Life...Oh life....

Sometimes I wish things didn't happen the way it should be. I can't understand why it happened or what lead to that situation. I wish God would tell me but HE is silent, very silent. There is a song He gives and takes away, me heart will choose to say Lord blessed be your name. I was always afraid to sing that song because there were some things in life that I couldn't let go. However things changed, and I thought the person's love for me would never change but unfortunately it did. The love was based on emotions therefore it was vulnerable to changes and it could not stand the winds and waves that shook it. When we love someone it should not only be based on emotions but to love someone with your mind, and soul. Even though I loved the person very much, it didn't change anything. I was going round and round in circles hoping for something which no longer exist. Its so hard but I have to stop and move on. I know that God has greater things for me ahead and I don't want to miss any of it.

Always There (God is)

When I'm less than I should be
When I just can't face the day
When darkness falls around me
And I just can't find my way
When my eyes don't clearly see
And I stumble through it all
You I lean upon, you keep me strong
And you raise me when I fall
(chorus)
You are there when I most need you
You are there so constantly
You come shining through, you always do
You are always there for me
When life brings me to my knees
When my back's against the wall
You are standing there right with me
Just to keep me standing tall
Though a burden I might be
You don't weary, you don't rest
You are reaching out to carry me
And I know I'm heaven-blessed
(Repeat chorus)

God's love

Can we all love like God does?..He poured unconditional, sacrificial love for each one of us. His love is the only kind of love that will never die. We humans have the tendency to love for a moment, pour out our hearts for someone or something we are fond of and then one day we find ourselves not very keen and need a change. How is this possible?. Somebody told me its just the complexity of the human emotions. So the next question which comes in, can we stay faithful to one thing and one thing only?. Humans yearn for new things, once they get bored with something/someone they leave. However our LORD Jesus will never change. He is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. As faithful as can be he will never forsake us even when we turn away from Him, He will never stop loving us but instead He will wait patiently for us to run back to Him. Dearest Lord you are forever wonderful and I stand in awe of you everytime. Praise your HOLY NAME.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness:
The Visible Outpouring Of Unconditional Love

