The producers of the Da Vinci Code movie have worked their plans well. Every detail in their promotion plan has been thoroughly thought through. The media is certainly a power to be reckoned with. The promotional materials are creating a disillusionment so great that people -- both young and old -- will be mesmerized; birthing a desire to be included in this experience. As the stage is being prepared, this generation will witness the unleashing of astronomical falling away unless we act fast. Soon, a Pandora's box will unfold before our Malaysian audience's eyes. Before that, we must arise.
Every corner I turn, I see Christendom being bombarded left, right and center. Most recently, MSNBC reported a group of scientists who discovered a logical explanation for the miracle of Christ walking on water —- that it was actually 'Christ walking on ice'. What a preposterous claim. Yet, how many among us would immediately exclaim,
"Oh, thank goodness for science, this event wasn't so supernatural after all. I was certainly having trouble swallowing the miracle idea!" It brings one to a comfortable ground where we are able to rationalize with our minds and accept our finite superiority.
Likewise, the Da Vinci Code movie will subtly jog your conviction that "every faith in this world is based on fabrication". It then proposes a redefinition of faith as "the acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove." When your head begins to swirl with questions, reach for your Bible and read the whole book of Hebrews (in particular, chapter 11) concerning the foundation of and
the basis for faith -- in two words: pleasing God.
We live in rough times (the Bible calls it perilous times) and the trumpet call is for each of us to take our battle position. A war is a war is a war. Do not be deceived -- the battlefield is real and the spoils are human minds. The spiritual battle waged by the forces of darkness against the army of God will not vanish at the blink of an eye nor at our own whims and fancies. Truce is not an option. It is
our responsibility to take stock and prepare to equip ourselves. Whether expected or anticipated, our children and loved ones are depending on us to lead them through as their role models. We must arise.
In our professional lives, mentoring is a cool catchphrase. The intent and purpose to nurture, train and assimilate a being into our workforce for optimal performance is indeed a noble one. Short of reengineering that person into an android, our objectives are achieved when the person thinks and acts like one of us to support the vision and objectives of the team.
Now check yourselves: When I was assigned to mentor another, what plans did I set for the person? Was I truthful about wanting to impart knowledge? Did I care the slightest whether the person achieved the goals set?
I remember vividly the old adage in management: Ask me what you don't know. Looking back with a smile, that is quite an oxymoron, I must say. How could I ask if I don't know? I remembered grumbling against my managers to my peers and ultimately despising them for their hypocrisies. But when I became a manager, I did the same thing. I acted the same hypocrisy. I don't know how many persons I must have offended and what the consequences might have been.
In fact it doesn't just stop there. Unconsciously, I carried that same attitude and principles into my family life. Am I a good mentor to my children?
Children are like sponges. They soak up everything around us -- our speech, our actions, our behavior, our attitude, our responses, our manners, our remarks, our hypocrisy, etc., etc., etc. Without the need for formality or the structures of home education, they become proficient and well-trained. Sadly, they become trained in the good things (consciously) AND the bad things (unconsciously) along life's journey.
We must arise and take stock of ourselves and our posterity. We may be powerless to stop the carnage that's happening in the world but we can equip our childrens' minds against the onslaught of lies, immorality and treachery. When a strong foundation has been laid in their lives their 'houses' will not be blown away by even the strongest of winds. That is the promise of abiding in Christ, our hope and eternal glory.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Hallowed be Thy Names
A book by David Wilkerson
Each of God's names reveals a defining quality about our Lord's nature and character towards His people. God revealed these names to His people (Abraham, Moses , Ezekiel etc) only as they needed them---in their moment of deepest crisis. If up to now , you only know God as a God of love .. you seriously need to read this book because God is so much more than love! His very nature is LOVE , but we should not neglect the fact that He is also our provider , our source of righteousness and our peace.
okie, here are a few names that we need to learn , ya ..
El Shaddai - God All-Powerful and All-Sufficient
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Who Sees and Who Provides (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord Our Banner
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
you need to read the book to find out more! Let us not limit our God by our own narrow thinking .. He is the God of 'how much more' .. Be transformed by the renewing of your minds! How do we renew our minds ? by allowing God's word to dwell in us (simple to say but difficult to put into practice..).
pls form a reading queue behind Pam for this wonderful book that'll help you to understand more of God's character . I love the way it points me back to the bible to look at the passages which I've read a few times but the essence of them didn't quite sink in. This book will help you look at the Old Testament with new eyes . Cool !
Each of God's names reveals a defining quality about our Lord's nature and character towards His people. God revealed these names to His people (Abraham, Moses , Ezekiel etc) only as they needed them---in their moment of deepest crisis. If up to now , you only know God as a God of love .. you seriously need to read this book because God is so much more than love! His very nature is LOVE , but we should not neglect the fact that He is also our provider , our source of righteousness and our peace.
okie, here are a few names that we need to learn , ya ..
El Shaddai - God All-Powerful and All-Sufficient
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Who Sees and Who Provides (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord Our Banner
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
you need to read the book to find out more! Let us not limit our God by our own narrow thinking .. He is the God of 'how much more' .. Be transformed by the renewing of your minds! How do we renew our minds ? by allowing God's word to dwell in us (simple to say but difficult to put into practice..).
pls form a reading queue behind Pam for this wonderful book that'll help you to understand more of God's character . I love the way it points me back to the bible to look at the passages which I've read a few times but the essence of them didn't quite sink in. This book will help you look at the Old Testament with new eyes . Cool !
