The World 'FIRST'

Matthew 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

If we want to be the first, what could we be chasing? Chasing is defined as 'to rush or hasten', could we miss out on GOD and HIS blessings in this hasten and rapid move we are making? If we rush and hasten our walk, our focus will also be quickened and our focus is narrowed.

Many of us in the world walks and talks too quickly, what follows after could be destructive. In the world, as to the relevance of what I perceived so far; relationships are the far most essential element in survival (even in times of Adam and Eve). Like it or not, humans living in the world need some kind of human contact. What if there is a disruption in this link? A person may just be alone, depress and maybe eventually self destruct.

Although running and rushing may get you to the first place. But, let us put things in perspective: when you are running and rushing, did you manage to run your thoughts and ask GOD the best way to do it, did you manage to look out for danger signs that GOD had been wanting to show you, and did you manage fill the needs of people that GOD wants you to fill along the path.

Your thoughts and focus is narrowed – your ultimate goal is the finish line. Imagine this, if you looked back from the finish line, what have you achieved or left behind – unfinished business and unsettled or destructive relationships. What about our relationship with GOD? Did the chasing, rushing and running make you a glorious champion of getting the FIRST place with much fulfilment and satisfaction?

Take the backseat, start thinking and reflecting, what if you have pace or slow down your steps, you could have obtain a broader horizon – widen your scope to what you can do or how you can go about doing it (by putting in more effort and thoughts); this will eventually give you a better position in life – physically and spiritually.

If you could have taken a step slower, spoke after running through your thoughts, react and attempt after much consideration and in prayers; would not all these put you in a better position when you see the ultimate outcome and wouldn't that calls you to be in the FIRST in the goals (races) of your life as you have gain more and save yourself from destruction, making someone's life more meaningful and happy because of what you have done and developing a closer relationship with our CREATOR? 

have a blessed day.

yechow

Rascal Flatts - My Wish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyjq5SCbjQk&feature=related

We Love 'Suffering'

A friend asked me one day, "Why Christian have to go through suffering?"

What is suffering in a Christian life? Did they not go through suffering when they are not yet Christians?

Suffering; I felt is like a word that is widely misused; when something does not go right in the things that you do or meeting unfavourable situation or facing the difficulties in some junctures in life.

Being a Christian and living it means more than just living life day to day. We have to be constantly aware and put your mindset into the correct and right perspectives.

Some people say they are Christians but, took no notice of what it meant (it can also be another label put in life maybe most of your family are). Being a Christian happens when you have an encounter with GOD and this is also where transformation begins.

For some people, it takes a journey to take and a phase in life before they encounter GOD. And, this lapse of time is where some characters, personalities, attitudes and behaviours develope. Some people have not been a Christian in earlier days and some may have found GOD later part in their Christian life eventhough they have been Christian for a long time.

Moving from a life that has no idea who GOD is or has no GOD in it; to a life you want GOD to be in your life, need some adjustments. This may be a so-called 'suffering' for some people who try to make these changes in their life. This is because they have been in their comfort zone for a long while but now, tries to take the step out of – which can be quite a challenge to make this shift.

For others, 'suffering' to them may be; how to share the gospel, how to change people's perspective of GOD, or how to fulfil the calling GOD has for them or for some of us, standing at the crossroad of making a decision that could lead to an unfavourable extent in our Christian faith.

End of the day, we have to decide, 'if we are really suffering?' and we must weigh the worth of our suffering because all that we do is done unto GOD and sometimes the things that we do are actually fulfilling our calling from GOD.  

So, when you think you are suffering, think again; because this 'suffering' brings more good than bad in our life.

be blessed =)

yechow

Battling with Strings

What can the world offer?

Many of us are like puppets in the world. We are tied by the 'world-strings' of wealth, status and comforts of the world.

Little that we know, there are another set of strings. Some of us are tied by invisible strings. Strings that hold you with GOD, strings that we do not see but yet, EXIST.

The strings of the world will leave you crippled once it snaps. You began to feel that the world is like a huge maze – lost, desperate and eventually despair – because the only things you know of the world are just wealth, status and comforts. And, it has been a part of you for as long as you start to look unto these material things.

