Contentment is Great Gain:)

Hey peeps,

Today is 2nd September 2011 and I would like to share what I have learnt during my devotions today. Remember how I said that reading God's Word is like finding little pieces of gold on the pathway? You always get to learn something new and as usual, the Lord spoke to my heart today:). He wants me to be contented with who I am. I am what He has made me to be:). Read Psalms 139:1-14.

Yep. This is a fantastic verse to memorised. God has made us in very special and unique ways. All of us are different in many ways. All these differences makes up for our character and personality and appearance. So, if God has made you in a certain way, be contented with who you are. There can never be a more beautiful you.

So, be contented and may you always love and put the Lord first above all else:). 

An Evening Prayer

Hey!

I usually do my morning devotions everyday. But, come to think of it, I should talk more to the Lord and spend more time with Him. It's after all, the only way to grow. So, I will spend more time. Anyways, this is a song that I was humming and singing earlier.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psalms 19:12-13.

An Evening Prayer- by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel

If I have wounded any soul today,

If I have caused one foot to go astray,

If I have walked in my own willful way,

Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have uttered idle words or vain,

If I have turned aside from want or pain,

Lest I myself shall suffer through the strain,

Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have been perverse or hard, or cold,

If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,

When Thou hast given me some fort to hold,

Dear Lord, forgive!

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee;

Forgive the secret sins I do not see;

O guide me, love me and my keeper be,

Dear Lord, Amen.

A Time to Pray

Hey peeps,

It's been a long time since I have posted about anything. School is making me really busy and exams are coming. Well, but through it all, I realise that no matter how busy we are, we still have to spend time with God and put Him first. Read His Word and talk to Him. There is power through prayer.

Are you getting your daily power from prayer???

Has there ever been a slot in the "timetable" that you read your Bible and pray? Do you set aside the time to pray? Nehemiah 1:4-11, 2:4, 4:2-5, 4:8-9, 6:8-9, 13:29, 13:4. There once was a man called Nehemiah who always cast his cares and concerns upon the Lord.

Imagine having 5 minutes to charge your phone of low batt. Will there be enough power to to last the full day? I am pretty sure there is not enough power. Same as Prayer- If we do not spend time in prayer, there will be not enough to last the full day, with all its temptations, obstacles, etc. We will most likely fall as a christian.

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. James 5:13

Prayer can save men from sickness, sins, and affliction. A person can accomplish much through effective prayer. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. 1 Tim 2:1

Remember that there is power in prayer and prayer is linked to our Heavenly Father. Power excess to prayer is more powerful than the devil himself.  God can do wondrous things through prayer. So, have faith in our eternal Saviour and Lord that He will answer our prayers. God should be in the center of our lives. Hence, the power of prayer must be in our hearts.

The Gospel that Saves

Hey peeps,

There is something that is of upmost importance and that is our Salvation:). When we are born, we are born with a sinful nature and hence, we and that refers to all men and women, are sinners.

1. The Gospel points to Man as a Guilty Sinner- " Christ died for Our sins "- 1 Cor 15:3, Luke 5:27-32, Romans 3:23.

The gospel has to do with Christ dying for us on the cross. Before we become Christians, we must first accept Christ as our personal Saviour. A sinner needs Salvation.

When Jesus says to follow Him, we should follow Him. Believe me, you never miss out on anything following Christ. Unless a sinner realises he is a sinner, he will not believe in God.

Have you realise that the book of Romans explains Salvation in full details??? The words " Love of God" never appear till Romans 5. Chapters 1-4 never mentions these words. Paul talks about God's law first. This makes people realise that they have broken God's laws.

For all those in Christ, you can be a witness for Christ and awaken the sinner that he is guilty of God. For all have sin and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. Hence, no one can say they are not a sinner. You may be a good person but good is not perfect. And we can never be that. Only God is Holy. There will always be some point in life that we disobey or sin against God. Fortunately, there is the good news! But people must realise they are a sinner first.

2. The Gospel points Man to Christ as the Living Saviour.- 1 Corinthians 15:4, Romans 10:9-10.
Christ died for our sins and was buried and rose again. Christ is victorious over sin. For all those in Christ, preach Christ as He is the one who saved us from our sins. 1 Cor 1:23

3. The Gospel points men to the gift of God. Salvation is to be received by repentence and faith. 1 Cor 15:2. Mark 1:15, Luke 24:7, Acts 17:30. In Mark 1:15, "repent" is repeated loads of time. Repentence is to have a change of mind from sin and towards God. Acts 17:29, God is not an idol. He is the true and living God.

All of us are accountable to sin. Sin is an offence to the Holy God. Holiness before happiness and the cross before the cross. We must realise that we have sin against God and receive Salvation from God. Salvation is given freely by Christ and it is received by faith- Acts 20:21. With no true faith, there is no true repentence. A change of mind results in the change of action-Acts 26:20, 2 Cor 5:17.