The original 'unknown' god of China
An Ancient pictogram script points to the Bible
by Ethel Nelson
Mystery concerns the 450-year-old Temple of Heaven complex in Beijing, China. Why did the emperors sacrifice a bull on the great white marble Altar of Heaven at an annual ceremony, the year's most important and colourful celebration, the so-called 'Border Sacrifice'? This rite ended in 1911 when the last emperor was deposed. However, the sacrifice did not begin a mere 450 years ago. The ceremony goes back 4,000 years. One of the earliest accounts of the Border Sacrifice is found in the Shu Jing (Book of History), compiled by Confucius, where it is recorded of Emperor Shun (who ruled from about 2256 BC to 2205 BC when the first recorded dynasty began) that 'he sacrificed to ShangDi.' 1
Who is ShangDi? This name literally means 'the Heavenly Ruler.' By reviewing recitations used at the Border Sacrifice, recorded in the Statutes of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368), one may begin to understand the ancient Chinese reverence for ShangDi. Participating in this rite, the emperor first meditated at the Temple of Heaven (the Imperial Vault), while costumed singers, accompanied by musicians, intoned:
'To Thee, O mysteriously-working Maker, I look up in thought. ... With the great ceremonies I reverently honor Thee. Thy servant, I am but a reed or willow; my heart is but that of an ant; yet have I received Thy favouring decree, appointing me to the government of the empire. I deeply cherish a sense of my ignorance and blindness, and am afraid, lest I prove unworthy of Thy great favours. Therefore will I observe all the rules and statutes, striving, insignificant as I am, to discharge my loyal duty. Far distant here, I look up to Thy heavenly palace. Come in Thy precious chariot to the altar. Thy servant, I bow my head to the earth reverently, expecting Thine abundant grace. ... O that Thou wouldest vouchsafe to accept our offerings, and regard us, while thus we worship Thee, whose goodness is inexhaustible!'2
Thus we find the emperor worshipping ShangDi. Can we possible trace the original intention of this magnificent ceremony of antiquity? As the emperor took part in this annual service dedicated to ShangDi, the following words were recited, clearly showing that he considered ShangDi the Creator of the world:
'Of old in the beginning, there was the great chaos, without form and dark. The five elements [planets] had not begun to revolve, nor the sun and moon to shine. You, O Spiritual Sovereign, first divided the grosser parts from the purer. You made heaven. You made earth. You made man. All things with their reproducing power got their being' 3
For the Christian, the above recitation sounds strangely familiar. How closely it reads to the opening chapter of the biblical Genesis! Note the similarity with excerpts from the more detailed story as recorded in the Hebrew writings:
'In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. ...
'And God said, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas. ...
'And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also. ...
'So God created man in His own image; ...' (Genesis 1:1-2, 9-10, 16, 27-28)
ShangDi, the Creator-God of the Chinese, surely appears to be one and the same as the Creator-God of the Hebrews. In fact, one of the Hebrew names for God is El Shaddai, which is phonetically similar to ShangDi. Even more similar is the Early Zhou pronunciation of ShangDi which is 'djanh-tigh' [Zhan-dai].4 Another name for their God which the ancient Chinese used interchangeable with ShangDi was Heaven (Tian). Zheng Xuan, a scholar of the early Han dynasty said, "ShangDi is another name for Heaven (Tian)".5 The great philosopher Motze (408-382 BC) also thought of Heaven (Tian) as the Creator-God:
'I know Heaven loves men dearly not without reason. Heaven ordered the sun, the moon, and the stars to enlighten and guide them. Heaven ordained the four seasons, Spring, Autumn, Winter, and Summer, to regulate them. Heaven sent down snow, frost, rain, and dew to grow the five grains and flax and silk so that the people could use and enjoy them. Heaven established the hills and river, ravines and valleys, and arranged many things to minister to man's good or bring him evil.' 6
How did ShangDi create all things? Here is one further recitation from the ancient Border Sacrifice rite:
'When Te [ShangDi], the Lord, had so decreed, He called into existence [originated] heaven, earth, and man. Between heaven and earth He separately placed in order men and things, all overspread by the heavens.' 7
Note that ShangDi 'called into existence,' or commanded heaven and earth to appear.
Compare this with the way the Hebrew text describes the method of creation by El Shaddai, who, we suspect, is identical with ShangDi, and the similarity in name and role would suggest:
'... by the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. ... For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast' (Psalm 33:6, 9).
We have not yet explained the reason for the emperors' bull sacrifice to ShangDi. Let us compare this Chinese sacrifice with the instruction given by God to the Hebrews:
'Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD' (Leviticus 9:2)-a practice which began in earliest times (Genesis 4:3,4; 8:20).
The origin of the Border Sacrifice would appear to be explained in the book, God's Promise to the Chinese.8 The authors, Nelson, Broadberry, and Chock have analyzed the most ancient forms of the pictographic Chinese writing and found the foundational truths of Christianity. In these ideograms, which date from before the time of Moses-we have the entire story of creation, the temptation, and fall of man into sin, and God's remedy for sin in the animal sacrifices, which pointed to the coming Savior, Jesus Christ. All the elements of the Genesis narrative are found recorded, and still in use, in the Chinese character-writing.
