Dear all,
it's been quite quiet here. It's been some time since i posted. Just felt God wanting to tell you all He loves you to bits! :) Here's a modified prayer from Colossians 1 for you...
I ask God to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your loves, and i ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honour and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, i pray you will learn to know God better and better.
I also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power soi that you will have the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with JOY, always THANKING the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light.
For He has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and He has brought us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with His blood and has forgiven all our sins.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
A beautiful song for our wonderful saviour
Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life
Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow
But for now I marvel at Your saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
-- "Once Again" by Matt Redman
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life
Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow
But for now I marvel at Your saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
-- "Once Again" by Matt Redman
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Soul Retreat
Dear friends,
We should all strive to be a blessing to others without expecting anything back because we have already been blessed abundantly by our Father-in-heaven. One important lesson I learn from my weekend retreat is to learn to put others before myself and make love the aim of my life without expectations. To love, not just nice people but also, to love unlovable people or people who are difficult to be with and not to give up on them because if I'd give up on them, I'd be giving up on God . We should all learn to ask God to change our attitude towards them and not to change them. I cannot change them but God is going to change them. I am only God's channel of change. There is always hope for anybody. No matter how fierce the battle is in-Crist, we will come out victorious because we are more than conquerors in Christ. Faith is the ultamate weapon and victory that overcomes fear, battle or death. As christians, we should follow Pauls attitude. Echo Pauls words: 'For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.'
Another thing I took back from the retreat is looking into the issue of prayer. As children of God, we dont talk to God only when we have issues. In fact, we should talk to our Father-in-heaven, even when there is no issue and this is a test of faith. God wants to know that when He is quiet, will you still look to him and is he still the Lord of your life when He is silent. God is just sitting at a distant looking at you and keeping quiet. He is watching you to see how you react. We should take this time of silence to find rest in the Lord and just enjoy his presence because God is still God even when he is silent. Take time to read His words becasue this is the time He is sowing his seeds in our hearts so that, when we face trials and suffering, we will be equipped and ready for the battle using His armour and words. The devil knows the bible even better than us. Remember when satan tempted Jesus in the desert. Beware of that! so we have to know the scripture on top of our heads and quickly use them during trials and tempataions so we can outdo the devil and be smarter than them quickly. There is no time to turn to your bible already, we need to know Gods words on top of our head.
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your forehead. Deu 11:18
We should all strive to be a blessing to others without expecting anything back because we have already been blessed abundantly by our Father-in-heaven. One important lesson I learn from my weekend retreat is to learn to put others before myself and make love the aim of my life without expectations. To love, not just nice people but also, to love unlovable people or people who are difficult to be with and not to give up on them because if I'd give up on them, I'd be giving up on God . We should all learn to ask God to change our attitude towards them and not to change them. I cannot change them but God is going to change them. I am only God's channel of change. There is always hope for anybody. No matter how fierce the battle is in-Crist, we will come out victorious because we are more than conquerors in Christ. Faith is the ultamate weapon and victory that overcomes fear, battle or death. As christians, we should follow Pauls attitude. Echo Pauls words: 'For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.'
Another thing I took back from the retreat is looking into the issue of prayer. As children of God, we dont talk to God only when we have issues. In fact, we should talk to our Father-in-heaven, even when there is no issue and this is a test of faith. God wants to know that when He is quiet, will you still look to him and is he still the Lord of your life when He is silent. God is just sitting at a distant looking at you and keeping quiet. He is watching you to see how you react. We should take this time of silence to find rest in the Lord and just enjoy his presence because God is still God even when he is silent. Take time to read His words becasue this is the time He is sowing his seeds in our hearts so that, when we face trials and suffering, we will be equipped and ready for the battle using His armour and words. The devil knows the bible even better than us. Remember when satan tempted Jesus in the desert. Beware of that! so we have to know the scripture on top of our heads and quickly use them during trials and tempataions so we can outdo the devil and be smarter than them quickly. There is no time to turn to your bible already, we need to know Gods words on top of our head.
