Dear...
'Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.'
Romans 6:13
This is in all probability my last Reflection for year 2009, and if God so desires, I will still saunter into your life come year 2010. Two things just happened today. My dear assistant has just given birth this evening, much as the intended date was more likely to be early to mid January next year. But none can hold back a baby desirous of seeing the light of the world. The other was my son, also a December baby, just barking out his mother's orders for me to cut the pricey Philippines papaya before it becomes over-ripe. Yield one must, and so to the flesh I must obey for we know who is the boss at home, but I will be back in a flash!!
'Therefore, brethren, we are debtors , not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God...'
Romans 8:12-14
I am back and indeed, the papaya looks pretty delectable, could be from the rich volcanic soils around the now rumbling Mayon volcano. Much as men know the potential destructive powers of earth's hot-spots, it is indeed hard to resist the richness of the fertile soil, and much as nature ultimately will reclaim its destructive right to the land, who can resist what the sinful world has on offer?
The term "yield" this year is what troubles the hearts of many. For in the aftermath of the financial meltdown, very low global interest rates was the inevitable price of the massive liquidity pumping by the major governments, in their present efforts to re-float the global economy. Many have had a tough time looking for decent yields ie a stable and regular income on their cash. And frustration is natural if one looks at one's seemingly unenviable position from the natural rather than the spiritual. One might be a lot more at peace if one could just look from the perspective that one's capital is still preserved, no doubt with very little regenerative returns compared to the shell that underlines the once beefed up wealth of the hurt rich.
'But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.'
Psalm 37:11
If you were one of those enterprenerial and very hard working traders on the black market in communist North Korea, will you yield willingly to the recent measures by the government, who in one clean regulatory sweep, has just made most of your hard earned savings worth literally pennies. You might more than grumble, for resentment could boil over the inherent fear of a repressive regime, but reality is to stubbornly resist will soon see you end up in the Korean Gulag, not a holiday resort, unless one desires deprivation as the means to knowing God.
'O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps....'
Jeremiah 10:23
I just gave a dear friend a book titled "Half Tim." A thought provoking book from a Christian perspective about what should we do about the 2nd half of our life, assuming there is a 2nd half!! I am sure I am quite past half time, and thankfully, for if at 49 next year is just half time, not too sure if I want to stay within my run-down shell at 98 when one could be with the Lord our God in eternity.
But what I have truly learned this past 48 plus years? Or at least these past 8 years as a more committed follower of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Letting go and letting God is a concept or more like Biblical truth that has been the first word of wisdom that was given to me by my small group leader a decade back, when I first returned to the Lord. And even after a couple of years of wondering everywhere except following our Lord Jesus Christ, until the Spirit of God filled me up that one time in Bangkok 8 years back, since then, a near full tank I might be as a desirous follower of Christ, but I have till now never been able to yield totally to His leading.
'Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit, through deceit, they refuse to know Me, saith the Lord.'
Jeremiah 9:6
The world is indeed living under a delusion, the illusions of the Prince of the air, the devil. But hasn't the light of God already shone through the darkness unto my repentful and thankful heart? So how can I, not a Bible waving, but a diligent Bible reading believer, who tries to be diligent in living out my faith, be grouped together with those who clearly refuse to know or yield to the will of our sovereign God?
'Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.'
Jeremiah 9:23-24
I might know God a little better than most, because I seek Him more than most. But if I truly know Him, I should be able to not just discern His leading, but be willing to follow without being held back by my sinful understanding. God looks for obedience, not sacrifice. In yielding totally to His will, we will reap a yield beyong our wildest but finite understanding.
So what is my year 2010 resolution? To stay resolute without the need for resolutions? ?
The secular world values a resolute spirit for they believe it will yield great material success. Resilience based on one's strength and human will might indeed achieve temporal success for some but at what costs?
In God's kingdom, it is the inverse. A heart that is willing to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit will grow into an assured heart that stays resolute in trusting our lord because, in yielding rather than resisting, we have come to know God.
'Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done.'
Luke 22:42
Christ in moments with God, before his arrest by the Jews, struggled knowing that to follow the will of God his Father will mean a painful death on the cross. But he resolutely obeyed because he trusted God with his all.
Can we be like Christ? Most of us find it easier to yield to the demands of the sinful world, because the world will impose on us. God leads but He give us a free will. He will not impose His will upon us. His Spirit falls upon us when we are ready and willing. He will know when we are ready to be filled with His Spirit. But to be ready, we must be willing to be made ready. A heart that seeks to yield to the leading of His Spirit, every moment of our life, is a necessary step towards being made ready.
Are you willing??
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(29dec09)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Reflections for the moment #46 Kingdom Investment (18dec09)
Dear…
'Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner pray…'
Matthew 6:8-9
'Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.'
2 Chronicles 30:27
The thought that our good Lord placed in my heart these past few days is the need for us to stop running two parallel lives. I am not talking about the dual persona that has caused much stress to the Tiger that found itself out of sorts, now that his dalliances in the literal woods, have been exposed in the wide open field of the media. The Lord reminded me that most of us are not living a life that is truly aligned to His will. Much as we should not impose our faith on others, we must not be afraid to live out our faith, be it in the workplace, school or wherever He places us. But it is more than the outward manifestation that God is looking at. He is looking for a heart that has a place solely for Him, a heart that seeks after Him, even if it means to deny the world.
'And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.'
2 Chronicles 29:2
Soul searching is a pre-requisite exercise before one make resolutions for the New Year. Question is, would one be quick as a tiger in making promises of amendments, yet the heart is still wavering? And on what benchmarks are we measuring ourselves? Most of us tend to judge on what we think rather than ask the Lord what His will is. And if this is true, the next year will be no different much as we might hope for otherwise, more of the angst and strife and unaswered prayers, much as we thirst for the peace and joy that seems to slip by quicker than Father time. We might regress to our old sinful habits, but the world is not the same, as End Times intensifies, and many of us will find it increasingingly untenable to have a foot on both paths - the ways of the world, or the will of God.
'Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense..'
2 Chronicles 29:10-11
We might be inclined to think that we chose God in calling ourselves a Christian, but reality is, it is God Who chose us. In calling oneself a Christian, one who believes in the saving grace from God's sacrifice of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is just the beginning of a new leg in our journey of life. Many non-believers might not realize that even in their mothers' womb, God has already set the path for all. And even in their present un-believer state, God is preparing them for the day they will know His presence. For some, you are already at that stage, where you believe in God's presence. But like the devil, you might choose to believe, but not be desirous of following His leading. Does believing make the devil a Christian? Clearly not, for the devil denied the Lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ.
'So I spoke to you: yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the Lord and presumptously went up into the mountain.'
Deuteronomy 1:43
As year 2010 beckons, most of us in the midst of rest and merriment, are making plans for the next year. Such plans would include good plans for our families, our businesses, our wealth and our health.Like the disobedient Israelites of Moses time, we choose to continue to climb such mountains of achievements based on our finite and sinful understanding, and figured that this must be what God would want, rather than be still and truly know the will of God.
'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.'
Romans 12:1
So, what is the will of God for each and everyone of us? God will bring us through different paths, but it all leads to Him and the basic guiding command remains the same, ie to be a living sacrifice for His Glory. To live a life that places Him, not just first and foremost, but the only focus of our life. And that means to honor Him in all that we do. To obey as He leads. To stay close to Him so our very spirit will sense the leading of the Holy Spirit residing in us who truly believed. In short, are you prepared to allocate your all to invest in the Kingdom that God is preparing?
'For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth….
…..Therefore know that the Lord your God, HE is God, the faithful God Who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments..'
Deuteronomy 7:6-9
All humanity are God's chosen people. Each and everyone will be given that opportunity to know our Sovereign Lord, but not everyone will choose to walk the path that God has set them. It is your choice to take God's loving hands firmly or to reject it. Half and limpid grips doesn't count. For those who truly are desirous of letting go and letting God, Whose plans are good for us, this is the time to come to Him with your all, and God will speak to you.
It seems easy to say yes Lord, I will Lord. But at every crossroads that you will encounter, will you be prepared to trust in the Lord by honoring Him, or will you look at your self interests based on your flawed understanding? Your decision then will be very dependent upon what you do now, for God wants to start you on the process of being refined to His likeness, but you must be willing.
'Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.'
2 Corinthians 5:20
'And I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be My sons an daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'
2 Corinthians 6:18
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(17th Dec 09)
Note
So where is God leading me next year? In year 2007, God blessed me tremendously material-wise. In year 2008, He told me to distribute and not cumulate. I obeyed for the 1st half and then decided to modify the gameplan, to my chagrin and grief. This year, in early 2009, the Lord admonishes, yet He restores, and indeed He has returned me what He has promised me. What about next year, 2010? As this year nears its last days, the Lord reminded me again to invest in His Kingdom and not in the world.
.
'It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.'
2 Corinthians 12:1
To invest correctly, I ask the Lord what does His kingdom really mean't??
God loves a cheerful giver, and we must be willing to share the provisions HE has provided. But it is more than that. For God desires every heart to be the temple upon which His Spirit will reside exclusively. Why would anyone be a willing to give up the perceived delusions of the world just to receive the glory of God? They must see the glory of God in you the chosen, for they must see Christ in you and see no compelling reason not to want to experience the same fruitful relationship with our Sovereign God.
'But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'
2 Corinthians 10:17
So how does one invest not in the world, but in the Kingdom of God? I do have some inkling, but it is better and imperative for you to take time with our good Lord, and He will lead you. As for me, I have learned to respond as God leads, and on that, the Lord our God has placed in my heart, the title of a 2nd book "Happy Family - mirroring God's love"
What form it will take, the Spirit of our Lord will show me. How long it will take to fruition, I have no idea. But if it is from our Lord, it will be as wonderful if not more than the first book "Reflections - A traveler's muse"
And on that, every day is a blessing, so do enjoy it.
'Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner pray…'
Matthew 6:8-9
'Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.'
2 Chronicles 30:27
The thought that our good Lord placed in my heart these past few days is the need for us to stop running two parallel lives. I am not talking about the dual persona that has caused much stress to the Tiger that found itself out of sorts, now that his dalliances in the literal woods, have been exposed in the wide open field of the media. The Lord reminded me that most of us are not living a life that is truly aligned to His will. Much as we should not impose our faith on others, we must not be afraid to live out our faith, be it in the workplace, school or wherever He places us. But it is more than the outward manifestation that God is looking at. He is looking for a heart that has a place solely for Him, a heart that seeks after Him, even if it means to deny the world.
'And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.'
2 Chronicles 29:2
Soul searching is a pre-requisite exercise before one make resolutions for the New Year. Question is, would one be quick as a tiger in making promises of amendments, yet the heart is still wavering? And on what benchmarks are we measuring ourselves? Most of us tend to judge on what we think rather than ask the Lord what His will is. And if this is true, the next year will be no different much as we might hope for otherwise, more of the angst and strife and unaswered prayers, much as we thirst for the peace and joy that seems to slip by quicker than Father time. We might regress to our old sinful habits, but the world is not the same, as End Times intensifies, and many of us will find it increasingingly untenable to have a foot on both paths - the ways of the world, or the will of God.
'Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense..'
2 Chronicles 29:10-11
We might be inclined to think that we chose God in calling ourselves a Christian, but reality is, it is God Who chose us. In calling oneself a Christian, one who believes in the saving grace from God's sacrifice of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is just the beginning of a new leg in our journey of life. Many non-believers might not realize that even in their mothers' womb, God has already set the path for all. And even in their present un-believer state, God is preparing them for the day they will know His presence. For some, you are already at that stage, where you believe in God's presence. But like the devil, you might choose to believe, but not be desirous of following His leading. Does believing make the devil a Christian? Clearly not, for the devil denied the Lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ.
'So I spoke to you: yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the Lord and presumptously went up into the mountain.'
Deuteronomy 1:43
As year 2010 beckons, most of us in the midst of rest and merriment, are making plans for the next year. Such plans would include good plans for our families, our businesses, our wealth and our health.Like the disobedient Israelites of Moses time, we choose to continue to climb such mountains of achievements based on our finite and sinful understanding, and figured that this must be what God would want, rather than be still and truly know the will of God.
'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.'
Romans 12:1
So, what is the will of God for each and everyone of us? God will bring us through different paths, but it all leads to Him and the basic guiding command remains the same, ie to be a living sacrifice for His Glory. To live a life that places Him, not just first and foremost, but the only focus of our life. And that means to honor Him in all that we do. To obey as He leads. To stay close to Him so our very spirit will sense the leading of the Holy Spirit residing in us who truly believed. In short, are you prepared to allocate your all to invest in the Kingdom that God is preparing?
'For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth….
…..Therefore know that the Lord your God, HE is God, the faithful God Who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments..'
Deuteronomy 7:6-9
All humanity are God's chosen people. Each and everyone will be given that opportunity to know our Sovereign Lord, but not everyone will choose to walk the path that God has set them. It is your choice to take God's loving hands firmly or to reject it. Half and limpid grips doesn't count. For those who truly are desirous of letting go and letting God, Whose plans are good for us, this is the time to come to Him with your all, and God will speak to you.
It seems easy to say yes Lord, I will Lord. But at every crossroads that you will encounter, will you be prepared to trust in the Lord by honoring Him, or will you look at your self interests based on your flawed understanding? Your decision then will be very dependent upon what you do now, for God wants to start you on the process of being refined to His likeness, but you must be willing.
'Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.'
2 Corinthians 5:20
'And I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be My sons an daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'
2 Corinthians 6:18
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(17th Dec 09)
Note
So where is God leading me next year? In year 2007, God blessed me tremendously material-wise. In year 2008, He told me to distribute and not cumulate. I obeyed for the 1st half and then decided to modify the gameplan, to my chagrin and grief. This year, in early 2009, the Lord admonishes, yet He restores, and indeed He has returned me what He has promised me. What about next year, 2010? As this year nears its last days, the Lord reminded me again to invest in His Kingdom and not in the world.
.
'It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.'
2 Corinthians 12:1
To invest correctly, I ask the Lord what does His kingdom really mean't??
God loves a cheerful giver, and we must be willing to share the provisions HE has provided. But it is more than that. For God desires every heart to be the temple upon which His Spirit will reside exclusively. Why would anyone be a willing to give up the perceived delusions of the world just to receive the glory of God? They must see the glory of God in you the chosen, for they must see Christ in you and see no compelling reason not to want to experience the same fruitful relationship with our Sovereign God.
'But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'
2 Corinthians 10:17
So how does one invest not in the world, but in the Kingdom of God? I do have some inkling, but it is better and imperative for you to take time with our good Lord, and He will lead you. As for me, I have learned to respond as God leads, and on that, the Lord our God has placed in my heart, the title of a 2nd book "Happy Family - mirroring God's love"
What form it will take, the Spirit of our Lord will show me. How long it will take to fruition, I have no idea. But if it is from our Lord, it will be as wonderful if not more than the first book "Reflections - A traveler's muse"
And on that, every day is a blessing, so do enjoy it.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Reflections for the moment #45 Does it matter? (10nov09)
Dear...
'Jesus said. "...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'"
Matthew 4:4
December is a great month. By tradition, a time for most of us to take that well deserved rest, from a hard year's challenge. A time of respite before we start a new year, hopefully a better and more rewarding year, resolving to do things better.
But is this temporary hiatus suffice for us before life's concerns and woes in this imperfect world resume its grip upon our very tormented soul as the new work year edges nearer? A news report I watched yesterday stated that one out of every four Taiwanese has insomnia, above the global average of 10-15% of the world.
'Then God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold I have done according to your words...
