Inspirations...
Friday, February 20, 2004
Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate, considerate, and loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.
Blessed are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.
Blessed are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world, and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vow of a lifetime of fidelity and mutual helpfulness to one another.
Blessed are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the Lord.
Blessed are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set apart some time each day for the reading of the Bible and for prayer.
Blessed are those mates who never speak loudly to one another, and who make their home a place "where seldom is heard a discouraging word."
Blessed are the husband and wife who faithfully attend the worship service of the church, and who work together in the church for the advancement of Christ's kingdom.
Blessed are the husband and wife who can work out the problems of adjustment without interference from relatives.
Blessed is the couple which has complete understanding about financial matters, and have worked out a perfect partnership, with all money under the control of both.
Blessed are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and their homes to Christ, and who practice the teachings of Christ in the home by being unselfish, loyal and loving.
----------------------------------------------------
When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable.
When one person realizes and lets the other lead, then both begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one, moving beautifully. Dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE. When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i." . . .
God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you, and I dance. This statement is what guidance means to me.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life.Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings, protection and mercies be upon you and your family on this day and every day. May you abide in Him asHe abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and guide you through each season of your life.
There is no cost but many rewards, so lets continue to pray for one
another.
May You Always Dance.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS IS A REALLY COOL STORY AND NOTICE, AT THE END, THE DATE THE CANDLE WAS STARTED.
Diane, a young university student, was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year.
She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone. She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.
As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God" to keep her safe from harm and danger.
When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.
She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection. Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.
When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely. The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.
Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep. Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man,so she told them her story.
The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.
The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her.
She asked if they would ask the man one question. Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.
When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her."
Moral of the story... Don't underestimate the power of Prayer! Gives ya goosebumps doesn't it! To all of you who mean something to me, I wish you happiness.
The Candle Of Love, Hope & Friendship
()
|---|
|---|
|---|
|---|
|---|
------
This candle was lit on the 15th of September, 1998. Someone who loves you has helped keep
it alive by sending it to you. Don't let The Candle Of Love, Hope and Friendship die! Pass
It On To All Of Your Friends and Everyone You Love! May God richly bless you as this candle
lights your path. Keep hope alive.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
EVEN WHEN MY DECISIONS WERE RIDICULOUS...
Mum and Dad always stood by me
I REFER to the letters by Ms Maria Loh ('Don't kill love for learning'; ST, Feb 3) and Ms Lena Soh ('Every child is gifted, tap his potential'; ST, Feb 3).
I am a final-year arts undergraduate at the National University of Singapore who was brought up a little differently from my peers.
My parents are considered strict by general standards. One's a nurse, the other was serving the army for the longest time. I always felt I had two disciplinary masters at home.
However, my parents allowed me to learn whatever I wanted as a child. Whatever I had an interest in, be it swimming, art and craft or electronic keyboard, I was given the chance to pick it up, even if the cost was hefty. They might grumble, but then they gave me the money.
Whenever my interest in something waned, like when I decided learning the organ was not too interesting after I passed my Grade 2 exam, they allowed me to stop. While they resented wasting money and ticked me off for giving up too easily, they understood that a passion for something can only be sustained by an interest in it.
They did not start me on tuition until they saw the need for it, such as when a school teacher called them up and said my Chinese was beyond redemption or when I got a red mark for mathematics on my report card.
Likewise, they stopped the tuition whenever I wanted out, or when my grades improved enough to make my Chinese teacher withdraw her 'beyond redemption' remark.
They left me on my own to study from Primary 5 onwards. They could tell I was self-motivated. They drove me to bookstores, gave me a budget and let me pick out the assessment books myself.
Of course, I did not finish them all, but because I chose them myself, they held my attention and commitment longer than usual. After a while, they even left the answer sheets behind and let me mark my books on my own. I had their trust.
They never interfered with my decisions, such as what subjects to take and which junior college to go to, nor my subsequent decision to reside in the students' hostel at university for four years even though the campus is a 10-minute bus ride away.
To them, my decisions at times were ridiculous, and the financial strain on them was apparent. They offered advice and voiced their unhappiness but still they supported me.
They had to endure my constant requests to go travelling and when they could give me the money to do so, they would. One day, when they could not, my dad decided it was time to upgrade the home computer to wireless broadband, so that the family could surf the Net and find out about the world from the comfort of home.
Today, I am an above-average student working for an honours degree in Geography, specialising in tourism studies because I had grown to love travelling and exploring various parts of the world since Dad took me to Brunei on my first trip at five when he had to lead an army team there.
