Dear…..
'Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?'
Galatians 4:16
The world has become not just more unsettled, but even more unpredictable, what with the continued aftermath of the subprime and the nascent swine flu, not counting the regular seismic activity, though the only volcanic eruption seems to be in the stockmarkets, where the hogs are outpacing the tired bulls, and the hibernating bears in the uphill race to the abbatoir.
Bird watching might be easier than trying to fathom human emotions, as displayed in the stockmarkets, but at least, till recently, peace and joy might be what Christians professed to have.
But events of the past couple of weeks has in all likelihood, given a new experience for most of us who are believers in Singapore.
'Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'
Psalm 46:10
God is Sovereign, and if events of the past couple of days in Singapore are any indication, then good did come out of all situations, dire or not, and truly, the family make-up as most understand and subscribe to will be preserved for now, but we must no doubt remain watchful, just as we should be mindful of differing opinions, but steadfast in prayers we must.
'Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.'
1 Peter 5:1-11
As followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is a reminder once again to all that boldly we must speak, but it must be God led. And God is love, and much as one's detractors might seem to deserve a carnal response as all including us, are capable of evil, Christ led by example and Christlikeness is always lived with love, patience, perserverance, selflessness. We must love our "detractors" and persecutors, and let God be the judge. We can correct those who have erred, but spiced heavily with love, not with our judgement, and once we have said our piece, we should move on, and not impose by our own understanding or strength, for everyone has their choice and each is individually accountable to the Lord our God. Correction starts with ourselves, and lets by the grace of God ensure that we ourselves do not fall by the wayside.
'I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me.'
Isaiah 45:5
Many of us were never Christians by birth. In fact, many of us in our pre-believer days, find those who try to share the gospel with us an irritant at best, at worse, self-righteous pompous peacocks, who does not live what they preach. A follower of our Lord Jesus Christ must be desirous of seeking God always, reading His Word, in communion with Him in prayers, and always thankful in all situations, and praise in worship allows the Holy Spirit to envelope our very soul with His peace and joy. Have you done that?? Have you lived what you preached?
Much as we want to wish or often, more like brow beat God's blessings upon someone, that the blind might see the light of salvation, the light can only come from God, at His timing and in His way. What are we then?
We are the braille that the spiritually blind feels and gropes with, but enlightenment can only come from the Lord.
Were we not that way when we were non-believers? Just as God prepares the heart of the unbeliever, He is preparing us to walk with those whom He will lift the veil from. But will you be ready when that happens, if you do not seek God diligently? Will people whom you have been a bad example of our faith, want to come to you when God make them ready and willing?
'Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?'
Job 2:10
A man who seek after the Lord, is not immune from his own imperfections, and is even more likely to be under siege from the devil. But God will always gird us, much as in those moments of weakness, we might feel truly overwhelmed, but the Holy Spirt will bring us forth and give us renewed strength, and we will never lose our grip on the hands of the faithful Father. But this indomitable spirit to cling on to God, come what may, can only come from our growing into His likeness every moment of our lives,. It comes from a daily effort to seek God, a Father Whom we have come to know intimately, and not from a whimsical and momentary desire.
'But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.'
Galatians 4:29
God spoke to a worned out Prophet Elijah with a still small voice. God is speaking to all of us who seek Him. Truly, the battle is not just God's to fight, it is already won on the cross. Lets truly learn to be still, and hear God's will, then will we understand His ways, and learn to align our very thoughts and responses, to the darkness threatening to envelop all, with a lightness of heart, and emanate forth with that glorious inner joy and peace, that truly, all darkness have but to acknowledge the presence of the light, our Sovereign God.
'..but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.'
Galatians 5:10
It just not the nature of response, but the timing is also of the Lord's. Our response is about obedience, trust and doing what honours Him. We must discard our carnal self and let the Spiritual self come forth, as led by the Lord our God.
'When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.'
Galatians 4:1-7
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(8th May 2009)
Retrospective
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Hope I am not like those snake oil sellers who hark to their professed past successes as attestation of the efficacy of their products. I am selling no product, and it is not a Christian's job to convince the unbeliever of God's awesomeness. But rather, it is for me to speak as God leads and to attest as He shows me the way, much as one can see that I was quite wrong often enough in my investment decisions, yet God always make a wrong right, if we look to Him and His ways are not our ways. Below is an excerpt from Reflections #2 Impressions(2 April 09), and much as I believe that the Lord will bring me out my bad positions in the stockmarkets, His ways are always unfathomable and with this present surge of hope and delusion, it is an opportunity for me to make clean my position and respond I must.
"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."
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