Three Thoughts for the Season

Three Tear Drops

Tears sting my eyes brim
Three drops slide down my cheek
But a smile lifts my cheeks
And my heart fills with glee;

Three tear drops
Stand for three thoughts
That I take with me this time
As I celebrate the birth of Christ;

Thought one: Your word is truth
Thought two: Nothing is impossible with you
Thought three: My worship and adoration is due you
And I take time to reflect on you;

Thank You for your love
Thank You for being God
Three tear drops
Mean: I love you Lord.

The Inspiration
As the Christmas season drew near, I found out that there were so much plans and preparations in place. My increased excitement was coupled with an increase in expenditures. And when I looked around me, it was not only me. I asked myself, “why all these excitement, expenditure, preparations? It is just the birth of Jesus Christ. His death is the significant thing!” But the good Lord was quick to correct me.

I traveled back memory lane sixteen year ago. We were all expecting a baby. The Lord had assured us that my mother was with a male child. Behold, HE was going to do a new thing. We were expectant yet anxious because we were six girls awaiting the birth of their only brother. On the morning when she put to bed, we were at home fixing a nine-year old wooden cot when one of my sisters announced that it was a baby boy. What great joy, peace and happiness we all felt that day. Has the joy waned? No. Sixteen years later, we still try to outdo each other when it comes to buying a birthday gift for him. None of us can ever forget his birthday. The joy is still fresh like it happened this morning.

Why then would I overlook the birth of my Lord and personal savior? Why should I not outdo every other person as I celebrate His birth? In this season as I celebrate with all that I am, I take three thoughts with me concerning the birth of Jesus Christ.

1. The Word of God will surely come to pass

Strikingly in the stories surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ is the statement, “fulfilled what the prophets had said…” or something similar. The Word of God had gone forth, it did not return to Him void but accomplished what He pleased [Isaiah 55:11]. The word became flesh [John 1:14]. The birth of Jesus Christ reminds me that every word of God is true, truth, shall come to pass and has become flesh [living, tangible].

2. With God, nothing is impossible

For nothing is impossible with God [Luke 1:37]. This is a simple statement of truth. The birth of Jesus Christ was a miracle. Mary had not been with a man yet she conceived. Miracles have happened, are happening and will still happen. Not only did Mary experience the awesomeness of God. Elizabeth her cousin also partook in experiencing God.

3. God is worthy of our worship and honor

When the wise men saw Jesus Christ, despite that the baby was in a “lowly” place, they fell down, and worshipped him as to a King and to a God. They also presented their gifts to him [Matthew 2:11]. They did not only honor him with their bodies but also with what God had given them. And their gifts were provision to Jesus Christ (and the family) for things to come.

What great glory, joy and peace have come to the world because of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you celebrate this season, be reassured that His word for you, concerning your life, concerning your circumstances, concerning your desires, will surely come to pass as long as it is according to His will. Remember that with God, nothing is impossible. And do not forget to worship and honor Him with all that you are and what you have.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Character is Tested

Testing Character

I am grateful for those things
That remind me I have your genes
Virtue, Integrity, Character
Which money cannot acquire;

Yet each day comes with its challenges
Testing these desirable qualities
Showcasing illusive rewards
Resulting from doing wrong;

But I cannot disregard
The promptings in my heart
To do the right things
No matter what the short term brings;

So I ask for your wisdom
To know the right from wrong
I ask for the ability
To say no with ease
And I ask for your peace
Not to bother about my pick
And faith to know
There is beauty in the morrow.

The Inspiration
It was easy to say no the first and second time. Easy to say no to those things contrary to whom he was as a child of God. Anthony insisted that he was not going to “sort” to pass any course. But after seeing that his singularity was not being fruitful, he had to ponder on the alternatives. He had three carry-overs already by the third year because he had not paid the bribe. An additional carry-over would mean an extra year (in an institution so difficult to pass through!!!). If it was you, sincerely, what will you do? The question he directed at God was, “why will those doing the wrong thing succeed? Is that not enough incentive for me to follow suite?” And the simple answer he got in his spirit was “I have been young and I have been old but I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread”. The word gave him peace and strengthened him. Today, he is so successful that nobody knows whether he spent 4 years or 5 years in the university (he did not have an extra year by the way). Nobody knew his struggle to choose right from wrong.

