8 Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll[d]—
are they not in your record?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.
All the tears that we shed will be recorded down by God. Sometimes we think that all the tears are just shed and no one will know about it, but God knows! He keeps track of all the tears and comforts us!
I really like this verse, yet this verse is some times misused.
12 With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.
God will gain the victory with us and He will destroy all our enemies. But does that really mean we really hate this person and God would just really strike him down? No! This verse assumes that God and you have this common understanding. That you share the same will as God! That:
own will = God's will.
That is as such! If i hate my sister and assumes this verse, so God would trample down on my sister? No! That is not true! God will not! God and you must share the same will first. Like when you hate the devil, then yes, God will trample down on our enemies!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Wickedness!
16 But to the wicked person, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,
you thought I was exactly[c] like you.
But I now arraign you
and set my accusations before you.
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,
you thought I was exactly[c] like you.
But I now arraign you
and set my accusations before you.
Who are the wicked? We are. All of us have wicked hearts. If you seek your heart and dig deep you will find out that your hearts are indeed wicked. Really Really Wicked. Like Wicked. For me, i admit my heart is wicked, it desires for sin, always tries to cross the line where God had drawn. Every single time i fall short of His glory, God is always ready to receive me with open arms and only if we really repent and really accept His love. Now, if not this is what God is going to say to us.
You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you!
If God says that to you, it must really be sad, quite sad because God said that, like really man! God just disapproved you. The most powerful God in the Universe just said that you hate His instruction. How would you feel? I really thank God for sending Jesus to give us grace, unlimited grace, not that i am happy that we can abuse it or will i. But i am really happy for it because God's grace covers all inequities.
Praise the Lord for His grace. I really thank God that I can be here just praising His name here man! Really praise His name!
Friday, March 28, 2014
Justice!
1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do you judge people with equity?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
Sometimes after living so comfortably in this world, living in a city like Singapore, sometimes I forget that the justice i seek is worldly justice. In Singapore we have many laws. When I say many laws, MANY laws. these laws cover things as trivial as chewing gum to murder. Really, like everything. As Singaporeans we are raised in an environment which is very safe and protected. We will almost never hear a gunshot outside of army. We would almost always boast about our police force. But hey, all these are temporary right? Our thoughts start to develop inclination to worldly justice. If someone hit you he shall go to jail. God did not say that, man said that. If you commit rape, that's life imprisonment. If you steal, of that is not that bad its a few months in jail. We seemed to build this hierarchy around sin. We rank the sin, some sin are more serious than others. Why? That is not godly! God says that all sin is equal in His eyes and He defines sin. Only God can mete out true justice. Only God can!
Do you judge people with equity?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
Sometimes after living so comfortably in this world, living in a city like Singapore, sometimes I forget that the justice i seek is worldly justice. In Singapore we have many laws. When I say many laws, MANY laws. these laws cover things as trivial as chewing gum to murder. Really, like everything. As Singaporeans we are raised in an environment which is very safe and protected. We will almost never hear a gunshot outside of army. We would almost always boast about our police force. But hey, all these are temporary right? Our thoughts start to develop inclination to worldly justice. If someone hit you he shall go to jail. God did not say that, man said that. If you commit rape, that's life imprisonment. If you steal, of that is not that bad its a few months in jail. We seemed to build this hierarchy around sin. We rank the sin, some sin are more serious than others. Why? That is not godly! God says that all sin is equal in His eyes and He defines sin. Only God can mete out true justice. Only God can!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
If your sacrifice does not cost you, do not sacrifice, for your sacrifice already belongs to God.
10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift,[d]
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,
they enter the palace of the king.
Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift,[d]
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,
they enter the palace of the king.
There are a few interpretations to this check out:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Psa/Psa_045.cfm
I find this interesting because initially i thought that this passage was taking about non-God stuff ! Like when they say people and father's hourse i thought it meant really fathers house.I thought so because it was written in such a manner and they are without CAPS! But after reading the interpretations, maybe it wasn't after all.
7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
I will testify against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
After all God commanded the people of Israel to sacrifice and noe God says you dont need to! You are sacrificing for the wrong reasons. Which is so true, no one ever thought about it, like why would God even want us to sacrifice! Like why? We would He ask us sacrifice something that He created to Him? Right! It is show our heart. I mean, of course He has what He has and we are sacrificing what He has and He own. But sometimes we forget that, we forget that whatever we own is His and sometimes we really forget that! If your sacrifice does not cost you dont sacrifice, for your sacrifice already belongs to God.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
In your darkest times, remember that God is there. He may not lift your out of the circumstance, but He will provide you the strength to do it! All our souls whether believers or non-believers, all long for something greater. We all long for our creator. No matter how bad or dark we are, we all want a Saviour. There are some questions that people till now cannot answer.
What is the meaning of life?
Who am i?
Why are we here?
These are questions that science cannot answer. Everyone has a place in their hearts for The Saviour. Regardless of how much disbelief that they may have in their hearts, They would still want a Saviour. Whether they try to fill their void with something else thats another matter.
I remember that i indeed feel this way when i came Church. I was full of disbelief but i decided to cast that disbelief away and try to trust in Him and it turned out much better that I expected. So, people as long as
your soul longs for God, just like the deer then God will surely answer someday. Maybe not immediately but He will eventually.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
In your darkest times, remember that God is there. He may not lift your out of the circumstance, but He will provide you the strength to do it! All our souls whether believers or non-believers, all long for something greater. We all long for our creator. No matter how bad or dark we are, we all want a Saviour. There are some questions that people till now cannot answer.
What is the meaning of life?
Who am i?
Why are we here?
These are questions that science cannot answer. Everyone has a place in their hearts for The Saviour. Regardless of how much disbelief that they may have in their hearts, They would still want a Saviour. Whether they try to fill their void with something else thats another matter.