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your forehead. Deu 11:18
Monday, June 05, 2006
Inspired by Laksa!
In Dublin now, at my bro's place. I was inspired this morning after having a bowl of laksa..hehe..
God spoke to me clearly yesterday through a book I was reading - Searching Issues on tackling seven common objections to the Christian faith namely suffering, other religions, sex before marriage, the new age, homosexuality, science and christianity and trinity. I'm only now on my first chapter on suffering and I'm slowly taking it in bit by bit, indulging in it =P
God reminded me to once again put my trust in Him and not to worry during difficult times. Especially times when we know that human understanding and ability is limited and we have only God to turn to and trust faithfully that he has great plans for us. For God often uses suffering to bring about his good purpose. Paul tells us that 'in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28)
I am just going to share a quick extract from the book which hit me personally.
Suffering, we see an example of this in the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). He suffered from rejection by his close family, was separated from those he loved and forcibly removed to Egypt, away from his father whom he did not see again for twenty years. In Egypt, he was unjustly imprisoned for a crime that he did not commit. For thriteen years he faced trials, temptations and testing until at the age of thirty he was made ruler over Egypt and was put in a position to save the lives of not only his family, but also of all God's people. Towards the end of his life he was able to speak of his suffering to his brothers, saying, 'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accompolish what is now being done, the saving of many lives' (Genesis 50:20)
I personally believe that whatever suffering or confusion I have at this time or that I may not always see at this time what God is doing or just like Joseph, who whould not have been able to see it so cearly God's wonderful plan for him, I am convinced God has good plans for me. Often we cannot work out what is going on or why we are suffering in the way we are, but....remember
God says, for I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29 :11
Another short testimony fronm a little boy in the book...
Gavin Reid, the Bishop of Maidstone, interviewed a boy who shattered his back falling down the stairs at the age of one and who had consequently been in and out of hospital. When Gavin interviewed him in church the boy remarked that 'GOD IS FAIR.'
Gavin stopped him and asked, ' How old are you?'
The boy replied, 'Seventeen'
'How many years have you spent in hospital?'
The boy answered, 'Thirteen years.'
He was asked,'Do you think this is fair?'
He replied, 'God's got ALL of eternity to make it up to me.'
God has indeed all eternity to make it up to us. Thank you Jesus for pardoning my sins and comforting my heart. Because you first love me and because of you, I'm free. Amen.
God spoke to me clearly yesterday through a book I was reading - Searching Issues on tackling seven common objections to the Christian faith namely suffering, other religions, sex before marriage, the new age, homosexuality, science and christianity and trinity. I'm only now on my first chapter on suffering and I'm slowly taking it in bit by bit, indulging in it =P
God reminded me to once again put my trust in Him and not to worry during difficult times. Especially times when we know that human understanding and ability is limited and we have only God to turn to and trust faithfully that he has great plans for us. For God often uses suffering to bring about his good purpose. Paul tells us that 'in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28)
I am just going to share a quick extract from the book which hit me personally.
Suffering, we see an example of this in the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). He suffered from rejection by his close family, was separated from those he loved and forcibly removed to Egypt, away from his father whom he did not see again for twenty years. In Egypt, he was unjustly imprisoned for a crime that he did not commit. For thriteen years he faced trials, temptations and testing until at the age of thirty he was made ruler over Egypt and was put in a position to save the lives of not only his family, but also of all God's people. Towards the end of his life he was able to speak of his suffering to his brothers, saying, 'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accompolish what is now being done, the saving of many lives' (Genesis 50:20)
I personally believe that whatever suffering or confusion I have at this time or that I may not always see at this time what God is doing or just like Joseph, who whould not have been able to see it so cearly God's wonderful plan for him, I am convinced God has good plans for me. Often we cannot work out what is going on or why we are suffering in the way we are, but....remember
God says, for I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29 :11
Another short testimony fronm a little boy in the book...
Gavin Reid, the Bishop of Maidstone, interviewed a boy who shattered his back falling down the stairs at the age of one and who had consequently been in and out of hospital. When Gavin interviewed him in church the boy remarked that 'GOD IS FAIR.'
