http://www.glentrees.com.sg