I remember that i indeed feel this way when i came Church. I was full of disbelief but i decided to cast that disbelief away and try to trust in Him and it turned out much better that I expected. So, people as long as
your soul longs for God, just like the deer then God will surely answer someday. Maybe not immediately but He will eventually.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Praise Report Part 2
Days passed, weeks passed, and it has been a year since I came back into His arms. During this period, I met challenges, meeting new people, my beloved lifegroup members. Each day is a learning process for me, together with God as my tutor. I remember the first few months are tough. Getting used to the new environment, mingling and to get along with my lifegroup. It is hard, because maybe I was an introvert. I don't socialize or express myself much. Then one day, the history came back to me again. I started to feel out of my lifegroup and i had thoughts of leaving the lifegroup, the church and even God. But this time, strangely, i didn't follow what i felt. Instead, there was a bigger, stronger force retaliated inside me. Then i started to remember a topic in the "New Life" that i went to with my first discipler in lifegroup. It's about community. And moreover, a question popped into my mind, "why do i go to church or lifegroup? Is it for God? Or the entertainment? Or is it because of people? The girls in church?" i was awestruck. I knew i won't be thinking of these questions. Why would i thought of these when i decide to leave church? I knew that it was God who prompt me these question. I looked at the heavens, and i cried. I prayed to Him, apologised and lifted up myself to His hands. For i knew without His help, i will fall again. However, praying is not like requesting a genie to work do his work while i watch. Bit by bit, i tried to be connected with the lifegroup. But there was always a part of me which want me to be left alone. I can't help it. I has been living by my own for 19 years, play alone, work alone, solve my own problems by my own. Yes,you might think what about my parents? My friends? That was some problems i had in having trust in people.
Since i was young, i don't get what i wanted. Often i get quarrels with my parents, but they don't listen to my distressed needs. I have no one to turn to. Being the only child in the family, i have no siblings to share my sadness or happiness. So i will just pour out my sorrows to my grandma. I love her, she is always there for me. Every sadness, every joyful moments. But she passed away peacefully when i was P5. I was desperate. My only pillar of support. Just gone like that. My only memories i had with her is my passion for origami and the harmonica that she left for me. Then, i started to look for support at the wrong places. At my friends. At opinions of others. I joined a gang at P5. Through it is not very notorious, but it is enough to give me a bad record. I learned how to fight, how to lie, how to steal, and even how to skip school. At the point of time, i would just see my friends as my friends. But are they? During P6, there was a hip thing in town, the release of Gameboy advance sp and Pokemon. I am obsessed about that i actually agreed with my friends to get one and share among us. And how do i get one? I stole money from my parents. I kept track of every small details that my parents made, the timing and duration of their market time, their bathing time and even locating their money drawer and the key to it. I studied them well enough to steal it. Bit by bit, i had enough to get one. My parents notice the missing money and asked me, but i would lie my way off. Things go smoothly until i got my gameboy. That was another burden altogether. Since i got this thing, i was tasked to keep it as my own. So i intended to hide it from my parents' eyes. That drawer meant for my granny's albums looks like a great place to hide. And so i hid it for some time. Until, the drawer has been cleared by my mum to be her sewing drawer. She found my gameboy and questioned me about it. I lied to her it was from my friend. Didn't notice anything amiss, she just told me off and requested me to return it. And so i "did". Knowing my hiding place has been exploited. I searched for my next hidden spot, my schoolbag. Things went well smoothly. Until i had a quarrel with my friends. For payback, my friend phoned my mum, telling her i had something belonged to him and has not returned. As i returned home from school, i was dumbfounded. My mother searched my bag and found the console. She waved it in front of my face and asked where did came from. I lied again, i borrowed from my friend. However she is even nore enraged. She grabbed me from my arms and caned me. She has found out that i stole her money to get the console. That was what my friend told her. About how i stole her money and gave to him a gift. Of course, my mother cared not of my true side of story since i lied so many times. Despite that I'm her son, she chose to believe my friend's story. I tried to explain to her, "it was my friend's idea and i didn't give it to him!" My cries meet no ends. I was wrongly accused and yet the mastermind is not punished as i was. Not only that, my father accidentally reviewed to me that I am not who i am, he showed me an IC, my real IC, Heri. I was confused, am I not their son? But the past photos look like as if i am their son. I don't understand. I was backstabbed, betrayed, and now this. The memories i had, it really seems like i am their son. I looked at my mother, with a strange void in my heart. Just overnight, I lost my parents and has been deceived by this couple who claimed to be my parents. I sweared from then on, i will speak to my parents ever again. So i did. For days, i has not spoken to my mother or father. Not even a simple goodnight which i usually did, and days turned to weeks, and to months, and to years. A few days passed since the incident, and i overheard my mother conversing with my neighbour with hokkien. Luckily my granny taught me some hokkien so i can made up what they are talking. And my worst fears were confirmed. "i should have known! I should have known not to buy this baby back then!" the exact translation from my mother in hokkien. I was desparated again. But now, i am really have no one to talk to. My granny has passed away, cold war with my parents, due to the betrayal of my friends, i lost trust in humans. I hated humans. I hated them so much that i hated myself, for being like them. My heart harden each time, all my feelings, my emotions, are locked away. No matter how things look sad, funny, touching or even criticism to me, I had no response. I am numb to it. What's new? Nothing. I started to create imaginary friends, started to learn how to manipulate people. Black magic, white magic, rituals, horoscopes, astrology, even thoughts of killing people, are my focuses. I believe that there is nothing called love or anything related to it. Everything around me was deceiving. All of them are lies. I drew a cautious line to everything. I became anti-social, self-centred. Also i believed there was beast inside me, sleeping, waiting to be unleased. Why i thought of it? I remembered I was brought to a medium in Indonesia. They claimed that she is a living Buddha or something and she is very accurate. So i met her and after "inspecting" for a few minutes, she concluded to my mother that i am a very naughty and rebellious child. And the strange thing is, she mentioned that I could cause darkness and destruction in future. How true is it? I don't think so. Being alone for such a long time, i forgot what it is meant to have accompany. The only accompany i had were my imaginary friends and siblings. Moreover, i forgot what is it meant to love and my heart is numb with emotions and all i felt was hate.