Gavin stopped him and asked, ' How old are you?'
The boy replied, 'Seventeen'
'How many years have you spent in hospital?'
The boy answered, 'Thirteen years.'
He was asked,'Do you think this is fair?'
He replied, 'God's got ALL of eternity to make it up to me.'
God has indeed all eternity to make it up to us. Thank you Jesus for pardoning my sins and comforting my heart. Because you first love me and because of you, I'm free. Amen.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
My wonderful day!
Actually, I never knew that I'd be crying last night. Cried so hard to God like a big baby! I remembered during exams I asked God to make me cry cause I was feeling so stressed out that I need to release my feelings but God didn't want me to cry becaue I already have Him and salvation.
The reason I cried last night was because I missed home. I missed being taken care of by my mom. I guess it's because after I came back from MEC I have extra special caring concern for all my friends and last night it just struck me that I'm tired and I want sometone to take care of me instead. I told God that I know he is taking care of me and he loves me but I am only human and I also want someone physically helping me. I thought about how I am taking care of my mom and giving her advice on how to be strong and not let other people bully her. Then about how I have to now take care of myself and mom cannot be with me all the time. I cried out to God so badly about how hard it is to be growing up. But God comforted me as always.
I woke up this morning praising God for the good relationships my brothers and I share, together with mom as well. God had patched up the holes between us. Wow, it's so wonderful! I am eager to experience and see what else God has install for my family. May His will be done. Amen!
Landlord came today and we had a big argument, discussion and finally, an agreement. As I reflect on it, I would have cried during these kind of situation. But God kept me calm and organised my explanations to the landlord. I could felt God's holy spirit in me, telling me what to say and keeping me cool and calm without crying. Finally, it was all good. We managed to achieve mutual understanding. God is Good ALL THE TIME!
Bible discussion about TRINITY was really interesting and good. God has blessed Thorsten with a good teaching ability gift. I always enjoyed meetings with Thorsten because I always learn something new and interesting about the bible or about Jesus. Yeah, my mom ususally ask me if I'm ok. I always tell her that, Yeah, with God, everything is always good and ok.
I am off to Dublin to see my brother tomorrow and sushin will be coming with me too~! I am really excited and looking forward to meeting my brother again. I pray God will be the centre of our time together. Yay, can do some shopping toooo!!!
Pam, Ykit and Iwere to meet up after bible study for a walk by the lakeside. YKit came walking towards us with his stick. When he met us, he kept his stick by folding it into a shorter stick and put it behind his pocket.
Pam: What was that? Is that your drumstick?
(I think ykit heard wrongly and just replied with a quick yeah)
Pam: Oh U play the drum!
YKit: YEah, I do..sometimes
HOW DID A WALKING STICK BECOME A DRUMSTICK!!!!????? Anyway, see you guys soon! Have a blessed day and enjoy ur relationship with the Lord!
The reason I cried last night was because I missed home. I missed being taken care of by my mom. I guess it's because after I came back from MEC I have extra special caring concern for all my friends and last night it just struck me that I'm tired and I want sometone to take care of me instead. I told God that I know he is taking care of me and he loves me but I am only human and I also want someone physically helping me. I thought about how I am taking care of my mom and giving her advice on how to be strong and not let other people bully her. Then about how I have to now take care of myself and mom cannot be with me all the time. I cried out to God so badly about how hard it is to be growing up. But God comforted me as always.
I woke up this morning praising God for the good relationships my brothers and I share, together with mom as well. God had patched up the holes between us. Wow, it's so wonderful! I am eager to experience and see what else God has install for my family. May His will be done. Amen!
Landlord came today and we had a big argument, discussion and finally, an agreement. As I reflect on it, I would have cried during these kind of situation. But God kept me calm and organised my explanations to the landlord. I could felt God's holy spirit in me, telling me what to say and keeping me cool and calm without crying. Finally, it was all good. We managed to achieve mutual understanding. God is Good ALL THE TIME!