My thesis is on backpacker tourism, a natural choice as I started backpacking with my friends at age 20.
Because I had learnt whatever I wanted to learn when I was young, I can play any song I hear on the piano, teach children handicraft, swim well enough to not drown, sing (I joined the choir in secondary school) and take part in sports (joined the athletics team in junior college).
I was never the star runner or the champion, sometimes very far from it, but I followed my heart and I have no regrets.
One day, if I do not get a job, I will print my namecard, stating my profession as 'Jane of all trades, Mistress of none'.
I may or may not make it big. Either way, I will survive. And I will be happy doing what I am doing. I have had my share of failure and learnt that some of my decisions were indeed ridiculous, and that maybe it was true that Mum and Dad always knew best.
Either way, whether I succeeded or failed, I discovered the joy of learning new things and letting go when it was time to do so.
When asked about my hobbies in any conversation or interview, I always reply: 'My hobby is to pick up new hobbies on an annual basis.'
Last year, I learnt to play the drums for two months, giving up when I realised I would never be good enough to play for my church band. I picked up the guitar, and I can play well enough to sing some fellowship songs with close friends.
This year, I am going on more backpacking trips. My parents cannot bear to see me travel this way and are clearly worried, but I need to backpack to complete my research. They told me that if I could not get enough research funds, they would top up the rest. That's what I mean by support.
I do not think I am qualified to teach people older than me how to raise their children. But I knew I had a story to share, and I believe my story might just change some Singaporeans' perception on how a child should be brought up in a society like ours.
I am sure there's no hard and fast rule. I am the product of my upbringing, and I will always be thankful to my parents. My parents found their balance; I hope you find yours too.
SANDRA LEONG SWEET EE (MISS)
Saturday, February 14, 2004
If you love someone because you think that he or she is really gorgeous then it is not love its infatuation.
If you love some one because you think that you shouldn't leave him because others think that you shouldn't then its not love its compromise.
If you love some one because you think you cannot live without his touch that is not love its lust.
If you love some one because you have been kissed by him its not love its inferiority complex.
If you love some one because you cannot leave him thinking that it would hurt his feelings that's not love its charity.
If you love some one because you share everything with him it's not love its friendship.
But if you feel the pain of the other person more than him even when he is stable and you cry for him that's love.
If you get attracted to other people but stay with him without regrets that's love.
If you let him go knowing that he has to go but he doesn't want to that's love.
Thursday, February 12, 2004
THE PARABLE OF THE RIVER
By Max Lucado
Once there were five sons who lived in a mountain castle with their father.
The eldest was an obedient son, but his four younger brothers were
rebellious. Their father had warned them of the river, but they had not
listened. He had begged them to stay clear of the bank lest they be swept
downstream, but the river's lure was too strong.
Each day the four rebellious brothers ventured closer and closer until one
son dared to reach in and feel the waters. "Hold my hand so I won't fall
in," he said, and his brothers did. But when he touched the water, the
current yanked him and the other three into the rapids and rolled them down
the river.
Over rocks they bounced, through the channels they roared, on the swells
they rode. Their cries for help were lost in the rage of the river. Though
they fought to gain their balance, they were powerless against the strength
of the current. After hours of struggle, they surrendered to the pull of the
river. The waters finally dumped them on the bank in a strange land, in a
distant country, in a barren place.
Savage people dwelt in the land. It was not safe like their home.
Cold winds chilled the land. It was not warm like their home.
Rugged mountains marked the land. It was not inviting like their home.
Though they did not know where they were, of one fact they were sure: They
were not intended for this place. For a long time the four young sons lay on
the bank, stunned at their fall and not knowing where to turn. After some
time they gathered their courage and reentered the waters, hoping to walk
upstream. But the current was too strong. They attempted to walk along the
rivers edge, but the terrain was too steep. They considered climbing the
mountains, but the peaks were too high. Besides, they didn't know the way.
Finally, they built a fire and sat down. "We shouldn't have disobeyed our
father," they admitted. "We are a long way from home."
With the passage of time the sons learned to survive in the strange land.
They found nuts for food and killed animals for skins. They determined not
to forget their homeland nor abandon hopes of returning. Each day they set
about the task of finding food and building shelter. Each evening they built
a fire and told stories of their father and older brother. All four sons
longed to see them again.
Then, one night, one brother failed to come to the fire. The others found
him the next morning in the valley with the savages. He was building a hut
of grass and mud. "I've grown tired of our talks," he told them. "What good
does it do to remember? Besides, this land isn't so bad. I will build a
great house and settle here."