But however, God didn't give up on me. Slowly He is behind the scenes, planning my paths, showering me with love and protected me from harm. I recalled how many times i would die without God saving me. During my primary school, i had a big hand held file, and normally i would carry it on my left hand, but that day when i returning home, i felt i should carry by my right hand instead. It was then when I reached a small road, it's happened. The road was crowded, and i saw a kid attempting to cross the road, and i followed besides him. But at that split second, a car accelerated and banged onto me. Thankfully, the file i held broke the impact. The kid was just at the left side of me looking very shocked. Somehow i "shielded" him from an accident.
Then there was another time i was in secondary school. It was recess and I hanged out with my first only friend at the fitness corner by the parade square. There was a big tree there and it was always tormented by some hooligans in my school. That day, they found something "fun". They got themselves a metal side of a schoolchair, and start to throw it at the top of the tree, tearing any upper branches and leaves. Worst part, where the side of chair dropped give them the thrills. At that time, i was too near to the tree and before i knew it, i felt a sharp pain on head. It felt as if my skull is splitting apart. I collapsed on the floor, overwhelming with pain. But strangely i didn't passed out. From what i heard from my friend, i was hit by the metal chairpiece from the height of four stories. I looked at him as if he making a joke. How would be that be? Surviving that impact without any concussion or blackout? He told me he was very surprised too. That day I finally felt that someone is watching me, protecting me from harm.
These accidents didn't stop there. I was involved in a 4 vehicles crash (inclusive of a motorbike) when i was going to Tanah Merah to catch my ferry ride. Me and my family came out unscathed. And there was a time i was nearly hit by speeding SBS bus at the traffic lights near my home. The traffic lights showed green man, and as i about to cross the second half of the road, a bus just zoomed past, inches in front of me.
From these experiences, i felt that there is someone want me dead. But there is always another superior being who is always protecting me. It is as if that He is saying:"No! It is not time yet. I still have more things planned for you."
And so, looking back, God really looking at us, even when we don't see Him at that times. And the little paths we made, He has already had plans for them regardless on which paths we are taking. And that is why i believe of a superior being up there, a God.
Since i was young, i don't get what i wanted. Often i get quarrels with my parents, but they don't listen to my distressed needs. I have no one to turn to. Being the only child in the family, i have no siblings to share my sadness or happiness. So i will just pour out my sorrows to my grandma. I love her, she is always there for me. Every sadness, every joyful moments. But she passed away peacefully when i was P5. I was desperate. My only pillar of support. Just gone like that. My only memories i had with her is my passion for origami and the harmonica that she left for me. Then, i started to look for support at the wrong places. At my friends. At opinions of others. I joined a gang at P5. Through it is not very notorious, but it is enough to give me a bad record. I learned how to fight, how to lie, how to steal, and even how to skip school. At the point of time, i would just see my friends as my friends. But are they? During P6, there was a hip thing in town, the release of Gameboy advance sp and Pokemon. I am obsessed about that i actually agreed with my friends to get one and share among us. And how do i get one? I stole money from my parents. I kept track of every small details that my parents made, the timing and duration of their market time, their bathing time and even locating their money drawer and the key to it. I studied them well enough to steal it. Bit by bit, i had enough to get one. My parents notice the missing money and asked me, but i would lie my way off. Things go smoothly until i got my gameboy. That was another burden altogether. Since i got this thing, i was tasked to keep it as my own. So i intended to hide it from my parents' eyes. That drawer meant for my granny's albums looks like a great place to hide. And so i hid it for some time. Until, the drawer has been cleared by my mum to be her sewing drawer. She found my gameboy and questioned me about it. I lied to her it was from my friend. Didn't notice anything amiss, she just told me off and requested me to return it. And so i "did". Knowing my hiding place has been exploited. I searched for my next hidden spot, my schoolbag. Things went well smoothly. Until i had a quarrel with my friends. For payback, my friend phoned my mum, telling her i had something belonged to him and has not returned. As i returned home from school, i was dumbfounded. My mother searched my bag and found the console. She waved it in front of my face and asked where did came from. I lied again, i borrowed from my friend. However she is even nore enraged. She grabbed me from my arms and caned me. She has found out that i stole her money to get the console. That was what my friend told her. About how i stole her money and gave to him a gift. Of course, my mother cared not of my true side of story since i lied so many times. Despite that I'm her son, she chose to believe my friend's story. I tried to explain to her, "it was my friend's idea and i didn't give it to him!" My cries meet no ends. I was wrongly accused and yet the mastermind is not punished as i was. Not only that, my father accidentally reviewed to me that I am not who i am, he showed me an IC, my real IC, Heri. I was confused, am I not their son? But the past photos look like as if i am their son. I don't understand. I was backstabbed, betrayed, and now this. The memories i had, it really seems like i am their son. I looked at my mother, with a strange void in my heart. Just overnight, I lost my parents and has been deceived by this couple who claimed to be my parents. I sweared from then on, i will speak to my parents ever again. So i did. For days, i has not spoken to my mother or father. Not even a simple goodnight which i usually did, and days turned to weeks, and to months, and to years. A few days passed since the incident, and i overheard my mother conversing with my neighbour with hokkien. Luckily my granny taught me some hokkien so i can made up what they are talking. And my worst fears were confirmed. "i should have known! I should have known not to buy this baby back then!" the exact translation from my mother in hokkien. I was desparated again. But now, i am really have no one to talk to. My granny has passed away, cold war with my parents, due to the betrayal of my friends, i lost trust in humans. I hated humans. I hated them so much that i hated myself, for being like them. My heart harden each time, all my feelings, my emotions, are locked away. No matter how things look sad, funny, touching or even criticism to me, I had no response. I am numb to it. What's new? Nothing. I started to create imaginary friends, started to learn how to manipulate people. Black magic, white magic, rituals, horoscopes, astrology, even thoughts of killing people, are my focuses. I believe that there is nothing called love or anything related to it. Everything around me was deceiving. All of them are lies. I drew a cautious line to everything. I became anti-social, self-centred. Also i believed there was beast inside me, sleeping, waiting to be unleased. Why i thought of it? I remembered I was brought to a medium in Indonesia. They claimed that she is a living Buddha or something and she is very accurate. So i met her and after "inspecting" for a few minutes, she concluded to my mother that i am a very naughty and rebellious child. And the strange thing is, she mentioned that I could cause darkness and destruction in future. How true is it? I don't think so. Being alone for such a long time, i forgot what it is meant to have accompany. The only accompany i had were my imaginary friends and siblings. Moreover, i forgot what is it meant to love and my heart is numb with emotions and all i felt was hate.