by: Rev. Vera I. Bourne

The journey toward our healing starts with unconditional love and forgiveness - unconditional love and forgiveness we offer first to ourselves. These two are so closely interwoven that it is impossible to conceive of unconditional love without forgiveness and vice versa. As God loves utterly and forgives utterly, so we are to offer love and forgiveness. Jesus in his reply to the Pharisees stated: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbour as yourself." (Matthew 22: 37-39) In the prayer he gave to his friends, and in his subsequent explanation Jesus is quoted as saying: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive others ... if you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Parent will forgive you ... but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Parent forgive your transgressions." There is no doubt God desires that we are all healed and whole, yet self-forgiveness and self-love are either neglected or put in the "too hard" basket. Worse still, many of us have never heard this portion of the Gospel. Yet from our earliest days we have been subjected to moral and spiritual directions which have taught us what was "good" and what was "bad"; what was "expected of us" and what was "unacceptable or inexcusable conduct". In fact, we are bent over by layer upon subsequent layer of shame and guilt, imposed on us by family, society, various spiritual decrees and regulations, by those who employ us and those with whom we work. Our greatest need is to see ourselves with the eyes of God, as people who are loved and are forgiven totally. We may need to turn to those skilled in the ministry of healing of memories to help unlock all those doors behind which we have repressed pain, anxiety, bitterness and failures together with the memories of those kindnesses we neglected, and all those acts of conciliation we refused. As Jungian John Sanford notes, "We are all of us wounded people. The is no such thing as a person who is free from illness, incompleteness, and injury to his or her personality. Some of us can simply hide from our woundedness better than others. When we can no longer hide from our woundedness, we are ready for individuation." As those who have not yet forgiven nor loved themselves we remain unhealed people. What is our reaction when we are required by Jesus to love and forgive others as we love and forgive ourselves, if we have not yet made peace with ourselves? How can we express unconditional forgiveness and love to others when we have not yet experienced it in our own lives? Fear - the opposite of love - is manifested in many forms: hatred, jealousy, pride, resentment, anger, greed, prejudice, hostility, conceit and various "-ism" words. Each and every one of these manifestations of fear corrodes our personality, our spiritual walk, our attitudes and our physical bodies. Changes in blood pressure, indigestion, ulcerated stomachs, nervous breakdowns and coronary attacks can often be traced back to lack of unconditional love. Unconditional love frees us from all bonds and restrictions - we rejoice at the successes of others, and mourn over the plight of many. We are so filled with love that life bubbles over. Those who are yet to know this experience of unconditional love often close in on themselves, creating a universe of which they are the center. They are fearful and jealous of their reputation, they begrudge the successes of others, they become neurotic and sometimes paranoid that there is a conspiracy somewhere directed against them. Their fear, hatred and jealousy eat away at their peace of mind, at their relationship with the Creator, and at their physical bodies. They become consumed by fear, riddled by the worms of nightmares of their own making. Their lives are punctuated by explosions of anger, and as such are immature reminders of childhood. Whether these outbursts are used as a release of tension or frustration, or whether they are used as a weapon, they are still only tools of manipulation. James 4: 1-2 speaks of these outbursts. God continues to love all of creation, passionately, unconditionally. For God so loved the world that ... "If love is the soul of Christian existence, it must be at the heart of every other Christian virtue. Thus, for example, justice without love is legalism; faith without love is ideology; hope without love is self-centeredness; forgiveness without love is self-abasement; fortitude without love is recklessness; generosity without love is extravagance; care without love is mere duty; fidelity without love is servitude. Every virtue is an expression of love. No virtue is really a virtue unless it is permeated, or informed, by love (1Corinthians 13)." - Fr. Richard P. McBrien, Catholicism. Why shouldn't those who have wronged us be punished, made to bear the cost of their actions/words? We all have a deep-seated conviction that "someone ought to pay." Jesus spoke of this "eye for an eye" attitude - the letter of the law - as being superceded by the requirements of Love. How can things ever be made right? How can those words/actions be wiped from the memories and lives of the victims and of others? Revenge merely sets one on the same level as the one who has wronged you, forgiveness moves you both closer to God. From forgiveness it is a tiny step to accept others as beloved children of God, and to love them as such. Jesus demonstrated that God condemns no person; therefore why do we? Why do we refuse forgiveness when for our own healing, wholeness and peace of mind we need to be forgiven and to offer forgiveness? "Forgiveness means that we have asked for a miracle: the ability to see through the mistakes that someone has made to the truth that lies in all our hearts" - Marianne Williamson, Illuminata. Forgiveness is seeing others as loved as equally as we are by God, and as justified, forgiven and reconciled by the blood of Jesus as we are. Forgiveness removes our rights to avenge and to revenge. It prevents us from attacking others. Forgiveness costs - often it seems to produce more pain than the original wounding. It involves accepting voluntarily the harm or evil that has been inflicted on oneself, and letting the other person go free. In love, we bear the cost of those sins against us. Both human and divine forgiveness are substitutional. The cross was the price God paid to forgive us. We could never pay the debt of sin we owe to God, so God paid it for us. By our forgiveness of others we pay their debt to us. Forgiveness does not mean we suppress our anger - forgiveness means we give up our right to anger. Alone we cannot do this, it is far too hard. Every person is one for whom Christ died, and one whom God regards as a perfect, loving child. We need to recognize that each and every one of us