"But it isn't home," they objected.
"No, but it is if you don't think of the real one."
"But what of Father?"
"What of him? He isn't here. He isn't near. Am I to spend forever awaiting
his arrival? I'm making new friends; I'm learning new ways. If he comes, he
comes, but I'm not holding my breath."
And so the other three left their hut-building brother and walked away. They
continued to meet around the fire, speaking of home and dreaming of their
return.
Some days later a second brother failed to appear at the campfire. The next
morning his siblings found him on a hillside staring at the hut of his
brother.
"How disgusting," he told them as they approached. "Our brother is an utter
failure. An insult to our family name. Can you imagine a more despicable
deed? Building a hut and forgetting our father?"
"What he's doing is wrong," agreed the youngest, "but what we did was wrong
as well. We disobeyed. We touched the river. We ignored our father's
warnings."
"Well, we may have made a mistake or two, but compared to the sleaze in the
hut, we are saints. Father will dismiss our sin and punish him."
"Come," urged his two brothers, "return to the fire with us."
"No, I think I'll keep an eye on our brother. Someone needs to keep a record
of his wrongs to show Father."
And so the two returned, leaving one brother building and the other judging.
The remaining two sons stayed near the fire, encouraging each other and
speaking of home. Then one morning the youngest son awoke to find he was
alone. He searched for his brother and found him near the river, stacking
rocks.
"It's no use," the rock-stacking brother explained as he worked. "Father
won't come for me. I must go to him. I offended him. I insulted him. I
failed him. There is only one option. I will build a path back up the river
and walk into our father's presence. Rock upon rock I will stack until I
have enough rocks to travel upstream to the castle. When he sees how hard I
have worked and how diligent I have been, he will have no choice but to open
the door and let me into his house."
The last brother did not know what to say. He returned to sit by the fire,
alone. One morning he heard a familiar voice behind him. "Father has sent me
to bring you home."
The youngest lifted his eyes to see the face of his oldest brother. "You
have come for us!" he shouted. For a long time the two embraced.
"And your brothers?" the eldest finally asked.
"One has made a home here. Another is watching him. The third is building a
path up the river.
And so Firstborn set out to find his siblings. He went first to the thatched
hut in the valley.
"Go away, stranger!" screamed the brother through the window. "You are not
welcome here!"
"I have come to take you home."
"You have not. You have come to take my mansion."
"This is no mansion," Firstborn countered. "This is a hut."
"It is a mansion! The finest in the lowlands. I built it with my own hands.
Now, go away. You cannot have my mansion."
"Don't you remember the house of your father?"
"I have no father."
"You were born in a castle in a distant land where the air is warm and the
fruit is plentiful. You disobeyed your father and ended up in this strange
land. I have come to take you home."
The brother peered through the window at Firstborn as if recognizing a face
he'd remembered from a dream. But the pause was brief, for suddenly the
savages in the house filled the window as well. "Go away, intruder!" they
demanded. "This is not your home."
"You are right," responded the firstborn son, "but neither is it his."
The eyes of the two brothers met again. Once more the hut-building brother
felt a tug at his heart, but the savages had won his trust. "He just wants
your mansion," they cried. "Send him away!"
And so he did.
Firstborn sought the next brother. He didn't have to walk far. On the
hillside near the hut, within eyesight of the savages, sat the fault-finding
son. When he saw Firstborn approaching, he shouted, "How good that you are
here to behold the sin of our brother! Are you aware that he turned his back
on the castle? Are you aware that he never speaks of home? I knew you would
come. I have kept careful account of his deeds. Punish him! I will applaud
your anger. He deserves it! Deal with the sins of our brother."
Firstborn spoke softly, "We need to deal with your sins first."
"My sins?"
"Yes, you disobeyed Father."
The son smirked and slapped at the air. "My sins are nothing. There is the
sinner," he claimed, pointing to the hut. "Let me tell you of the savages
who stay there.
"I'd rather you tell me about yourself."
"Don't worry about me. Let me show you who needs help," he said, running
toward the hut. "Come, we'll peek in the windows. He never sees me. Let's go
together." The son was at the hut before he noticed that Firstborn hadn't
followed him.
Next, the eldest son walked to the river. There he found the last brother,
knee-deep in the water, stacking rocks.
"Father has sent me to take you home."
The brother never looked up. "I can't talk now. I must work."
"Father knows you have fallen. But he will forgive you....