But however, God didn't give up on me. Slowly He is behind the scenes, planning my paths, showering me with love and protected me from harm. I recalled how many times i would die without God saving me. During my primary school, i had a big hand held file, and normally i would carry it on my left hand, but that day when i returning home, i felt i should carry by my right hand instead. It was then when I reached a small road, it's happened. The road was crowded, and i saw a kid attempting to cross the road, and i followed besides him. But at that split second, a car accelerated and banged onto me. Thankfully, the file i held broke the impact. The kid was just at the left side of me looking very shocked. Somehow i "shielded" him from an accident.
Then there was another time i was in secondary school. It was recess and I hanged out with my first only friend at the fitness corner by the parade square. There was a big tree there and it was always tormented by some hooligans in my school. That day, they found something "fun". They got themselves a metal side of a schoolchair, and start to throw it at the top of the tree, tearing any upper branches and leaves. Worst part, where the side of chair dropped give them the thrills. At that time, i was too near to the tree and before i knew it, i felt a sharp pain on head. It felt as if my skull is splitting apart. I collapsed on the floor, overwhelming with pain. But strangely i didn't passed out. From what i heard from my friend, i was hit by the metal chairpiece from the height of four stories. I looked at him as if he making a joke. How would be that be? Surviving that impact without any concussion or blackout? He told me he was very surprised too. That day I finally felt that someone is watching me, protecting me from harm.
These accidents didn't stop there. I was involved in a 4 vehicles crash (inclusive of a motorbike) when i was going to Tanah Merah to catch my ferry ride. Me and my family came out unscathed. And there was a time i was nearly hit by speeding SBS bus at the traffic lights near my home. The traffic lights showed green man, and as i about to cross the second half of the road, a bus just zoomed past, inches in front of me.
From these experiences, i felt that there is someone want me dead. But there is always another superior being who is always protecting me. It is as if that He is saying:"No! It is not time yet. I still have more things planned for you."
And so, looking back, God really looking at us, even when we don't see Him at that times. And the little paths we made, He has already had plans for them regardless on which paths we are taking. And that is why i believe of a superior being up there, a God.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
This spoke to me!
26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
your praises all day long.
I am surprised as this passage spoke to me! What i found was surprising! Every time we ignore some on in distress this is what happens! Imagine them saying "May all who gloat over my distress". When we ignore such people we may not be gloating but the question remains that if we do not extend our arms to help, how can be say we are not gloating? If we really want to stand before God, and account, if God asks us why did we not help, how can we answer? The answer remains that those who did not help are to be put to shame and confusion. See the next sentence: May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness! Those who stand for the righteous and the people who needs help, let them proclaim God's glory! The passage did not say that these people are exalted, but rather doing what they are ought to do! Notice this: the people who gloat get punished. The people who help may they always say that. You see the difference? The day we are Christians we are ought to do it, that is our responsibility. Its just like a father to a son. A father has responsibilities to the son and when the son matures he also have a responsibility to his parent!
Its our job to be righteous! And let us proclaim his righteousness all day long! :D
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Praise Report part 1
it was 2012 when i first entered inside a church. I was invited by my fishing mate who attended a church at Aljunied. He told me that there is a magic tricks lesson going on at the sunday. Being interested with these such things, i agreed and went with him. The lessons were great as i learned new tricks that jumpstarted my interests on magic tricks by a bit. And then, it was when i was approached by a church member there, Adeline. She invited to attend some classes about God and creation. Okay, let me rewind back a bit to before i was invited to any churches. At that point of my life, i started to feel bored about my life. I felt that is something to this life that i am having now. I often asked myself, "what is the purpose of me living on this earth?" and "why am i myself and not someone else? Why am I being Remus and not Edmund?" And so i agreed to attend these classes and found out who God is and the other "basics" of Christianity, like "He is the Creator, I am His creation of Life," etc. I didn't really know God for who He is at that time. So, Adeline prompted me with a question again:"do you want to know more about this God and accept Him into my life?" I don't really know what did that mean at that time. But i said "yes." And she told me to say a prayer after her. At first i was resilient, but she told me not to worry as it will be life-changing after that. So i closed my eyes and prayed as she said. And as i opened my eyes after the prayer, expecting a unknown force or energy to empower me or something. But there was nothing. Adeline asked me how do i feel. But my answer is "i dun feel different in any ways." She laughed and told me "Don't worry.. You will find it soon. But as true as she sounds, there was a change going through my inner self which i didn't noticed.
Days followed by weeks passed, i had faithfully attended the classes which they called it "New Life". After that i would attend for their evening services. However, i didn't attend them with a joyful heart. It is because, i was living with lies, lies to cover on where i am going on a sunday to my Buddhists parents. I had hinted them about my Christianity yet they were so strongly objective about it till to the extent that they warned me not to be one. I was frightened by it.