The associated box shows some startling realities about the written Chinese language, indicating that we are all related-and not so long ago. All people in the world, not just the Chinese, are descended from the inhabitants of Babel, the first civilization after the Flood. God first gave His promise of a coming saviour, the 'Seed of the Woman,' in Genesis (3:15). The foreshadowed sacrifice of the coming Lamb of God, Creator and Saviour, is as old as mankind.
Should a Chinese person tell you that Christianity is a 'foreigner's religion,' you can explain that the Chinese in antiquity worshipped the same God as Christians do today. Like the Hebrews often did, the ancestors of today's Chinese wandered off after false gods; the memory of who their original God was dimmed with time.9 The ancient Chinese script gives powerful evidence for the historical truth of Genesis.
by Ethel Nelson
Mystery concerns the 450-year-old Temple of Heaven complex in Beijing, China. Why did the emperors sacrifice a bull on the great white marble Altar of Heaven at an annual ceremony, the year's most important and colourful celebration, the so-called 'Border Sacrifice'? This rite ended in 1911 when the last emperor was deposed. However, the sacrifice did not begin a mere 450 years ago. The ceremony goes back 4,000 years. One of the earliest accounts of the Border Sacrifice is found in the Shu Jing (Book of History), compiled by Confucius, where it is recorded of Emperor Shun (who ruled from about 2256 BC to 2205 BC when the first recorded dynasty began) that 'he sacrificed to ShangDi.' 1
Who is ShangDi? This name literally means 'the Heavenly Ruler.' By reviewing recitations used at the Border Sacrifice, recorded in the Statutes of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368), one may begin to understand the ancient Chinese reverence for ShangDi. Participating in this rite, the emperor first meditated at the Temple of Heaven (the Imperial Vault), while costumed singers, accompanied by musicians, intoned:
'To Thee, O mysteriously-working Maker, I look up in thought. ... With the great ceremonies I reverently honor Thee. Thy servant, I am but a reed or willow; my heart is but that of an ant; yet have I received Thy favouring decree, appointing me to the government of the empire. I deeply cherish a sense of my ignorance and blindness, and am afraid, lest I prove unworthy of Thy great favours. Therefore will I observe all the rules and statutes, striving, insignificant as I am, to discharge my loyal duty. Far distant here, I look up to Thy heavenly palace. Come in Thy precious chariot to the altar. Thy servant, I bow my head to the earth reverently, expecting Thine abundant grace. ... O that Thou wouldest vouchsafe to accept our offerings, and regard us, while thus we worship Thee, whose goodness is inexhaustible!'2
Thus we find the emperor worshipping ShangDi. Can we possible trace the original intention of this magnificent ceremony of antiquity? As the emperor took part in this annual service dedicated to ShangDi, the following words were recited, clearly showing that he considered ShangDi the Creator of the world:
'Of old in the beginning, there was the great chaos, without form and dark. The five elements [planets] had not begun to revolve, nor the sun and moon to shine. You, O Spiritual Sovereign, first divided the grosser parts from the purer. You made heaven. You made earth. You made man. All things with their reproducing power got their being' 3
For the Christian, the above recitation sounds strangely familiar. How closely it reads to the opening chapter of the biblical Genesis! Note the similarity with excerpts from the more detailed story as recorded in the Hebrew writings:
'In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. ...
'And God said, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas. ...
'And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also. ...
'So God created man in His own image; ...' (Genesis 1:1-2, 9-10, 16, 27-28)
ShangDi, the Creator-God of the Chinese, surely appears to be one and the same as the Creator-God of the Hebrews. In fact, one of the Hebrew names for God is El Shaddai, which is phonetically similar to ShangDi. Even more similar is the Early Zhou pronunciation of ShangDi which is 'djanh-tigh' [Zhan-dai].4 Another name for their God which the ancient Chinese used interchangeable with ShangDi was Heaven (Tian). Zheng Xuan, a scholar of the early Han dynasty said, "ShangDi is another name for Heaven (Tian)".5 The great philosopher Motze (408-382 BC) also thought of Heaven (Tian) as the Creator-God:
'I know Heaven loves men dearly not without reason. Heaven ordered the sun, the moon, and the stars to enlighten and guide them. Heaven ordained the four seasons, Spring, Autumn, Winter, and Summer, to regulate them. Heaven sent down snow, frost, rain, and dew to grow the five grains and flax and silk so that the people could use and enjoy them. Heaven established the hills and river, ravines and valleys, and arranged many things to minister to man's good or bring him evil.' 6
How did ShangDi create all things? Here is one further recitation from the ancient Border Sacrifice rite:
'When Te [ShangDi], the Lord, had so decreed, He called into existence [originated] heaven, earth, and man. Between heaven and earth He separately placed in order men and things, all overspread by the heavens.' 7
Note that ShangDi 'called into existence,' or commanded heaven and earth to appear.
Compare this with the way the Hebrew text describes the method of creation by El Shaddai, who, we suspect, is identical with ShangDi, and the similarity in name and role would suggest:
'... by the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. ... For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast' (Psalm 33:6, 9).
We have not yet explained the reason for the emperors' bull sacrifice to ShangDi. Let us compare this Chinese sacrifice with the instruction given by God to the Hebrews:
'Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD' (Leviticus 9:2)-a practice which began in earliest times (Genesis 4:3,4; 8:20).
The origin of the Border Sacrifice would appear to be explained in the book, God's Promise to the Chinese.8 The authors, Nelson, Broadberry, and Chock have analyzed the most ancient forms of the pictographic Chinese writing and found the foundational truths of Christianity. In these ideograms, which date from before the time of Moses-we have the entire story of creation, the temptation, and fall of man into sin, and God's remedy for sin in the animal sacrifices, which pointed to the coming Savior, Jesus Christ. All the elements of the Genesis narrative are found recorded, and still in use, in the Chinese character-writing.
