Dear...
'The he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.'
1 Peter 4:2
Vilified bankers might be a phenomenon of these past two decades, but trashing journalists for sensatiionalization and distortion of news is not new. But then, the same could be said for many other professions, be it predatory lawyers in the Western world, Shylock businessmen globally and conniving and shifting politicians backed by bloodthirsty military men. And not forgetting doctors many of whom have forgotten their Hippocratic Oath, in their determination to treat you as a cashcow.
For most of us, our lives need not be so glamorous, if that is how the increasingly warped world begin to take villains for their role models, but have our lives till this moment been ideal, at least in our eyes?
'But the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.'
1 Peter 4:7
I dare attest that since the Spirit of God fell upon me that Bangkok night, I have been a fairly diligent teetotaller as far as deliberate sins are concerned, though being imperfect, like the occasional drink, I do have a little foretaste of tempting sinful behavior, but by the grace of God, have managed to spit it out before it has a chance to encapsulate me fully. Life has indeed been wonderful for God is now my focus these past 9 years.
'Will Thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, Thou art the guide of my youth?'
Jeremiah 3;4
But would life have been even more wonderful if I had started with the Lord right at the beginning of my formative years. Would a godly human father have made a difference in my earlier wretched life? For if so, then I could have published a 1000 page book instead of my maiden 52 page book.
This was the thought that resonated in my heart yesterday. We, ie some of us on the mail-list were at a fathers' prayer retreat and were blessed by the honest sharing by two wonderful men of Christ. The keynote speaker spoke fondly of his wonderful father, who brought him up with love and the right values. My father was not that way, and that thought resonated within my heart as another dear brother shared about his father who only comes home to stay once a year, reason being his father had other interests of the heart. My father did come home often, but his coming back created more dread than love and life seems more peaceful then, whenever he wasn't home. Of course, i have now come to know that the reason for his absence and yet unsettling presence was again the same interest in affairs of the hearts outside the matrimonial home.
But that is now irrelevant, for God has transformed my father from a man of the world to a man who now seeks Him and God is good, in allowing not just healing in my family but time with my now aging parents.
'And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.'
Malachi 4:5
The food column in this Sunday's paper had the headliner "from bad boy to chef" and details the story of how this now fairly popular chef sobered up after an accident at age 16, and put to rest his past misdemeanors, to really work on his life.
Unlike this gentleman, i know for myself and I believe the same applies to my dear brother in Christ, that much as we have less than ideal role model fathers(though I believe such galivanting fathers are the norm rather than the exception in the '60s and '70s), we were pretty decent kids, who stayed decent, though at least for me, the moving from good person to believing in and following Jesus Christ as our Savior, came much later. But I did not stray
The same Sunday newspaper had another article, where writer just had a class reunion after 20 years. And he reminisces upon the fact the different paths each had taken, and would it have been different if they had taken a different route at every crossroad?
'As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.'
1 Peter 3:14
The past matters not. For God has shown that much as our fathers might have muddled through, God has already set the path for each and everyone of us. Diverse routes each of us might seem to have taken in life's journey, but the path will be the same for all, once you believe, irregardless of one's past and even present ciircumstances. But will you be willing to seek Him and respond to His leading, when His Spirit lifts the blindness in our hearts. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. It is He and not us who is the writer of the story of our life, but will you be willing to let go and let him, and instead strive to be the pen that God will use?
And what will be the story of your life from here on, once you truly seek to follow our Lord Jesus Christ? I know it will be a wonderful story of His grace and love and omnipresence instead of the past life of angst, strife and discontentment. And rest assured, that story that God is waiting to write for you is not fiction. It will not be a figment of one's imagination.
But it is more than your story. In those times when most of us do not have fathers who are truly men after the will of God, much as we count ourselves blessed to have come to know God, we will agree that God did send us helpers along our rock strewn paths. For we walk not alone, even in those nights that might have seemed brutally desolate.
'Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.'
Malachi 4:5
The end might not have come as I type this. It might not even come by the time the doomsday movie "2015" hits the screens. But clearly the end times are intensifying. The earth is shaking more, evil men and lustful men and women are increasingly coming to the mainstream of society. God is patient but He will not hold His hands forever.
I believe that time is short, and so unlike the blinded fathers of the prior generation, we the fathers of this generation has had the blindness in our hearts lifted that much earlier, for now is the time for us to live a life that will be exemplary of Christ-likeness, to turn our children and loved ones from the encroaching hands of evil, no different from the lustful men who stretched their hands to try to drag Lot's visitors to engage in unnatural lustful acts of disobedience.
'But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him. Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them....And (Lot) said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.'
Genesis 19:4-6
There will be two conclusions to the story of mankind. Which will you choose?
'Watch therefore, for ye know not what the hour your Lord doth come.'
Matthew 24:42
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(8th Nov 09)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sundaysnippets#5 Thankfulness (1 nov 09)
Dear...
TGIF is when most in the world thank God because it is Friday, and the party carries on into Saturday. Today is Sunday, for many, a sobering experience not just from a hangover from one too many dalliances on Sat night, but the realization that blue Monday is but a few hours away.