Bible discussion about TRINITY was really interesting and good. God has blessed Thorsten with a good teaching ability gift. I always enjoyed meetings with Thorsten because I always learn something new and interesting about the bible or about Jesus. Yeah, my mom ususally ask me if I'm ok. I always tell her that, Yeah, with God, everything is always good and ok.
I am off to Dublin to see my brother tomorrow and sushin will be coming with me too~! I am really excited and looking forward to meeting my brother again. I pray God will be the centre of our time together. Yay, can do some shopping toooo!!!
Pam, Ykit and Iwere to meet up after bible study for a walk by the lakeside. YKit came walking towards us with his stick. When he met us, he kept his stick by folding it into a shorter stick and put it behind his pocket.
Pam: What was that? Is that your drumstick?
(I think ykit heard wrongly and just replied with a quick yeah)
Pam: Oh U play the drum!
YKit: YEah, I do..sometimes
HOW DID A WALKING STICK BECOME A DRUMSTICK!!!!????? Anyway, see you guys soon! Have a blessed day and enjoy ur relationship with the Lord!
Queen Esther
"You have a destiny"
"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (v. 14)
For reading & meditation:
Esther 4:10-14
When Esther receives the message from Mordecai requesting her to meet urgently with the king and plead with him to repeal the edict authorizing the massacre of her people, she is at a loss to know how to proceed. Her response, as paraphrased in the Living Bible, was: "All the world knows that anyone — who goes into the king's inner court without his summons is doomed to die unless the king holds out his golden scepter; and the king has not called for me to come to him for more than a month." Mordecai replies in words that have become a spiritual classic: "If you keep quiet at a time like this, God will deliver the Jews from some other source, but you and your relatives will die; what's more, who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?" (vv. 11, 14). The appeal was perfect. Esther's spirit is quickened by the thought that God, in His perfect purposes, has prepared her for this very moment. You too are a person of destiny, and have come into God's kingdom for such a time as this. A young girl came home from a Christian youth camp and said excitedly: "Dad, they told me at camp I have a destiny." Later she said: "Dad, what's a destiny?" She had one but didn't quite know what it was. Many Christians are like that. They are here for a purpose but they don't know what it is. God has destined you to do something particular, and if you don't do it, then it just won't get done. My destiny is to write Every Day with Jesus. What's yours?
O Father, can it really be true that You have put me in Your kingdom to fulfil a purpose that is solely mine? I must believe it. Show me my destiny, dear Lord. Make it crystal clear to me I pray. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
by Selwyn Hughes.
* Esther is one of my favourite Old Testament books coz it's a historical record about a 'lengloi' who has a very special destiny. She's the queen that saved the Jews from Haman (the evil guy). Indeed, God did not create 'just another woman' when He made Esther. God had a purpose for her life. Just like Esther, each of us is special because God has a purpose for us in our lives that no one else can fulfil except us. Wherever you are at this moment, believe that God has put you there for a specific reason. Discover God's purpose for your life and start serving Him with your lives!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
poem
This is from God..not me ah..Yan Shiang cannot write poems :P
If you put others first before yourself,
While putting God above everything else,
If you do it from your heart's basement,
I guarantee it the BEST investment!
Bye!
If you put others first before yourself,
While putting God above everything else,
If you do it from your heart's basement,
I guarantee it the BEST investment!
Bye!
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Psalm 62- a Psalm of David
- My soul rests in God alone,
- from whom comes my salvation.
- God alone is my rock and salvation,
- my secure height; I shall never fall.
- How long will you set upon people,
- all of you beating them down,
- As though they were a sagging fence or a battered wall?
- Even from my place on high they plot to dislodge me.
- They delight in lies; they bless with their mouths,
- but inwardly they curse. Selah
- My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope.
- God alone is my rock and my salvation,
- my secure height; I shall not fall.
- My safety and glory are with God, my strong rock and refuge.
- Trust God at all times, my people!