is an immortal soul. Our actions and reactions will become part of the immortal record of our lives. We need to turn to God and ask for strength to tread this path, so that we may offer forgiveness, acceptance and love to others. Only God knows and understands others, so rather than trying to analyze their motives, we need only to be accepting and forgiving. In Col 3: 12-14 Paul speaks of this. God has never refused forgiveness to any person, nor turned away from any. There can be no peace without forgiveness. Forgiveness does not erase the past, nor can forgiveness change it. Instead forgiveness removes the power of the past to cause pain or anger; it provides permanent healing of those memories. Forgiveness empties the bitterness from our lives. Bitterness left to fester will erode our attitudes, our rationale and motives and our relationship with God. To be able to accept God's forgiveness we must be free in ourselves to offer forgiveness to others. We must be prepared to offer this forgiveness not only once, but should a memory of the offence be renewed we must offer forgiveness once again - continually. To offer forgiveness continually is to live forgiveness by accepting the rough and tumble of life, by turning disappointments into opportunities. While we still may not like the person(s), or may find a clash of lifestyle or philosophy to be a bit too much to say 'friend', we at least reach out to find the common ground and see if friendship, or at least the ability to work and live together, develops. C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory speaks of the unconditional love we are asked to demonstrate: "And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner--no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbour, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat -- the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden." It is by forgiveness that we dissolve the bonds that tie us to those we forgive, as well as to our old thought patterns and beliefs. Without the willingness to forgive we perpetuate the pain, the abuse and the memories of those past traumas continuing in our present time. We have no need to confront that person(s) to offer forgiveness. We can ask God to wrap them in our forgiveness and love, or we can choose to visualize sending a cloud or blanket of love and forgiveness to them and having it enfold them. Those who use a pipe in prayer will also know how to send such blessings. There is no barrier to prevent us extending our forgiveness, save our own willfulness. Perhaps we don't choose to forgive today, or let go of those painful memories just yet. We want to hug them a little longer to our breasts, to feel the thorns again pierce our flesh. Why? Why in the name of the Risen Christ do we Christians choose this option? Christ has borne the cost of forgiveness, why must we punish ourselves by refusing forgiveness? Why do we choose to continue to live as the victims of rape, of verbal or emotional abuse, and of rejection when in an instant we can set ourselves and the perpetrators free? Do we not believe we deserve the peace and joy such forgiveness will secure? What is the fear which will not permit us to live as healed, whole, radiant people? As a society, as a nation, as part of all creation we need communally to seek forgiveness from God. While a society cannot be ordered to don sackcloth en masse, we can gather publicly and commit to the change, and the Christians of our nations can (as individuals and as the Church) confess our sins before God and another (or many others) and seek God's forgiveness. Our society and our nations have practiced racism; we have been willing to destroy the mountains of food we have overproduced while millions in the world starve; we have not spoken out when we have seen the rights, the homes and the lives of others destroyed; we have created barriers of class, gender and sexuality. As members of our societies and our nations we must be prepared to seek forgiveness from those whom we wronged, and try to make restitution. Sometimes restitution is not possible, but our act of confession and sorrow allows the growth of roots of healing. And with this healing comes reconciliation. Reconciliation is not easily achieved on either side, for each of us has been damaged by our own acts and by the acts of others. We have built defensive walls to protect us from further damage. God will need our permission to start demolishing these walls. But by the gift of unconditional love and forgiveness Jesus has moved to restore our relationship with God and our relationship with each other. For this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. Sometimes I believe we forget the price God paid so that we could be forgiven, so that no trace of those sins would ever remain to convict us in God's sight. Jesus was physically put to death, his body broken, spilled out for us. When we read the Ten Commandments and Jesus' commission for each of us, we cannot but note that God's directs our concern outward to others. It is our neighbours, our families, our enemies, and the untapped fields waiting to be reaped for Christ which are the focus of God's attention. When we share the Eucharist it is not a solitary meal, for even if we are celebrating it by ourselves, we do so within the entire universal family of believers, past, present and future. God's love and forgiveness pour out, as Christ's blood was poured out, for all. And that includes all from whom we have withheld our forgiveness. We can never be sure of the hidden compulsions which cause people to strike out, so how can we judge their words and actions justly? God does know, and God forgives. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. We are called to be a peculiar people, to view life differently and to live it differently. In some ways our walk may seem topsy-turvy to others; our values have changed from self to service. In Matthew 5: 21 - 24 are recorded Jesus' words which challenged his hearers' previous thoughts about their relationship to each other and to God. Jesus not only overturned the tables at the Temple, but he overturned our responses to one another even to this day. When, after the war, Corrie ten Boom met a former guard who had been responsible for the torment of women in the concentration camp at Ravensbruck, try as she could, her hand would not extend to touch his ... until she put the matter in God's hands, and forgave. She could then clasp his hand and bless him. Topsy-turvy it could seem. The words whose echoes still resound in the ether, continuing to challenge us to repudiate the reasons we use to justify withholding unconditional love and forgiveness, are those which Jesus spoke at Calvary: Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.