1 Kings 3:11
The present financial implosions in Dubai, where a spanking new city in bricks and mortars is very real, but the whole mirage of greatness was funded by easy credit, has now come to roost. And though the contagion has now spread to lesser European countries like Greece, and maybe soon to Spain and Italy, self belief or more like self denial, in the effervescence of liquidity keeping things afloat, have ensured that no panic has hit the world in general, though as a Sheikh in fllowing robes in Dubai, watching the camels reclaim its old hunting grounds amongst your still opulent but empty palaces, you might not be as agreeable.
'And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honour.....'
1 Kings 3:13
The world has indeed not resolved its problems. It will come back and haunt all of us a few short years from now. And this continued fiscal ill disciplines of governments will portend a great period of upheaval, not just economically, but across all spectrum of life. The old order as we know it, since the end of World War 2, will change, no different from the animal kingdom, where the new upstarts will want to replace the aging leader. We are moving closer to a new one world, where the values of Judeo Christianity, as epitomized by the Roman Byzantine, the Imperial British and now the declining American Empires, will be replaced by a hodge podge of values, whose only commonality is that they do not believe in the God of Israel.
A bit far reaching this postulation might seem, for most of us will be more interested in the present. And the present is already quite daunting, for we are in a jobless economic recovery. Will God truly give us what we need to survive in this world, even if we do not asked for it as in 1 Kings 3:13?
As we ponder upon this Biblical truth, I will dare say that all of us on this email are well provided for, materially. Yet, as we extrapolate into the future, fear of insufficiency does grip all of us and that is only natural, if we continue to look at life from the natural rather than the spiritual.
Man measures life by its length, be it 70-80 years and how best we can be ensconced during this period comfortably. God wants us to look at eternity and be desirous of being made ready for the day we will have to meet Him.
'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart - These, O God, You will not despise.'
Psalm 51:17
Peace and joy comes to us, when we truly understand that nothing else matters in our till now wretched life, except for the deisre to have the presence of God in our lives always and to live a life that honours Him. All of us will find it hard to give our all to God and like the Apostle Peter, we will continue to deny Christ, thrree times or even more, if it is on our own strength. God understands that and painful as deprivation of the earthly treasures of the world might be, in allowing us to go through refinements, God will help us to look at Him, our Provider and not at His provisions.
'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness. That the bones You have broken may rejoice..'
Psalm 51:7-8
Like all, I continue to be troubled by too many things. Yet, because I know God, I know where to go to and such fears do not grip me too long. LIke the imperfect men, I often wish for challenges to be resolved quickly and in my ways, based on my finite understanding. I have learned, with God, that I must be patient to wait upon Him, for His way and timing is perfect. The Daily Bread reading this morning is presceint as always, for God knows our needs. Today's reading brings us to the Book of Ruth, and how, despite all her troubles, Ruth chose to honor God through her relationship with her mother in law. It is good to look back at how God has indeed always held our hands all the time and how He has always brought us through, for He is Sovereign. "In all your ways acknowlege Him, and He shall direct your paths"(Proverbs 3:6)
Having just returned from Japan, what strikes me is the compactness of their physcial environment, the generlal courtesy of its people and the presence of many shrines to their gods. Is there a dichotomy that will erupt from the general politeness into brutalness, as in World War 2, when a button in their emotional mix is pressed that transform the civility of Japanese society into a brutal conqueror, that could only be suppressed by the equally horrendic atomic bombs dropped upon Nagasakin and Hiroshima?
Without God, our carnal instinct will come to the fore, once our abiility to meet our needs is no longer possible within orderly society, and this is where the world seems to be going headlong into, as countries compete for limited resources and infintie wants.
O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king, instead of my father David, but I am a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in'
1 Kings 3:7
For all his wisdom, King Solomon eventually fell from grace, because he stopped relying upon the Lord our God. What about us lesser men and women? God knows our needs on Earth, and we must believe in His promise to provide for our needs, not our wants.
But to not rely upon our Provider is to ensure that we will continue to be subjected to the delusions of the devil, whose real purpose is to keep us sleepless and tormented, not just in the present, but in eternity.
The choice is yours,even as circumstances will harden in the days ahead, for End Times are intensifying.
'The peace of God which surpasses all understandng, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus'
Philippians 4:7
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(10 Dec 09)
'Jesus said. "...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'"
Matthew 4:4
December is a great month. By tradition, a time for most of us to take that well deserved rest, from a hard year's challenge. A time of respite before we start a new year, hopefully a better and more rewarding year, resolving to do things better.
But is this temporary hiatus suffice for us before life's concerns and woes in this imperfect world resume its grip upon our very tormented soul as the new work year edges nearer? A news report I watched yesterday stated that one out of every four Taiwanese has insomnia, above the global average of 10-15% of the world.
'Then God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold I have done according to your words...
1 Kings 3:11
The present financial implosions in Dubai, where a spanking new city in bricks and mortars is very real, but the whole mirage of greatness was funded by easy credit, has now come to roost. And though the contagion has now spread to lesser European countries like Greece, and maybe soon to Spain and Italy, self belief or more like self denial, in the effervescence of liquidity keeping things afloat, have ensured that no panic has hit the world in general, though as a Sheikh in fllowing robes in Dubai, watching the camels reclaim its old hunting grounds amongst your still opulent but empty palaces, you might not be as agreeable.
'And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honour.....'
1 Kings 3:13
The world has indeed not resolved its problems. It will come back and haunt all of us a few short years from now. And this continued fiscal ill disciplines of governments will portend a great period of upheaval, not just economically, but across all spectrum of life. The old order as we know it, since the end of World War 2, will change, no different from the animal kingdom, where the new upstarts will want to replace the aging leader. We are moving closer to a new one world, where the values of Judeo Christianity, as epitomized by the Roman Byzantine, the Imperial British and now the declining American Empires, will be replaced by a hodge podge of values, whose only commonality is that they do not believe in the God of Israel.
A bit far reaching this postulation might seem, for most of us will be more interested in the present. And the present is already quite daunting, for we are in a jobless economic recovery. Will God truly give us what we need to survive in this world, even if we do not asked for it as in 1 Kings 3:13?
As we ponder upon this Biblical truth, I will dare say that all of us on this email are well provided for, materially. Yet, as we extrapolate into the future, fear of insufficiency does grip all of us and that is only natural, if we continue to look at life from the natural rather than the spiritual.
Man measures life by its length, be it 70-80 years and how best we can be ensconced during this period comfortably. God wants us to look at eternity and be desirous of being made ready for the day we will have to meet Him.
'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart - These, O God, You will not despise.'
Psalm 51:17
Peace and joy comes to us, when we truly understand that nothing else matters in our till now wretched life, except for the deisre to have the presence of God in our lives always and to live a life that honours Him. All of us will find it hard to give our all to God and like the Apostle Peter, we will continue to deny Christ, thrree times or even more, if it is on our own strength. God understands that and painful as deprivation of the earthly treasures of the world might be, in allowing us to go through refinements, God will help us to look at Him, our Provider and not at His provisions.
'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness. That the bones You have broken may rejoice..'
Psalm 51:7-8
Like all, I continue to be troubled by too many things. Yet, because I know God, I know where to go to and such fears do not grip me too long. LIke the imperfect men, I often wish for challenges to be resolved quickly and in my ways, based on my finite understanding. I have learned, with God, that I must be patient to wait upon Him, for His way and timing is perfect. The Daily Bread reading this morning is presceint as always, for God knows our needs. Today's reading brings us to the Book of Ruth, and how, despite all her troubles, Ruth chose to honor God through her relationship with her mother in law. It is good to look back at how God has indeed always held our hands all the time and how He has always brought us through, for He is Sovereign. "In all your ways acknowlege Him, and He shall direct your paths"(Proverbs 3:6)
Having just returned from Japan, what strikes me is the compactness of their physcial environment, the generlal courtesy of its people and the presence of many shrines to their gods. Is there a dichotomy that will erupt from the general politeness into brutalness, as in World War 2, when a button in their emotional mix is pressed that transform the civility of Japanese society into a brutal conqueror, that could only be suppressed by the equally horrendic atomic bombs dropped upon Nagasakin and Hiroshima?
Without God, our carnal instinct will come to the fore, once our abiility to meet our needs is no longer possible within orderly society, and this is where the world seems to be going headlong into, as countries compete for limited resources and infintie wants.
O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king, instead of my father David, but I am a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in'
1 Kings 3:7
For all his wisdom, King Solomon eventually fell from grace, because he stopped relying upon the Lord our God. What about us lesser men and women? God knows our needs on Earth, and we must believe in His promise to provide for our needs, not our wants.
But to not rely upon our Provider is to ensure that we will continue to be subjected to the delusions of the devil, whose real purpose is to keep us sleepless and tormented, not just in the present, but in eternity.
The choice is yours,even as circumstances will harden in the days ahead, for End Times are intensifying.
'The peace of God which surpasses all understandng, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus'
Philippians 4:7
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(10 Dec 09)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Reflections for the moment #44 Caricatures (23nov09)
Dear…
'Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?'
Isaiah 42:23
Having been a desirous follower of our Lord Jesus Christ these past few years, it had just struck me these past few days that by the grace of God, I have been quite blessed in that my expression of my faith with people God placed in my path has been smooth sailing. I have till now never had anyone who has jumped and stamped upon me, for trying to share God's love for me, with them.
My own experience is quite different from the harsh reality of a world where many whose blindness of the heart have not yet been lifted by our Lord, who are as a whole a sensitive minefield, where the overenthusiastic and greatly imperfect believers,in their own fervent understanding, can easily trigger a negative reaction and reinforced the perception amongst the many non-believers that Christians are overbearing at best, and hypocrites near their level worst.
'But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God…'
2 Chronicles 26:16
A couple of friends from across the Causeway was in Singapore and we had lunch. We have not seen each other for at least two years though they knew I am a Christian. Over lunch, I did offer them each a copy of my book, "Reflections - A traveler's muse" and of course, I did explain that it was an art book with a Christian message and if they were comfortable to accept it. There was no issue with that, but interestingly, one of them shared about his anger with his professional adviser who slipped by a gospel message under the guise of a work related article. The intent might be right, but the approach might not be, and the truth is, no one knows the state of mind of the recipient at the point of receipt. In his case, April 2009 was a bad time and most people were on edge going through very trying economic times.So what is the right moment to share God's word? Only the Lord knows.
'…and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.'
2 Chronicles 26:5
Many in their earthly desires, clothed behind the façade of the Christian faith, profess the wonderful generosity of God in materially blessing us all. And not just in wealth, but in all things that the finite sinful human desires. The reality of life in our fallen world is that all of us, be it believers or not will have to go through continued difficulties and not the perceived pedestal that many misguided Christians choose to delude themselves or others with. The other friend at the lunch, he is less antagonistic towards Christians, having learned to ignore their persistent presence, thinks that Christians are either lying or living in a delusory rosy world to always talk about the good God did to their lives, in terms of well-being, without sharing about their difficulties. And he is right, for being a Christian, is not about no storms in our lives, but rather, we know where to anchor our faith upon, God our Rock. For just as rain will fall on all, believers or not, it is how we learn to entrust our all to our Sovereign Lord that will speak more powerfully about our belief than what words can do.
'Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest…'
Luke 22:24
Just today, I had lunch with another old friend, a worldly wise nice gentleman, who recently, happened to join a tour organized by a Catholic church to Turkey and Israel. There was plenty of churches they visited and he find it less relevant to him, for they were mere symbols to him. But what was real was the rigid legalism of the Orthodox Jews, and the general inequality between Isrealite lands and those of the Palestinians. No one likes to listen to theory, they want to see us live out our faith, which is, be like Christ, to love the unlovable, to put others before self. How we live out our faith, as led by the Spirit of God, is the testimony that God has commanded us, and which will speak to once hardened hearts of the non-believer.
'For who is greater….But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.'
Luke 22:27-28
Caricature is the art of exaggerating someone's features, so as to reveal something of their essential character. For most might remember the late US president Richard Nixon's large nose was a popular caricature. Christianity is about our relationship with a perfect God, Who through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has turned a once blemish slate into a cleaned board. As we grow in our relationship with God, as we allow Him to mold us, the world's perception of us will also be reformulated, not by what we say, but by how we allow God to refine us, through all circumstances. The conversion of the non-believers come from the Spirit of God, as HE convicts them, much as the world watches us being reconfigured into Christlikeness. We are not just the lamp upon which the glory of God shines forth, but we are also the mirror upon which the world sees Christ in action in us, if we allow Him.
We must be simply Christlike, for that is the quality that the world must see in us. It is about God changing us, and not us changing others.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(24 Nov 09)
An afterthought
'Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.'
2 Corinthians 7:4
This morning, I was reminded of my younger days, when we used to go swimming by the sea at Pasir Panjang, when the beach was still around. With all the reclamation, our children rarely experience the low and high tides of nature. I remembered at high tide sitting by the jetty watching my cousins jumped into the sea and having great fun. The pull of the fun was too strong and I finally jumped in, even though I could not swim then. If not the for quick witted response of my cousin in throwing an old tyre to me as a float, I would long have been part of the sea.
I was of course thankful to my cousin and this gratitude has been etched in my memory much as time has make vague other lesser experiences over the 3 decades.
What if it has been my cousin who pushed me in rather than I jumped in on my own free will? I would have literally murdered him there and then or at least, it might still be a sore point till today.
A simplistic analogy it might be, but non believers are like non swimmers. They don't want to be pushed into the waters notwithstanding our good intent. But the day will come when the waters will come to them, and in their struggles, they will recall the days they saw you the believer treading water well, not on your own strength, but upon living out your belief in your God. That will be the time they will appreciate your coming alongside them. But till then, it is better that we let God prepare us for that day. And how do you know the moment has arrived. The Spirit of God will prompt you, but you will only be cognizance if you had spent time with God.
'Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?'
Isaiah 42:23
Having been a desirous follower of our Lord Jesus Christ these past few years, it had just struck me these past few days that by the grace of God, I have been quite blessed in that my expression of my faith with people God placed in my path has been smooth sailing. I have till now never had anyone who has jumped and stamped upon me, for trying to share God's love for me, with them.
My own experience is quite different from the harsh reality of a world where many whose blindness of the heart have not yet been lifted by our Lord, who are as a whole a sensitive minefield, where the overenthusiastic and greatly imperfect believers,in their own fervent understanding, can easily trigger a negative reaction and reinforced the perception amongst the many non-believers that Christians are overbearing at best, and hypocrites near their level worst.
'But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God…'
2 Chronicles 26:16
A couple of friends from across the Causeway was in Singapore and we had lunch. We have not seen each other for at least two years though they knew I am a Christian. Over lunch, I did offer them each a copy of my book, "Reflections - A traveler's muse" and of course, I did explain that it was an art book with a Christian message and if they were comfortable to accept it. There was no issue with that, but interestingly, one of them shared about his anger with his professional adviser who slipped by a gospel message under the guise of a work related article. The intent might be right, but the approach might not be, and the truth is, no one knows the state of mind of the recipient at the point of receipt. In his case, April 2009 was a bad time and most people were on edge going through very trying economic times.So what is the right moment to share God's word? Only the Lord knows.
'…and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.'
2 Chronicles 26:5
Many in their earthly desires, clothed behind the façade of the Christian faith, profess the wonderful generosity of God in materially blessing us all. And not just in wealth, but in all things that the finite sinful human desires. The reality of life in our fallen world is that all of us, be it believers or not will have to go through continued difficulties and not the perceived pedestal that many misguided Christians choose to delude themselves or others with. The other friend at the lunch, he is less antagonistic towards Christians, having learned to ignore their persistent presence, thinks that Christians are either lying or living in a delusory rosy world to always talk about the good God did to their lives, in terms of well-being, without sharing about their difficulties. And he is right, for being a Christian, is not about no storms in our lives, but rather, we know where to anchor our faith upon, God our Rock. For just as rain will fall on all, believers or not, it is how we learn to entrust our all to our Sovereign Lord that will speak more powerfully about our belief than what words can do.
'Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest…'
Luke 22:24
Just today, I had lunch with another old friend, a worldly wise nice gentleman, who recently, happened to join a tour organized by a Catholic church to Turkey and Israel. There was plenty of churches they visited and he find it less relevant to him, for they were mere symbols to him. But what was real was the rigid legalism of the Orthodox Jews, and the general inequality between Isrealite lands and those of the Palestinians. No one likes to listen to theory, they want to see us live out our faith, which is, be like Christ, to love the unlovable, to put others before self. How we live out our faith, as led by the Spirit of God, is the testimony that God has commanded us, and which will speak to once hardened hearts of the non-believer.
'For who is greater….But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.'
Luke 22:27-28
Caricature is the art of exaggerating someone's features, so as to reveal something of their essential character. For most might remember the late US president Richard Nixon's large nose was a popular caricature. Christianity is about our relationship with a perfect God, Who through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has turned a once blemish slate into a cleaned board. As we grow in our relationship with God, as we allow Him to mold us, the world's perception of us will also be reformulated, not by what we say, but by how we allow God to refine us, through all circumstances. The conversion of the non-believers come from the Spirit of God, as HE convicts them, much as the world watches us being reconfigured into Christlikeness. We are not just the lamp upon which the glory of God shines forth, but we are also the mirror upon which the world sees Christ in action in us, if we allow Him.
We must be simply Christlike, for that is the quality that the world must see in us. It is about God changing us, and not us changing others.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(24 Nov 09)
An afterthought
'Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.'
2 Corinthians 7:4
This morning, I was reminded of my younger days, when we used to go swimming by the sea at Pasir Panjang, when the beach was still around. With all the reclamation, our children rarely experience the low and high tides of nature. I remembered at high tide sitting by the jetty watching my cousins jumped into the sea and having great fun. The pull of the fun was too strong and I finally jumped in, even though I could not swim then. If not the for quick witted response of my cousin in throwing an old tyre to me as a float, I would long have been part of the sea.
I was of course thankful to my cousin and this gratitude has been etched in my memory much as time has make vague other lesser experiences over the 3 decades.
What if it has been my cousin who pushed me in rather than I jumped in on my own free will? I would have literally murdered him there and then or at least, it might still be a sore point till today.
A simplistic analogy it might be, but non believers are like non swimmers. They don't want to be pushed into the waters notwithstanding our good intent. But the day will come when the waters will come to them, and in their struggles, they will recall the days they saw you the believer treading water well, not on your own strength, but upon living out your belief in your God. That will be the time they will appreciate your coming alongside them. But till then, it is better that we let God prepare us for that day. And how do you know the moment has arrived. The Spirit of God will prompt you, but you will only be cognizance if you had spent time with God.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Reflections for the moment #43 Spring Chickens (18nov09)
Dear…
'Now you shall say to this people, "Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.'
Jeremiah 21:8
A friend just told me that much as some have aspirations for Singapore to be one of the fashion capitals of the world, it will never happen, simply because as a country, we have a fundamental deficiency, that is, we do not have the benefit of the four seasons. Our tropical, wet and sunny weather do place limitations on creating diversity and scope for changes, for that is what fashion is.
But independent of the climatic constraints, we humans do go through broad seasonal changes, and I am not referring to our temperament, but rather our life cycles. Our birth is like the beginnings of a new Spring, with all its innocence and hopes. Summer finds us at our youthful best, moving from the vibrant youth to forging a wonderful new career. The roses in full bloom has never smelt better. With a surfeit of cumulated assets and burdens, the aging process does creep up on us steadily, and for many, much as we try to push back the Autumn of our lives, just like falling leaves in Fall, our crowning glory will peter out, or at least turn ashen grey. And what about Winter? A cursory glance of the obituary pages is a testimony to the reality that all of us eventually will not see a new Spring.
'Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures. Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, I am and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow. Nor shall I know the loss of children. But these two things shall come to you. In a moment, in one day. The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness.'
Isaiah 47:8-9
Statistical data does give most comfort that the median lifespan in our developed country, with its excellent health care and clean environment, would mean that lifespans are longer. For men in the 70s, and maybe for women a few years more. But reality is, life is unpredictable and can be snuffed out in all brevity, when one least expect and is prepared for. And even if one manages to stay within the norm as far as lifespan is concerned, is your life truly one of joy and peace or is it often miserable, once the temporal happiness of material cumulation or even self actualization wears off? Much as many try to anchor their discomfort in an insecure world through material accumulations and building perceptions and personas; miseries and a troubled soul cannot be squirrelled away like one's material wealth and even then, that is temporal.
In my younger days, we stayed in a kampung or small village, and owning a chicken coop put us one class above those who only had a few chickens running free range. I do visit the coop quite regularly, for it was much easier for a young kid to deposit the by-product of his wanton and often excessive indulgences, and the chickens cooped up in their designated spot, knew me quite well. Of course, I am not alone all the time, and the neighbours' strutting cockerels can be quite territorial and have no qualms about pecking me where it hurts, often mistaking the fledging child's symbol of future manhood for a bigger than normal worm.
Enough of childhood reminiscences. But the question that begs to be asked is, "is the well fed but cooped up chicken much better off diligently laying eggs every early morning till it is no longer productive and its final rites or service is to be served as cooked meat for Chinese New Year, any better off than the scrawny free range chickens running awry, always searching for food left on the dusty floors, or even that occasional worm? Today, it has become the trend to eat free range chickens, aka Kampung Chickens because they are perceived to be healthier, given that they are not couch potatoes like the cooped up chickens and they are less likely to be fed antibiotics. But have you ever seen what these Kampung birds eat? They might not put the gregarious goat to shame, but it will give your stomach more than a little churn.
'Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night,before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'
Matthew 26:34
It will indeed be stretching our friendships a little dangerously taut if I were to equate any of us with the hare-brained birds. But for all our intellect, man is finite, not just in lifespan, for that is given, but even in our understanding and abilities, much as some might want to believe that they can control their destiny. Birds of a feather might flock together, but reality is, whichever breed one emotionally might belong to, to live a life that takes a bet that God is either not Sovereign or does not exist at all, can have ramifications beyond one's bodily demise.
The Dodo bird might be extinct, but for us men, bodily shell will turn to dust, our soul that gives us so much angst, for our mind is self deceiving might matter less when we fizzle out, but where will our spirit be in eternity? Will it be with the loving Lord our God, or in the permanent boiling pot with the wrong company of the devil and his demons. And I am not talking about the fictional book but a reality that you can affirm now by coming unto the Lord's presence while still kicking. No need to horrors of horrors find out too late when the disbeliever ends up as a broiled chicken in perpetuity.
'For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honour, no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.'
Psalm 84:11-12
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(18Nov09)
Note
- do thank you for your forbearance with my whimsical thoughts today. Something light for a change, but if what is shared is true, then these are no featherweight matters to be taken lightly. To know God, you will have to want to move out of your comfort zone. It is true that most find it daunting to jump out of the hothouse, much as it is unbearable, but at least it is known, rather than into the unknown.
God understands our imperfections and our journey with Him is for most, a series of little steps. We can control our next step,much as we know not where it might lead to. And much as the free ranging Kampung chicken might seem quite deranged, skittering here and everywhere, but it knows how to zero in fast to the next available food that presents itself.
What about you? Do you know your purpose in life and more importantly, does life give you that joy and peace?
'Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.'
Philippians 2:4
And on that, look forward to having you join us at this Sat's Thanksgiving at Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home at 10a.m. The first step towards love is always the hardest.
And finally, just in case you are wondering, spring chicken as defined refers to young chicken of less than 28 days old and of a lighter weight of 400-450 gms. My bounce at least in physique is not the same, but I am still a sprightly cockerel with a renewed zest for life, a life that rest upon the Rock our Lord.
'Now you shall say to this people, "Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.'
Jeremiah 21:8
A friend just told me that much as some have aspirations for Singapore to be one of the fashion capitals of the world, it will never happen, simply because as a country, we have a fundamental deficiency, that is, we do not have the benefit of the four seasons. Our tropical, wet and sunny weather do place limitations on creating diversity and scope for changes, for that is what fashion is.
But independent of the climatic constraints, we humans do go through broad seasonal changes, and I am not referring to our temperament, but rather our life cycles. Our birth is like the beginnings of a new Spring, with all its innocence and hopes. Summer finds us at our youthful best, moving from the vibrant youth to forging a wonderful new career. The roses in full bloom has never smelt better. With a surfeit of cumulated assets and burdens, the aging process does creep up on us steadily, and for many, much as we try to push back the Autumn of our lives, just like falling leaves in Fall, our crowning glory will peter out, or at least turn ashen grey. And what about Winter? A cursory glance of the obituary pages is a testimony to the reality that all of us eventually will not see a new Spring.
'Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures. Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, I am and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow. Nor shall I know the loss of children. But these two things shall come to you. In a moment, in one day. The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness.'
Isaiah 47:8-9
Statistical data does give most comfort that the median lifespan in our developed country, with its excellent health care and clean environment, would mean that lifespans are longer. For men in the 70s, and maybe for women a few years more. But reality is, life is unpredictable and can be snuffed out in all brevity, when one least expect and is prepared for. And even if one manages to stay within the norm as far as lifespan is concerned, is your life truly one of joy and peace or is it often miserable, once the temporal happiness of material cumulation or even self actualization wears off? Much as many try to anchor their discomfort in an insecure world through material accumulations and building perceptions and personas; miseries and a troubled soul cannot be squirrelled away like one's material wealth and even then, that is temporal.
In my younger days, we stayed in a kampung or small village, and owning a chicken coop put us one class above those who only had a few chickens running free range. I do visit the coop quite regularly, for it was much easier for a young kid to deposit the by-product of his wanton and often excessive indulgences, and the chickens cooped up in their designated spot, knew me quite well. Of course, I am not alone all the time, and the neighbours' strutting cockerels can be quite territorial and have no qualms about pecking me where it hurts, often mistaking the fledging child's symbol of future manhood for a bigger than normal worm.
Enough of childhood reminiscences. But the question that begs to be asked is, "is the well fed but cooped up chicken much better off diligently laying eggs every early morning till it is no longer productive and its final rites or service is to be served as cooked meat for Chinese New Year, any better off than the scrawny free range chickens running awry, always searching for food left on the dusty floors, or even that occasional worm? Today, it has become the trend to eat free range chickens, aka Kampung Chickens because they are perceived to be healthier, given that they are not couch potatoes like the cooped up chickens and they are less likely to be fed antibiotics. But have you ever seen what these Kampung birds eat? They might not put the gregarious goat to shame, but it will give your stomach more than a little churn.
'Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night,before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'
Matthew 26:34
It will indeed be stretching our friendships a little dangerously taut if I were to equate any of us with the hare-brained birds. But for all our intellect, man is finite, not just in lifespan, for that is given, but even in our understanding and abilities, much as some might want to believe that they can control their destiny. Birds of a feather might flock together, but reality is, whichever breed one emotionally might belong to, to live a life that takes a bet that God is either not Sovereign or does not exist at all, can have ramifications beyond one's bodily demise.
The Dodo bird might be extinct, but for us men, bodily shell will turn to dust, our soul that gives us so much angst, for our mind is self deceiving might matter less when we fizzle out, but where will our spirit be in eternity? Will it be with the loving Lord our God, or in the permanent boiling pot with the wrong company of the devil and his demons. And I am not talking about the fictional book but a reality that you can affirm now by coming unto the Lord's presence while still kicking. No need to horrors of horrors find out too late when the disbeliever ends up as a broiled chicken in perpetuity.
'For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honour, no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.'
Psalm 84:11-12
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(18Nov09)
Note
- do thank you for your forbearance with my whimsical thoughts today. Something light for a change, but if what is shared is true, then these are no featherweight matters to be taken lightly. To know God, you will have to want to move out of your comfort zone. It is true that most find it daunting to jump out of the hothouse, much as it is unbearable, but at least it is known, rather than into the unknown.
God understands our imperfections and our journey with Him is for most, a series of little steps. We can control our next step,much as we know not where it might lead to. And much as the free ranging Kampung chicken might seem quite deranged, skittering here and everywhere, but it knows how to zero in fast to the next available food that presents itself.
What about you? Do you know your purpose in life and more importantly, does life give you that joy and peace?
'Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.'
Philippians 2:4
And on that, look forward to having you join us at this Sat's Thanksgiving at Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home at 10a.m. The first step towards love is always the hardest.
And finally, just in case you are wondering, spring chicken as defined refers to young chicken of less than 28 days old and of a lighter weight of 400-450 gms. My bounce at least in physique is not the same, but I am still a sprightly cockerel with a renewed zest for life, a life that rest upon the Rock our Lord.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Reflections for the moment #42 Seeking shelter (4nov09)
Dear….
'Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.'
Psalms 73:13-14
A brother in Christ told me to be very aware of the time that God wakes us up, for its seems 4am is when His Spirit moves. Not too sure about that, but lately, I am awakened at 6am not with an uplifting spirit as always before, but with an unsettled heart. A sister in Christ forewarned me just last nite that I must be prepared to be spiritually assaulted by the devil, given my desire to respond to the Lord's call to do His will even more fervently not just for this month of Nov 09, but from here on.
'Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou has holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory…'
Psalms 73:23
God is Sovereign. The devil for all its professed influence in our fallen world, still has to seek God's permission before he is allowed to touch us with his delusions. I know that, I have lived through much greater oppressions and delusions, and I know the "de rigueur," a French expression that literally means necessary according to etiquette, common sense, protocol or fashion.
So what is the common pattern? Men being imperfect, much as we strive to be Christlike, will have chinks in our armour that the devil will try to capitalize on to bring about our reversion back to sinfulness. And how can we deal with such challenges, which will be an ongoing process till the day we are with our Father in Heaven?
God knows our imperfections. He understands that and He has left the Holy Spirit in us who truly believed, to guide, teach, correct and lead us.
But we must want to call upon Him, who resides in our heart. And like a race that the Apostle Paul alludes to, we can only run well if we stay focussed on Christ our Lord, and if we stay disciplined.
Discipline comes from the desire and action to do God's leading, in seeking Him always in our lives, in reading His words, in prayers, and in His works in all times, be it good, bad or indifferent.
Doing all these does not mean no troubles, as I have found out often. It in fact means even greater challenges, yet, this diligence will ensure that we will draw near to God, so that God will draw near to us and He will bring us forth, much as our innate sinful self will struggle for a while. And with the faith given to those who comes continuously unto the presence of God, come what may, we will allow ourselves to cling on to Him much as many often find it difficult in their troubled moments to let go and let God.
'Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.'
Romans 13:1
Indeed as the Psalmist say in Psalm 73:22
'So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee..'
But yet, by habit or more like faith, inculcated over the years from time spent with the Lord our God, I have indeed learned to cling on to God, no matter what
;Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.'
Psalm 73:23
And indeed as I finished this short, and in the mind of some, self psycho-analysis, God has indeed lifted the oppressive cloud hanging over my head this past one week, and I do apologize to anyone who have received some recent communications from me. Prayerfully, the slightly more edgy responses did no damage. I was not myself, as the Incredible Hulk would say after leaving a damaging trail before he reverted from raging green to mild mannered pale white. But thankfully, God is faithful, even when we are not.
'And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.'
John 1:5
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
Note
- If you were to read Ephesians 6:12, it does bring us to a different perspective from the one dimensional world that we think we are in.