The associated box shows some startling realities about the written Chinese language, indicating that we are all related-and not so long ago. All people in the world, not just the Chinese, are descended from the inhabitants of Babel, the first civilization after the Flood. God first gave His promise of a coming saviour, the 'Seed of the Woman,' in Genesis (3:15). The foreshadowed sacrifice of the coming Lamb of God, Creator and Saviour, is as old as mankind.
Should a Chinese person tell you that Christianity is a 'foreigner's religion,' you can explain that the Chinese in antiquity worshipped the same God as Christians do today. Like the Hebrews often did, the ancestors of today's Chinese wandered off after false gods; the memory of who their original God was dimmed with time.9 The ancient Chinese script gives powerful evidence for the historical truth of Genesis.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
My turn My turn!
I Will Run To You
Darlene Zschech
Your eye is on the sparrow
And Your hand, it comforts me
From the ends of the earth
To the depths of my heart
Let Your mercy and strength be seen
You call me to Your purpose
As angels understand
For Your glory may you draw all men
As Your love and grace demands
And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
Till I see Your face
Oh, let me live in the glory of Your grace
Haha, i didn't expect MC to put up a song tonight too, what a 'coincidence'. But yeah i was listening to online radio on www.allworship.com and this song tugged at my heart. I was feeling pretty low cos i lost some work i was doing on a lab report, and He reminded me He is IN CHARGE and i can be rest assured.
Sometimes when i wake up feeling not rested/dont wanna face the day/grey skies, His love gives me hope and strength to face each new day. May it be the same for all of you too :)
Study hard! Jia you!
Darlene Zschech
Your eye is on the sparrow
And Your hand, it comforts me
From the ends of the earth
To the depths of my heart
Let Your mercy and strength be seen
You call me to Your purpose
As angels understand
For Your glory may you draw all men
As Your love and grace demands
And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
Till I see Your face
Oh, let me live in the glory of Your grace
Haha, i didn't expect MC to put up a song tonight too, what a 'coincidence'. But yeah i was listening to online radio on www.allworship.com and this song tugged at my heart. I was feeling pretty low cos i lost some work i was doing on a lab report, and He reminded me He is IN CHARGE and i can be rest assured.
Sometimes when i wake up feeling not rested/dont wanna face the day/grey skies, His love gives me hope and strength to face each new day. May it be the same for all of you too :)
Study hard! Jia you!
Friday, April 21, 2006
Getting our Priorities Straight
I'm sure this article from www.crosswalk.com would apply to all of us... i pray God would teach us how to be good stewards of our time. i'm learning too...
Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)
Devotion:
We've all heard advice for bringing order to our lives. Organizing experts write articles every month in women's magazines. Time management tips abound. We long for help to bring balance into our lives. Why? Because we know that an off-balance life hinders our effectiveness in almost every area of our lives.
At the core of an out-of-balance life, is one with priorities that are not in alignment with God's priorities for us. A life with priorities out of God's order is like driving a tire with a bald spot, or a car that's out of alignment. The car may keep running, but that one area out of alignment affects all other areas. And has the potential to do serious damage if not addressed and repaired.
My husband recently became a long-distance runner. Two years ago he started training for his first marathon, and has since run three. But he had a problem with his foot. After every run, short or long, his foot would hurt horribly. Icing his foot and ibuprofen became a standard part of his training regimen.
This went on for over a year, as my husband tolerated the pain. But then his knee started hurting ... and then his hip started hurting. So after 18 months of pain he finally went to the doctor.
A few x-rays showed his knee and hip looked healthy, but his foot looked broken. A referral to a specialist proved he actually had tendonitis. He was fitted for orthotics and now runs pain free.
The problem wasn't his knee or his hip; it was his foot. Because he favored his foot, it threw his knee and hip out of alignment. This is a picture of woman's life with priorities out of God's alignment. It throws the rest of her life out of balance.
A balanced life starts with being clear on the things that should take top priority in our lives. Then, the time we give to those items should reflect their importance. When we don't live a prioritized life, we can easily succumb to the tyranny of the urgent. However, when our priorities are ordered with God first, we can see more clearly.
Aligning our will with God's will takes time in prayer and a heart that is radically committed to following wherever God leads. Romans 12:2 shows that it is possible to know God's priorities for our life: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."
My Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, You are the Author of a balanced life. Thank You for sending Jesus to bring meaning to my life and to model a life that's lived with godly priorities. Help me make the right choices and to seek Your will in all I do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Identify one area of your life that is time consuming, but low on your priority list. Commit this area of your life to God and ask for His direction.
Reflection Points:
According to Romans 12:2, how can we know the will of God?
Read Matthew 7:21 (below). What are some other ways we can know the will of God for our lives?
Read John 6:35-40. Jesus is clear about the will of God in this passage. What is it according to verse 40?
What are some priorities in your life that you have been neglecting?
Is there activity or responsibility in your life that needs to be pruned, in order for your life to be healthier?
Power Verses:
Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (NIV)
Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (NIV)
John 6:38, "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." (NIV)
Hebrews 10:5-7, "Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am-it is written about me in the scroll- I have come to do your will, O God.'" (NIV)
Ephesians 5:15-17, "Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." (NIV)
Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)
Devotion:
We've all heard advice for bringing order to our lives. Organizing experts write articles every month in women's magazines. Time management tips abound. We long for help to bring balance into our lives. Why? Because we know that an off-balance life hinders our effectiveness in almost every area of our lives.