To be in the likeness of Christ (written by sabrina with guidance from God's word)

As we move into a brand new year of 2008, most of us have already planned new year resolutions. There are so many targets and goals that we want to accomplish this year. Some of us hope to get a promotion or a pay rise, and there are some who intend to even find a life partner etc. Setting these goals are essential and vital. It helps to push us to strive harder or make an extra mile in order to achieve the end result. However we tend to get so caught up in achieving the best until we become so busy we start compromising on the Godly things and lifestyle we used to have. This will lead us astray from God and ultimately jeopardize our relationship with him. When we look back at our new year resolutions, most of them are of the world. What about Godly goals? Haven’t we forgotten to include that in? Why do we have so many goals for ourselves but forgot about setting goals to achieve for the LORD?

As children of God we must have Christ kingdom perspective in mind. The ultimate goal for our lives is to be like HIM more and more. We as His disciples must reflect God’s light.

We are called to be the salt and light of the world (Mark 9:50)

1. we should remember God’s faithfulness
2. we should make a difference in the flavour of the world. (like salt changes meat taste)
3. we should counteract with the moral decay in society. (salt preserves food from decay)

Whatever we do, our actions are always being observed by the people around us. Therefore before we decide to respond to a certain situation, we must evaluate and ask God to help us discern if it is appropriate to respond in a particular way and whether or not it is His will. For example, if a person makes us angry, are we going to go berserk and burst out back on the other person or are we going to settle it in a calm and pleasant way. The way we respond will ultimately affect the impression that people have on us. We are God’s ambassadors and royal priesthood therefore we must be watchful of how we bring ourselves, our daily conduct and attitudes because the way we portray ourselves must be glorifying to His name. We wouldn’t want to shame and dishonor His name but instead we want to show the world that JESUS is our LORD and He lives in us.

Some important characteristics of GOD that we are ought to follow.

A) Offer forgiveness and unconditional love.

Our God is ever loving and merciful. Even though how much we sin against Him, he still loved us. He wants us to follow thus very nature of HIM.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (Luke 23:34)

If God himself forgave who are we to judge other people when we too are sinners. We must first examine our own attitudes and actions.

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you

shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)

He wants us instead to learn to love our neighbors who include family member, friends, husband/wive, or enemies despite of what they have done in our lives. Why he wants us to forgive like He does? Because he wants to set us free and to experience the true joy and blessings of the LORD. He don’t want us to be burden by all those past that have hurt us. It is better to lift it all up to the Lord than to let these negative emotions as a result of unforgiveness to torment us. Our job is to pray for those who hate us. Love them in spite of what they have done to us. The journey towards healing starts with combining both unconditional love and forgiveness. If there is not love, there is no forgiveness or it will be hard to forgive. Both are closely entwined.

Easy as said than done (when it comes to loving your enemy), but you can do it when you strive to see people through the eyes of Jesus full of love and compassion. We also need to turn to God and ask for strength Real love requires all of our efforts and sacrifice. Everything we have to give like money, time, our pride, and personal involvement to help the other person. By putting the other person's needs ahead of our own we walk with a humble attitude. (we let go of our rights to put others first) When we do this, the person that hurt us will be aware that we are different. We are Christ ambassadors and ought to show a Christ like example to people for them to follow. Remember we do all things to glorify His mighty name.