'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
But God has indeed provided us with His cover and do take time to reflect and pray about God's provisions for all of us. Much as even many believers might think not much of the spiritual, reality is that the natural and the spiritual are both at work and it will do us well to be very cognizance of the presence of evil in forms beyond our finite discernment. Yet it is even more imperative that we be fully cognizance of and acknowlege God's omnipresence and Sovereignty in our lives. For not to do so, would mean that you are on your own, as many who are about to depart from their bodily shell might attest to. A postulation on my part, but I believe is a fact.
'Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand….'
Ephesians 6:13-18
'Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.'
Psalms 73:13-14
A brother in Christ told me to be very aware of the time that God wakes us up, for its seems 4am is when His Spirit moves. Not too sure about that, but lately, I am awakened at 6am not with an uplifting spirit as always before, but with an unsettled heart. A sister in Christ forewarned me just last nite that I must be prepared to be spiritually assaulted by the devil, given my desire to respond to the Lord's call to do His will even more fervently not just for this month of Nov 09, but from here on.
'Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou has holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory…'
Psalms 73:23
God is Sovereign. The devil for all its professed influence in our fallen world, still has to seek God's permission before he is allowed to touch us with his delusions. I know that, I have lived through much greater oppressions and delusions, and I know the "de rigueur," a French expression that literally means necessary according to etiquette, common sense, protocol or fashion.
So what is the common pattern? Men being imperfect, much as we strive to be Christlike, will have chinks in our armour that the devil will try to capitalize on to bring about our reversion back to sinfulness. And how can we deal with such challenges, which will be an ongoing process till the day we are with our Father in Heaven?
God knows our imperfections. He understands that and He has left the Holy Spirit in us who truly believed, to guide, teach, correct and lead us.
But we must want to call upon Him, who resides in our heart. And like a race that the Apostle Paul alludes to, we can only run well if we stay focussed on Christ our Lord, and if we stay disciplined.
Discipline comes from the desire and action to do God's leading, in seeking Him always in our lives, in reading His words, in prayers, and in His works in all times, be it good, bad or indifferent.
Doing all these does not mean no troubles, as I have found out often. It in fact means even greater challenges, yet, this diligence will ensure that we will draw near to God, so that God will draw near to us and He will bring us forth, much as our innate sinful self will struggle for a while. And with the faith given to those who comes continuously unto the presence of God, come what may, we will allow ourselves to cling on to Him much as many often find it difficult in their troubled moments to let go and let God.
'Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.'
Romans 13:1
Indeed as the Psalmist say in Psalm 73:22
'So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee..'
But yet, by habit or more like faith, inculcated over the years from time spent with the Lord our God, I have indeed learned to cling on to God, no matter what
;Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.'
Psalm 73:23
And indeed as I finished this short, and in the mind of some, self psycho-analysis, God has indeed lifted the oppressive cloud hanging over my head this past one week, and I do apologize to anyone who have received some recent communications from me. Prayerfully, the slightly more edgy responses did no damage. I was not myself, as the Incredible Hulk would say after leaving a damaging trail before he reverted from raging green to mild mannered pale white. But thankfully, God is faithful, even when we are not.
'And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.'
John 1:5
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
Note
- If you were to read Ephesians 6:12, it does bring us to a different perspective from the one dimensional world that we think we are in.
'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
But God has indeed provided us with His cover and do take time to reflect and pray about God's provisions for all of us. Much as even many believers might think not much of the spiritual, reality is that the natural and the spiritual are both at work and it will do us well to be very cognizance of the presence of evil in forms beyond our finite discernment. Yet it is even more imperative that we be fully cognizance of and acknowlege God's omnipresence and Sovereignty in our lives. For not to do so, would mean that you are on your own, as many who are about to depart from their bodily shell might attest to. A postulation on my part, but I believe is a fact.
'Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand….'
Ephesians 6:13-18
Monday, October 26, 2009
Reflections for the moment #41 Colors (27oct09)
Dear..
'Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.'
Psalm 61:1
"Cry my beloved country" is a fiction book written in 1948, by South African author, Alan Paton, chronicling the inequitability of the South African society of the 1940s, a prelude to the imposition of the apartheid system in South Africa(from 1948-1994), where the white minority enjoyed the largess of this well endowed country, and the majority black population were left to wallow in abject poverty. And where the color of your skin determined which side of the road you should be walking on.
Fewer of us might remember who the once famous South African Dr Christian Barnard was, for medical science has since progressed from his pioneering days(in Dec 1967) of open heart transplant.
Memories might be fleeting, but there are matters of the heart like deeply ingrained biasedness and long submerged tribal faultlines, that might be nonchalantly dismissed as irrelevant in progressive societies, but can be easily drawn to the forth, as President Obama recently found out, in his comments on the case of the colored Harvard Professor and the white police officer.
'To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.'
Isaiah 42:7
Nelson Mandela, most of us would have heard of him. And by next year, more would for South Africa, long a great sporting nation, but till recently, a pariah in the international community(as a result of its apartheid policy) will host for the first time, the World Cup, the premier event for soccer afiociondos..Mr Mandela spent most of his life in prison, the price he paid for standing up to a repressive and unfair regime.
As a believer, we are asked by God to be used by Him to share His love, to reflect in our lives, the likeness of Jesus Christ, that His light can shine forth into the darkness encapsulating the hearts of many. But will we be truly prepared to be like Christ, who gave his life for us, or even like Nelson Mandela, who was prepared to be imprisoned for his beliefs? Or simply, just to move out of our comfort zone, so that we are able to emphathize with the people God placed in our lives?
And I will bring the blind by the way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known, I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. They shall be turned back….'
Isaiah 42:16-18
On this, as I spent time last night reading the Lord's Word, I was convicted of my failing, for truly, like some, I tend to be more comfortable amongst my "own" ie people whom I feel comfortable with. For just yesterday, I have avoided responding to a communication from a brother in Christ, who in my mind, is "quirky" and his request is likely to be frivolous, and so not worth my time.
Jesus Christ never left out anyone in His ministry, and it is whoever God places in his life. Sinned I have, but repentance I can still exercise and indeed the good Lord has corrected me well, and respond I did finally to the brother(note: just in case some of you on my mail list figured that it might be you, rest assured, the brother in question is not on my mailing and this incident was a few months back)
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with good, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and the naked.'
Revelation 3:17
Materially rich or poor, we are all encumbered with perspective of things as defined by our finite understanding and flawed experiences. Light turns into colors as it is split by the receptor cells that resides in our visual system. Light in its original form is colorless. A defintion from the internet Wilkepedia site states that Color derives from the spectrum of light (distribution of light energy versus wavelength) interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors.
As the imperfect man, we will judge everything from the our flawed perspective, using the experiences garnered in a fallen world, driven by our selfishness rather than selflessness. Much as some might differ, reality is, can we be truly unbiased and love others as much as ourselves? Harmony in society comes when there is a strong artificial grip where any deviation from the imposed norm will lead to serious personal peril. But like the animals released into the wild, will we not revert to our primal instincts, in the multi-faceeted jungle of deceit, desire, pride, envy and selfishness, once the iron hand is lifted? The late communist dictator, Josip Tito might have some comments on that given that Yugloslavia, which was once a shining symbol of not just enlightened communism, but also racial harmony from what was once, a divisive historical divide amongst its diverse cultures and people, reverted to its ethnic cleansing ways once the artifical glue came unstuck with his passing.
"Those whom the world rejects, should move you the most"
St Louis de Monfort (from Boys' Town Blue Ribbon Project)
Men can truly love their fellows as much as themselves when they totally discard such ingrained receptors of biasedness(by letting go of their own understanding) and letting light filter through unfiltered(ie to let God, to let His light shine forth into our hearts). With man, things are impossible, with God, through His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, all things are possible.
'You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.'
Psalm 73:24
Much as most of us think that it is not possible to just follow, and not weigh in with our views, with God all things are possible, and much as we might struggle with letting go and letting God, God is preparing us and while one knows not when His Spirit will sanctify us and bring us closer and deeper in our faith with Him, every step we take unto His presence brings us nearer to being the lamp that His light will shine forth from.
'I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.'
Psalm 119:14
Christ is the panacea for the world's ills. Man is selfish, Christ is selfless.
In today's increasingly restless world, the challenge for believers is not the machinations and perceptions of the world that seems to not just misunderstand what Christianity stood for, but ourselves.
Are we willing to obey the command of God, ie to seek Him always with our all, and to love others as much as ourselves?
No longer must we look at the world from our colored lens, but to be the lamp upon which the light of God shines forth, be it into darkness, shades of grey or whatever configurations that might exist in the hearts of many?
'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'
John 8:12
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(26th Oct 09)
Note
This sharing was written in july 09, but till now do I truly felt led to bring it out into the light. These are interesting times. If we learn to put aside our own desires, and look at things with a perspective not colored by our greed and fear. Clearly the news coming forth are quite disturbing. The latest attempt at delusions is that of the way ships are being valued. Instead of valuing on a market basis which is down 50% from peak levels, , the proposal put forth is that market at this juncture of pessimism are not reflective of normal circumstances and one should value a ship on future earnings. Everyone is buying time and hoping that things will improve. Healing starts when once is honest with one's past follies, and continued denial is not a solution but a deferment of future problems. With God, the veil of blindness gets lifted and we see Christ when we truly repent, With men, rare is one who repents by choice, and it is often by circumstances forced upon us. Will this be the same for this present bubbly delusions?
'Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.'
Psalm 61:1
"Cry my beloved country" is a fiction book written in 1948, by South African author, Alan Paton, chronicling the inequitability of the South African society of the 1940s, a prelude to the imposition of the apartheid system in South Africa(from 1948-1994), where the white minority enjoyed the largess of this well endowed country, and the majority black population were left to wallow in abject poverty. And where the color of your skin determined which side of the road you should be walking on.
Fewer of us might remember who the once famous South African Dr Christian Barnard was, for medical science has since progressed from his pioneering days(in Dec 1967) of open heart transplant.
Memories might be fleeting, but there are matters of the heart like deeply ingrained biasedness and long submerged tribal faultlines, that might be nonchalantly dismissed as irrelevant in progressive societies, but can be easily drawn to the forth, as President Obama recently found out, in his comments on the case of the colored Harvard Professor and the white police officer.
'To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.'
Isaiah 42:7
Nelson Mandela, most of us would have heard of him. And by next year, more would for South Africa, long a great sporting nation, but till recently, a pariah in the international community(as a result of its apartheid policy) will host for the first time, the World Cup, the premier event for soccer afiociondos..Mr Mandela spent most of his life in prison, the price he paid for standing up to a repressive and unfair regime.
As a believer, we are asked by God to be used by Him to share His love, to reflect in our lives, the likeness of Jesus Christ, that His light can shine forth into the darkness encapsulating the hearts of many. But will we be truly prepared to be like Christ, who gave his life for us, or even like Nelson Mandela, who was prepared to be imprisoned for his beliefs? Or simply, just to move out of our comfort zone, so that we are able to emphathize with the people God placed in our lives?
And I will bring the blind by the way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known, I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. They shall be turned back….'
Isaiah 42:16-18
On this, as I spent time last night reading the Lord's Word, I was convicted of my failing, for truly, like some, I tend to be more comfortable amongst my "own" ie people whom I feel comfortable with. For just yesterday, I have avoided responding to a communication from a brother in Christ, who in my mind, is "quirky" and his request is likely to be frivolous, and so not worth my time.
Jesus Christ never left out anyone in His ministry, and it is whoever God places in his life. Sinned I have, but repentance I can still exercise and indeed the good Lord has corrected me well, and respond I did finally to the brother(note: just in case some of you on my mail list figured that it might be you, rest assured, the brother in question is not on my mailing and this incident was a few months back)
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with good, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and the naked.'
Revelation 3:17
Materially rich or poor, we are all encumbered with perspective of things as defined by our finite understanding and flawed experiences. Light turns into colors as it is split by the receptor cells that resides in our visual system. Light in its original form is colorless. A defintion from the internet Wilkepedia site states that Color derives from the spectrum of light (distribution of light energy versus wavelength) interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors.
As the imperfect man, we will judge everything from the our flawed perspective, using the experiences garnered in a fallen world, driven by our selfishness rather than selflessness. Much as some might differ, reality is, can we be truly unbiased and love others as much as ourselves? Harmony in society comes when there is a strong artificial grip where any deviation from the imposed norm will lead to serious personal peril. But like the animals released into the wild, will we not revert to our primal instincts, in the multi-faceeted jungle of deceit, desire, pride, envy and selfishness, once the iron hand is lifted? The late communist dictator, Josip Tito might have some comments on that given that Yugloslavia, which was once a shining symbol of not just enlightened communism, but also racial harmony from what was once, a divisive historical divide amongst its diverse cultures and people, reverted to its ethnic cleansing ways once the artifical glue came unstuck with his passing.
"Those whom the world rejects, should move you the most"
St Louis de Monfort (from Boys' Town Blue Ribbon Project)
Men can truly love their fellows as much as themselves when they totally discard such ingrained receptors of biasedness(by letting go of their own understanding) and letting light filter through unfiltered(ie to let God, to let His light shine forth into our hearts). With man, things are impossible, with God, through His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, all things are possible.
'You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.'
Psalm 73:24
Much as most of us think that it is not possible to just follow, and not weigh in with our views, with God all things are possible, and much as we might struggle with letting go and letting God, God is preparing us and while one knows not when His Spirit will sanctify us and bring us closer and deeper in our faith with Him, every step we take unto His presence brings us nearer to being the lamp that His light will shine forth from.
'I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.'
Psalm 119:14
Christ is the panacea for the world's ills. Man is selfish, Christ is selfless.
In today's increasingly restless world, the challenge for believers is not the machinations and perceptions of the world that seems to not just misunderstand what Christianity stood for, but ourselves.
Are we willing to obey the command of God, ie to seek Him always with our all, and to love others as much as ourselves?
No longer must we look at the world from our colored lens, but to be the lamp upon which the light of God shines forth, be it into darkness, shades of grey or whatever configurations that might exist in the hearts of many?
'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'
John 8:12
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(26th Oct 09)
Note
This sharing was written in july 09, but till now do I truly felt led to bring it out into the light. These are interesting times. If we learn to put aside our own desires, and look at things with a perspective not colored by our greed and fear. Clearly the news coming forth are quite disturbing. The latest attempt at delusions is that of the way ships are being valued. Instead of valuing on a market basis which is down 50% from peak levels, , the proposal put forth is that market at this juncture of pessimism are not reflective of normal circumstances and one should value a ship on future earnings. Everyone is buying time and hoping that things will improve. Healing starts when once is honest with one's past follies, and continued denial is not a solution but a deferment of future problems. With God, the veil of blindness gets lifted and we see Christ when we truly repent, With men, rare is one who repents by choice, and it is often by circumstances forced upon us. Will this be the same for this present bubbly delusions?
Friday, October 16, 2009
Reflections for the moment#40 Conversation with God (16 oct 09)
Dear…
'I love Your commands more than gold, more than pure gold.'
Psalm 119:127
'Listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.'
Deuteronomy 30:20
Gold has recaptured its lustre?. Though nothing has changed since King Midas, for we cannot eat it, yet gold has always held great fascination for men, since time immemorial, especially in times of great uncertainty. In the tumultous days of post Vietnam war, gold bars secured a passage on a rickety boat, out of communist rule, into a hope of living in non-autocratic environs, provided one survived the hazards of the South China Sea. And financial freedom is what most hoped for, when they seek their many "gods," when they offer obeisance to whichever "gods" that have or will answer their material hopes.
Are Christians that different? Do we truly seek God or do we seek God for His provisions?
'…and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. Nevetheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God..'
Joshua 14:8
'Behold, I have told you before.'