At the core of an out-of-balance life, is one with priorities that are not in alignment with God's priorities for us. A life with priorities out of God's order is like driving a tire with a bald spot, or a car that's out of alignment. The car may keep running, but that one area out of alignment affects all other areas. And has the potential to do serious damage if not addressed and repaired.
My husband recently became a long-distance runner. Two years ago he started training for his first marathon, and has since run three. But he had a problem with his foot. After every run, short or long, his foot would hurt horribly. Icing his foot and ibuprofen became a standard part of his training regimen.
This went on for over a year, as my husband tolerated the pain. But then his knee started hurting ... and then his hip started hurting. So after 18 months of pain he finally went to the doctor.
A few x-rays showed his knee and hip looked healthy, but his foot looked broken. A referral to a specialist proved he actually had tendonitis. He was fitted for orthotics and now runs pain free.
The problem wasn't his knee or his hip; it was his foot. Because he favored his foot, it threw his knee and hip out of alignment. This is a picture of woman's life with priorities out of God's alignment. It throws the rest of her life out of balance.
A balanced life starts with being clear on the things that should take top priority in our lives. Then, the time we give to those items should reflect their importance. When we don't live a prioritized life, we can easily succumb to the tyranny of the urgent. However, when our priorities are ordered with God first, we can see more clearly.
Aligning our will with God's will takes time in prayer and a heart that is radically committed to following wherever God leads. Romans 12:2 shows that it is possible to know God's priorities for our life: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."
My Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, You are the Author of a balanced life. Thank You for sending Jesus to bring meaning to my life and to model a life that's lived with godly priorities. Help me make the right choices and to seek Your will in all I do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Identify one area of your life that is time consuming, but low on your priority list. Commit this area of your life to God and ask for His direction.
Reflection Points:
According to Romans 12:2, how can we know the will of God?
Read Matthew 7:21 (below). What are some other ways we can know the will of God for our lives?
Read John 6:35-40. Jesus is clear about the will of God in this passage. What is it according to verse 40?
What are some priorities in your life that you have been neglecting?
Is there activity or responsibility in your life that needs to be pruned, in order for your life to be healthier?
Power Verses:
Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (NIV)
Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (NIV)
John 6:38, "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." (NIV)
Hebrews 10:5-7, "Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am-it is written about me in the scroll- I have come to do your will, O God.'" (NIV)
Ephesians 5:15-17, "Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." (NIV)
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Lyrics from the heart
Check out Nicole Nordeman's song, Small Enough..
Oh, GREAT GOD,
BE SMALL ENOUGH TO HEAR ME NOW
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I WAS CRYING
FROM THE DARK OF DANIEL'S DEN
AND I HAVE ASKED YOU ONCE OR TWICE
IF YOU WOULD PART THE SEA AGAIN
BUT TONIGHT I DO NOT NEED A FIERY PILLAR IN THE SKY
JUST WANNA KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HOLD ME IF I START TO CRY
OH, GREAT GOD,
BE SMALL ENOUGH TO HEAR ME NOW
OH, GREAT GOD,
BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO FEEL YOU NOW
THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS WHEN I COULD NOT
FACE GOLIATH ON MY OWN
AND HOW COULD I FORGET WE'VE MARCHED AROUND
OUR SHARE OF JERICHOS
BUT I WILL NOT BE SETTING OUT A FLEECE FOR YOU TONIGHT
JUST WANNA KNOW THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT
OH GREAT GOD,
BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO FEEL YOU NOW
ALL PRAISE AND ALL HONOR BE
TO THE GOD OF ANCIENT MYSTERIES
WHOSE EVERY SIGN AND WONDER TURN THE PAGES OF OUR HISTORY
BUT TONIGHT MY HEART IS HEAVY
AND I CANNOT KEEP FROM WHISPERING THIS PRAYER
"ARE YOU THERE?"
AND I KNOW YOU COULD LEAVE WRITING ON THE WALL
THATS JUST FOR ME
OR SEND WISDOM WHILE I'M SLEEPING,
LIKE IN SOLOMAN'S SWEET DREAMS
BUT I DON'T NEED THE STRENGTH OF SAMSON
OR A CHARIOT IN THE END
JUST WANT TO KNOW
THAT YOU STILL KNOW HOW MANY HAIRS
ARE ON MY HEAD
OH GREAT GOD,
BE SMALL ENOUGH TO HEAR ME NOW
This song got me thinking ... sometimes , we have this idea that God is soooo mighty that perhaps He wont have time to care about the tiny details in our lives but God does really care about the little little stuffs that we care about . If He cares enough to count the number of hair that we have (i have tons of hair .. muahaha) , I'm sure He cares about every single detail in our lives .. Amen to Jesus!