"He may," the brother interrupted, struggling to keep his balance against
the current, "but I have to get to the castle first. I must build a pathway
up the river. First I will show him that I am worthy. Then I will ask for
his mercy." -
"He has already given his mercy. I will carry you up the river. You will
never be able to build a pathway. The river is too long. The task is too
great for your hands. Father sent me to carry you home. I am stronger."
For the first time the rock-stacking brother looked up. "How dare you speak
with such irreverence! My father will not simply forgive. I have sinned. I
have sinned greatly! He told us to avoid the river, and we disobeyed. I am a
great sinner. I need much work."
"No, my brother, you don't need much work. You need much grace. The distance
between you and our father's house is too great. You haven't enough strength
nor the stones to build the road. That is why our father sent me. He wants
me to carry you home."
"Are you saying I can't do it? Are you saying I'm not strong enough? Look at
my work. Look at my rocks. Already I can walk five steps!"
"But you have five million to go!"
The younger brother looked at Firstborn with anger. "I know who you are. You
are the voice of evil. You are trying to seduce me from my holy work. Get
behind me, you serpent!" He hurled at Firstborn the rock he was about to
place in the river.
"Heretic!" screamed the path-builder. "Leave this land. You can't stop me! I
will build this walkway and stand before my father, and he will have to
forgive me. I will win his favor. I will earn his mercy.
Firstborn shook his head. "Favor won is no favor. Mercy earned is no mercy.
I implore you, let me carry you up the river."
The response was another rock. So Firstborn turned and left.
The youngest brother was waiting near the fire when Firstborn returned.
"The others didn't come ?"
"No. One chose to indulge, the other to judge, and the third to work. None
of them chose our father."
"So they will remain here?"
The eldest brother nodded slowly. "For now."
"And we will return to Father?" asked the brother.
"Yes."
"Will he forgive me ?"
"Would he have sent me if he wouldn't?"
And so the younger brother climbed on the back of the Firstborn and began
the journey home.
* * *
All four brothers heard the same invitation. Each had an opportunity to be
carried home by the elder brother. The first said no, choosing a grass hut
over his father's house. The second said no, preferring to analyze the
mistakes of his brother rather than admit his own. The third said no,
thinking it wiser to make a good impression than an honest confession. And
the fourth said yes, choosing gratitude over guilt.
"I'll indulge myself," resolves one son.
"I'll compare myself," opts another.
"I'll save myself," determines the third.
"I'll entrust myself to you," decides the fourth.
May I ask a vital question? As you read of the brothers, which describes
your relationship to God? Have you, like the fourth son, recognized your
helplessness to make the journey home alone? Do you take the extended hand
of your Father? Are you caught in the grip of his grace?
Or are you like one of the other three sons?
MAPPING THE PARABLE
The Hut-Building Hedonist
Roman 1:18-32
The Fault-Finding Judgementalist
Romans 2:1-11
The Rock-Stacking Legalist
Romans 2:17-3:20
The Grace Driven Christian
Romans 3:21-25
Strategy
Indulge myself
Compare myself
Save myself
Entrust myself to Christ
Goal
Satisfy my passions
Monitor my neighbor
Measure my merits
Know my father
Description
Fun-lover
Finger-pointer
Burden-bearer
God-lover
Personality
Laid back
Stuck-up
Stressed-out
Peaceful
Self-analysis
I may be bad, but so what?
I may be bad, but I'm better than...
I may be bad, but if I work harder...
I may be bad, but I'm forgiven.
Theology
Disregard God
Distract God
Reimburse God
Seek God
Bumper Sticker
"Life is short. Play hard"
"God's watching you and so am I."
"I owe, I owe, it's off to work I go."
"I'm not perfect, but I'm forgiven."
Complaint
I can't play enough.
I can't see enough.
I can't work enough.
I can't thank Him enough.
Favorite animal
Tomcat
Watchdog
Beaver
Eagle
Spends time looking
Over the menu at the options
Over the fence at the neighbor
Over the list of requirements
Over the abundance of God blessings
View of grace
Who, me?
Yes, you!
Not me!
Yes, me.
View of sin
No one is guilty
He is guilty
I'm always guilty.
I was guilty
Work ethic
What I do is my business
What you do is my business
What God demands is my business
What God does is my business
Favorite phrase
Live it up!
Straighten up!
Get to work!
Thank you!
Boundaries
If it feels good, do it
If he feels good, note it
If it feels good, stop it
If it feels good, examine it
Condition
Bored
Bitter
Weary
Grateful
Paul's pronouncements
You have no excuse for the things you do.