Matthew 24:25
I like many who are desirous of following God faithfully, like to believe that imperfect as we might be, our heart truly wants to obey God. But like many of the faithful, there are times where lingering doubts arise, as to if we heard God right, be it from our own finite understanding, or from views of others, even out of good intent.
Can we be truly like Caleb, one of two men who remained sure of God's promise. And their steadfastness stood out from amongst the many who were sent to recce the promised land and came back knowing the promised fruits, but unsure if God will deliver?
'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding…'
Proverbs 9:10
'…and I will shake the house of Israel and all the nations.'
Amos 9:9
Ever since I seek to profess my faith, by living out God's leading publicly, God has been very responsive, for HE draws near to those who draw near to Him. So responsive that whenever I err, the Spirit not just convicts my very heart, but the follow through "rap on the knuckle" to ensure that I sinned no furthur is both swift and sharp. I am indeed not just truly fearful that God will correct His children, but thankful that He does, to ensure that I go no furthur down the sinful path.
'Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser, teach a just man, and he will increase in learning..'
Proverbs 9:9
'…making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit.'
Amos 8:5
Much as most know that the world's economic fundamentals are far from improving, reality is more are jumping into the bandwagon of optimism in the financial markets, for not to do so seems quite silly, for throwing caution to the wind is rewarding, for now. Did I hear God right? A question or doubt I asked myself less for I am sure I did, but how do you know you heard Him right? some will still ask. And much as most know that the nuts and bolts in my mental faculty are still very much in place, my past few months of boldly pronouncing on God speaking to me, might seem to be that of a man in delirium, even as the markets are delusory.
Is one truly in a position to engage in conversation with the Sovereign God?
'…ye pollute yourselves with idols, even unto this day, and shall I be enquired by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.'
Ezekiel 19:31
'Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.'
Romans 10:1
It is always good to take the bull by its horn. Question is, do you truly believe that God is real? And if you do, do you believe HE is Sovereign?
For those who don't believe in the existence of our Divine God, never say never, for you will know the presence of God, at His timing, of course, you still have a choice not to accept that reality.
For those of us do believe in a Heavenly Father, why are we not quite prepared to spent time developing that relationship?
'….for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble…'
Jeremiah 2:27-28
'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
Romans 11:13
Most of us show a little more credance to the presence of God only when trouble strikes us hard. Flat on our back, we grudgingly consider turning to that possible "God" Who has never figured much in our lives, because we chose to ignore His presence. But will God spring right unto your very presence just because you needed your wants met? He might, but from most experiences, we will have to go through much greater periods of humbling, till our hearts are truly humbled and contrite, where we no longer cling on to the things of the world, and where only the love of God can fill the hunger in our very spirit, then will we "hear" and "see' God.
'Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…'
Psalm 37:7
'For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'
Romans 10:10
I have believed in the existence of God since age 13. Till age 21, only truly experienced His Sovereignty when I had to call on Christ out of desperate fear, almost every nite for 2 weeks continuously, whenever unwanted spirits chose to impress their presence upon me every nite in my army bunk. And it did work, for I regained the mobility of my limbs and my voice, once I called upon the Lord.
The first 3 years of my career was downright depressing. And church was where I went, hoping to get not just solace, but answered prayers. God did bring me forth in my career, and for the next decade, there was nothing to talk to Him about, for I plain forgotten about Him.
Yet, God remains faithful and when the stirring in my heart showed even that minute sense of interest to renew our acquaintance, He literally ensured that the connectivity is restored, and though it still needed that defining moment for me at age 40, in Bangkok to truly be moved from desirous believer to determined follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.
'And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.'
1 Samuel 10:6
A new man I might be, and it was just the next phase of my journey with God. It has been 8 wonderful years, and indeed God did speak to me many times, but the modus operandi has always been through His Word, in my time of prayers, in His work, and sometimes through people and coincidences of circumstances, and on a few occasions, through experiential dreams. But through it all, it is the peace of heart that gives comfort and affirms the decisions that I made at every crossroad, it is the knowledge that God will make a wrong right, even if we have taken mis-steps, as long as we continue to look to Him through it all.
Conclusions matter not, but obedience is imperative.
'And let it be, when these signs come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee, for God is with thee.'
1 Samuel 10:7
Wisdom God does give us. Being a follower of Christ does not mean one becomes stupid. On the contrary, one will be more diligent in being a good steward of the gifts that God blesses us with, for His work. But in all things, we must look to God first, and if HE shows otherwise, we must be prepared to throw conventional wisdom out of the window and do as the Lord leads.
'For as many as are led by the Spirit of god, they are the sons of God.'
Romans 8:13
'Who is the wise man, that may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, that he may declare it….?'
Jeremiah 9:12
So what has God been speaking to me lately? Conversation with God is often via the heart and the only difference for me this year is that I seem to "hear" God a lot more and in more specific manner. For the past one year, God has spoken to my heart, at the point between dreamland and awakening. Like what King Agrippa said about Paul turning mad with too much knowledge, delirious I have not become, but it is my belief that the time has come that God will be very specific for those who truly seek Him, for the end times have intensified.
'..Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many…there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.'
Matthew 24:4-8
'And the Lord saith, Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, neither walked therein…'
Jeremiah 9:13
Do take time to read and reflect upon the rest of Matthew 24. The times of sorrows are indeed with us, and as Christ says to those who believed and follow His will, to remain steadfast in our faith will indeed be very daunting, if we do not 'converse" with God every moment of our lives.
'Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake….But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come,'
Matthew 24:9-14
'Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me. And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not, and see ye indeed, but perceive not.'
Isaiah 6:8-9
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(16 Oct 09)
Note
- like all conversations, it must be two way. Do take time to reflect on the verse couplets that dots the landscape of this reflection,and may God truly speak to you, as He surely would, if you learn to be still and know His will.
'I love Your commands more than gold, more than pure gold.'
Psalm 119:127
'Listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.'
Deuteronomy 30:20
Gold has recaptured its lustre?. Though nothing has changed since King Midas, for we cannot eat it, yet gold has always held great fascination for men, since time immemorial, especially in times of great uncertainty. In the tumultous days of post Vietnam war, gold bars secured a passage on a rickety boat, out of communist rule, into a hope of living in non-autocratic environs, provided one survived the hazards of the South China Sea. And financial freedom is what most hoped for, when they seek their many "gods," when they offer obeisance to whichever "gods" that have or will answer their material hopes.
Are Christians that different? Do we truly seek God or do we seek God for His provisions?
'…and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. Nevetheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God..'
Joshua 14:8
'Behold, I have told you before.'
Matthew 24:25
I like many who are desirous of following God faithfully, like to believe that imperfect as we might be, our heart truly wants to obey God. But like many of the faithful, there are times where lingering doubts arise, as to if we heard God right, be it from our own finite understanding, or from views of others, even out of good intent.
Can we be truly like Caleb, one of two men who remained sure of God's promise. And their steadfastness stood out from amongst the many who were sent to recce the promised land and came back knowing the promised fruits, but unsure if God will deliver?
'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding…'
Proverbs 9:10
'…and I will shake the house of Israel and all the nations.'
Amos 9:9
Ever since I seek to profess my faith, by living out God's leading publicly, God has been very responsive, for HE draws near to those who draw near to Him. So responsive that whenever I err, the Spirit not just convicts my very heart, but the follow through "rap on the knuckle" to ensure that I sinned no furthur is both swift and sharp. I am indeed not just truly fearful that God will correct His children, but thankful that He does, to ensure that I go no furthur down the sinful path.
'Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser, teach a just man, and he will increase in learning..'
Proverbs 9:9
'…making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit.'
Amos 8:5
Much as most know that the world's economic fundamentals are far from improving, reality is more are jumping into the bandwagon of optimism in the financial markets, for not to do so seems quite silly, for throwing caution to the wind is rewarding, for now. Did I hear God right? A question or doubt I asked myself less for I am sure I did, but how do you know you heard Him right? some will still ask. And much as most know that the nuts and bolts in my mental faculty are still very much in place, my past few months of boldly pronouncing on God speaking to me, might seem to be that of a man in delirium, even as the markets are delusory.
Is one truly in a position to engage in conversation with the Sovereign God?
'…ye pollute yourselves with idols, even unto this day, and shall I be enquired by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.'
Ezekiel 19:31
'Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.'
Romans 10:1
It is always good to take the bull by its horn. Question is, do you truly believe that God is real? And if you do, do you believe HE is Sovereign?
For those who don't believe in the existence of our Divine God, never say never, for you will know the presence of God, at His timing, of course, you still have a choice not to accept that reality.
For those of us do believe in a Heavenly Father, why are we not quite prepared to spent time developing that relationship?
'….for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble…'
Jeremiah 2:27-28
'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
Romans 11:13
Most of us show a little more credance to the presence of God only when trouble strikes us hard. Flat on our back, we grudgingly consider turning to that possible "God" Who has never figured much in our lives, because we chose to ignore His presence. But will God spring right unto your very presence just because you needed your wants met? He might, but from most experiences, we will have to go through much greater periods of humbling, till our hearts are truly humbled and contrite, where we no longer cling on to the things of the world, and where only the love of God can fill the hunger in our very spirit, then will we "hear" and "see' God.
'Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…'
Psalm 37:7
'For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'
Romans 10:10
I have believed in the existence of God since age 13. Till age 21, only truly experienced His Sovereignty when I had to call on Christ out of desperate fear, almost every nite for 2 weeks continuously, whenever unwanted spirits chose to impress their presence upon me every nite in my army bunk. And it did work, for I regained the mobility of my limbs and my voice, once I called upon the Lord.
The first 3 years of my career was downright depressing. And church was where I went, hoping to get not just solace, but answered prayers. God did bring me forth in my career, and for the next decade, there was nothing to talk to Him about, for I plain forgotten about Him.
Yet, God remains faithful and when the stirring in my heart showed even that minute sense of interest to renew our acquaintance, He literally ensured that the connectivity is restored, and though it still needed that defining moment for me at age 40, in Bangkok to truly be moved from desirous believer to determined follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.
'And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.'
1 Samuel 10:6
A new man I might be, and it was just the next phase of my journey with God. It has been 8 wonderful years, and indeed God did speak to me many times, but the modus operandi has always been through His Word, in my time of prayers, in His work, and sometimes through people and coincidences of circumstances, and on a few occasions, through experiential dreams. But through it all, it is the peace of heart that gives comfort and affirms the decisions that I made at every crossroad, it is the knowledge that God will make a wrong right, even if we have taken mis-steps, as long as we continue to look to Him through it all.
Conclusions matter not, but obedience is imperative.
'And let it be, when these signs come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee, for God is with thee.'
1 Samuel 10:7
Wisdom God does give us. Being a follower of Christ does not mean one becomes stupid. On the contrary, one will be more diligent in being a good steward of the gifts that God blesses us with, for His work. But in all things, we must look to God first, and if HE shows otherwise, we must be prepared to throw conventional wisdom out of the window and do as the Lord leads.
'For as many as are led by the Spirit of god, they are the sons of God.'
Romans 8:13
'Who is the wise man, that may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, that he may declare it….?'
Jeremiah 9:12
So what has God been speaking to me lately? Conversation with God is often via the heart and the only difference for me this year is that I seem to "hear" God a lot more and in more specific manner. For the past one year, God has spoken to my heart, at the point between dreamland and awakening. Like what King Agrippa said about Paul turning mad with too much knowledge, delirious I have not become, but it is my belief that the time has come that God will be very specific for those who truly seek Him, for the end times have intensified.
'..Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many…there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.'
Matthew 24:4-8
'And the Lord saith, Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, neither walked therein…'
Jeremiah 9:13
Do take time to read and reflect upon the rest of Matthew 24. The times of sorrows are indeed with us, and as Christ says to those who believed and follow His will, to remain steadfast in our faith will indeed be very daunting, if we do not 'converse" with God every moment of our lives.
'Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake….But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come,'
Matthew 24:9-14
'Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me. And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not, and see ye indeed, but perceive not.'
Isaiah 6:8-9
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(16 Oct 09)
Note
- like all conversations, it must be two way. Do take time to reflect on the verse couplets that dots the landscape of this reflection,and may God truly speak to you, as He surely would, if you learn to be still and know His will.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Reflections for the moment #39 Beneath the gloss (8th oct 09)
ear…
'Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you.
Seek ye the Lord….it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.'
Zephaniah 2:1-3
This ominous warning might have more credence back in Mar this year, when the world looks decidedly like going over the abyss. But now, with the seemingly roaring good times now back with us, not many will give a hoot to what could have been.
'For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death, but their strength Is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain…. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world….Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain..'
Psalm 73:3-14
A conversation I had with a dear brother in Christ reminded me of the sense of angst and grievance Asaph, a faithful man of God felt, in a faithless world. He could not understand why the godless seems to be amply rewarded in all senses, and not just materially, and is the consideration keeping Asaph from pronouncing his doubt about God aloud, is his non desire to shake the faith of fellow faithful men?
Up to a year ago, my whole emotional mix now would be like Asaph, for having obeyed faithfully God's leading this past one year, I would have found myself losing out financially compared to what could be, if I have leaned on my own understanding. This is the year where the reckless, the irresponsible and all things bad seem to be gaining tremendously financially, while those who are prudent, content and of integrity seem to be losing out. But have those who seek to follow God's leading truly lost out??
'Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places, Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors….'
Psalm 73:17-19
In my more sinful days, I used to be like Jonah, wishing that God will bring about the promised destruction on the sinful in Nineveh. Is it out of envy for destruction does benefit those who think that they obeyed God, at least in justifying their "sacrifices" in living godly values? But can the destroyed repent, and like the once sinful people of Nineveh, God relented because He truly wants all to be turned back to Him.
The Spirit of God has been graceful, and I have like Asaph, learned the folly of our self-righteous ways, and much as we must pray for all humanity to turn away from the devil to the Sovereign Lord our God,it is better to let the Spirit of God transform us, for change has to start with ourselves. And the days of 99% of our life for God, and 1% for ourselves are over. God must be our sole provider and focus. and our two hands must fully gripped on to Him, and not just 9 out of 10 fingers literally.
But does it not mean that we look inward, and not correct our brothers with love, wherever the Lord lead us to share a word? I believe God will use the faithful to remind the pending faithful, and on this, let me share a couple of verses that the Lord has brought me to these past few days.
'And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.'
Romans 13:11
The world is again caught up with its own measures of success. Spanking new skyscrapers, that looks cool on the outside, but needs an inordinate amount of energy to stay cool on the inside. Sterling rise in share prices, but on the inside, questionable business ethics and even more questionable balance sheets. Well coiffuered executives and the moneyed class, but beneath the façade, deep insecurity, discontentment and disconcertedness. A world catapulting into the 21st century with all its promised gloss, but yet, the gross inhumanity towards fellow beings, the great divide between the materially endowed and the increasingly underclass widens.
'And he said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace."
Luke 7:50
Is it not time to acknowledge the vacumn in our hearts, that desire for fulfilment that is far from being satisfied by our relentless efforts and finite understanding? A black hole of unfulfilled peace and joy, that can only be sated, by seeking God and obeying His command to love others?
God knows all our needs in this world. He has and will provide for us. But God wants us to know Him, to know His plan for us to be in eternity with Him. It is there for our taking. But to take, we will need to give first, by leaving everything aside and coming unto His presence. We will need to response as He leads us step by step in total obedience, and learn to leave our desire for conclusions to Him.
'Martha was distracted with much serving.'
Luke 10:40
It is time to stop being like Martha, much ado about nothing and instead be like Mary, who truly know that the sole purpose of our finite life is that come unto the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God will speak to us if we only learn to be still. In my own quiet time with him, He has brought me twice in two days to the same verses below. Do spend time reflecting on what it means for I truly believe God wants to prepare us for what is ahead.