Oh, GREAT GOD,
BE SMALL ENOUGH TO HEAR ME NOW
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I WAS CRYING
FROM THE DARK OF DANIEL'S DEN
AND I HAVE ASKED YOU ONCE OR TWICE
IF YOU WOULD PART THE SEA AGAIN
BUT TONIGHT I DO NOT NEED A FIERY PILLAR IN THE SKY
JUST WANNA KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HOLD ME IF I START TO CRY
OH, GREAT GOD,
BE SMALL ENOUGH TO HEAR ME NOW
OH, GREAT GOD,
BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO FEEL YOU NOW
THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS WHEN I COULD NOT
FACE GOLIATH ON MY OWN
AND HOW COULD I FORGET WE'VE MARCHED AROUND
OUR SHARE OF JERICHOS
BUT I WILL NOT BE SETTING OUT A FLEECE FOR YOU TONIGHT
JUST WANNA KNOW THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT
OH GREAT GOD,
BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO FEEL YOU NOW
ALL PRAISE AND ALL HONOR BE
TO THE GOD OF ANCIENT MYSTERIES
WHOSE EVERY SIGN AND WONDER TURN THE PAGES OF OUR HISTORY
BUT TONIGHT MY HEART IS HEAVY
AND I CANNOT KEEP FROM WHISPERING THIS PRAYER
"ARE YOU THERE?"
AND I KNOW YOU COULD LEAVE WRITING ON THE WALL
THATS JUST FOR ME
OR SEND WISDOM WHILE I'M SLEEPING,
LIKE IN SOLOMAN'S SWEET DREAMS
BUT I DON'T NEED THE STRENGTH OF SAMSON
OR A CHARIOT IN THE END
JUST WANT TO KNOW
THAT YOU STILL KNOW HOW MANY HAIRS
ARE ON MY HEAD
OH GREAT GOD,
BE SMALL ENOUGH TO HEAR ME NOW
This song got me thinking ... sometimes , we have this idea that God is soooo mighty that perhaps He wont have time to care about the tiny details in our lives but God does really care about the little little stuffs that we care about . If He cares enough to count the number of hair that we have (i have tons of hair .. muahaha) , I'm sure He cares about every single detail in our lives .. Amen to Jesus!
Monday, April 17, 2006
Refreshed, renewed, rejoyce!
Heh..this is going to be a bit funny/weird, and this doesnt happen very often to me but no pai-sey business here...
Dear Brothers-and-sisters,
I have a new identity. My new name is Yan Shiang Chan. I was given the name by my heavenly father in Heaven and I am his daugher.
Besides that, I'm 21, date of birth 5th August 1984, single and available ;) heh
Dear Brothers-and-sisters,
I have a new identity. My new name is Yan Shiang Chan. I was given the name by my heavenly father in Heaven and I am his daugher.
Besides that, I'm 21, date of birth 5th August 1984, single and available ;) heh
GOD is AWESOME =)
Hi all!
I'm back from easter camp. Once again, God has exceeded my expectations.
The truths from His Word brought to life once again. Conviction. Purification. Challenge.
A Vietnamese friend from Nottingham accepted Christ on the second day. Praise the LORD!
There were quite a number of youths (below 20 of which I do not fall into the category anymore… bleh) there, felt a bit like the old days in ypm camps (yup, I do feel old and it does seem like quite a long time ago…) The youths in my sharing group really challenged and encouraged me – their child-like faith, their desire to know God, and just seeing how God has been working in their lives – really truly amazing. How God works in each individual, how He crafts each one of us so personally and intricately.
God taught me so many things… I simply can’t write all of them here. But it’s just amazing when God speaks, it’s been some time since I heard Him so clearly and personally…
And it’s not only me, He’s touched the lives of so many others too. I learnt the sheep hears the Master’s voice. And if I’m His sheep and He’s a living God, surely He speaks. Just that I don’t listen. Too many other voices in my head. But I believe we can all learn to discern the Shepard’s voice if we spend time with Him. Just like we can distinguish our loved one’s voices over the phone (without seeing him/her) or in the midst of a crowd, so we can discern God’s voice if we know Him as we’re known by Him.
Hmm. Perhaps I’ll share one thing that struck me most: Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 God really got me there. I’ve read this verse many times but it never really struck me until today. I thought faith came solely by praying or by plain assumption. But it comes by hearing, and how can we hear from God and have faith when we don’t spend time feeding on His word!!!
One of the speakers, Kenny Gan (www.kennygan.blogspot.com) really challenged and inspired me. His life testimony is just amazing. He was born into a Buddhist/Taoist family, his dad was abusive/womanizer/gangster, and his mom was an avid gambler. He started smoking at 5 and took to drugs at 13. He’s been in and out of prison umpteen times, been to many psychiatrists and deemed as ‘hopeless’. But when He was introduced to Jesus in a christian halfway house (smth like a drug rehabilitation centre), His life was completely changed by God. He’s served with Operation Mobilization on the Doulos for 17 years (a ‘christian ship’ that goes around the world training missionaries, youths, stopping at ports to preach the gospel, strengthen the churches there, etc) He met his wife whilst on the ship, been married for 20 years and have a daughter Deborah who is 18 years old. He’s now based in a local church in London, training and teaching, as well as going on mission trips as and when he can afford the time. There is so much more, but if I were to go on I’d probably not sleep. Heh. Simply amazing how God can turn a ‘hopeless’ person’s life to such an EXTRAORDINARY one! Indeed, what is impossible with man is possible with God. In the hands of God, everyone is a potential, not a problem.
Another lesson I learnt. Sometimes we think an ‘ok’ Christian life (i.e. going to church, reading the bible and praying as and when we are free) is the ‘norm’ and we get so influenced by people. But God has saved us for something so much higher than that!
I went asking God for life transformation. I believe now all along He has already done that work when I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. “17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:17-21
But I know full well I’m far from who He created me to be, but He is in the process of refining me now…
I never really understood what the resurrection meant. So often we focus on the cross (not that the cross or Jesus’ death is not important) but sometimes we only mourn and forget to rejoice in the Lord’s resurrection!