These went on till it was finally school term breaks. I ran out of excuses to go out(as most of my excuses were going out to study with them). Before I knew it, I found myself stopped going to those classes and services. Reasons were, i was afraid that my parents will find out it and give me a lashing, and I distracted by earthly pleasure like gaming till i felt like using my precious time to play my game and not waste time to go out and "risk my life" being scolded by my parents. Of course, my disciplers noticed about this and asked me persistently why i had not be attending classes and church. I don't know what to tell them, i spoke to them about my problems and all they did was to tell me to pray about it. I know by knowledge that prayers are communications to God but i do not have the intimacy to do so. Slowly my heart got harden and I took offences of what disciplers wanted to tell me as against me.
As you see, even I attended church and all, I still fall from God. This is because i do not know Him personally. What i learnt about God is so general, textbook-based. But i failed to go intimate with Him, to know Him personally.
Life went on for me after that. But it was very different without God in the picture. I remember i was a very sensitive and emotional guy. Not only that, i was closed up to myself and won't express myself freely. And due to bad experiences with people in the past, i had a grudge on humanity. Funny as it sounds, but i had really a hatred on humans even through i am a human myself. However, my problems didn't stop there. Ever since i learned how to hate, there was a part of me looking for love again. But in a worldly matter. I started to look for love in boy/girl relationships. And when i was rejected, i would beat myself with condemning thoughts. I remember i started to have a crush on this girl i like in the class. And this particular worldly love started to cause me to woo her but to no avail, as it struck me as i realised that she had a partner already. As the time to despair, my mind was at war, parts of me feel anger, hatred and condemnation trying to fill up my heart, the other parts of me was consorting myself, telling me it's fine, it's alright. I would display a smile to everyone to show them that i am "okay". And for a very long time i being struggling with these angels and devils inside me.
I remember it was year 3 and the new batch of juniors came into the cca i was in. My cca was to deliver meals to the less fortunate and the elderly. I like that cca because it is quite peaceful and really nice to see their smiling faces as they got their meals. And importantly, my crush was in that cca too. the work is to deliver food to the different areas of toa payoh. So we spilt the cca group into teams, pairs or sometimes solo if there is low of manpower. So i will be looking forward to be able to pair with my crush so that i could chat with her, to be with her. And at the ending mid of the year, new juniors came into the cca. And i took notice of a particular girl who i found myself attracted to. My heart started to waver. At one time, i am lucky to be able pair with the one of the juniors to show her the roots. We introduced each other and talked as i showed her the roots. My impression of her is a caring girl who has a bad cough and sorethroat. Yup, i was indeed attracted to her. Even my crush could see i was attracted to her. We even talked to each other via texting. And something stunning to me happened, she invited to her church. At that point i was hesitant but since she said she was going to share about her praise report, i agreed to go and support her. Then she invited to have lunch with her churchmates or lifegroup mates. And so i said okay since i have nothing to do at home on a saturday afternoon.
And so it came, Saturday afternoon, I prepared myself and headed to the specific location to have lunch with them. As I reached that, i was stunned. There was so many people having lunch together! I found them uniquely special, there is an atmosphere around them that is so different than who i hang around with. And something inside me that wanted to be in their clique. They are really friendly and heart-warming. And so we finished our lunch and headed to the church. As i inched closer and closer to the exterior of the church, i was nervous of how is this church going to be like. And then i was stunned for the second time as i stepped inside the hall. I was unsure if i had entered the right place. The atmosphere are dimmed with laser lights all over the place. It was like as if i entered a club. But the atmosphere is way different than what it seems. The worship started and their own band started to play catchy praise and worship songs. I looked around in surprise, everyone is jumping and raising their hands into the air! So hyped up and on fire! And i felt it, a presence so strong that i was shaking. And I wasn't feeling cold or anything. After the songs, came the next thing that i came for. The girl praise report, and i was stunned for the third time again. I realised that she has a bit of speech deficiency and how did she remains so joyful as i saw her? And i realised she had a boyfriend and he was the one who brought her to church. I was stunned for the fourth time and everything seems silent. Thoughts came into my mind but in my own surprise, they were not the usual negative thoughts i used to have. But rather, it was like someone is talking to me. Telling me i had been searching for love at the wrong place all the time. The true love is God. Despite i rejected God at first, He has been planning to bring me back to Him. Knowing that I tend to find love in boy/girl relationship, He sent the my cca junior to invite me to church, inviting me back to Him. This is the first intimate moment i had with Him. I was touched, my heart melted and cried. But i didn't display it on myself. On that day, i rededicated my life back to Christ again. But this time i felt that my life from then on will start to transform.
Days followed by weeks passed, i had faithfully attended the classes which they called it "New Life". After that i would attend for their evening services. However, i didn't attend them with a joyful heart. It is because, i was living with lies, lies to cover on where i am going on a sunday to my Buddhists parents. I had hinted them about my Christianity yet they were so strongly objective about it till to the extent that they warned me not to be one. I was frightened by it.
These went on till it was finally school term breaks. I ran out of excuses to go out(as most of my excuses were going out to study with them). Before I knew it, I found myself stopped going to those classes and services. Reasons were, i was afraid that my parents will find out it and give me a lashing, and I distracted by earthly pleasure like gaming till i felt like using my precious time to play my game and not waste time to go out and "risk my life" being scolded by my parents. Of course, my disciplers noticed about this and asked me persistently why i had not be attending classes and church. I don't know what to tell them, i spoke to them about my problems and all they did was to tell me to pray about it. I know by knowledge that prayers are communications to God but i do not have the intimacy to do so. Slowly my heart got harden and I took offences of what disciplers wanted to tell me as against me.
As you see, even I attended church and all, I still fall from God. This is because i do not know Him personally. What i learnt about God is so general, textbook-based. But i failed to go intimate with Him, to know Him personally.