'So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord…'
Jeremiah 43:7
(Have we gone back to our old sinful ways of chasing after everything except to following the leading of our Lord?)
'Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach…'
Jeremiah 51: 50-51
(Many of us have been blessed to escape materially the overwhelming and systematic financial carnage of the period between Oct 08-Mar 09. It is good not to forget what could have been, for many lost permanently a substantial part of their wealth, no different from the disobedient Israelites whose land in Jerusalem were destroyed by the conquering Babylonians)
'Waves of enemies will rage like great waters; the roar of their voices will resound. A destroyer will come against Babylon; her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken. For the Lord is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.......
This is what the Lord Almighty says: Babylon's thick wall will be leveled and her high gates set on fire; the people exhaust themselves for nothing, the nations' labor is only fuel for flames.'
Jeremiah 51:55-58
(this final verse ie Jeremiah 51:55-58 besides coming to me twice in two days, left a deep impression upon my heart. Does it portend what is ahead if we continue to seek the Babylonian lifestyle of excesses, to be like our conqueror, the devil, whose wiles led to Adam forgoing his birthright and special relationship with God, to instead enter into a life of bondage and sin to the devil? The call of nature is getting more virulent, judging by the almost daily earthquakes the past two weeks, and the howling typhoons. What about the call of God to all of us?
It is time to take a step back, be still and ponder upon your relationship with God. It is never too late, but it does not mean that God will withhold His hands in perpetuity)
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(7 Oct 09)
'Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you.
Seek ye the Lord….it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.'
Zephaniah 2:1-3
This ominous warning might have more credence back in Mar this year, when the world looks decidedly like going over the abyss. But now, with the seemingly roaring good times now back with us, not many will give a hoot to what could have been.
'For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death, but their strength Is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain…. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world….Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain..'
Psalm 73:3-14
A conversation I had with a dear brother in Christ reminded me of the sense of angst and grievance Asaph, a faithful man of God felt, in a faithless world. He could not understand why the godless seems to be amply rewarded in all senses, and not just materially, and is the consideration keeping Asaph from pronouncing his doubt about God aloud, is his non desire to shake the faith of fellow faithful men?
Up to a year ago, my whole emotional mix now would be like Asaph, for having obeyed faithfully God's leading this past one year, I would have found myself losing out financially compared to what could be, if I have leaned on my own understanding. This is the year where the reckless, the irresponsible and all things bad seem to be gaining tremendously financially, while those who are prudent, content and of integrity seem to be losing out. But have those who seek to follow God's leading truly lost out??
'Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places, Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors….'
Psalm 73:17-19
In my more sinful days, I used to be like Jonah, wishing that God will bring about the promised destruction on the sinful in Nineveh. Is it out of envy for destruction does benefit those who think that they obeyed God, at least in justifying their "sacrifices" in living godly values? But can the destroyed repent, and like the once sinful people of Nineveh, God relented because He truly wants all to be turned back to Him.
The Spirit of God has been graceful, and I have like Asaph, learned the folly of our self-righteous ways, and much as we must pray for all humanity to turn away from the devil to the Sovereign Lord our God,it is better to let the Spirit of God transform us, for change has to start with ourselves. And the days of 99% of our life for God, and 1% for ourselves are over. God must be our sole provider and focus. and our two hands must fully gripped on to Him, and not just 9 out of 10 fingers literally.
But does it not mean that we look inward, and not correct our brothers with love, wherever the Lord lead us to share a word? I believe God will use the faithful to remind the pending faithful, and on this, let me share a couple of verses that the Lord has brought me to these past few days.
'And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.'
Romans 13:11
The world is again caught up with its own measures of success. Spanking new skyscrapers, that looks cool on the outside, but needs an inordinate amount of energy to stay cool on the inside. Sterling rise in share prices, but on the inside, questionable business ethics and even more questionable balance sheets. Well coiffuered executives and the moneyed class, but beneath the façade, deep insecurity, discontentment and disconcertedness. A world catapulting into the 21st century with all its promised gloss, but yet, the gross inhumanity towards fellow beings, the great divide between the materially endowed and the increasingly underclass widens.
'And he said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace."
Luke 7:50
Is it not time to acknowledge the vacumn in our hearts, that desire for fulfilment that is far from being satisfied by our relentless efforts and finite understanding? A black hole of unfulfilled peace and joy, that can only be sated, by seeking God and obeying His command to love others?
God knows all our needs in this world. He has and will provide for us. But God wants us to know Him, to know His plan for us to be in eternity with Him. It is there for our taking. But to take, we will need to give first, by leaving everything aside and coming unto His presence. We will need to response as He leads us step by step in total obedience, and learn to leave our desire for conclusions to Him.
'Martha was distracted with much serving.'
Luke 10:40
It is time to stop being like Martha, much ado about nothing and instead be like Mary, who truly know that the sole purpose of our finite life is that come unto the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God will speak to us if we only learn to be still. In my own quiet time with him, He has brought me twice in two days to the same verses below. Do spend time reflecting on what it means for I truly believe God wants to prepare us for what is ahead.
'So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord…'
Jeremiah 43:7
(Have we gone back to our old sinful ways of chasing after everything except to following the leading of our Lord?)
'Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach…'
Jeremiah 51: 50-51
(Many of us have been blessed to escape materially the overwhelming and systematic financial carnage of the period between Oct 08-Mar 09. It is good not to forget what could have been, for many lost permanently a substantial part of their wealth, no different from the disobedient Israelites whose land in Jerusalem were destroyed by the conquering Babylonians)
'Waves of enemies will rage like great waters; the roar of their voices will resound. A destroyer will come against Babylon; her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken. For the Lord is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.......
This is what the Lord Almighty says: Babylon's thick wall will be leveled and her high gates set on fire; the people exhaust themselves for nothing, the nations' labor is only fuel for flames.'
Jeremiah 51:55-58
(this final verse ie Jeremiah 51:55-58 besides coming to me twice in two days, left a deep impression upon my heart. Does it portend what is ahead if we continue to seek the Babylonian lifestyle of excesses, to be like our conqueror, the devil, whose wiles led to Adam forgoing his birthright and special relationship with God, to instead enter into a life of bondage and sin to the devil? The call of nature is getting more virulent, judging by the almost daily earthquakes the past two weeks, and the howling typhoons. What about the call of God to all of us?
It is time to take a step back, be still and ponder upon your relationship with God. It is never too late, but it does not mean that God will withhold His hands in perpetuity)
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(7 Oct 09)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Reflections for the moment #38 Walking on water (1 Oct 09)
Dear…
'But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord: in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute…'
Psalm 141:8
Many years back, there was this video either on Candid Camera or was it America's funniest video that showed this guy trying to walk on water in a lake, using a pair of outsized paddles fitted on his legs. He was more waddling, like a penguin, than walking, and his moment of greatness lasted no more than a split second, suffice for the camera to capture his moment of folly.
'Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.'
Lamentations 3:40
Faith comes from God. Faith is received when we come unto His presence. Faith means a need to response in total obedience and trust, wherever God leads us to. It does include walking on water!! Immersion in water, that is familiar to most of us who have gone for baptism, an important step in our journey of following our Lord Jesus Christ, when we commit to put aside the old,and put on the new self, to be like Christ. But to walk on water, what does that really mean?
'And he said unto them, Where is your faith?'
Luke 8:25
One common desire amongst those who seek to be like Christ, is always to ask ourselves, in any particular circumstances we find ourselves in, is what would Christ wants us to do. How can we be like Him, how can we honour Him?
And one common experience for some of us is that as much we are desirous, we are not too sure if the decisions we made, the actions we take are truly what God wills? Is this perceived shortfall in certainty due to not knowing Christ well? Which in itself has its causal reason in us, the sinful man, not placing God first in our daily living.
So should it not be a question of where is our faith, but rather, where is God in our daily scheme of things?
'And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.'
Mark 6:48
When the winds blow against us, when we are buffetted by what life can throw at us, do we often not try to withstand it upon our own strength, instead of clinging upon the Lord our Rock.
Similarly, when the wind is behind us, do we not often power along on our own puffed up pride, and leave behind the true driver of our destiny, the Lord our God?
If we cannot even stay firmly rooted upon the Lord our God on familiar terra firma, it is even more unfathomable that we can do so, when the Lord brings us to swirling new territory.
'But straightaway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid…..But when he(ie Apostle Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.' And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?'
Matthew 14:27-31
As a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am unlike superman, whose only failing is a weakness to krytonite and wearing his undies wrong side out. As a desirous follower of Christ, I have my fair share of troubles, less monies than I would like and whenever I wobble in my faith, God does not give me a genie out of its magic lamp that I can summon to meet my wants??
When God says walk on water, the winds are still there if not stronger, the water is not just wavy, but underpinned by strong undercurrents that can truly overwhelm the fragile and still sinful me, and I have no wings to keep me afloat. How can just looking towards the Lord our God ensure that I will stay afloat??
'Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee.'
1 Chronicles 17:2
Man asked too many questions. It is time to discard the "how" and instead, bow in submission to the Spirit of God residing in all who believed and start following as He leads us, from the heart.
And how can we hear the promptings of the Spirit upon our heart?
Christ has shown by example many times in the Bible, that come what may, he will take time with God in prayers. And this morning, even as the ground shakes, from the not so distant earthquake in Sumatra, I am reminded again by the Lord of the story of Mary and Martha.
Martha did so many things, except to come unto the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary on the contrary stayed focus on the Lord.
'And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful and May hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'
Luke 10:41-42
If you were thrown into a deep sea today, the natural and logical reaction will be to tread water(if you know how) and to struggle interpersed with gasps for help, if you cannot swim. This behaviour is correct if we assume that we are denser than the body of water we are in. But will it not be better to just relax and float naturally, if you were in the Dead Sea, where the salinity ensured that the water is denser than you?
The Dead Sea might be unique, but to "die to Christ" is what all of us who wants to follow our Lord Jesus Christ must do every moment of our life.
When we truly let go and let God, we might not float on water, but the uplifting of our very being as described in Romans 5:5 will bring us forth, come what may, for God is Sovereign.
'..because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.'
Romans 5:5
Boldness comes when we know God. Wisdom to ask for what God has already planned for us comes from staying close to God every moment of our lives. Humility comes when we know that truly with man, nothing is possible, with God everything is possible and we will walk where God leads us to, in any conditions, because the Spirit of God residing in us will carry us forth
And prayers has everything to do with our relationship with the invisible, yet very present God , much as many have not given much credence to it.
'…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?'
Luke 11:13
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(1st Oct 2009)
An afternote, not aftershock
------------------------------------------
"Then they cried out unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.'
Psalm 107:13
Near but yet not so near, at least for now. The memories of the Aceh tsunami might have faded for most, but the ramifications of the seismic changes are still very much with us, as our brethren in Padang, Indonesia were rudely reminded by the devastating earthquake yesterday. In Singapore, other than more frequent tremors, we are truly blessed to be near yet not in the path of nature's wrath. Singapore is not just an economic miracle, but by the grace of God, a very blessed nation geography wise.
But do we continue to be enamored by our God given providences and forget about God our Provider and His calling to reach out to our neighbours, both at home and within Asia?
In this sinful world of ours, nothing is permanent, as once pristine Japan can be covered in yellow dust, just because of overgrazing in faraway Mongolia. And closer to home, even the seriously wealthy globally are not just immune from financial downturns, but were severely devastated by the financial shocks of Oct 2008 and possibly more in the near future.
'..always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God'
Colossians 4:12
While the sun is shining and the our lives are stable, it is good to remember the source of our joy and comfort, the Lord our God. But sadly, most tend to be still and start to seek God only when their hearts are humbled and contrite. What manner of shaking will one be desirous to go through before one's focus is drawn back to the ever present God?
'But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord: in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute…'
Psalm 141:8
Many years back, there was this video either on Candid Camera or was it America's funniest video that showed this guy trying to walk on water in a lake, using a pair of outsized paddles fitted on his legs. He was more waddling, like a penguin, than walking, and his moment of greatness lasted no more than a split second, suffice for the camera to capture his moment of folly.
'Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.'
Lamentations 3:40
Faith comes from God. Faith is received when we come unto His presence. Faith means a need to response in total obedience and trust, wherever God leads us to. It does include walking on water!! Immersion in water, that is familiar to most of us who have gone for baptism, an important step in our journey of following our Lord Jesus Christ, when we commit to put aside the old,and put on the new self, to be like Christ. But to walk on water, what does that really mean?
'And he said unto them, Where is your faith?'
Luke 8:25
One common desire amongst those who seek to be like Christ, is always to ask ourselves, in any particular circumstances we find ourselves in, is what would Christ wants us to do. How can we be like Him, how can we honour Him?
And one common experience for some of us is that as much we are desirous, we are not too sure if the decisions we made, the actions we take are truly what God wills? Is this perceived shortfall in certainty due to not knowing Christ well? Which in itself has its causal reason in us, the sinful man, not placing God first in our daily living.
So should it not be a question of where is our faith, but rather, where is God in our daily scheme of things?
'And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.'
Mark 6:48
When the winds blow against us, when we are buffetted by what life can throw at us, do we often not try to withstand it upon our own strength, instead of clinging upon the Lord our Rock.
Similarly, when the wind is behind us, do we not often power along on our own puffed up pride, and leave behind the true driver of our destiny, the Lord our God?
If we cannot even stay firmly rooted upon the Lord our God on familiar terra firma, it is even more unfathomable that we can do so, when the Lord brings us to swirling new territory.
'But straightaway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid…..But when he(ie Apostle Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.' And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?'
Matthew 14:27-31
As a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am unlike superman, whose only failing is a weakness to krytonite and wearing his undies wrong side out. As a desirous follower of Christ, I have my fair share of troubles, less monies than I would like and whenever I wobble in my faith, God does not give me a genie out of its magic lamp that I can summon to meet my wants??
When God says walk on water, the winds are still there if not stronger, the water is not just wavy, but underpinned by strong undercurrents that can truly overwhelm the fragile and still sinful me, and I have no wings to keep me afloat. How can just looking towards the Lord our God ensure that I will stay afloat??
'Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee.'
1 Chronicles 17:2
Man asked too many questions. It is time to discard the "how" and instead, bow in submission to the Spirit of God residing in all who believed and start following as He leads us, from the heart.
And how can we hear the promptings of the Spirit upon our heart?
Christ has shown by example many times in the Bible, that come what may, he will take time with God in prayers. And this morning, even as the ground shakes, from the not so distant earthquake in Sumatra, I am reminded again by the Lord of the story of Mary and Martha.
Martha did so many things, except to come unto the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary on the contrary stayed focus on the Lord.
'And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful and May hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'
Luke 10:41-42
If you were thrown into a deep sea today, the natural and logical reaction will be to tread water(if you know how) and to struggle interpersed with gasps for help, if you cannot swim. This behaviour is correct if we assume that we are denser than the body of water we are in. But will it not be better to just relax and float naturally, if you were in the Dead Sea, where the salinity ensured that the water is denser than you?
The Dead Sea might be unique, but to "die to Christ" is what all of us who wants to follow our Lord Jesus Christ must do every moment of our life.
When we truly let go and let God, we might not float on water, but the uplifting of our very being as described in Romans 5:5 will bring us forth, come what may, for God is Sovereign.
'..because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.'
Romans 5:5
Boldness comes when we know God. Wisdom to ask for what God has already planned for us comes from staying close to God every moment of our lives. Humility comes when we know that truly with man, nothing is possible, with God everything is possible and we will walk where God leads us to, in any conditions, because the Spirit of God residing in us will carry us forth
And prayers has everything to do with our relationship with the invisible, yet very present God , much as many have not given much credence to it.