“4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” Romans 6:4-7
Changed lives are amazing. Guess that’s what really led me to choose to work in the prison in the future. And last summer God led me to meet more of such ‘kenny gans’. Heh. I know full well it’s not easy, I’m not idealistic, but I believe with all my heart God has a plan and purpose for me there. Because He has blessed me, so I can be a blessing to others as well. It’s really exciting when God uses you, not the way man uses man for his own benefit. But it’s an inexplicable feeling to be involved in GOD’s work. Such a privilege. It’s not easy, no, in fact, it involves much pain and sacrifice, but I believe it’s worth more than any other thing in the world if we truly know the LORD.
God put this song in my mind when i came back home today. It's been ages since i last remembered it. it's the prayer of my heart and i pray it'll be yours too...
I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk apart, I'll run the race
And I will never be the same again.
Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.
There are higher heights, there are deeper seas,
Whatever you need to do, Lord do in me.
The Glory of God fills my life,
And I will never be the same again.
I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I will run the race
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again
I'm back from easter camp. Once again, God has exceeded my expectations.
The truths from His Word brought to life once again. Conviction. Purification. Challenge.
A Vietnamese friend from Nottingham accepted Christ on the second day. Praise the LORD!
There were quite a number of youths (below 20 of which I do not fall into the category anymore… bleh) there, felt a bit like the old days in ypm camps (yup, I do feel old and it does seem like quite a long time ago…) The youths in my sharing group really challenged and encouraged me – their child-like faith, their desire to know God, and just seeing how God has been working in their lives – really truly amazing. How God works in each individual, how He crafts each one of us so personally and intricately.
God taught me so many things… I simply can’t write all of them here. But it’s just amazing when God speaks, it’s been some time since I heard Him so clearly and personally…
And it’s not only me, He’s touched the lives of so many others too. I learnt the sheep hears the Master’s voice. And if I’m His sheep and He’s a living God, surely He speaks. Just that I don’t listen. Too many other voices in my head. But I believe we can all learn to discern the Shepard’s voice if we spend time with Him. Just like we can distinguish our loved one’s voices over the phone (without seeing him/her) or in the midst of a crowd, so we can discern God’s voice if we know Him as we’re known by Him.
Hmm. Perhaps I’ll share one thing that struck me most: Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 God really got me there. I’ve read this verse many times but it never really struck me until today. I thought faith came solely by praying or by plain assumption. But it comes by hearing, and how can we hear from God and have faith when we don’t spend time feeding on His word!!!
One of the speakers, Kenny Gan (www.kennygan.blogspot.com) really challenged and inspired me. His life testimony is just amazing. He was born into a Buddhist/Taoist family, his dad was abusive/womanizer/gangster, and his mom was an avid gambler. He started smoking at 5 and took to drugs at 13. He’s been in and out of prison umpteen times, been to many psychiatrists and deemed as ‘hopeless’. But when He was introduced to Jesus in a christian halfway house (smth like a drug rehabilitation centre), His life was completely changed by God. He’s served with Operation Mobilization on the Doulos for 17 years (a ‘christian ship’ that goes around the world training missionaries, youths, stopping at ports to preach the gospel, strengthen the churches there, etc) He met his wife whilst on the ship, been married for 20 years and have a daughter Deborah who is 18 years old. He’s now based in a local church in London, training and teaching, as well as going on mission trips as and when he can afford the time. There is so much more, but if I were to go on I’d probably not sleep. Heh. Simply amazing how God can turn a ‘hopeless’ person’s life to such an EXTRAORDINARY one! Indeed, what is impossible with man is possible with God. In the hands of God, everyone is a potential, not a problem.
Another lesson I learnt. Sometimes we think an ‘ok’ Christian life (i.e. going to church, reading the bible and praying as and when we are free) is the ‘norm’ and we get so influenced by people. But God has saved us for something so much higher than that!
I went asking God for life transformation. I believe now all along He has already done that work when I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. “17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:17-21
But I know full well I’m far from who He created me to be, but He is in the process of refining me now…
I never really understood what the resurrection meant. So often we focus on the cross (not that the cross or Jesus’ death is not important) but sometimes we only mourn and forget to rejoice in the Lord’s resurrection!
“4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” Romans 6:4-7
Changed lives are amazing. Guess that’s what really led me to choose to work in the prison in the future. And last summer God led me to meet more of such ‘kenny gans’. Heh. I know full well it’s not easy, I’m not idealistic, but I believe with all my heart God has a plan and purpose for me there. Because He has blessed me, so I can be a blessing to others as well. It’s really exciting when God uses you, not the way man uses man for his own benefit. But it’s an inexplicable feeling to be involved in GOD’s work. Such a privilege. It’s not easy, no, in fact, it involves much pain and sacrifice, but I believe it’s worth more than any other thing in the world if we truly know the LORD.
God put this song in my mind when i came back home today. It's been ages since i last remembered it. it's the prayer of my heart and i pray it'll be yours too...
I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk apart, I'll run the race
And I will never be the same again.
Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.
There are higher heights, there are deeper seas,
Whatever you need to do, Lord do in me.
The Glory of God fills my life,
And I will never be the same again.
