Reflections for the moment : Impression (2April09)

Dear…

'Arise, go over this Jordan….I will not leave you nor forsake you.'
Joshua 1:2,5

Does the horse comes before the cart,or is it the other way round? Ever since I seek to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, coincidences for me has become more of a prevalence than a bluer than blue moon. A brother did wonderfully remind me in sharing his thoughts from reading my "Reflections for the moment#1 : Dying and living" that truly, just like our Lord look not for sacrifice, but obedience, Our Lord looks for total commitment from us, but the results are left to Him.

But can the less than faithful us trust that the Lord is Sovereign? Today's Daily Bread reading from Joshua 1:2,5 reminds all that wherever God leads us, He will be with us. And what greater assurance do we need than to know that we walk not just alone, but with an omnipresent and awesome, yet loving God.

'But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.'
Luke 12:31

The cart indeed comes before the horse, at least for the life of a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. God knows our needs, but do we know His will? Do we every moment of our lives seek to come unto God's presence to know His will, or do we come to God only when we need something?

If we are to take a moment's pause and reflect, with a thankful heart, upon the more than half full glass of our life, you will indeed concur that God is good, and our wants might not be met, but our needs have been more than satisfied

'According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, though the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue…..'

2 Peter 1:3-8

Like me, if you believe and know that God has provided and God will provide, will we not move as He leads, from our heart, and learn to leave our own understanding by the wayside.

We often talk of God speaking to us. Of God prompting us. But contrary to the finite man's understanding of the usual modus operandi, God communicates with us in the Spirit, and not via the carnal senses of sight, sound, feel, taste nor smell.

If you believe, the Spirit of God resides in you and the Spirit of God will lead us.

'Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word…'

Psalms 103:20

King Agrippa told the Apostle Paul that too much knowledge has caused him to be mad. Some would say that my spending too much time with our Lord has caused me to hallucinate, for lately, I seem to "hear" our Lord very distinctively. In my recent sharings, I have written about how the Lord 'spoke' to me about the need to reduce debt significantly and to diversify out my rather overweight position in the Antipodean currencies. I did respond, for how can one not, when the Lord spoke to me not once, but thrice. But without His grace, it would not have been possible for me to do both and come out relatively unscathed, for all will be aware that most assets including the Australian and New Zealand dollars have declined at least 30-50%.

'But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus'
Philippians 4:19

As I now bring this latest reflection to a close and try to stay concise, the Lord placed the thought in my heart that now is the time to "clean up." But I have indeed clean up my debt and my deposits and very well, by His grace. The Lord reminded me about the need to clean up the last leg of of my own portfolio, ie shares. The markets the next month or so will offer all an opportunity to make right what was wrong with our portfolios. Be not driven by fear(as in the case now) nor be driven by greed(as what was and will again be soon as prices rises albeit temporarily on relentless liquidity from the Americans).

But it is more than our financials. It is about us making right our lives, by coming unto the source of all comfort and grace, the Lord our God.

'He seldom reflects on the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.'
Ecclesiastes 5:20

Indeed, would life not be wonderful, if it is all about following and not always wondering or wandering? That can only happen when the only deep impression on our hearts is that of the love of God.

God Blesses

Note
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It is not that I have moved to a daily sharing, but rather, as the Lord prompts, one respond. Maybe, it is also to make up for the future lost time should I really need to be on a sling eventually. Am seeing a 2nd specialist and the prayers of the faithful avails much. Always grateful for your prayers.

Eng Hieang
(2April09)