- Pour out your hearts to God our refuge! Selah
- Mortals are a mere breath, the powerful but an illusion;
- On a balance they rise; together they are lighter than air.
- Do not trust in extortion; in plunder put no empty hope.
- Though wealth increase, do not set your heart upon it.
- One thing God has said;
- two things I have heard: Power belongs to God
- so too, Lord, does kindness,
- And you render to each of us according to our deeds.
I'm always extra encouraged when my brothers n sisters encourage me using God's words. Not that their own words are ineffective but God's word is alive and active , sharper than any double-edged sword , it is able to fathom what is in our hearts and give us the encouragement that we need. Let us make it a habit to speak God's words to each other !
Friday, May 26, 2006
Still Learning
Exams are over. I was relieved but feelings are mixed just like how I felt after I came back from MEC. I prayed, God revealed his promises, I praise and thank Him for being faithful but it's like, after exams, I'm less free from worries and burdens. There isn't much to depend God on???? What happened to the closeness, sweet relationship?? Or is it normal just to be calm? I'm am still learning. Continue to pray and continue to seek God in everything you do, Yan Shiang!
Have You Ever Been Alone with God? - Utmost for His Highest
His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Psalm 34
Hello friends!
Just want to share a Psalm with you all.
It is good to sing praises to the Lord! And to dwell in His presence and soak in His word. Have a rested Lord's day!
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Just want to share a Psalm with you all.
It is good to sing praises to the Lord! And to dwell in His presence and soak in His word. Have a rested Lord's day!
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Exam Fever
Dear friends,
even as most of us are facing the stress of revision and upcoming exams, let us keep close to our Father in heaven and keep our eyes on Him every day. Let us work hard and smart, but put our trust in HIM!
Keeping us in prayer,
Pam :)
BEFORE EXAMS
I AM WORRIED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT
"Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
I CANNOT CONCENTRATE DURING REVISION
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because He trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3
I CANNOT SLEEP PEACEFULLY NOWADAYS
"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me." Psalm 5
I AM PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FATIGUED
"...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
I AM TOO FAR BEHIND TO CATCH UP
"Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 43:5
DURING EXAMS
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS QUESTION IS ALL ABOUT!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
I AM TOO NERVOUS TO THINK PROPERLY
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
I DON'T HAVE WISDOM TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
"If any lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5
AFTER EXAMS
WHAT WILL MY RESULTS BE?
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
DOESN'T GOD CARE IF I FAIL?
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
even as most of us are facing the stress of revision and upcoming exams, let us keep close to our Father in heaven and keep our eyes on Him every day. Let us work hard and smart, but put our trust in HIM!
Keeping us in prayer,
Pam :)
BEFORE EXAMS
I AM WORRIED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT
"Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
I CANNOT CONCENTRATE DURING REVISION
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because He trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3
I CANNOT SLEEP PEACEFULLY NOWADAYS
"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me." Psalm 5
I AM PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FATIGUED
"...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
I AM TOO FAR BEHIND TO CATCH UP
"Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 43:5
DURING EXAMS
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS QUESTION IS ALL ABOUT!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
I AM TOO NERVOUS TO THINK PROPERLY
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
I DON'T HAVE WISDOM TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
"If any lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5
AFTER EXAMS
WHAT WILL MY RESULTS BE?
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
DOESN'T GOD CARE IF I FAIL?
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Revolutionary Thinking - George Barna
I am a sinner, broken by my disobedience but restored by Jesus Christ in order to participate in good works that please God. I am not perfect; but Jesus Christ makes me righteous in God's eyes, and the Holy Spirit leads me toward greater holiness.
God created me for His purposes. My desire as a Revolutionary is to fulfill those ends, and those ends alone. When I get out of bed each day, I do so for one purpose: to love, obey, and serve God and His people.
God does not need me to fight His fight, but He invites me to allow Him to fight through me. It is my privilege to serve Him in that manner. I anticipate and will gladly endure various hardships as I serve God; for this is the price of participation in winning the spiritual war.
I do not need to save the world; Jesus Christ has already done that. I cannot transform the world, but I can allow God to use me to transform some part of it.