Life went on for me after that. But it was very different without God in the picture. I remember i was a very sensitive and emotional guy. Not only that, i was closed up to myself and won't express myself freely. And due to bad experiences with people in the past, i had a grudge on humanity. Funny as it sounds, but i had really a hatred on humans even through i am a human myself. However, my problems didn't stop there. Ever since i learned how to hate, there was a part of me looking for love again. But in a worldly matter. I started to look for love in boy/girl relationships. And when i was rejected, i would beat myself with condemning thoughts. I remember i started to have a crush on this girl i like in the class. And this particular worldly love started to cause me to woo her but to no avail, as it struck me as i realised that she had a partner already. As the time to despair, my mind was at war, parts of me feel anger, hatred and condemnation trying to fill up my heart, the other parts of me was consorting myself, telling me it's fine, it's alright. I would display a smile to everyone to show them that i am "okay". And for a very long time i being struggling with these angels and devils inside me.
I remember it was year 3 and the new batch of juniors came into the cca i was in. My cca was to deliver meals to the less fortunate and the elderly. I like that cca because it is quite peaceful and really nice to see their smiling faces as they got their meals. And importantly, my crush was in that cca too. the work is to deliver food to the different areas of toa payoh. So we spilt the cca group into teams, pairs or sometimes solo if there is low of manpower. So i will be looking forward to be able to pair with my crush so that i could chat with her, to be with her. And at the ending mid of the year, new juniors came into the cca. And i took notice of a particular girl who i found myself attracted to. My heart started to waver. At one time, i am lucky to be able pair with the one of the juniors to show her the roots. We introduced each other and talked as i showed her the roots. My impression of her is a caring girl who has a bad cough and sorethroat. Yup, i was indeed attracted to her. Even my crush could see i was attracted to her. We even talked to each other via texting. And something stunning to me happened, she invited to her church. At that point i was hesitant but since she said she was going to share about her praise report, i agreed to go and support her. Then she invited to have lunch with her churchmates or lifegroup mates. And so i said okay since i have nothing to do at home on a saturday afternoon.
And so it came, Saturday afternoon, I prepared myself and headed to the specific location to have lunch with them. As I reached that, i was stunned. There was so many people having lunch together! I found them uniquely special, there is an atmosphere around them that is so different than who i hang around with. And something inside me that wanted to be in their clique. They are really friendly and heart-warming. And so we finished our lunch and headed to the church. As i inched closer and closer to the exterior of the church, i was nervous of how is this church going to be like. And then i was stunned for the second time as i stepped inside the hall. I was unsure if i had entered the right place. The atmosphere are dimmed with laser lights all over the place. It was like as if i entered a club. But the atmosphere is way different than what it seems. The worship started and their own band started to play catchy praise and worship songs. I looked around in surprise, everyone is jumping and raising their hands into the air! So hyped up and on fire! And i felt it, a presence so strong that i was shaking. And I wasn't feeling cold or anything. After the songs, came the next thing that i came for. The girl praise report, and i was stunned for the third time again. I realised that she has a bit of speech deficiency and how did she remains so joyful as i saw her? And i realised she had a boyfriend and he was the one who brought her to church. I was stunned for the fourth time and everything seems silent. Thoughts came into my mind but in my own surprise, they were not the usual negative thoughts i used to have. But rather, it was like someone is talking to me. Telling me i had been searching for love at the wrong place all the time. The true love is God. Despite i rejected God at first, He has been planning to bring me back to Him. Knowing that I tend to find love in boy/girl relationship, He sent the my cca junior to invite me to church, inviting me back to Him. This is the first intimate moment i had with Him. I was touched, my heart melted and cried. But i didn't display it on myself. On that day, i rededicated my life back to Christ again. But this time i felt that my life from then on will start to transform.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Sin?
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous! The question is are you righteous? If you are why are you righteous? Do you think you are righteous? Do you think what you do makes you righteous? No! God is the One who judges who is righteous not men! Yes, Jesus cleansed everyone who believe in Him but He also said, not all who believe in Him will go to heaven! So it is still important to really repent. Repent is a very heavy word and not to be used lightly.
"his ears are attentive to their cry." Do we even cry out to the Lord? Or we only cry out to Him when we are in the ditch? No wonder he puts us in the ditch. Because when we have good times, no one would bother to look for God. They will all enjoy life and just party their life away, but no one bothers to build treasures in heaven! We will like the Israelites forget God in the good times and in their terrible times seek God not because they truly wanted but they needed a way out. That is being so practical are they not? Seeking God only in times that are good is very hypocritical.
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil. Arh here people would all say punish the murders and those who steal and commit adultery. But who would say punish those who torrent and bully their friends who turn away people who needs help? Are that not one of us? Sin to God has no strength. Sin is wrong and its not to be tolerated, thats is all. God hates all sin, sin does not come in not so bad and very bad classification. All sin are bad.
Selah
Selah. What is the meaning? This is not my first time reading psalms and yet I do not know, or cannot remember what is its meaning! I went online to check the meaning of the word and found that the word means pause. But it's more than that. The exact meaning of the word is very debatable but the idea is that pause and praise God! Since when do we pause and think of God's goodness in our life? Most of the time we only consider the bad, the ugly and times that we need he from God. We do not pause and think of the times that God's glory is shone!
I shall not want
Actually I think this passage really says a lot about our Christian walk! Lord is our God, our Leader and our Guide. He feeds and fills us. He takes cares of us. He keeps me righteous, through His spirit and word. I can go through the toughest times because He is with me. He sustains me and borrows me His strength. He keeps me disciplined and His anger burns against sins. Lord annoits me with His spirit everyday, fill me to the point of excess! God is good and always great! Without You I am nothing. Praise You forever.
I really think this passage is so powerful because the author was so genuine and truthful about God! And the praises that He sings to The Lord is simply amazing!
Friday, March 14, 2014
The Lord's glory
6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
Remember the times when you were once a kind and when you called out to your dad, he would just come and pick you up? You were in the ditch and your parents(mom or dad) picked you up, comforted you?
We grow as adults and forget that kind of embrace. God is our Father and whenever we call out to Him, He would really ride His Cherubim and come down from heaven and embrace us! We keep on thinking that God is a God who rages with anger and will rain fire down from heaven onto us, but thats not fully true! God is a loving Father who wants to come down and embrace His children! nothing more than just really wanting to embrace us when we cry out to Him.