That "everybody" is doing something does not mean it is right. And it is very reassuring to know that we have the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things [John 14:26]. So even when you do not think that something is wrong because you entered into a system where it was taken as normal, somehow the Holy Spirit will teach you right from wrong. Making the decision to do what is right in the midst of apparent successes of wrong can be painful, trying and sometimes disheartening. But your light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory [2 Corinthians 4:17]. It is a much peaceful feeling when you know you’ve done the right thing. Glory be to God, for HE is faithful that promised [Hebrews 10:23]. You cannot quantify the magnitude of HIS blessings when you do the right thing [Deuteronomy 7:12 – 8:1].

As a child of God, you are different. HE said, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate…And touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters” [2 Corinthians 6: 17-18]. Why trade this promise for a temporary satisfaction?

You are only human to wonder why those choosing to do wrong seem to be prospering. Job wondered too [Job 21:7]. But he also mentioned why he should not envy them [Job 21:17-26]. There is no need to focus on their own prosperity when you have yours that is everlasting and does not come with sorrow [Proverbs 10:22].

Beloved Child of God, you take after your Almighty Father in character, virtue and integrity. Even though saying “No” to some things today may seem painful and you cannot see the immediate benefit, always remember that the righteous would never be forsaken nor his seed ever beg bread [Psalms 37:25]. And all things work together for good to them that love God [Romans 8:28].

Have a blessed day.

Sharing Plans and Secrets

Draw close to Me

Somewhere inside Me

I long for that point in time

When we discuss on things

Other than your needs;

I long for you to draw close to me

That I may share those things I want to reveal

Going beyond you

But things about Me and My plans for the future;

I long to see you bridge this gap

Caused by your guilt, fear and insecurity

But come boldly into my throne of Grace

And commune deeply with Me;

But it all depends on you

To draw close to Me

To come clean, purified, and free

As Jesus Christ has made you.

The Inspiration
It can be very annoying when you are the last to know about a well-known gist. Especially when it concerns you. Also hurting is when you think you are someone’s best friend but for some reason you do not get to hear about the main thing happening in his life until it is almost over. I had a similar experience. In my own case, what broke the camel’s back was that one lady whom I introduced to my friend was the first to know about his secret things. And she knew in details all the milestones of his plans. My first reaction was to say, “But I thought I was your best friend? How could everyone know about this before me?” Instead I said, “Congrats, this is just one of the fulfillments of His promises to you. And I will always remain your friend to witness more of these.” Then I went aside to analyze what happened.

Results
1. I was not around for my friend. We were time and a lot of space away.
2. I did not keep up the communication. I let a communication gap come in.
3. I assumed what I had done in the past was enough to keep the fire going on.

I realized that this is same with our relationship with God. We are made in God’s image. This means He can also feel, want to be friends with someone, want to share His secrets and plans with someone, etc. But that someone has to be there for Him. And being close to Him at one point then estranging one’s self is not enough to keep the relationship blossoming as it used to.

The Bible says “The secret things belong to the Lord our God…” [Deut 29:29]. But thank God that “even the mystery which had been hid from ages and from generations is now made manifest to His saints…” [Colossians 1:26].

God is ready to share His plans and secrets with us. Let’s take for instance His relationship with Abraham when He said “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do… For I know him”…But Abraham stood yet before the LORD…And Abraham drew near [Genesis 18: 17 – 23]. How awesome it is to know that God has shared His plan and His secret with man. And He says He knew him. These verses of scripture says “And Abraham drew near” [Genesis 18:23}. This pre-empties what I learnt from my experience with my friend “Draw close to God and He will draw close to you” [James 4:8]. It is good for you to draw close to God [73:28].

God does share His secrets. The secret of the Lord is with the righteous [Psalms 25:14; Proverbs 3:32; Daniel 2:22; Romans 16:25-26]. He can share with you His plans and His secrets.

Once again, what I learnt from this experience was to draw close to Him so He will draw close to me.
1. I have to be there, i.e. available for Him. If I am not there, He will probably share what He usually shares with me with someone else. Such a person could even be one who may have just got to know Him but is always with Him.
2. I have to keep on communicating with Him and sharing my own secrets and plans with Him. The relationship should not be one-sided.
3. I will not assume that what we had shared in the past was enough to keep the friendship. For the relationship to grow, I need to consciously work towards making the relationship blossom.

Same applies to my friendship here on earth.

I don’t know about you but for me, it is “Operation Drawing Closer”.

For further reading on drawing close to God, see

http://www.biblestudytools.net/Commentaries/MatthewHenryComplete/mhc-com.cgi?book=jas&chapter=4#Jas4_8

Remain blessed and welcome to a glorious month.