You have no authority for the judgments you make
You have no solution for the problem you have
You have no reason to fear
Key verse
"God left them and let them go their sinful way" (1:24)
"If you think you can judge others, you are wrong. When you judge them, you
are really ourself guilty because you do the same things they do." (2:1)
"...people cannot do any work that will make them right with God." (4:5)
"...those who are right with God will live by trusting Him." (1:17)
A hedonist. A judgmentalist. A legalist. All occupied with self to the
exclusion of their father. Paul ddresses these three in the first three
chapters of Romans. Let's look at each one.
The Hut-Building Hedonist
Romans 1:21-32
Can you relate to the hut-builder? He traded his passion for the castle for
a love of the lowland. Rather than long for home, he settled for a hut. The
aim of his life is pleasure. Such is the definition of hedonism, and such is
the practice of this son.
The hedonist navigates his life as if there is no father in his past,
present, or future. There may have been, somewhere in the somewhat distant
past, a once-upon-a-time father, but as far as the here and now? The son
will live without him. There may be, in the faraway future, a father who
comes and claims him, but as for today? The son will forge out his life on
his own. Rather than seize the future, he's content to seize the day.
Paul had such a person in mind when he said, "They traded the glory of God
who lives forever for the worship of idols made to look like earthly people,
birds, animals, and snakes.... They worshiped and served what had been
created instead of the God who created these things" (Rom. 1:23, 25).
Hedonists make poor swaps; they trade mansions for huts and their brother
for a stranger. They exchange their father's house for a hillside ghetto and
send his son away.
The Fault-Finding Judgmentalist
Romans 2:1-11
The approach of the second brother was simple: "Why deal with my mistakes
when I can focus on the mistakes of others?"
He is a judgmentalist. I may be bad, but as long as I can find someone
worse, I am safe. He fuels his goodness with the failures of others. He is
the self-appointed teacher's pet in elementary school. He tattles on the
sloppy work of others, oblivious to the F on his own paper. He's the
neighborhood watchdog, passing out citations for people to clean up their
act, never noticing the garbage on his own front lawn.
"Come on God, let me show you the evil deeds of my neighbor," the moralist
invites. But God won't follow him into the valley. "If you think you can
judge others, you are wrong. When you judge them, you are really judging
yourself guilty, because you do the same things they do" (Rom. 2: 1). It's a
shallow ploy, and God won't fall for it.
The Rock-Stacking Legalist
Romans 2:17-3:20
And then there is the brother in the river. Ahhh, now here is a son we
respect. Hard-working. Industrious. Zealous. Intense. Here is a fellow who
sees his sin and sets out to resolve it by himself. Surely he is worthy of
our applause. Surely he is worthy of our emulation. And, most surely, he is
worthy of the father's mercy. Won't the father throw open the castle doors
when he sees how hard the son has worked to get home?
With no help from the father, the legalist is tackling the odds and fording
the river of failure. Surely, the father will be happy to see him. That is,
if the father ever does.
You see, the problem is not the affection of the father but the strength of
the river. What sucked the son away from his father's house was no gentle
stream but rather a roaring torrent. Is the son strong enough to build an
upriver path to the father's house?
Doubtful. We certainly can't. "There is no one who always does what is
right, not even one" (Rom. 3:10). Oh, but we try. We don't stack rocks in a
river, but we do good deeds on earth.
We think:
If I do this God will accept me.
If I teach this class... and we pick up a rock.
If I go to church.., and we put the rock in the stream.
If I give this money ... another rock.
If 1 endure a Lucado book... ten big rocks.
If I read my Bible, have the right opinion on the right doctrine, if I join
this movement. . . rock upon rock upon rock.
The problem? You may take five steps, but you have five million to go. The
river is too long. What separates us from God is not a shallow stream but a
tumbling, cascading, overwhelming river of sin. We stack and stack and stack
only to find we can barely keep our footing, much less make progress.
The impact on the rock-stackers is remarkably predictable: either despair or
arrogance. They either give up or become stuck-up. They think they'll never
make it, or they think they are the only ones who'll ever make it. Strange,
how two people can look at the same stacked rocks and one hang his head and
the other puff out his chest.
Call the condition a religious godlessness. It's the theme behind Paul's
brazen pronouncement: "We're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking
boat with everyone else" (3:19 MSG).
Godless or Godly?
Quite a trio, don't you think?
The first on a barstool.
The second in the judge's chair.