B) Practice Servanthood

We all need to have a heart of a servant. Even our LORD JESUS, a man who is highly exalted served His people. In the bible it tells us that JESUS washed the feet of HIS disciples which show servanthood. His life on earth is more of serving the people He sees everyday (healing, teaching, feeding, blessing) and does not expect anything else for His own benefit in return but only hope that they will hear the gospel and receive salvation form our heavenly Father. It is the command of our Father to be faithful and sensible servants for Him and for His people.

Matt 24:45-47

How to have a heart of a servant?

- lay down our rights at the feet of the cross (rights to anger, certain advantage etc) Let’s say we waited for the waitress to sit us in a restaurant for a rather long time already and finally she gave another person the sit first. Are we going to scream at her and demand for a free meal because it was our rights to get our sits first.

- give rather than receive (offer help to shift house or clean the church or help a brother in a project without asking)

- serving means sacrificing (time-going out for a movie, shopping spree, girls night out, sleep over, pillow talk, energy-help to shift house, give tuition to help out in studies, possessions-treat friends once in a while)

Acts 20:35

It is more blessed to give than to receive

- humble

- obedient to the word of GOD

- doesn’t complain but be submissive (do as told e.g leaders)

- does not wait to be called to do something (clean the church, offer to help without asking)

C) Being and Influencer

1 Timothy 4: 12

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

We all influence people every stage of our lives, whether we recognize it or not. The question is how do we influence? In a good way or a bad way. The best model to follow is JESUS and how His life related to people. (basically how His ministry affected the people) The gospel tells us that Jesus poured His life into a few people, and in turn this small group impacted the world and all of history. We are often encouraged to influence other people with our Christian walk not out of obligation, but because it brings great meaning and joy to our lives (when we see other people get touched by what we say or do, we are delighted because we know that we are walking right with GOD and we are encouraged) and It is a high calling and a part of our pre-designed purpose that He has for our lives.

How and who do we influence?

- not limited to people with ongoing relationship (a person that you have been nurturing or sharing the gospel)

- it can be a one time encounter with a stranger u meet at a bus station or it may be a short message in a greeting card that includes the gospel of JESUS.(God’s calling and commission for us)

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15)

- not necessarily from a classroom setting where a speaker will talk about a particular topic (sermon, seminar) which influence or impact their lives.

- We can use everyday events and impacting moments as opportunities to teach or influence. (you see a blind man on the street, how u respond to that scenario, or how u have been praying for a payrise or good results when finally your prayers have been answered.

- Can happen in an informal setting e.g: during a shopping spree with your friends, in uni, workplace or church.

- By story telling (JESUS use parables)

- By showing the heart of compassion to those who are in need. (really moving out from the comfort zone and into the darkest streets, deserted places where beggars and prostitutes live.)

- Giving counsel and practical advice.

- Nurture the potential in others to fulfill their God given purpose. Influence them to have a heart that is passionate about serving by telling them what GOD can do with their lives like what GOD has done to you and how they can play an important role in building the kingdom of GOD. (encouragement) This can be done by looking out for gifts and talents which one can serve in church and affirming that what he/she does is right and in the will of GOD.

Matt 28:19,20

Pray that the LORD will reveal to you the people that He wants us to impact with biblical insights, and encouragement for the journey of life.

D) Steadfast in prayer

Having a prayerful life as a Christian is the utmost important. We all need to pour out our hearts desire and needs to God. Even Jesus prayed to His Father often. No matter how busy He was, Jesus still spent time alone with His Father, praying. After a full, tiring day of ministering to people and healing He still woke up early the next day to spend time with the LORD.

Mark 1:35

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.

Why Pray??

- to receive guidance from God to carry you through the whole day.