'Pray without ceasing.'
1 Thessalonians 4:17
On a wing and a prayer, that seems to be the attitude of most who believe that with a little luck and lots of personal effort, most wishes in life can be attained. God only comes into the picture when one's back is not just to the wall, but when one is overwhelmed.
Till up to this afternoon, I had smugly believed that I am not a transactional Christian, ie one who calls on God as and when He is needed, and other than that, He is send to the waiting room. As I prepared my accompanying email to the planned formal invitation to all of you to come join me and the children at the Chen Su Lan Methodist's Children Home for a time of thanksgiving on Nov 21st Saturday, one message I wanted to impress upon all was the cliche half full, half empty glass principle. How wrong I was in my understanding, but thank God for His patience and loving correction.
'Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.'
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
God is prescient. Early this week, He impressed upon me the thought "Thankfulness" and in response, I wrote a draft Reflections for the moment #42 Thankfulness and had planned to send it out this Monday. But man plans, God directs. And God is prescient because much as most might not think otherwise, I rarely read books other than the Bible. But just this afternoon, the Lord impressed upon me to read a book titled "Prison to praise" a small paperback book by Merlin Carothers,(http://www.merlincarothers.com) a reitired US army chaplain. This was a book a dear brother passed to me last Wednesday, and as is the norm, much as I am grateful for the many books fellow believers have passed to me, they tend to lie around, only to be read when I truly felt led and that could be months if not years later.
'Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.'
1 Thessalonians 4:19-23
Many of us who stay close to God often is misled into thinking that we understood every intent and will of God. And as of this Sunday afternoon, I was part of the guilty. In my planned sharing on Reflections #42, I wanted to highlight the need for us to always look at the half full glass of our lives and be thankful. And not to focus on the half empty portion instead. Foolish I am for I should know better, for just on Friday, I explained the meaning of contentment to a sister in Christ, and I got it right then, for contentment means "thankfulness in all situations."
And this means that we should thank God for our blessings(the half full glass) and also for our troubles or non fulfilled prayers(the empty half glass). The author, Merlin Carothers shared on the need to not just trust but to thank God in all situatiions, for truly a the half empty portion of the glass does not mean that God thinks we have suffice in the half full glass, but rather, God has His plans for us, and we must not just lose faith but be even more vigorous in our trust and obedience. "Quench not the Spirit"(1 Thessalonians 4:19)
'Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.'
1 Thessalonians 4:24
For most of today, I seem to have the onset of a bad throat and cough., and in my mind, I cannot affort to be sick. With this month of November being a holy month for me, meaning every Saturday startfing from last Sat will be a time of coming unto God's presence in corporate fellowship. And this will culminate on Nov 21st Sat with the Thanksgiving Celebration at Chen Su Lan Home. The Lord knows my needs but will I trust Him by thanking Him for my physical ailments, instead of the usual praying for healing. Lo and behold, a few minutes later, my chest welled up and I burped. Not exactly a platform to talk about one's deficient etiquette, but truly, my condition has improved, the soreness is gone, the throat though still a little itchy, has subsided tremendously.
Indeed, "Faithful is He that calleth you. Who also will do it"(1 Thessalonians 4:24)
'Call unto Me, and I will answer Thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.'
Jeremiah 33:3
It does not mean that we should not go to God with our needs. Don't get me wrong. But God will answer prayers asked in His will, not ours. Only in thanking God for all situations, will we learn to exercise the faith that He has given to those who seek Him. If a person is not thankful, his mouth might seek God, but clearly not his heart. And how will you know God's will if you are not with Him, for you will not "hear" Him, and so how can you know what to ask in His will?
'Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.'
Isaiah 45:22
Christianiity is not a religion. It is a relationship with a loving Father, through His Beloved only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. A relationship only gets better when trust is developed. A thankful heart in all circumstances will allow the Holy Spirit to move us from our finite understanding, unto the wonderful presence and plans God has for those who love and seek Him.
This Sunday's papers has the usual article on successful nvesting. It showcase a professional investor who claims to have done exceptionally well in the recent market bust up and boom up. The gentleman is thankful, but in the same breath, he is looking for a higher regular income figure to be sufice for his needs. Is not this the same for all of us? We are always looking for nirvana, and rare are the few who are satisfied with what they have. And only a blessed child of God will by His grace, be thankful for all circumstances, good or "bad"
'And we now that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.'
Romans 8:28
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(1 nov 09) and joyful and happy Sunday nite.
note
- will be sending all a formal invite next week to an event I know God has asked both my sister in Christ and HK publisher, Rosanne and myself to convene. Much as most of us have things to be thankful for and will like to bless the materially and even emotionally more challenged children of the Home. I believe in attending, God will bring you, Christian or not, to a new level of "happiness" for only joy and peace can come from Him. And in giving our time and sharing our blessings with the children of the Home, we will receive, for those with less, will see God better and much as we think we might be ministering to the children of the Home, it is very likely to be the other way as well.