Therefore, when a person becomes a christian, his life will be changed to be a new person. He is a new creature in Christ. God be praised when the sinner is saved!

Nahum 1:3

The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. Nahum 1:3

This picture was taken by my brother from CopenHagen. I am pretty sure you have noticed the trail of clouds that seem to meet the bright light at the end of the road. Looks like God has been walking this part of the Earth:). You can see the clouds. To me, they are the dust of His feet.

God is a long-suffering God. He is not willing that any should perish but that all come for repentence. Hence, He is slow to anger. Take the e.g of Jonah:

This is Nineveh. God spared Nineveh when they repented of their sins even though they were very sinful. Nuhum is re-echoing what Jonah says in Jonah 4:2 where he says the Lord is "slow to anger". God is long-suffering and this also shows His great power. However, though God is merciful and loving, He is Holy. Hence, He cannot stand the wicked and they must be punished if they refuse to repent of their sins. Psalms 7:12-13, 2 Peter 3:9-10.

The vengeance of the Lord comes at swiftly, vehemently, fearfully, irresistibly- 1 Thess 5:3 This is what it is meant when Nahum said that the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm.

And the clouds are the dust of His feet - the image is from the light dust raised by an earthly army- Ezekial 26:10. Taken from http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/nahum/1.htm.

And so, as seen, lots can be said on 1 verse:D. I realise that reading the Bible is like finding little bits of treasure and gold. Everyday, you gain more gold and understanding. It amounts to a lot and it helps you when you are in danger-danger of sin and temptation. So, it is ALWAYS important to hide God's Word in our hearts:) 



Judas Iscariot-the One who betrayed Christ

Hey peeps!!!

There are so many people out there in the Bible to study and learn from. There is Jesus's 12 disciples, Joseph, Daniel, David and others. However, there is one person that I would like to discuss. To me, he is one of the most intriguing person ever. His name is Judas Iscariot. Why do I want to talk about this character? Well, I could'nt help wondering but why a disciple of Christ, one who followed Christ during the few years would end up betraying Him?

When my dad was preaching on this, the answer became clear. Judas never truly beleved in Jesus Christ. Rather, he was a sinner and had always been. He was not a true follower of Christ. John 6:70-71.

3 things to take away from this post:
-Life must not be driven away by greed
-Must not give in to Satan
-Be responsible for your own actions

This message is bases mainly on John 13:21-27. Judas had the wrong heart. He was a thief. John 12:3-6. Judas took money that did not belong to him. This is greed and it's a sin.

Satan entered into Judas the night Jesus was betrayed. This is very scary. Can you imagine the devil controlling your thoughts and movement and you are powerless? Be aware of your sins. Continually ask God to forgive you or those sins can destroy us first because we have allowed satan to take hold of our lives.

Don't be influence by false doctrines and porn and etc.Judas became a tool for satan. For those who are God's children, we are given to God and not Satan- " Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world"
Submit yourself therefore to God, Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7.

It's better to be on the right side with few friends than be on the wrong side with many friends. Choose your friends wisely. Friends can bring you up or down. Some friends are not worth having. Best friend to have is Jesus.

Be a good Christian witness for the Lord. Luke 22:1-6. We have to be responsible for our own actions. Luke 22:21-22. Acts 2:22-23. Judas had to be responsible for his actions. Sin of betrayal is not acceptable.

Matt 27: 3-5. Judas did feel responsible. He felt remorseful but his repentence was not true. Why? He hanged himself! Repentence should be unto life and not death. This is unlike Peter. Peter is another disciple of Christ. He denied Christ 3 times but he did repent and went on serving Christ after that. Peter had faith and repentence. All these go together.

                             ll Cor 7:10. Look to God for deliverance of sin. You can have hope.

In Christ, grace abounds. Don't sorrow and be miserable unto death dued to sin. Repent unto Salvation.

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:12. Judas is known as the son of the lost. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ll Thess 2:3. Judas was a type of anti-Christ.

NOTE: Never push the Grace of God too far or you'll become a tool for Satan. 

To end off(Yes... I am sorry it is so long), God's Sovereign Will never takes the free will of man. We are what we are based on the decisions we make. So, choose wisely and live your christian life well:). A life lived for God is never in vain!  

God be praise!

I cannot tell....

This song is just amazing. It tells of Jesus's birth, death on the cross and in the future when He will come again and be the King. He is King and He is the Lord. His Kingdom shall live forever. And all who are His children will dwell with Him forever.

Raising the Bar

Hey peeps,

How's it going??? I am afraid I have been rather busy with my school work and assignments. Hence, I have been unable to write. Oh yes, and something very natural in all teenages, specifically girls- drama and trauma in the modern world, hence I have not been able to write last week. Hahas! So, usually my church has friday night prayer meetings and this is a very interesting message that my Dad preached called "Raising the Bar" based on Daniel 1:8-17. People may have this impression:

Fortunately, it does not mean this at all. " But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meant, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. " Daniel 1:8. Raising the bar refers to setting higher standard and goals for ourselves. We can promote Lasting Biblical Values.