- Have faith that God answers

- We have hope in God

- We surrender our lives to God and know that He is in control

- Acknowledging our dependence on God

- Because prayer is powerful (our God is a God of possibilities)

- It is God’s will in our lives

1 Thessalonians 5: 17,18

Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

- Because He is glad when His children come to seek Him in prayer

Proverbs 15:8

He delights in the prayers of the upright.

- We acknowledge that He is God over our lives

- To have an intimate relationship with the LORD ( draw us closer – comm. with the Lord about the ups and downs of our lives)

What do we pray?

- For the nation (peace, good leaders, Christian ministers) - intercessory

- Defeat any hindrances and plans from the evil one

- For the people that we are nurturing

- To soften the hearts of our loved ones and uncover the veil for those who do not know the LORD

- To transform lives

- Blessings and protection

- For Him to reveal the purpose that He has for our lives.

How do we pray?

- with a humble attitude

- with expectancy that God will answer

- with a sincere and pure heart

1 Samuel 16:7

“For the Lord does not see as a man sees, for a man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”

- in spirit and in truth

Praying is more effective than actually confronting someone to help him/her as prayers are capable of moving mountains.

Mark 9:29

This kind can come out only through prayer

However there are times when our prayers seem to be not answered but don’t fret because in His due time it will be but maybe not in ways that we want it to be but in His will because He knows what is best for us. Therefore we must never give up praying but instead be steadfast and persevere in prayer.

Galatians 4:4

But when the time had fully come, God sent His son, born under law.

God sees the heart and how much faith that we have to know that God hears our prayers and that something has already been taking place in the spiritual realm.

It is never easy to be like Christ. We made a choice to follow Him which means walking the same path that He walked and using Him as a role model in our temporary lives here on earth. Ask God to mould you into His image everyday and pray that He will give you the strength to follow Him.

URGENT!!!

Please pray for the 2 countries, China and Myanmar that have been suffering due to the recent calamity that hit these countries. Pray that help teams will be able to get into these countries to provide aids. The chief officer in Myanmar is now blocking all foreign aids from coming in. Pray that God will soften his heart and break any pride so that the people in Myanmar no longer have to suffer instead get immediate help. Remember that prayer can move mountains. Let's all join hands, in unity to pray unceasingly for CHINA and MYANMAR. GBU!!

The other gender...

All these while I thought males are rather similar in thinking, actions and perception with females. I was all wrong. They will not understand what you are thinking if you don't voice out to them. God created man and woman unique and that is why when a male is paired with a female they fix in properly. Its like a piece of puzzle, if you take 2 puzzle pieces with the same shape, it will not interlock but however if you use 2 different pieces, alakazam!!...it fits!! It is the closest example I can think of. When I was in a relationship, I know nuts about this special creation that God formed. That was where problems arose and miscommunications came about. Now that I know, I am not sure if it's too late. Only God can work now...anyway its God who knows what is best and only through HIM we can obtain happiness in any kind of relationship.

I can start counting down...10, 9, 8,.....HAPPY BURFDAY SABRINA!!

Time really flies...gosh!...It's already half a year....just a while ago I still remembered the time I screamed HAPPY NEW YEAR during the countdown in the heart of K.L where my buddies and I had to squirm in between ppl to get into the lrt...phew...when we look back...we see so many changes in our own lives and in the lives of others...new accomplishments, new beings, new job, etc. All these could only be achieved by our divine hands of our dear JESUS...AMEN!!...my burfday is just around the corner...didn't realize I'm becoming older year after year...n wiser I hope...if you asked me what would be my best burfday present...I guess only God will know the answer...only He knows what I can have and cannot have...He knows what is best for our lives...but that does not mean that you cannot ask Him what you desire...for when you ask you shall recieve, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you...Dear Lord, only you know the desires of my heart...especially right at this moment...I know you have heard my prayers and the prayers of my fellow sis and bro....I shall continue to wait...wait....n wait....patiently...patiently...for I know when it is the right time...you will reveal to me....thank you LORD...