'…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?'
Luke 11:13
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(1st Oct 2009)
An afternote, not aftershock
------------------------------------------
"Then they cried out unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.'
Psalm 107:13
Near but yet not so near, at least for now. The memories of the Aceh tsunami might have faded for most, but the ramifications of the seismic changes are still very much with us, as our brethren in Padang, Indonesia were rudely reminded by the devastating earthquake yesterday. In Singapore, other than more frequent tremors, we are truly blessed to be near yet not in the path of nature's wrath. Singapore is not just an economic miracle, but by the grace of God, a very blessed nation geography wise.
But do we continue to be enamored by our God given providences and forget about God our Provider and His calling to reach out to our neighbours, both at home and within Asia?
In this sinful world of ours, nothing is permanent, as once pristine Japan can be covered in yellow dust, just because of overgrazing in faraway Mongolia. And closer to home, even the seriously wealthy globally are not just immune from financial downturns, but were severely devastated by the financial shocks of Oct 2008 and possibly more in the near future.
'..always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God'
Colossians 4:12
While the sun is shining and the our lives are stable, it is good to remember the source of our joy and comfort, the Lord our God. But sadly, most tend to be still and start to seek God only when their hearts are humbled and contrite. What manner of shaking will one be desirous to go through before one's focus is drawn back to the ever present God?
Friday, September 25, 2009
Reflections for the moment #37 Devil and the deep blue sea (25sep09)
Dear…
'No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.'
Matthew 6:24
As I was still struggling to put the finishing touch to my next intended sharing "Walking on water," the good Lord gave me a temporary respite and took me out of the water and instead, placed me with this crossroad of thought, that has always bedeviled most of us, which is, do we follow God or the devil? For to not follow God with our all is to follow the devil, there is no middle ground, much as contrary to popular belief.
If God was clearly visible to our senses, would it be less of a drag to follow Him? And if Satan was visible in all grosteque, I am quite sure most of us would not be in a hurry to follow his leading, in fact, we will be scurrying in the opposite direction, towards God, visible or not.
'Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink……for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you…'
Matthew 6:25-34
An obvious truth, yet why are we all oblivious to the promise of God. "Cents and sensibilities" an unintended pun on Jane Austen's great literary work "Sense and Sensibility' but as long as we measure living by our imperfect understanding, by the need to cumulate for the temporal, without really understanding or believing in the eternal, and if we continue to rely on our flawed senses, we will never fully comprehend the plans God has for all of us.
Out with the old and in with the new might seem a little drastic, but truly, that is a needed start. In taking the first step to believing in the salvation that God has offered to us through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we must take that next decisive step, which is not just to turn away from the devil and his alluring things of the world, and look towards the Lord our God, but to follow His leading.
So, I believed and did look grudgingly away from my lusts and desires, and looked towards God. But what do I see but a great expanse of seemingly nothingness, like the wide reaches of the unfathomable ocean. And worse, as my repressed sinful senses try to reassert its hold on me, my mind start to imagine the creepy things that must be lurking beneath the deep blue waters, and for added effect, my circumstances of life seem to take a turn for the worse, like a gale force storm brewing in the ocean. What have I done by stepping out of the slimey but certain hands of the devil, into the great unknown? Was not that the gripe of the Jews when they left the much loathed bondage of Egypt to follow Moses into the wilderness?
'For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every is given to covetousness….'
Jeremiah 6:13
Covetousness, as defined in the English Dictionary is the insatiable desire to have what rightfully belongs to others. In my early introduction to the subject of Economics, one principle deeply ingrained in my then still fertile mind is the Law of Marginal Utility. To maintain the same level of satifisfaction, we will have to increase the quantum of our consumption at an increasing rate.
And worse, men has infinite wants, but the world has finite resources. This is the perfect recipe for men's present insecure state, where we willingly exchange our souls for the temporal delusions of the devil.
'Thus saith the Lord. Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.'
Jeremiah 6:16
If you truly believed, the Spirit of God already resides in your heart. There is no need to search the wide oceans, for His presence is already with us. It is time to let go and let God lead us, for only then, can we be firmly grounded upon the only right path, God's route as He prepares us for His return and eternity. To look and walk away from God, is to ensure that we will find ourselves once again like a rat on the devil's threadmill of despair and temporal but pained joy.
Much as the soaring financial markets continue to defy logic, yet reliving what history was in the 1970s, when financial assets recouped in one year, a substantial portion of its earlier losses, only to be derailed again by the reality of man's finite machinations This is a difficult time, be it for one in or out of the markets. Difficult because risks are very real if one were to invests, yet returns are next to miserable if one does nothing and even for those who think they are being enriched, frustrations will abound as levels form new peaks.
God has already shown those who seek Him the way of out of our convoluted state of mind. The old path, the good way as in Jeremiah 6:16 is the only way that will give us joy and peace and ensure that we do not come to grief again. To seek Him, by coming unto His presence always, to honour Him by the way we live and in doing His work.
God looks for obedience, not sacrifice and He knows our needs. Can we be trusted with plenty, if we cannot even be good stewards nor be contented with the present He has already blessed us with?
What comes after this year of great delusions will be one of redistribution. Where will you be in the plans of God?
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(24sep09)
'No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.'
Matthew 6:24
As I was still struggling to put the finishing touch to my next intended sharing "Walking on water," the good Lord gave me a temporary respite and took me out of the water and instead, placed me with this crossroad of thought, that has always bedeviled most of us, which is, do we follow God or the devil? For to not follow God with our all is to follow the devil, there is no middle ground, much as contrary to popular belief.
If God was clearly visible to our senses, would it be less of a drag to follow Him? And if Satan was visible in all grosteque, I am quite sure most of us would not be in a hurry to follow his leading, in fact, we will be scurrying in the opposite direction, towards God, visible or not.
'Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink……for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you…'
Matthew 6:25-34
An obvious truth, yet why are we all oblivious to the promise of God. "Cents and sensibilities" an unintended pun on Jane Austen's great literary work "Sense and Sensibility' but as long as we measure living by our imperfect understanding, by the need to cumulate for the temporal, without really understanding or believing in the eternal, and if we continue to rely on our flawed senses, we will never fully comprehend the plans God has for all of us.
Out with the old and in with the new might seem a little drastic, but truly, that is a needed start. In taking the first step to believing in the salvation that God has offered to us through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we must take that next decisive step, which is not just to turn away from the devil and his alluring things of the world, and look towards the Lord our God, but to follow His leading.
So, I believed and did look grudgingly away from my lusts and desires, and looked towards God. But what do I see but a great expanse of seemingly nothingness, like the wide reaches of the unfathomable ocean. And worse, as my repressed sinful senses try to reassert its hold on me, my mind start to imagine the creepy things that must be lurking beneath the deep blue waters, and for added effect, my circumstances of life seem to take a turn for the worse, like a gale force storm brewing in the ocean. What have I done by stepping out of the slimey but certain hands of the devil, into the great unknown? Was not that the gripe of the Jews when they left the much loathed bondage of Egypt to follow Moses into the wilderness?
'For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every is given to covetousness….'
Jeremiah 6:13
Covetousness, as defined in the English Dictionary is the insatiable desire to have what rightfully belongs to others. In my early introduction to the subject of Economics, one principle deeply ingrained in my then still fertile mind is the Law of Marginal Utility. To maintain the same level of satifisfaction, we will have to increase the quantum of our consumption at an increasing rate.
And worse, men has infinite wants, but the world has finite resources. This is the perfect recipe for men's present insecure state, where we willingly exchange our souls for the temporal delusions of the devil.
'Thus saith the Lord. Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.'
Jeremiah 6:16
If you truly believed, the Spirit of God already resides in your heart. There is no need to search the wide oceans, for His presence is already with us. It is time to let go and let God lead us, for only then, can we be firmly grounded upon the only right path, God's route as He prepares us for His return and eternity. To look and walk away from God, is to ensure that we will find ourselves once again like a rat on the devil's threadmill of despair and temporal but pained joy.
Much as the soaring financial markets continue to defy logic, yet reliving what history was in the 1970s, when financial assets recouped in one year, a substantial portion of its earlier losses, only to be derailed again by the reality of man's finite machinations This is a difficult time, be it for one in or out of the markets. Difficult because risks are very real if one were to invests, yet returns are next to miserable if one does nothing and even for those who think they are being enriched, frustrations will abound as levels form new peaks.
God has already shown those who seek Him the way of out of our convoluted state of mind. The old path, the good way as in Jeremiah 6:16 is the only way that will give us joy and peace and ensure that we do not come to grief again. To seek Him, by coming unto His presence always, to honour Him by the way we live and in doing His work.
God looks for obedience, not sacrifice and He knows our needs. Can we be trusted with plenty, if we cannot even be good stewards nor be contented with the present He has already blessed us with?
What comes after this year of great delusions will be one of redistribution. Where will you be in the plans of God?
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(24sep09)
Friday, September 18, 2009
Reflections for the moment #36 The ten percent syndrome (19sep09)
Dear…
'Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust.'
Psalm 16:1
Why do most of us seek to cumulate assets? Down to the core, would it be to ensure that our finite life is comfortable, and monies buy us freedom of choice and on the flipside, power over lesser beings, if wealth is the defining measure of one's worth as a human.
The Americans clearly evoked God in their constitution, and imprint their professed trust in God in their currency. But these are the same chaps who seem not to trust in what they professed, but rather indulge in ill-discipline, accounting flexibility, devil may care attitude in their fiscal and monetary policies in the pursuit of mammon?
'The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, thou maintainest my lot..'
Psalm 16:5
As a Christian, you would have read that the Word of God is God, and all scripture are God inspired. If so, should we not fully trust and obey in what God has promised and commanded us in Psalm 16:1? That is, even if we have nothing in this world, that it matters not, for God is with us. For to know God is suffice as reiterated in Psalm 16:5
But we might not be of the world, but at least in this finite life, we are still in the world and we will need the tools to survive in this world, till God takes us home. This is true and indeed God will more than provide for our needs on Earth. But what is suffice? And can we move beyond what we think is suffice, to trusting that His grace is indeed suffice?
'I will bless the Lord, Who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.'
Psalm 16:8
As shared in the past few months, God does indeed gives counsel, and in my case, in the brief transition between dreamland and reality. Guess in our sleep, is when our hearts and minds are most still, and we hear God better. And after a series of reminders and knocks literally on the head and the wallet(where it hurts most for most of us), guess I had better heed the Lord's call to focus my all on investing in His kingdom, and leave the greed and fear and angst to other lemmings looking for the next runaway train to latch on, even if it is heading for the cliff.
My own journey as a "giver' is like most. In one's pre-Christian or in my case, part-time Christian days, the thought of committing 10% of one's income as tithes seem quite a hefty commitment, especially after you net off tax and pension fund contributions. And the pain of giving gets worse even as one gains in capacity to give. I was reminded of this resistance just yesterday when a non-believing client gave a tirade about how the church used what was mentioned in the Bible to manipulate the willingness of people to give. He thinks that the Bible is a history book and misconception it might be for him, but clarity will come at God's timing and ways.
'Who comforts us…that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.'
2 Corinthians 1:4
Took me a while, but I have learned from experiencing God's grace that truly, all belongs to Him and He will more than provide for my needs. And if so, nothing should stop me from sharing His provisions and His love as He leads. The 10% is irrelevant, for we must give from the heart, for grace is God's love at work through us who obeys. And in the past 8 years since the Lord brought me across from believer to follower, He has always more than provided me with the resources, and much as I have obeyed His leading in giving, I have never found myself ever short of His provisions. It is truly like the Bibilical stories we read of the fish and loaves or of the minute oil that the poor and destitute lady had, that never ran out.
'I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.'
Psalm 16:8
The Stockholm syndrome is probably a term more familiar to most. This describe how hostages over a prolonged period of enforced confinement begin to sympathize and even support the cause of their captors. Patricia Hearst, most might have forgotten, but she was this rich and beautiful American newspaper heiress who from being a kidnapped victim, translated her sympathies to joining the same terrorist group.
The 10% Syndrome.,this is a new concoction freshly brewed by "moi."(French for me). Have we all believers or not, fallen heads over heels in love with our blessings, our hearts fully captivated and captured and plain forgotten about God our provider?
'I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.'
Psalm 119:16
As Christians, we must seek to be like Christ. Christ gave his all to us, including his life for the undeserving us. To be like Christ, we must not be measured in our giving, for truly, we must not give from what we have, but we give as God leads, knowing that He has and will more than provide.
'Teaching us that, denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works..'
Titus 2:12-14
I was at a hospice a few mornings back, as part of my forays lately into visiting charities that I am working with, which so many of you have recently shared your blessings with. In the days when I was a child, imprinted in my pysche was this street in Chinatown, which not just houses a row of coffin-makers, but also a last stop where many pioneering immigrants to Singapore, many without any family, after years of toil, spent their dying days, in quite miserable conditions both physically and emotionally.
In concept, a hospice is no different, yet the difference is in the palliative care, the love and concern shown to, till recently, strangers now placed in their care, to not just ensure that the last days are spent experiencing what many have not in their healthy days, ever encountered. Which is, unmitigated love and concern and through it, many of these soon to depart souls, will finally "see" God as they prepare to meet Him, with joy and peace, when they believed.
'Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep Thy word.'
Psalm 119:57
The fulness of the Spirit of God in our lives far outweighs the treasures of this sinful world. The grace of God is indeed suffice for the day. A principle that many might have heard of, but not pay much heed to, for the world has much to offer, and we have plenty of days to partake in our desires, or do we?
All of us would have to deal with the issue of our mortality some day. Would you still be hankering after the 90% that you have hung on to, or would you be like Apostle Paul, who truly understood what it means to live a life that places God above everything else. For through Christ, we indeed have the freedom to let go.
'What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.'
Philippians 3:7
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(15 sep 2009)
In conclusion
------------------
'The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.'
Isaiah 9:2
The past few days have been a whirr for me, in serving in His kingdom. And this lunchtime, I found myself at a restaurant next to a mortuary. Not a mistake in that I ate at the wrong place, but rather, I got my date with a dear friend wrong.
That can be reconvened next week, but as my eyes captured briefly the scene of distressed family members waiting to either identify or pick-up the cold shell of the departed, truly it is an apt statement of what can we truly bring with us, when all is told and done. We will leave our treasures behind, including our now lifeless shell of a body(no different even if you were King Tut of Egypt). But what can we bring to the table when we meet God our Maker? A litany of woes and ill-gotten gains, or a life of joy and peace that will not be extended to eternity?
'Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust.'
Psalm 16:1
Why do most of us seek to cumulate assets? Down to the core, would it be to ensure that our finite life is comfortable, and monies buy us freedom of choice and on the flipside, power over lesser beings, if wealth is the defining measure of one's worth as a human.
The Americans clearly evoked God in their constitution, and imprint their professed trust in God in their currency. But these are the same chaps who seem not to trust in what they professed, but rather indulge in ill-discipline, accounting flexibility, devil may care attitude in their fiscal and monetary policies in the pursuit of mammon?
'The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, thou maintainest my lot..'
Psalm 16:5
As a Christian, you would have read that the Word of God is God, and all scripture are God inspired. If so, should we not fully trust and obey in what God has promised and commanded us in Psalm 16:1? That is, even if we have nothing in this world, that it matters not, for God is with us. For to know God is suffice as reiterated in Psalm 16:5
But we might not be of the world, but at least in this finite life, we are still in the world and we will need the tools to survive in this world, till God takes us home. This is true and indeed God will more than provide for our needs on Earth. But what is suffice? And can we move beyond what we think is suffice, to trusting that His grace is indeed suffice?