The third on the church pew.
Though they may appear different, they are very much alike. All are
separated from the Father. And none is asking for help. The first indulges
his passions, the second monitors his neighbor, and the third measures his
merits. Self-satisfaction. Self-justification. Self-salvation. The operative
word is self. Self-sufficient. "They never give God the time of day" (3:18
MSG).
Paul's word for this is godlessness (Rom. 1:18 NIV). Godlessness. The word
defines itself. A life minus God. Worse than a disdain for God, this is a
disregard for God. A disdain at least acknowledges his presence. Godlessness
doesn't. Whereas disdain will lead people to act with irreverence, disregard
causes them to act as if God were irrelevant, as if he is not a factor in
the journey.
How does God respond to godless living? Not flippantly. "The wrath of God is
being revealed from heaven against all godlessness and wickedness" (Rom.
1:18 NIV). Paul's main point is not a light one. God is justly angered over
the actions of his children.
I might as well prepare you: The first chapters of Romans are not exactly
upbeat. Paul gives us the bad news before he gives the good news. He will
eventually tell us that we are all equal candidates for grace but not before
he proves that we are all desperately sinful. We have to see the mess we are
in before we can appreciate the God we have. Before presenting the grace of
God, we must understand the wrath of God.
And since that is where Paul begins, that is where we will begin.
Hope This Benefited YOU. God Bless.
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted
out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie."
He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was
exquisite;silk,handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag
with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.
"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years
ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion.
Well, I guess this is the occasion."
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we
were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment,
then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don't ever save anything
for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when
I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected
death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the
Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the
things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things
that she had done without realizing that they were special. I'm still
thinking about his words, and they've changed my life.
I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the
view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time
with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.
Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not
endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not
"saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special
event--such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first
camellia blossom.
I wear my good blazer to the market if I like it. My theory is, if I look
prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without
wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in
hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my
party-going friends.
"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If
it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
I'm not sure what my sister would've done had she known that she wouldn't be
here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called
family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former
friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think
she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing -- I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that
my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I
was going to get in touch with -- someday. Angry because I hadn't written
certain letters that I intended to write -- one of these days.
Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how
much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or
save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.
And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is... a gift.
PUTTING GOD FIRST
By Dr H Kong
"Then God blessed them and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply;
fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over
the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Gen 1:28
From this scripture, we know that God has created us to be successful and
happy in life. It is His intent that we should stretch for the highest.
In our society, skills, talents and education can take us all the way to
the top but it will take our character and values in life to keep us there.
What are values? Our values are our core beliefs that shape everything we
do in life.
A lot of people think that it does not really matter what they believe but
it is not true. What we believe is very important because our belief
determines our behaviour and our behaviour determines what we will become.
Therefore, the kind of person we are is based on what we choose to value in life.
If we want to build a lasting life of success and significance, we must
build it on lasting values. So God wants us to hold on to certain values or
core beliefs in our hearts. And He has given 10 of them - "The 10 Commandments" (Exo 20 and Deut 5).
The Lord has clearly given us the 10 commandments not to hurt us but to
help us, not to restrict us but to release us and not to punish us but to
protect us. They were not given to make life miserable for us but to set us
free to make the right decisions in everyday living.
In fact, there is so much wisdom in the 10 Commandments that the First
Commandment in itself already has much to teach us. It says:
"And God spoke all these words, saying: "I am the Lord Your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You
shall have no other gods before Me." Ex 20:1-3
Now, the order of the 10 Commandments are not given haphazardly neither
were they given by accident. God intentionally put the first one first
because it is the most important one of all.
The first commandment is about putting God first in our lives! In fact God
is emphasizing, "I want top priority in everything that you do, I don't
want to take second place or play second fiddle to anything."
God deserves to be number one in our lives because He made us. If He had
not made us, we would not be around. Everything we have in life, be it
health, strength, mind, possession and even our very breath, God has
given them to us.
Notice in "no other gods," the word "gods" is written with a small "g".
We must be careful not to have substitutes or imitations for our real God.
What is a god? A god is anything that dominates your life, anything that
controls your life. With that perspective, we realize that career, sports
or even another person can become our god.
How do you know if you have other "gods"? Well, if you start spending
half of your plane trip with your computer on your lap.., and your child in
the overhead compartment. Or when you move into a new house and decide to
netscape before you start to landscape. Or a better gauge is this: if after
reading this feature, you immediately feel the urge to email it to someone
else!