1 week has passed....Uphold by God

Wow...one week just passed....didn't even notice..I just want to thank God for His great love that was poured unto my family during this time of grieving...without HIM on our side I dunno what will happen to us...Now i began to understand why in the midst of adversities and sorrows ppl choose to end their lives...However it is different when with God for we are able to overcome all these in His mighty name. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (psalm 34:18). There is no doubt that nothing is impossible because with God we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We must let God lead us in our studies, work, relationships and family and trust in HIM that all things are good in those who love HIM. When we say we cannot do certain things or that we are inadequate in certain ways like money, confidence etc, we are insulting God's creation. We are wonderfully made in God's eyes so who are we to say we cannot do this, cannot do that.Of course we can....Hallelujah!!..

I love you LORD...

Dearest Lord Jesus, continue to uphold my family and I emotionally, spiritually and physically...you are our all in all..we love you always...

God says wait my child....wait

Wait

~..........~Wait~............~

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:

Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said,

“Child, you must wait.”

“Wait? You say, wait!” my indignant reply.

“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heart?

By faith, I have asked, and am claiming Your Word.”

My future and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, and You tell me to wait!?

I’m needing a “Yes”, a go-ahead sign,

Or even a “No” to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:

“I’m weary of asking! I need a reply!”

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

As my Master replied once again, “You must wait.”

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taught

And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting...for what?”

He seemed, then, to kneel

And His eyes wept with mine,

And He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be

You would have what you want~

But, you wouldn’t know Me.

You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You’d not know the joy of resting in Me;

When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You’d never experience that fullness of love

As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;

You’d know that I give and I save, for a start,

But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight,

The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked

Of an infinite God, who makes what you have last.

You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

Yes, your dreams for your loved one

Overnight would come true.

But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I’m doing in you!

So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft’ may My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still, “Wait.”

CONFIDENCE-LIVING WITH FAITH

Saturday, April 26, 2008

(This post was taken from GEPC blog)

"God calls his sons and daughters to soar like an eagle and not turkey !" was one sentence I would never forget from Ps. Dean's mouth. ^^

In Psalm 27:1, David writes "The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" Indeed, though David was surrounded by enemies, He truly knows the power of his God and that is the hope and refuge he can count on.

Faith does NOT demand miracles but it creates an environment where miracles are the ONLY thing that can happen. Worldly people would require miracles to be shown before them before they can believe it. They can have confidence in pilots where they know they will reach their destination safely without questioning the pilots' qualification. Note that not all the planes made it to their destination. Why don't you put your faith in the almighty God who is always perfect ?

Lack of confidence can destroy relationships between family members, spouses and even spiritual one with God. So, how do you know whether you're lack of confidence ?

1. You don't want to try anything new. You would prefer the old way where you know it is going to work.
2. You refuse to solve problems.
3. You tend to search for group's confirmation.
4. Fear of responsibilities.
5. You don't look into the person's eyes whom you're talking to.

There are a lot of healthy hearts, bloods and cells in the heaven's storehouses because people are praying for healing but not many people have claimed it. When you pray for healing, prepare yourself as if you're going to be healed and walk out from the shadow of illnesses.

If some of you are going through this, turn it around and come back to God. It is never too late as God loves you. Do the birds have to worry about getting worms ? God prepares everything for them but they have to SEARCH for the worms. In other words, you have to take the step of faith.

Don't give up as winner never quits and quitter never wins.
Matthew 9:29 "Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"

Posted by GEPC at 10:10 PM 2 comments

EXHAUSTION!!

Mentally and physically exhausted...too much to bear in a week....God please uphold us in your mighty arms...you are our rock and author of salvation...we trust in you that you will lead us through the rough times no matter what...thank you JESUS....we love you LORD!!

What should be our main priority??