'I will bless the Lord, Who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.'
Psalm 16:8
As shared in the past few months, God does indeed gives counsel, and in my case, in the brief transition between dreamland and reality. Guess in our sleep, is when our hearts and minds are most still, and we hear God better. And after a series of reminders and knocks literally on the head and the wallet(where it hurts most for most of us), guess I had better heed the Lord's call to focus my all on investing in His kingdom, and leave the greed and fear and angst to other lemmings looking for the next runaway train to latch on, even if it is heading for the cliff.
My own journey as a "giver' is like most. In one's pre-Christian or in my case, part-time Christian days, the thought of committing 10% of one's income as tithes seem quite a hefty commitment, especially after you net off tax and pension fund contributions. And the pain of giving gets worse even as one gains in capacity to give. I was reminded of this resistance just yesterday when a non-believing client gave a tirade about how the church used what was mentioned in the Bible to manipulate the willingness of people to give. He thinks that the Bible is a history book and misconception it might be for him, but clarity will come at God's timing and ways.
'Who comforts us…that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.'
2 Corinthians 1:4
Took me a while, but I have learned from experiencing God's grace that truly, all belongs to Him and He will more than provide for my needs. And if so, nothing should stop me from sharing His provisions and His love as He leads. The 10% is irrelevant, for we must give from the heart, for grace is God's love at work through us who obeys. And in the past 8 years since the Lord brought me across from believer to follower, He has always more than provided me with the resources, and much as I have obeyed His leading in giving, I have never found myself ever short of His provisions. It is truly like the Bibilical stories we read of the fish and loaves or of the minute oil that the poor and destitute lady had, that never ran out.
'I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.'
Psalm 16:8
The Stockholm syndrome is probably a term more familiar to most. This describe how hostages over a prolonged period of enforced confinement begin to sympathize and even support the cause of their captors. Patricia Hearst, most might have forgotten, but she was this rich and beautiful American newspaper heiress who from being a kidnapped victim, translated her sympathies to joining the same terrorist group.
The 10% Syndrome.,this is a new concoction freshly brewed by "moi."(French for me). Have we all believers or not, fallen heads over heels in love with our blessings, our hearts fully captivated and captured and plain forgotten about God our provider?
'I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.'
Psalm 119:16
As Christians, we must seek to be like Christ. Christ gave his all to us, including his life for the undeserving us. To be like Christ, we must not be measured in our giving, for truly, we must not give from what we have, but we give as God leads, knowing that He has and will more than provide.
'Teaching us that, denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works..'
Titus 2:12-14
I was at a hospice a few mornings back, as part of my forays lately into visiting charities that I am working with, which so many of you have recently shared your blessings with. In the days when I was a child, imprinted in my pysche was this street in Chinatown, which not just houses a row of coffin-makers, but also a last stop where many pioneering immigrants to Singapore, many without any family, after years of toil, spent their dying days, in quite miserable conditions both physically and emotionally.
In concept, a hospice is no different, yet the difference is in the palliative care, the love and concern shown to, till recently, strangers now placed in their care, to not just ensure that the last days are spent experiencing what many have not in their healthy days, ever encountered. Which is, unmitigated love and concern and through it, many of these soon to depart souls, will finally "see" God as they prepare to meet Him, with joy and peace, when they believed.
'Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep Thy word.'
Psalm 119:57
The fulness of the Spirit of God in our lives far outweighs the treasures of this sinful world. The grace of God is indeed suffice for the day. A principle that many might have heard of, but not pay much heed to, for the world has much to offer, and we have plenty of days to partake in our desires, or do we?
All of us would have to deal with the issue of our mortality some day. Would you still be hankering after the 90% that you have hung on to, or would you be like Apostle Paul, who truly understood what it means to live a life that places God above everything else. For through Christ, we indeed have the freedom to let go.
'What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.'
Philippians 3:7
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(15 sep 2009)
In conclusion
------------------
'The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.'
Isaiah 9:2
The past few days have been a whirr for me, in serving in His kingdom. And this lunchtime, I found myself at a restaurant next to a mortuary. Not a mistake in that I ate at the wrong place, but rather, I got my date with a dear friend wrong.
That can be reconvened next week, but as my eyes captured briefly the scene of distressed family members waiting to either identify or pick-up the cold shell of the departed, truly it is an apt statement of what can we truly bring with us, when all is told and done. We will leave our treasures behind, including our now lifeless shell of a body(no different even if you were King Tut of Egypt). But what can we bring to the table when we meet God our Maker? A litany of woes and ill-gotten gains, or a life of joy and peace that will not be extended to eternity?
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Reflections for the moment #35 Sway (9 Sep 09)
Dear…
'Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me, then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great trangression.'
Psalms 19:13
There are days for me when one feel this great sense of discontented discomfort, be it a mix of fear, envy, resentment and all things bad. For woman, the excuse could be menopause, for men, a little bit of a stretch there unless one subscribes to alternative lifestyles, but it is times like this that I have learned not to resist on my own strength nor understanding, but instead come unto the presence of the Lord our God. And indeed, God will keep us from sinning furthur, and made upright our tilting faith, as He just did for me.
'Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.'
Psalm 19:14
Now that my swaying heart has been re-anchored upon the Rock our God, may the following words be truly reflective of the leading of the Lord our God, and may He speak to your heart and bring you forth into His presence.
'For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people….neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself, and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary…'
Isaiah 8:11-14
Sashaying is till recently the predominant description of one's bodily movements in the many social ocassions where group dancing is a fixture of corporate social gatherings. But buildings swaying, that is a new phenomenon in Singapore, for long, a place that take pride and comfort in being shielded from what fickle nature in its bad and terrifying moods, can concoct. I only rolled in my chair once, a couple of years back,when a tremor hit town, a consequence of an earthquake in Indonesia. Not a great feeling, unless one loves being dizzy and tizzy, but swaying is here to stay, given the more regular earthquakes in our neighbourhood, with the most recent on the island of Sulawesi. But by and by, most of us in Singapore and most of the world are not too concerned, whenever tremors hit, for the attitude is that it should not hit us directly, but that is now an increasingly moot point. But there is another more insiduous swaying that is beginning to encapsulate most of us.
'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possess.'
Luke 12:15
It is not just a question of how much material blessings( or more like curse) is enough, but how much time does one truly have in this finite life? I would love to dwell into a more in depth discourse on the present delusory financial markets which can really sway our sense of prudence and common sense, but more compelling issues are a calling. It is suffice to say that most of us know it to be comparable to the treacherous Sirens on the Rocks in Greek mythology, when the returning victorious Greek army, led by King Odysseus(of Trojan Horse fame) sailed passed this treacherous graveyard of ships, many of whom have been lured to dash their solid ships against the even more solid and unforgiving rocks by the alluring singing of the sirens, seated on the rocks. The Greeks in all wisdom, did not dare depend on their willpower, but instead stuff their ears with beewax to keep out the call of the sirens, and for double safety, tied themselves to the ship's mast with thick ropes to ensure that they do not dash to their demise.
The understanding of stewardship(dependency upon our Sovereign God) and contentment(thankfulness to God for all circumstances) must be reinforced by our responding as God leads, to invest our all in His kingdom. This is the invisible rope that will tie us to the Lord our Rock and ensure that we do not be swayed by the alluring call of intensifying greed,fear and frustration, that are very much in our midst now.
Who can resist cheap and plentiful US$, and increasingly, the world looks like making the same mistakes of the nascent beginnings of the Asian crisis, on this belief that the fuel of speculation, the US$ will remain cheap in perpetuity. Man were right in their understanding in Oct last year, but tremendous wealth was lost through the unfathomable.
'And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.'
Philippians 1:14
The thought on the word "swaying" that the Lord has placed in my heart, is the shifting of our focus away from God, our non-reliance on His grace, our disregard to the need to be faithfully obedient to His will and instead we move to one of dependency upon our own understanding and the call of the sinful world. Many Christians today are believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, but followers of the ways of the devil!!
"How can it be?" many will no doubt retort with great indignance to such an indictment, but only your heart knows, for God resides in those who truly believe and seek Him.
Have you truly worked on your relationship with the everpresent God? Or is your mind, heart and interests with things of the world, and like many Christians, you hardly read the Bible(and even if you do, it is the New Testatment only), and when you pray, it is only when you needed something from God, and rarely do you pray for others nor do you engage in the spirit with our Sovereign God.
And your praises and thankfulness to our God you rarely mouth, and even if so, your prideful heart takes precedence over Him Who is Sovereign. And what about work? Is there not enough to do already, that one truly has no time to do the unprofitable things in men's eyes, but the imperative matters in God's will.
And what about your diligent church attendance? Are you there for the pastor of great charisma or are you there to be in the presence of God?
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.'
Philippians 1:12
If you managed to read this sharing till now. congratulations, for you will be amongst the minority. Just like time with God, most of us believers or not do have other more pressing interests than to spare Him a 2nd thought. And even if we were willing to 'give time with God a try, those who seek God seems to have more challenges in their lives. It is not just because the devil(with God's permission) wants to "beat" up anyone who dare cross the line to God's kingdom, but rather, God is Sovereign and He will allow correction to start with God's people, for in refining the imperfect us, there will be pain, yet gain.
God is not looking for sacrifice but obedience and I am oft reminded in my "self-pitying" moments, that truly, in every storm, lies the same faithful God upon Whom I am already anchored upon. If there is to be any swaying, it will be for my observers to see the steadfastness of my God given faith, and the equally responsive God Who will not just carry us through, but Whose glory will shine upon upon us His lamp, a resonance that no thicker than thick dark clouds can ever blanket.
These thoughts might not be suffice to encourage you to shift your focus back to God. But increase comes from our awesome God, and almost all indeed "see" God when the very foundations of their self serving life are shakened to the core, for God looks for a humble and contrite heart.
'For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'
Philippians 1:21
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(7 Sep 09)
Note
-------
The word that came to my heart this morning as I reflected upon this latest thought that God has showed me was the verse as below. And God always affirms and as I read the Bible this morning, this was the same verse that stared me in the face. How can we ever be uncertain, when God is certainly here with us, always.
'For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,'
Romans 8:38-39
'Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me, then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great trangression.'
Psalms 19:13
There are days for me when one feel this great sense of discontented discomfort, be it a mix of fear, envy, resentment and all things bad. For woman, the excuse could be menopause, for men, a little bit of a stretch there unless one subscribes to alternative lifestyles, but it is times like this that I have learned not to resist on my own strength nor understanding, but instead come unto the presence of the Lord our God. And indeed, God will keep us from sinning furthur, and made upright our tilting faith, as He just did for me.
'Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.'
Psalm 19:14
Now that my swaying heart has been re-anchored upon the Rock our God, may the following words be truly reflective of the leading of the Lord our God, and may He speak to your heart and bring you forth into His presence.
'For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people….neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself, and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary…'
Isaiah 8:11-14
Sashaying is till recently the predominant description of one's bodily movements in the many social ocassions where group dancing is a fixture of corporate social gatherings. But buildings swaying, that is a new phenomenon in Singapore, for long, a place that take pride and comfort in being shielded from what fickle nature in its bad and terrifying moods, can concoct. I only rolled in my chair once, a couple of years back,when a tremor hit town, a consequence of an earthquake in Indonesia. Not a great feeling, unless one loves being dizzy and tizzy, but swaying is here to stay, given the more regular earthquakes in our neighbourhood, with the most recent on the island of Sulawesi. But by and by, most of us in Singapore and most of the world are not too concerned, whenever tremors hit, for the attitude is that it should not hit us directly, but that is now an increasingly moot point. But there is another more insiduous swaying that is beginning to encapsulate most of us.
'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possess.'
Luke 12:15
It is not just a question of how much material blessings( or more like curse) is enough, but how much time does one truly have in this finite life? I would love to dwell into a more in depth discourse on the present delusory financial markets which can really sway our sense of prudence and common sense, but more compelling issues are a calling. It is suffice to say that most of us know it to be comparable to the treacherous Sirens on the Rocks in Greek mythology, when the returning victorious Greek army, led by King Odysseus(of Trojan Horse fame) sailed passed this treacherous graveyard of ships, many of whom have been lured to dash their solid ships against the even more solid and unforgiving rocks by the alluring singing of the sirens, seated on the rocks. The Greeks in all wisdom, did not dare depend on their willpower, but instead stuff their ears with beewax to keep out the call of the sirens, and for double safety, tied themselves to the ship's mast with thick ropes to ensure that they do not dash to their demise.
The understanding of stewardship(dependency upon our Sovereign God) and contentment(thankfulness to God for all circumstances) must be reinforced by our responding as God leads, to invest our all in His kingdom. This is the invisible rope that will tie us to the Lord our Rock and ensure that we do not be swayed by the alluring call of intensifying greed,fear and frustration, that are very much in our midst now.
Who can resist cheap and plentiful US$, and increasingly, the world looks like making the same mistakes of the nascent beginnings of the Asian crisis, on this belief that the fuel of speculation, the US$ will remain cheap in perpetuity. Man were right in their understanding in Oct last year, but tremendous wealth was lost through the unfathomable.
'And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.'
Philippians 1:14
The thought on the word "swaying" that the Lord has placed in my heart, is the shifting of our focus away from God, our non-reliance on His grace, our disregard to the need to be faithfully obedient to His will and instead we move to one of dependency upon our own understanding and the call of the sinful world. Many Christians today are believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, but followers of the ways of the devil!!
"How can it be?" many will no doubt retort with great indignance to such an indictment, but only your heart knows, for God resides in those who truly believe and seek Him.
Have you truly worked on your relationship with the everpresent God? Or is your mind, heart and interests with things of the world, and like many Christians, you hardly read the Bible(and even if you do, it is the New Testatment only), and when you pray, it is only when you needed something from God, and rarely do you pray for others nor do you engage in the spirit with our Sovereign God.
And your praises and thankfulness to our God you rarely mouth, and even if so, your prideful heart takes precedence over Him Who is Sovereign. And what about work? Is there not enough to do already, that one truly has no time to do the unprofitable things in men's eyes, but the imperative matters in God's will.
And what about your diligent church attendance? Are you there for the pastor of great charisma or are you there to be in the presence of God?
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.'
Philippians 1:12
If you managed to read this sharing till now. congratulations, for you will be amongst the minority. Just like time with God, most of us believers or not do have other more pressing interests than to spare Him a 2nd thought. And even if we were willing to 'give time with God a try, those who seek God seems to have more challenges in their lives. It is not just because the devil(with God's permission) wants to "beat" up anyone who dare cross the line to God's kingdom, but rather, God is Sovereign and He will allow correction to start with God's people, for in refining the imperfect us, there will be pain, yet gain.
God is not looking for sacrifice but obedience and I am oft reminded in my "self-pitying" moments, that truly, in every storm, lies the same faithful God upon Whom I am already anchored upon. If there is to be any swaying, it will be for my observers to see the steadfastness of my God given faith, and the equally responsive God Who will not just carry us through, but Whose glory will shine upon upon us His lamp, a resonance that no thicker than thick dark clouds can ever blanket.
These thoughts might not be suffice to encourage you to shift your focus back to God. But increase comes from our awesome God, and almost all indeed "see" God when the very foundations of their self serving life are shakened to the core, for God looks for a humble and contrite heart.
'For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'
Philippians 1:21
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(7 Sep 09)
Note
-------
The word that came to my heart this morning as I reflected upon this latest thought that God has showed me was the verse as below. And God always affirms and as I read the Bible this morning, this was the same verse that stared me in the face. How can we ever be uncertain, when God is certainly here with us, always.
'For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,'
Romans 8:38-39
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