Seriously, God has given us a great promise of success. If we put God first
in everything we do, He will always direct us and crown us with His blessing.
HOW DO WE PUT GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES?
There are 4 ways to always putting God first:
1. CONSIDER GOD'S FEELINGS FIRST IN EVERY SITUATION.
The Bible says that our God is a merciful, gracious and longsuffering God
who is always abounding in goodness and truth and always forgiving. Yet
God does not want us to take His love for granted. He is a very loving God but
He always feels a lot about things.
In Eph 4:25-30 Paul was writing to the Christians and telling them not to
grieve the Holy Spirit (v.30). God can be grieved, saddened, hurt, made
sorrowful and heartbroken. So, as we go through our daily lives, in every
situation, we do not want to do anything or say anything or behave in
anyway that would make God sad. Why? Because God is our "first love", we
love Him too much to want to hurt Him on purpose.
In Eze 16:1- 30, we can see that God was so hurt by Jerusalem's adultery.
Jerusalem was like a wife who pledged her love to her husband. But still,
in v.60 God says, "Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in
the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you."
In spite of everything, God still loves. So love God wholeheartedly (Mk
12:29-30) and do not grieve Him.
For some of us, it may boil down to just asking God how He feels even in
the simplest of situations. It could be: "God, I feel quite a bit for this
girl/boy ... how do You feel?" Or: "God, I like this house, I think I want
to buy it ... how do You feel?" Or even: "Lord, I want to enter into
partnership with this guy in business how do You feel about it?"
2. GiVE GOD'S GLORY FIRST THOUGHT IN EVERY TASK.
In the Old Testament, God's glory is equivalent to God's tangible presence
(His "weight"). In the New Testament, God's glory is His worth. The Greek
word for "glory" is "doxa" which means radiance, beauty, dignity, honour,
praise and worship. Therefore, what is the glory of God? God's glory is His
beauty, radiance and holiness. It is the value of who He is. To glorify God
is to hold Him in the highest esteem. That is why we use the word "glory"
in association with worship. We worship Him because He is worth it.
So when we put God first in our lives, we will make sure that in everything
we do, God gets the glory. He gets the highest praise and people will see
how awesome, great and beautiful He really is. Then people would want to
love Him more, worship Him more and serve Him more!
Jesus Himself was consumed with the glory of God. In one instance (Mt
21:12-16), He drove out all those who were doing business in the temple of
God. He could not stand it when God's glory was being trampled upon. In the
Old Testament, Phinehas cared greatly about the glory of God as he threw a
javelin through the body of an Israelite, who was one among many Israelites
committing harlotry with the women of Moab (Num 25:6-9). King David was
also consumed with the glory of God as he cared about the house of the Lord
(2 Sam 7:1-2). And because David cared for God's house, God built David a
greater house - a house that would last for all eternity!
3. SEEK GOD'S KINGDOM PURPOSES FIRST IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
Jesus tells us this: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you." Mt 6:33
Why must Jesus say "and all these things shall be added to you"? It is
because we have a tendency to live by fear instead of faith. Somehow, deep
inside most of us, there is an inclination to think that if we were to put
God's Kingdom first, we will lose out.
In 1900, Korea had no born-again Christians. The nation had always been a
victim of wars between Russia, Japan and China. For 40 years, the Japanese
ruled Korea harshly. Then from 1950-1953, the Korean War totally devastated
the entire country. But in the midst of all the ruins, the gospel of Jesus
Christ was being preached. The people started seeking the kingdom of God.
Today, 40% of South Korea is Christian. 10 of the top 20 largest churches
in the world are found in one Korean city .- Seoul.
During this time of seeking the kingdom of God, South Korea grew from
nothing to become one of the top economic powers in the world. In 50 years,
the nation turned from a state of having almost no Christian to possessing
40% believers. In just 50 years, it turned from ruins to become one of the
richest nations on the earth! Yet, just up north, in Communist North Korea,
they renounced and despised God. Today, they are one of the poorest nations
in the world. Up the border, there is drought, famine, disease and
starvation. Down the border, there is prosperity, riches and freedom.
What a testimony God has put on the earth to show us the benefit of
seeking His kingdom first!
What does it mean to seek the. Kingdom of God first?
To seek the kingdom of God means to serve God's purposes in our lives.
".as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Jos 24:15
It is not enough just for us to serve. We want as many people as we can in
our families to be involved in God's kingdom purposes! What then are God's kingdom purposes?
. God wants to commune with us. So we make it a point to meet with Him every day!