That said, God may not necessary pull us out of tough times, but He will be with us always. His presence will always be with us, but He may not bring us out of the circumstance but He will be with us, no matter what!
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
Remember the times when you were once a kind and when you called out to your dad, he would just come and pick you up? You were in the ditch and your parents(mom or dad) picked you up, comforted you?
We grow as adults and forget that kind of embrace. God is our Father and whenever we call out to Him, He would really ride His Cherubim and come down from heaven and embrace us! We keep on thinking that God is a God who rages with anger and will rain fire down from heaven onto us, but thats not fully true! God is a loving Father who wants to come down and embrace His children! nothing more than just really wanting to embrace us when we cry out to Him.
That said, God may not necessary pull us out of tough times, but He will be with us always. His presence will always be with us, but He may not bring us out of the circumstance but He will be with us, no matter what!
Thursday, March 13, 2014
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold
The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.
It is so true! I am so uplifted after reading this! The message bible puts words that are really easy to understand to the modern person. "God's reputation is 24 carat gold, with life time guarantee". That is God's reputation and beyond that. God is always good and holy. His name is proclaimed through out the land and His reputation is always good, brillant and great, as such of a 24 carat gold, which is well sought after in the world. Plus a life time guarantee!
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
In the NIV. the author used words like perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, firm. All the qualities reflecting 24 carat gold.
Reminder to all of us who want to blame God and thinks God is your enemy, read Psalms! Then you will see the praise God deserves! And Who He is is not who you are thinking right now!
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.
It is so true! I am so uplifted after reading this! The message bible puts words that are really easy to understand to the modern person. "God's reputation is 24 carat gold, with life time guarantee". That is God's reputation and beyond that. God is always good and holy. His name is proclaimed through out the land and His reputation is always good, brillant and great, as such of a 24 carat gold, which is well sought after in the world. Plus a life time guarantee!
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
In the NIV. the author used words like perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, firm. All the qualities reflecting 24 carat gold.
Reminder to all of us who want to blame God and thinks God is your enemy, read Psalms! Then you will see the praise God deserves! And Who He is is not who you are thinking right now!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
16 1-2 Keep me safe, O God,
I’ve run for dear life to you.
I say to God, “Be my Lord!”
Without you, nothing makes sense.
I’ve run for dear life to you.
I say to God, “Be my Lord!”
Without you, nothing makes sense.
3 And these God-chosen lives all around—
what splendid friends they make!
what splendid friends they make!
4 Don’t just go shopping for a god.
Gods are not for sale.
I swear I’ll never treat god-names
like brand-names.
Gods are not for sale.
I swear I’ll never treat god-names
like brand-names.
I find this passage incredibly true! We cannot live without God, God is the centre of our life but people just treat God with contempt! We all agree that we cannot live without God, but we all choose to ignore his presence.
I really like what he mention later, don't just go shopping for a god. That is very surprising to me. Because who shops for a god right? The implication here is huge, we in effect choose our gods. Why? We can say we love God and all, but the fact is we do not! We only choose what we want and what we do not want. Lets say God tell us to go do this, but we think, nah i am not going to do it. In effect, we are putting ourselves before God and making us a god in our own image. We only choose what we like to follow. We like money and we choose money as our god. even through we may not say it out consciously , but that is what happens. We choose what we like and want to be our god and leave God out and we treat Him with contempt.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Psalm 7
I read some commentary on this and it is very odd.
It said,
"O Lord my God, mine by a special covenant, sealed by Jesus' blood,"
I was like... What? What version of the bible is the person using man. Jesus had not come down! He did not exist! Alright, maybe the person is doing his own prayer!
Anyways. this Psalm is David trying to talk and pray to God, telling him to be the judge!
Stand up, God; pit your holy fury
against my furious enemies.
Wake up, God. My accusers have packed
the courtroom; it’s judgment time.
Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,
throw out the false charges against me.
I’m ready, confident in your verdict:
“Innocent.”
Excellent! He always run to God and he always does that first. First and foremost! In this bible scholars thought that this is David being charged with treason and treachery. Then David pleaded with God for judgment, Godly judgment! He went ahead and really ask God and pray and talk to God. How many times we are in trouble but it is someone's wrong accusation. How many times we try to prove ourselves right by our own strength, but who really seek God? If we pray God would answer. He would reply if we move Him! The question is do we even pray? Or do we just go ahead and do our thing!?
It said,
"O Lord my God, mine by a special covenant, sealed by Jesus' blood,"
I was like... What? What version of the bible is the person using man. Jesus had not come down! He did not exist! Alright, maybe the person is doing his own prayer!
Anyways. this Psalm is David trying to talk and pray to God, telling him to be the judge!
Stand up, God; pit your holy fury
against my furious enemies.
Wake up, God. My accusers have packed
the courtroom; it’s judgment time.
Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,
throw out the false charges against me.
I’m ready, confident in your verdict:
“Innocent.”
Excellent! He always run to God and he always does that first. First and foremost! In this bible scholars thought that this is David being charged with treason and treachery. Then David pleaded with God for judgment, Godly judgment! He went ahead and really ask God and pray and talk to God. How many times we are in trouble but it is someone's wrong accusation. How many times we try to prove ourselves right by our own strength, but who really seek God? If we pray God would answer. He would reply if we move Him! The question is do we even pray? Or do we just go ahead and do our thing!?
Monday, March 10, 2014
Confidence before God
Stand up, God; pit your holy fury
against my furious enemies.
Wake up, God. My accusers have packed
the courtroom; it’s judgment time.
Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,
throw out the false charges against me.
I’m ready, confident in your verdict:
“Innocent.”
God will judge us. He will be the final judge. When we stand before Him, can we be confident that He will say "Innocent"? Pslams is about the singing of praises to the Lord! And what kind of praise is that right? This praise is praise that cause God to move because its praise that exalts God to His place, a judge. This praise is one that activates God, calls upon His holy name to judge the person. Can we be like the author who say yes, God judge me and judge me innocent, for You know me and come judge me? Or would we be afraid? The question remains until we die!
against my furious enemies.