My commitment to the Revolution of faith is sealed by my complete surrender to God's ways and His will. I will gratefully do what He asks of me simply because He loves me enough to ask. I gain my security, success, and significance through my surrender to Him.
I am not called to attend or join a church. I am called to be the Church.
Worship is not an event I attend or a process I observe; it is the lifestyle I lead.
I do not give away 10 percent of my resources. I surrender 100 percent.
God has given me natural abilities and supernatural abilities, all intended to advance His kingdom. I will deploy those abilities for that purpose.
The proof of my status as a Revolutionary is the love I show to God and people.
There is strength in relationships; I am bound at a heart and soul level to other Revolutionaries, and I will bless believers whenever I have the chance.
To achieve victory in the spiritual war in which we are immersed, there is nothing I must accomplish; I must simply follow Christ with everything I have.
There is no greater calling than to know and serve God.
The world is desperately seeking meaning and purpose. I will respond to that need with the Good News and meaningful service.
Absolute moral and spiritual truth exists, is knowable, and is intended for my life; it is accessible through the Bible.
I want nothing more than to hear God say to me, Well done, my good and faithful servant.Thank you, Lord God, for loving me, for saving me, for refining me, for blessing me, and for including me in the work of your kingdom. My life is yours to use as you please. I love you.
God created me for His purposes. My desire as a Revolutionary is to fulfill those ends, and those ends alone. When I get out of bed each day, I do so for one purpose: to love, obey, and serve God and His people.
God does not need me to fight His fight, but He invites me to allow Him to fight through me. It is my privilege to serve Him in that manner. I anticipate and will gladly endure various hardships as I serve God; for this is the price of participation in winning the spiritual war.
I do not need to save the world; Jesus Christ has already done that. I cannot transform the world, but I can allow God to use me to transform some part of it.
My commitment to the Revolution of faith is sealed by my complete surrender to God's ways and His will. I will gratefully do what He asks of me simply because He loves me enough to ask. I gain my security, success, and significance through my surrender to Him.
I am not called to attend or join a church. I am called to be the Church.
Worship is not an event I attend or a process I observe; it is the lifestyle I lead.
I do not give away 10 percent of my resources. I surrender 100 percent.
God has given me natural abilities and supernatural abilities, all intended to advance His kingdom. I will deploy those abilities for that purpose.
The proof of my status as a Revolutionary is the love I show to God and people.
There is strength in relationships; I am bound at a heart and soul level to other Revolutionaries, and I will bless believers whenever I have the chance.
To achieve victory in the spiritual war in which we are immersed, there is nothing I must accomplish; I must simply follow Christ with everything I have.
There is no greater calling than to know and serve God.
The world is desperately seeking meaning and purpose. I will respond to that need with the Good News and meaningful service.
Absolute moral and spiritual truth exists, is knowable, and is intended for my life; it is accessible through the Bible.
I want nothing more than to hear God say to me, Well done, my good and faithful servant.Thank you, Lord God, for loving me, for saving me, for refining me, for blessing me, and for including me in the work of your kingdom. My life is yours to use as you please. I love you.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Da Jesus Code [Way, Truth, Life]
Living by the Jesus Code requires recognition that weare battling another re-ification of Gnosticism in thisage. Gnostics believe that all the secrets of God are inthe mind or appeared in an immaterial identity and thatpossession of knowledge was the only requirement forsalvation. The Gnostics also separate matter fromthought and did not attribute humanity to Jesus Christbecause they considered material things to be evil.They taught that he body of Christ appeared to be mate-rial but in reality it was spiritual. The Gnostics ignoredor diminished the significance of the ministry, deathand resurrection of Jesus as not being real but simply apparent.
It's easy to believe the Da Vinci Code and the Gospel ofJudas with its Gnostic influence. It doesn't require aleap of faith or an inherent desire to seek REAL ABSO-LUTE TRUTH. Let me suggest that it's harder to Believeand Live the Da Jesus Code for the following reasons:
[C]hrist-God – We need to believe that "in Christ"all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form(Colossians 2:9). Jesus was truly God in the flesh.