. God wants to save lost sinners. We would go around to share the good news
with as many lost people as we can. We serve the Lord by being the best
soul-winners we can be.
. God wants to meet needs. We would want to pray for the sick, encourage
the broken-hearted, feed the hungry and clothe the poor.
. God wants His church to be strong. We would want to avail ourselves to
serve in any area in the church so that the church will be the Bride Jesus is coming back for.
We do not allow ourselves to be so cluttered with life's commitment that we
do not have anymore time to seek God to serve Him. So, as much as we can ,
we do not get ourselves down by long financial commitment or career bonds.
We put His kingdom first! We put His church first!
I know of at least two couples in my life - one in Malaysia and the other
in Australia -who for the sake of having more time to serve the Lord, chose
not to have any babies in their lives. I am not saying that we should all
do that but rather I am highlighting their passion in putting God first in
their lives. Jesus has promised us this: If we seek His kingdom first and
serve Him wholeheartedly, we will never lose out to the world.
1.. LEAN ON GOD'S WISDOM FIRST IN EVERY DECISION.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your
paths." Pro 3:5-6
If we put or trust in God's wisdom, we will never go wrong. In every major
decision you have to make, simply ask, "Lord, what do you really want me to
do?" When we are faced with unexpected problems and pressures during a
crisis, who do we turn to first? God says, "Turn to Me first when you have
a problem." For most, they turn to their friends, colleagues, lawyers and
doctors. Only when there is no other place to turn to, then they seek God.
Prayer should never be our last resort, it should always be our first option!
God says, "Put Me first, even in the tough times." Ps 50:15
Some people think, "I don't want to bother God with my problems." What God
is really saying is, "Bother Me. It's really no bother. I can handle your
and every other person's problems all at the same time. Bring it to me.
Don't carry it all yourself." This brings up an interesting point: How do
we know when God is first in our lives? When we stop worrying. Worry is the
warning light that God is not really first in my life at this particular
moment. When we start worrying, we are in fact saying, "I can't trust God, I only trust myself!"
We can trust God, put Him first in our lives and stop worrying. We show
His Lordship in our lives by considering His feelings first in every situation,
giving His glory first thought in every task, seeking His Kingdom purposes
first in our everyday lives and leaning on His wisdom first in every decision we make.
The world tells us "don't worry, be happy". As God-loving Christians, we
can take that further - "Don't worry, be happy because we are putting God
first in our lives and He is in charge!"
A young man learnt what's most important in life from the guy next door. It
had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career,
and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country
in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had
little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife
and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The
funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of
him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were
doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the
fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure
you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this
business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he
thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his
hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children
of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see
the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused
for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap
through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step
held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture.... Jack stopped
suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone," he said. "What box?"
Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his
desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever
tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it,
except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get
some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work
one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a
package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next
three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and
looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was
difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr.Harold
Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the
package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook
as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its
contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life."
A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his
eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful
gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing,
he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks
for your time! Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most...was...my time." Jack held the watch for a few
minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next
two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with
my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments
that take our breath away."
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. If not for you, someone may not be living.
8. You are special and unique.
9. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably
won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and wait on His time,
probably, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
12. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you.
13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
14. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
Send this letter to all the people you care about. You will certainly
brighten someone's day and might change their perspective on life, for the
better.
When u've got nothing .... u've got nothing to lose
Moving Thoughts
Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that
when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that
gift.
When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at
the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.
The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say
a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever
had.
It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true
that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.
Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back! Don't
expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be
content it grew in yours. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour
to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget
someone.
Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go
for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day
seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile
There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick
them from your dreams and hug them for real!
Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be,
because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.
Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably
hurts the other person, too.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make
the most of everything that comes along their way.
Happiness lives for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and
those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have
touched their lives. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a
tear. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on
well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your
life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is
crying.
Please send this message to those people who mean something to you, to those who
have touched your life in one way or another, to those who make you smile when you
really need it, to those that make you see the brighter side of things when you are
really down, to those who you want to let them know that you appreciate their
friendship. And if you don't, don't worry, nothing bad will happen to you, you will
just miss out on the opportunity to brighten someone's day with this message.
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
(Thanks Gail for this forwarded contribution)
I want to share a poem that is so simple yet many of us don't seem to get
it.
When I say..... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting I'm clean livin"
I'm whispering "I was lost"
Now I'm found and I'm forgiven.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.
When I say.... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.
When I say.... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.
When I say...."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say...."I am a Christian"
I"m not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace, somehow.
In Christ
Peter