Day 4 - When we talk about priorities we can make a whole long list...But when we look through it again we find out that the main priority in our lives is missing. So what should be our main priority?..the answer is God. When we set our eyes on HIM we will never stumble or lose hope. But if we put other things ahead of us instead of God...we will stress and worry about the things we cannot accomplish. In the bible it says, seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness and all else will be added upon you. Many of us take this scripture lightly...what we didn't realize is a powerful hidden message that God has passed down to us so that it may remind us that GOD is in control of our lives here on earth. Why is it so difficult for us to surrender all our burdens unto thy hands?..is it because of lack of faith that we have or simply because we acknowledge that we ourselves are driving the car of life instead of God and maybe because we think we are capable enough to run our own lives. Jesus didn't just die for us for nothing....he sacrificed so much to save us and help us through each step we take. He was the one who created all things. Nothing is more important and bigger than God. Why do we often forsake His power?

Drawing strength from the LORD

Below was what my beloved wrote in his blog.....he knew that God was his strength and I hope that he does believe that to now and not rely on his own strength..


Been awhile since I scribbled here. I was recently admitted to the hospital due to dengue fever. Sigh ... it was bad, pure evil. The headache and the fever was so bad, I could barely move my head. However with the grace of the Lord, I weathered through the storm and not only that, I thank the Lord for using this opportunity to help me realize how much she means to me. She was there by my side shouldering me through the worst times. I thank you again for your unrelenting love.

With a blink of an eye ... it's now almost November. So much has come to past I don't know where to start... but I guess that wouldn't make a difference, I am now a better person, and I have learnt to lean unto him, drawing strength from him and not myself.

It's was always Him ... praise you God. Praise you.

Lost of a loved one........Godpa u are forever in our hearts

Day 3 - Just yesterday I was wondering how to get through this whole miserable week. However to day everything passed so quickly. My dearest Godpa whom we loved so much went home to the LORD today. It was a heart attack...he was gone in a blink of an eye....it happened so fast..if only he would have listened to my mum and I to get him admitted, he would have been still alive. My godpa was a jolly good fello who loves to joke around and make everyone around him laugh...He is a humble man with a good heart...though strict and stern at times but he is soft and loving in the inside. This man even though he tried to put on a happy mask at times had many disappointments, hurts and sorrows in his heart. A close fren of his even said that he punished himself for enduring all the things that ppl did to him...what he felt deep down, is what the LORD felt and maybe even more...The LORD knew that he had suffered enough here on earth and it is time to take him to a place where he can be free...My godpa watched my sis and I grow up....he was there when we both came into the world...he was just like a father to me.. I miss him so much...I was hoping he would still be here to attend my graduation but the LORD had to take him sooner. I'm glad that he is now in heaven with GOD...thank you LORD for blessing us with this man who truly made an impact in our lives...Praise you pyar ong yesukri (Praise you JESUS)

Count your blessings

The Cambodia trip was truly an eye opener for me...God spoke to me through the things I saw, and the ppl I met. Many times we take things for granted...not knowing the consequences it might bring...only when we loose those things we are devastated...like compromising God...time spent with God and disobedience to God....God blessed us with so many things like a proper place to worship God, good environment and all the necessities....but still we do not appreciate. We complain, we give excuses...Christians in Cambodia do not have the freedom to praise and worship God..we are all given the opportunity to come to God freely in Malaysia..Churches there are made of atap and wood....they don't have fans and lights like we do....not to mention we even have air conditioning system...but what do we do??...we complain, we make excuses not to come to church, we are not there on time..What really touched me is that eventhough ppl in Cambodia are living in poverty and they lack so many things, they still chose to come to God and have faith. If we are force to be in that state, I think some of us might curse God and lose their believe n faith..Cherish the things God has given you...don't wait till the day HE takes it away...after that there is no point crying over split milk...

GOD is our future

Don't judge your future by what you think or feel at the moment. Your future is in God's hands. The only thing that is important is what He says about it. He doesn't want you to be concerned about your future anyway. He wants you to be concerned with HIM, because He is your future. Remember that we are God's children and He loves us. As we walk with Him, we will become more like Him everyday (1 John 3:1-3). As we look to Him, we will be transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). As we live with Him, He will take us from strength to strength. So even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)