(John 1:14, Col 1:19)
[C]hrist-Centred - We need to recognise that TrueSpirituality is not achieved by our self-centredefforts to control one's passions, but setting one'sheart on Christ.
(Col 3:1-3)
[C]ancelled Written Code – We need to acknowl-edge our sinfulness. Our certificate of in-debtness in our own handwriting has been cancelled by God (Col 2:13-14). He has forgiven us and nailed it to the cross.
[C]onquered Evil – We live victorious lives. Christ hasconquered and disarmed evil powers and authori-ties. He has triumphed over evil. (Col 2:15)
[C]ircumcised Heart – We belong to God once wemake a covenant with Him that it is Him only weserve. We would consecrate ourselves, our children and allwe possessed. (Romans 2:25-29, Dt 30:6, Gen 17:10)
[C]ontrolled by Holy Spirit – We need to die to whatbinds us as we have been redeemed by the Lord sothat we can serve in the way of the Spirit. We are no longercondemned by the Law, we need to live by faith. (Romans2:29, 4:9-14).
[C]ross-Shaped Life – We must confess that Christ isGod (Luke 9:18-27), deny ourselves and take upour cross daily to follow Jesus. We must like Apostle Peter who denied Christ, denied self, confessed Christ, tasteddeath by being crucified upside down and saw the Kingdom of God. (John 21:18-19)
Living by the Da Jesus Code takes courage to die to oneself and let God take control. Until you offer your life to God, youcan't bring life to the Lost. To have the passion of Jesus toredeem the world, you need to die like Jesus. Without Jesusthere will be no Missions, without Your Death the Lost willDie. Are you ready to Live by the Da Jesus Code?
John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truthand the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It's easy to believe the Da Vinci Code and the Gospel ofJudas with its Gnostic influence. It doesn't require aleap of faith or an inherent desire to seek REAL ABSO-LUTE TRUTH. Let me suggest that it's harder to Believeand Live the Da Jesus Code for the following reasons:
[C]hrist-God – We need to believe that "in Christ"all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form(Colossians 2:9). Jesus was truly God in the flesh.
(John 1:14, Col 1:19)
[C]hrist-Centred - We need to recognise that TrueSpirituality is not achieved by our self-centredefforts to control one's passions, but setting one'sheart on Christ.
(Col 3:1-3)
[C]ancelled Written Code – We need to acknowl-edge our sinfulness. Our certificate of in-debtness in our own handwriting has been cancelled by God (Col 2:13-14). He has forgiven us and nailed it to the cross.
[C]onquered Evil – We live victorious lives. Christ hasconquered and disarmed evil powers and authori-ties. He has triumphed over evil. (Col 2:15)
[C]ircumcised Heart – We belong to God once wemake a covenant with Him that it is Him only weserve. We would consecrate ourselves, our children and allwe possessed. (Romans 2:25-29, Dt 30:6, Gen 17:10)
[C]ontrolled by Holy Spirit – We need to die to whatbinds us as we have been redeemed by the Lord sothat we can serve in the way of the Spirit. We are no longercondemned by the Law, we need to live by faith. (Romans2:29, 4:9-14).
[C]ross-Shaped Life – We must confess that Christ isGod (Luke 9:18-27), deny ourselves and take upour cross daily to follow Jesus. We must like Apostle Peter who denied Christ, denied self, confessed Christ, tasteddeath by being crucified upside down and saw the Kingdom of God. (John 21:18-19)
Living by the Da Jesus Code takes courage to die to oneself and let God take control. Until you offer your life to God, youcan't bring life to the Lost. To have the passion of Jesus toredeem the world, you need to die like Jesus. Without Jesusthere will be no Missions, without Your Death the Lost willDie. Are you ready to Live by the Da Jesus Code?
John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truthand the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
THE WEB (OF DECEPTION) TIGHTENS -- WE MUST ARISE
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.
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.
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)