TGIF is when most in the world thank God because it is Friday, and the party carries on into Saturday. Today is Sunday, for many, a sobering experience not just from a hangover from one too many dalliances on Sat night, but the realization that blue Monday is but a few hours away.
'Pray without ceasing.'
1 Thessalonians 4:17
On a wing and a prayer, that seems to be the attitude of most who believe that with a little luck and lots of personal effort, most wishes in life can be attained. God only comes into the picture when one's back is not just to the wall, but when one is overwhelmed.
Till up to this afternoon, I had smugly believed that I am not a transactional Christian, ie one who calls on God as and when He is needed, and other than that, He is send to the waiting room. As I prepared my accompanying email to the planned formal invitation to all of you to come join me and the children at the Chen Su Lan Methodist's Children Home for a time of thanksgiving on Nov 21st Saturday, one message I wanted to impress upon all was the cliche half full, half empty glass principle. How wrong I was in my understanding, but thank God for His patience and loving correction.
'Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.'
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
God is prescient. Early this week, He impressed upon me the thought "Thankfulness" and in response, I wrote a draft Reflections for the moment #42 Thankfulness and had planned to send it out this Monday. But man plans, God directs. And God is prescient because much as most might not think otherwise, I rarely read books other than the Bible. But just this afternoon, the Lord impressed upon me to read a book titled "Prison to praise" a small paperback book by Merlin Carothers,(http://www.merlincarothers.com) a reitired US army chaplain. This was a book a dear brother passed to me last Wednesday, and as is the norm, much as I am grateful for the many books fellow believers have passed to me, they tend to lie around, only to be read when I truly felt led and that could be months if not years later.
'Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.'
1 Thessalonians 4:19-23
Many of us who stay close to God often is misled into thinking that we understood every intent and will of God. And as of this Sunday afternoon, I was part of the guilty. In my planned sharing on Reflections #42, I wanted to highlight the need for us to always look at the half full glass of our lives and be thankful. And not to focus on the half empty portion instead. Foolish I am for I should know better, for just on Friday, I explained the meaning of contentment to a sister in Christ, and I got it right then, for contentment means "thankfulness in all situations."
And this means that we should thank God for our blessings(the half full glass) and also for our troubles or non fulfilled prayers(the empty half glass). The author, Merlin Carothers shared on the need to not just trust but to thank God in all situatiions, for truly a the half empty portion of the glass does not mean that God thinks we have suffice in the half full glass, but rather, God has His plans for us, and we must not just lose faith but be even more vigorous in our trust and obedience. "Quench not the Spirit"(1 Thessalonians 4:19)
'Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.'
1 Thessalonians 4:24
For most of today, I seem to have the onset of a bad throat and cough., and in my mind, I cannot affort to be sick. With this month of November being a holy month for me, meaning every Saturday startfing from last Sat will be a time of coming unto God's presence in corporate fellowship. And this will culminate on Nov 21st Sat with the Thanksgiving Celebration at Chen Su Lan Home. The Lord knows my needs but will I trust Him by thanking Him for my physical ailments, instead of the usual praying for healing. Lo and behold, a few minutes later, my chest welled up and I burped. Not exactly a platform to talk about one's deficient etiquette, but truly, my condition has improved, the soreness is gone, the throat though still a little itchy, has subsided tremendously.
Indeed, "Faithful is He that calleth you. Who also will do it"(1 Thessalonians 4:24)
'Call unto Me, and I will answer Thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.'
Jeremiah 33:3
It does not mean that we should not go to God with our needs. Don't get me wrong. But God will answer prayers asked in His will, not ours. Only in thanking God for all situations, will we learn to exercise the faith that He has given to those who seek Him. If a person is not thankful, his mouth might seek God, but clearly not his heart. And how will you know God's will if you are not with Him, for you will not "hear" Him, and so how can you know what to ask in His will?
'Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.'
Isaiah 45:22
Christianiity is not a religion. It is a relationship with a loving Father, through His Beloved only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. A relationship only gets better when trust is developed. A thankful heart in all circumstances will allow the Holy Spirit to move us from our finite understanding, unto the wonderful presence and plans God has for those who love and seek Him.
This Sunday's papers has the usual article on successful nvesting. It showcase a professional investor who claims to have done exceptionally well in the recent market bust up and boom up. The gentleman is thankful, but in the same breath, he is looking for a higher regular income figure to be sufice for his needs. Is not this the same for all of us? We are always looking for nirvana, and rare are the few who are satisfied with what they have. And only a blessed child of God will by His grace, be thankful for all circumstances, good or "bad"
'And we now that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.'
Romans 8:28
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(1 nov 09) and joyful and happy Sunday nite.
note
- will be sending all a formal invite next week to an event I know God has asked both my sister in Christ and HK publisher, Rosanne and myself to convene. Much as most of us have things to be thankful for and will like to bless the materially and even emotionally more challenged children of the Home. I believe in attending, God will bring you, Christian or not, to a new level of "happiness" for only joy and peace can come from Him. And in giving our time and sharing our blessings with the children of the Home, we will receive, for those with less, will see God better and much as we think we might be ministering to the children of the Home, it is very likely to be the other way as well.
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