Just Reflecting

Reflecting on your death on the Cross

Tears slid down my cheek
From emotions so deep
As I reflected on the worth
Of your death on the cross

I could never imagine your pain
Never guess the strain
Your thoughts, your alternatives
As you did our Father’s will

What grief can I feel
That comes close to the anguish
The turmoil, bruises and pains
That you went through on that day

What loss can surface now
That compares to your life laid down
To redeem me, to save me
To make my life worth living

Nothing compares to your immeasurable love
Nothing compares to the sacrifice you made
Nothing can surpass the grief and pain you went through
And you did it all because you love me

That is why I adore you
That is why I love you
That is why I worship you
That is why I surrender to you
And will never let go of you.

Pursuing God

Pursuing You

The shooting stars soar
To places only few will get to
Their light will shine
So bright as they last,
But shooting stars fall
Some day they will land
And with the passage of time
We’ll realize just how quickly;

Through they days, through the years
The sun has been there
Shining in noon
Supporting the blooms
Masked by the clouds
Reflected on the moon
And even when we are not sure
It is always there;

My Sweet Lord and Gracious Father
The Father of all Lights
In whom there can be no variation
Or shadow cast by your turning,
May I not chase after shooting stars
But pursue you with all that I am
May my priorities and focus be of You
And respect your continual presence in my life.
Amen.

Inspiring Words and Promises
Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He shall give you the desires of your heart [Psalm 37:4]. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you [Matthew 6:33].

Jesus said unto them, my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work [John 4:34].

Success is measured against your God-given purpose.

Where does Change start from?

Changing your world

Whenever I think of new years, I think of New-Year resolutions. I learnt early in life that such did not work for me so I make New-Day resolutions. That way, when I promise not to sin, or go back to an addiction, and then I fail, I know I failed for that day (moment) and not the whole year! Then I pick up myself from where I fell, dust myself clean, and start afresh the next day. I do not have to wait for the next year to come before I make a resolution or start anew.

So where was I? New-Year resolutions. One consistent characteristic of new-year resolutions is “change”. Something different, better, is planned, hoped for, or is being worked towards. It’s a time for change.

Where does change start from? Change starts from within, from self, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Let me share with you my tissue paper experience. I buy a certain amount of tissue paper per month. I buy enough to last two months. During one period in time, I had a flat mate. In less than 2 weeks, the 2-month supply of tissue paper had finished. The mathematics I could not understand in primary 5 told me (from inverse proportion) that if 1 person uses tissue for 2 months then 2 will use same number of tissue for 1 month! Not 2 weeks! I was annoyed. Not long after, I had a different flat mate. Tissue paper supply finished in 1 week. I even changed quality of the tissue paper assuming it was the softness that was causing the attraction. That did not work. Then one day, I walked into the ladies of the office. In one of the toilets there was no tissue paper so I asked the lady entering the next one to cut out some tissue from the toilet she was about entering. She did so and gave me the tissue paper she had cut out. Then I said, “Madam, you know I only want to ease myself” (Not mop the floor because the tissue paper she cut out for me was much!) and she replied “yes I know, I was just giving you the minimum you need for that!” Did I learn anything from that experience? Yes I did, much more than the minimum required amount of tissue paper.

For someone like me who likes to change everything around me, that experience taught me that change needed to start from me. Nothing was wrong with the people around me. When I went back to ask the Holy spirit for what else (apart from tissue paper) that I needed to change in my life, we came up with a long list which made me say “Hey Holy Spirit, that is too much to do on my own!” Then I recalled the promise that the God of peace will make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ [Hebrews 13:20-21]; and as long as you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him [Philippians 2:13]. I definitely needed God’s help for change.

You have the power to change your world, to change all that is happening around you, to change people around you. Let your change start with you – your words, your thoughts and meditations. This change will translate to your actions and eventually all around you. Let your change come from inside out. The good news is you don’t have to do it on your own. The Holy Spirit is there to help you.

You may have made a new-year resolution to change the closest person around you, to change a friend, to stop an addiction, to take on a new leaf, to start on a new project, etc. Allow the Holy Spirit change you, to direct your path, and to fill you with hope. God is at work in you ready to walk with you each step of your way to change. Sit back and relax as you watch God doing His thing with you – the apple of His eyes.

Remain blessed.

Encourage One Another

Encourage One Another

I personally like the word encourage because I have had (and still have) people that encourage me at every step of the way. I always likened it to someone saying “you can do it, you can be it!” But recently, I have been learning more to the word “encourage. One I learnt is that sharing of testimonies is one good way to encourage others.

Let me share with you one experience. It was one of those Sunday mornings when I was in church, very spiritual, moved by the music and words, confessing all my sins, and making fresh promises to God (does that happen to you?) I had got a prompting to sow a seed in church. It was not one of those days when sowing was mentioned in the message so I was not being persuaded by the preacher. I agreed in my heart that once I get home I will get the seed and sow in church the next Sunday. Beloved, as soon as I reached the exit gate of the church, it was as though my spirit had been reset. I said “what seed was I thinking about in that place? I must have been very foolish to think of such a thing!”

All through the week the prompting came up (as reminder). I struggled with whether or not to go ahead with what I had promised. After a while I brushed the thoughts aside with loud music of worship and praise, avoided any bible passage that will talk of “sow”, and thought out a good logic that there was no real reason for that seed. After all, the pastor never mentioned anything in church. When “The Reminder” [John 14:26] became too much, I said I will do it next year. I was reasoning with the Holy Spirit that since it is a free donation, it should be done at my own time. I thought that was the end of the case.

That evening, a friend of mine visited and decided to stay over. I was very glad because it will distract me from listening to the voice in my heart (she is a very good companion, never a dull moment with her). You cannot guess what her topic of discussion was that evening – sowing of seeds. She narrated a story of how she sowed seeds when she was looking for a change in job, and when she finally got the new job, she knew it was none other than God that gave it to her. She was grateful for the seed sown. She also shared with me other instances of people close to her that sowed seeds of all sorts of things and reaped a hundred times more. Then she concluded “there is nothing or no one that can convince me against sowing seeds. I don’t even give room to discuss it. When I get a prompting in my spirit to sow, I sow without delay and with confidence and expectation for I know I will reap a thousand fold.” She was gone the next morning and of course, there was no further argument between me and “The Reminder”. That was one encouragement towards doing something good that I can never forget. Her testimony of the benefits of sowing seeds filled me with joy and gave me courage to overcome any reasoning that would make me not sow the seed. Today I am benefiting from the very decision to respond to that prompting at the time I did.

So now when I think of the word “encourage”, the meaning goes beyond “you can do it and you can be it”. I think of words and acts that refresh the spirit. I think of answers to inner struggles coming from you and me. I think of the light and love of God shone on others from the roads we have passed through. I think of testimonies.

Dear Child of God let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us … encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near [Hebrews 10:24-25]. The Lord has surely been good to you. Share your testimonies of God’s goodness and faithfulness. You are not being boastful by that. You never know who will be blessed, refreshed, uplifted, nay encouraged by your testimony.

May the peace of God be with you.

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.