I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I will run the race
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again
Sunday, April 09, 2006
A song in my heart
Change my heart O Lord, Make it ever true
Change my heart O Lord, May I be like You
You are the potter, I am the clay
Hold me and mould me, This is what I pray
Change my heart O Lord, Make it ever true
Change my heart O Lord, May I be like You
Praise Him, Crysteen
Change my heart O Lord, May I be like You
You are the potter, I am the clay
Hold me and mould me, This is what I pray
Change my heart O Lord, Make it ever true
Change my heart O Lord, May I be like You
Praise Him, Crysteen
Thursday, April 06, 2006
A Prideful Heart
I think God wants me to learn a few lessons here. I as a human has a prideful heart. I know God wants me to be humble, to throw away my pridefulness. Yesterday, while reading the Cross of Christ, I realized how prideful my heart was. I was stricken with fear, but after praying and singing few hymns, my fearfulness lessened slightly.
Faced with this problem and nowhere to turn, I turned to Him. I placed all my hopes, faith and committed myself into His hands. Now this ordeal has been overcomed. Through this little ordeal, my faith in Him has grown stronger than before. Praise the Lord!
Faced with this problem and nowhere to turn, I turned to Him. I placed all my hopes, faith and committed myself into His hands. Now this ordeal has been overcomed. Through this little ordeal, my faith in Him has grown stronger than before. Praise the Lord!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Are you putting a smile on God's face ?
Praise the Lord for Mary's EXTRAordinary BS social.. I've heard all about it , the unfolding of events was extremely exciting ..i must say ! wow , indeed , how can a meeting among believers be ordinary when God is in our midst ? God is always at work !
I really thank God for Mary because she really has a tender heart for people. As a student, I'm always tempted to put my work above the needs of other people . Many times , I must admit that I must have grieved the Holy Spirit when I chose work over people. I've been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren for the past few weeks ... and the final few chapters really hit close to my heart. There's really nothing in this world that we can bring with us when we die except for the people that we've brought to Christ..so , the question is , are we investing our time in the correct place? Are we giving our all to what God loves the most ...PEOPLE ?
I would like to challenge anyone who's reading this with what I read in the book . Is anyone going be in heaven because you cared enough to share the Good News with him/her? Most of the time fear has been my main obstacle in evangelism . If we truly love our friends/family/housemates/coursemates , we should tell them about Jesus ! For our love for them ought to surpass the fear in our hearts.. "There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear " (1John 4:18)..
Let us continue to pray for a breakthrough in the lives of those closest to us .. people may refuse our love or reject our message but they are defenceless against our prayers (Rick Warren) .. that's our secret weapon *grins*...for we do not wage wars as the world does , neither do we fight with weapons of the world (2 Cor 10:3-4).
Whatever we do , let us do with the aim of pleasing God. I've been thinking a lot about reflecting the glory of God wherever we are and in whatever we do. And I do wonder about the way I live my daily life .. Do my housemates feel as though 'a little Christ' (=Christian) is living with them ? or does it seem more like the devil himself is staying in my room ? Do I behave, act and speak like a Christian when no one is there to hold me accountable ? Am I a 24-hour Christian or am I someone who puts on 'a false pretense of holiness' when I go out to meet my Christian friends ? Let us search our hearts and repent if we've been 'unreal' with ppl around us ... for God searches the hearts of all men . We can never hide our thoughts from Him...
Another weird post from me ! just voicing out some thoughts that were in my mind .. can you share your thoughts with me ? We'r all on the same journey , let us share with a sincere heart with no fear of condemnation from other fellow believers .. Now , that will be what I call a real travel companion !
-SL
I really thank God for Mary because she really has a tender heart for people. As a student, I'm always tempted to put my work above the needs of other people . Many times , I must admit that I must have grieved the Holy Spirit when I chose work over people. I've been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren for the past few weeks ... and the final few chapters really hit close to my heart. There's really nothing in this world that we can bring with us when we die except for the people that we've brought to Christ..so , the question is , are we investing our time in the correct place? Are we giving our all to what God loves the most ...PEOPLE ?
I would like to challenge anyone who's reading this with what I read in the book . Is anyone going be in heaven because you cared enough to share the Good News with him/her? Most of the time fear has been my main obstacle in evangelism . If we truly love our friends/family/housemates/coursemates , we should tell them about Jesus ! For our love for them ought to surpass the fear in our hearts.. "There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear " (1John 4:18)..
Let us continue to pray for a breakthrough in the lives of those closest to us .. people may refuse our love or reject our message but they are defenceless against our prayers (Rick Warren) .. that's our secret weapon *grins*...for we do not wage wars as the world does , neither do we fight with weapons of the world (2 Cor 10:3-4).
Whatever we do , let us do with the aim of pleasing God. I've been thinking a lot about reflecting the glory of God wherever we are and in whatever we do. And I do wonder about the way I live my daily life .. Do my housemates feel as though 'a little Christ' (=Christian) is living with them ? or does it seem more like the devil himself is staying in my room ? Do I behave, act and speak like a Christian when no one is there to hold me accountable ? Am I a 24-hour Christian or am I someone who puts on 'a false pretense of holiness' when I go out to meet my Christian friends ? Let us search our hearts and repent if we've been 'unreal' with ppl around us ... for God searches the hearts of all men . We can never hide our thoughts from Him...
Another weird post from me ! just voicing out some thoughts that were in my mind .. can you share your thoughts with me ? We'r all on the same journey , let us share with a sincere heart with no fear of condemnation from other fellow believers .. Now , that will be what I call a real travel companion !
-SL
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