Do you think teens girls or boys should be allowed to dress like this? in whatever way they like?

This is a big "NO NO!!" Sometimes, I think indecent clothing should be

Also, do you think we should allow teens to download, listen to, and watch whatever they like? Many people may not realise but music affects them on a conscious level and so, one must be careful as to what they listen. Violent music, music on sex, and etc can really cloud a person's mind and that is just a scary thought. The person would be influence by the music if they keep on listening to it everyday. My church is a fundamental church. We sing old hymns and the music is provided by the piano. I myself like listening to orchestra music and classical music. This kind of music flows like the river.

Are parents oblivious to what their teenage daughters or sons are truly doing everyday??

Well, I am not sure about you but in my opinion, all these are quite accurate. Parents should set standards and kids should set themselves standards too. Ignorance is never an excuse. I encourage all parents out there and ourselves to not lower the standard and while the world around us is lowering the bar, it's okay to raise the bar and encourage each other to have lasting values.

Where you set the bar determines how you live !!!!

You can set standards that promote important values like honesty, integrity and righteousness. Like my Dad, I notice that people nowadays worry about looks. They say things like " Oh my gosh! I am so fat! And so, I must lose weight!!" or " My face is so ugly. WHAT TO DO???!!! "

 I have to admit, I am also guilty of that. Just yesterday, I was looking at myself in the mirror and I thought to myself " I hate my face! How do I get rid of these polka dots(pimples)?? ARGH!!! "  And that's when I remembered a Bible verse which I learnt some time ago: " Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised " Proverbs 31:30. So, to all the ladies out there, it's alright. The Lord sees way beyond that!! I realise that you don't have to worry about your looks. Just be thankful for who you are and trust me, the Lord will find you the right kind of guy for you or in a guy's case, the right kind of girl. Just have faith and believe:). The Lord's choice is always THE BEST!

Hehes.. I like this picture:

Of course, this is a gerneral statement. My church friend is very pretty but she hardly realises it. She is a Christian and trusts in God in everything that she does. I miss her but she will be back soon enough:).

As it is often said, “"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

Every one of us, both parents and their children can live a life that is based on Biblical Standards and Values1. If our present standards of conducting our lives are below Biblical Standards, we need to raise them to be in line with what God expects of us.
2. To know what God expects of us, we need to study the Bible and be committed to live according to Bibical commands and principles.
3. We need God’s grace to be able to say “No” to the world's standards and “Yes" to God's standards – James 4:7.

And so, I end my post. Look to God as your guide and raise your standards. Then, follow His perfect will and God will lead you on the path of righteousness. Until, God bless you!

Power in Prayer

Hey peeps!

Ever notice that most of the prominent figures in history have really awesome and grand names? Take for example, Marie Curie or Ralph Waldo Emerson. Imagine discovering something new like Marie Curie finding out about Radium which is an element btw. The Bible is like that too. I tell you, just reading Genesis alone is like discovering a treasure trove at the bottom of the ocean. You may think you know the book really well but there is always so much to learn and find out. If you read Genesis 10 times from the first to the last chapter, the Lord can speak to you in 10 different ways. So, I really encourage you to read your Bible and do your daily devotion. This is how a christian can grow spiritually strong.

Anyways, I was just looking thinking back to one of the Bible studies my Dad conducted during Friday Night and this man called Edward Mckendree Bounds was mentioned by him. He is a minister in a Methodist church and wrote many books on prayers. Yeps. There is definitely power through prayer:).

E.M Bounds once said " Prayer is of transcendent importance. Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God's work. Praying hearts and hands only can do God's work. Prayer succeeds when all else fails. " What He says is very true indeed. Prayer is talking to God. As God's child, we must continually read His Word and pray and spend time with Him. God most definitely listens to our prayers and He answers them in His time. " Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much " James 5:16. For me, God has always answered my prayers with either a " Yes ", " No " or " Wait ". Take note: God loves us and wants the best for us. You must wait on Him and follow His will. Sometimes, what you pray for is not what is meant for you and hence, the answer is a " No " but God has a special plan for each and everyone of His children as He always has our best interests in heart so there is no need to fret. 

Prayer and faith go hand in hand. You can't pray for something and then lack faith in God. You might as well not pray at all. So, have faith and trust that the almighty God can and will answer your prayers. " For we walk by faith, not by sight. " ll Corinthians 5:7. If there is one thing we must hold onto, it's our faith:). "... if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. " Matthew 17:20.

To conclude, have a little faith, pray and may the still small voice of God speak to your hearts. Btw, you can read E.M Bounds sermons online and some of his books too like power through prayer. So, I hope that the presence of the Lord will be with you and He be your guide and strength in life. In the meantime, here's a great hymn on prayer.

Redeeming Grace

Hey peeps,