Wake up, God. My accusers have packed
the courtroom; it’s judgment time.
Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,
throw out the false charges against me.
I’m ready, confident in your verdict:
“Innocent.”
God will judge us. He will be the final judge. When we stand before Him, can we be confident that He will say "Innocent"? Pslams is about the singing of praises to the Lord! And what kind of praise is that right? This praise is praise that cause God to move because its praise that exalts God to His place, a judge. This praise is one that activates God, calls upon His holy name to judge the person. Can we be like the author who say yes, God judge me and judge me innocent, for You know me and come judge me? Or would we be afraid? The question remains until we die!
Friday, March 7, 2014
Job
As i continued to read Job, i found that Job really understood God's heart. God's presence was withdrawn from him but yet, he does not blame God but only asks him to kill Job. Thats a very important information, Job did not blame God. It may sound like Job is blaming God but he is not. He is merely telling and complaining to God that Job was treated unfairly. It is how funny that the 3 friends with Elihu all did not believe him! Here i am reminded that God is not a tyrant. He will not side with the person who sided with Him, but he will only support the truth. Even when the 4 guys supported God and all, they were not supporting the truth. Or did not fully speak the truth about Job. Job knows very well of how much truth he spoke. Which is exemplary.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Job understands Grace!
I read Job before and this time, i went to read the MSG version. The MSG version is very refreshing to read.
“You’ll take delight in God, the Mighty One,
and look to him joyfully, boldly.
You’ll pray to him and he’ll listen;
he’ll help you do what you’ve promised.
You’ll decide what you want and it will happen;
your life will be bathed in light.
To those who feel low you’ll say, ‘Chin up! Be brave!’
and God will save them.
Yes, even the guilty will escape,
escape through God’s grace in your life.”
Like this paragraph here, it shows that Job really understood the grace of God! Amazing as it is, the sentence is " even the guilty will escape, escape through God's grace in your life" in our time, do we still recognize that God's grace can clean us? That God's grace will wash us?
People are dying right and left, groaning in torment.
The wretched cry out for help
and God does nothing, acts like nothing’s wrong!
I cannot help but recognize that we have this problem now. We have so many problems in this world and yet God does nothing, acts like nothing's wrong! Whatever discussed is very similar to what we are facing right now. People sin and dont get punished and yet God does nothin!
One lesson that i learnt here is to walk closely with God and when your friend needs help, go and help Him, encourage Him and rebuke him if necessary!
“You’ll take delight in God, the Mighty One,
and look to him joyfully, boldly.
You’ll pray to him and he’ll listen;
he’ll help you do what you’ve promised.
You’ll decide what you want and it will happen;
your life will be bathed in light.
To those who feel low you’ll say, ‘Chin up! Be brave!’
and God will save them.
Yes, even the guilty will escape,
escape through God’s grace in your life.”
Like this paragraph here, it shows that Job really understood the grace of God! Amazing as it is, the sentence is " even the guilty will escape, escape through God's grace in your life" in our time, do we still recognize that God's grace can clean us? That God's grace will wash us?
People are dying right and left, groaning in torment.
The wretched cry out for help
and God does nothing, acts like nothing’s wrong!
I cannot help but recognize that we have this problem now. We have so many problems in this world and yet God does nothing, acts like nothing's wrong! Whatever discussed is very similar to what we are facing right now. People sin and dont get punished and yet God does nothin!
One lesson that i learnt here is to walk closely with God and when your friend needs help, go and help Him, encourage Him and rebuke him if necessary!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Chronicles and Job
Who says The Lord is not merciful in the Old Testament? It is still true! God is still merciful in the Old Testament! In old and in the new, God is merciful to people, if they are willing
who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. (2 Chronicles 30:19, 20 NIV)
People are people arnt they? We only know how to seek God in times of hardship. During times of joy, we will all forsake The Lord. Manasseh was a special one, he is just like those Christians who just know God. When he knew God, he became really serious. Before that he was not, but after that, he became really really serious.
In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God. (2 Chronicles 33:12, 13 NIV)
Now in Job, we see that God is testing Job. job had everything and he really followed God's commands and he did not deviate from it! But he was tested by God and thrown into the valley by Satan. I read Job before and even as I read it again, I am reminded that Satan can only harm someone if you let him. If you let satan control your life then he will. If you forbid him from doing anything then he cannot do anything. In Job's case, Job did not allow the Satan to come into his life, but God used Satan to test Job. Interesting to note, Job is similar to Jesus, he did not sin yet he suffered. Jesus also suffered for mankind but did not sin and was not deserving of this treatment. Now, why did God allowed it? We don't know, but we know is throughout God's plan, he is in control. We see that Job really trusted God so much even in times that are so tough. Really tough.
who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. (2 Chronicles 30:19, 20 NIV)
People are people arnt they? We only know how to seek God in times of hardship. During times of joy, we will all forsake The Lord. Manasseh was a special one, he is just like those Christians who just know God. When he knew God, he became really serious. Before that he was not, but after that, he became really really serious.
In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God. (2 Chronicles 33:12, 13 NIV)
Now in Job, we see that God is testing Job. job had everything and he really followed God's commands and he did not deviate from it! But he was tested by God and thrown into the valley by Satan. I read Job before and even as I read it again, I am reminded that Satan can only harm someone if you let him. If you let satan control your life then he will. If you forbid him from doing anything then he cannot do anything. In Job's case, Job did not allow the Satan to come into his life, but God used Satan to test Job. Interesting to note, Job is similar to Jesus, he did not sin yet he suffered. Jesus also suffered for mankind but did not sin and was not deserving of this treatment. Now, why did God allowed it? We don't know, but we know is throughout God's plan, he is in control. We see that Job really trusted God so much even in times that are so tough. Really tough.
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