The strings of the lives of some of us as Christians are tied to God hands. Strings that are woven so strongly that will never snap in many of our circumstances and trying times. And, in these very Hands of GOD, HE guides every strings to the right paths (Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 139:9-10), He made us unique (Psalm 139:13-14) and gives each one of us roles (Ephesians 2:10) to work on in the world with constant teaching and guidance and holding on to the each one of us so that we would not trip and fall (Jeremiah 29:11), with much of HIS patience and love; before we reach our eventual destination.

He takes a great deal of effort to make our lives in the world worth living; manifesting Himself constantly to give us the comfort and assurance. And, telling us that HE is always there and that HE will never let go on the strings we are holding on.

In trouble and trying times, HE will hold on to us more tightly.

Most times we do not feel secure is because we cannot see what lies ahead. Hence, we tend to cling on to the strings of the world; strings that we thought will give securities and fulfilments in lives.

Grab on the right strings, today.

Have faith and be secured because we are tied by the strings of God (Psalm 136) - although we do not see it, but it is there tied on to us tightly.

HE never fails because HE is the GOD! 

ENDING today ..

I thank GOD that the world is always moving - going ahead day by day whether we like it or not. Some of us might think it as it's bad; when we are going through a rough patch in life. Moving forward just seems to be even more insecure and sometimes, causes far more distresses that what it has been today.

HE has not left us living in a world where despair seems stagnant, where stresses just overwhelms and you  get the feeling of something got stuck at your throat and you cannot breathe, a dead end where there's no turning back or sitting for hours with a blank mind. Familiar?

HE has created the world that move forward. We should imitate the world by moving forward too. Depending on your perspective but, this is mine - a forward move strips away layer and layer of unhappiness, fades off the overly saturated sadness in you, dampens the intensity of feeling of unworthiness.

Where do we stand ?

GOD has never meant for us to looked back. GOD's promises focused primarily on the day after today or the day after a month or a year.

GOD taught us to hope, to persevere, to trust. all have something in common . All these, give us a future perspective – the yet to happen perspective. So, what excuse have you got to stay stagnant at one spot, not wanting to barge a single bit? Or, what are you trying achieve by looking back while everything is in the moving towards the front order?  Nothing of the past is going to changed because it has happened and it has been done.

The world does not revolve around you because it moves forward - seconds after seconds, minutes after minutes, hour after hour, day after day, year after year and the list go on. And, to gain from GOD - HIS plans. HIS provision, HIS blessings for you; lift your legs and make another mark on untouched ground (reminds me of creating footprints on the beach).

Move forward for you may not know what GOD has installed for you in the future. Looking back, withholds the blessings from GOD and what has already happened before this; by fussing and pondering over it, will not cause a change anymore.

Jeremiah 29:11

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.

 

blessed day 

yechow

Upkeep and Maintenance

It is not a work hazard or I'm missed doing accounts, and definitely not another accounting jargon to bore you. But indeed, upkeep and maintenance is what I'm going to write on.

What has been enforced on my inspiration to write was the bus ride home from Singapore; which passes many buildings of many shapes, sizes and colours. All these buildings were dirty from the accumulation dust from cars, the weather and the pollutants in the air.

The buildings of many shapes, sizes and colours reflect us. Humans come in different shapes, sizes and skin colours too. Imagine me and your new life (i.e. the new life when we accept HIM as our personal Saviour) as a newly painted building, coated with a new paint - clean and flawless without a speck of imperfection.

However, we lived in a world of impurities which could smudge our lives and also spiritual lives.  

We live in a complex world today, that sometimes, it is hard for us to discern the good from the bad. The complexity of the world has warped our mind – making us difficult to draw a good sturdy line between the good and the bad. We are caught in between – which many refer it as the grey areas in lives and of the world.

Unknowingly, we have been constantly dusted and choked with layers and layers of pollutants of the world.

But knowingly, we all know that we have been saved by HIS grace, been made clean and pure by HIS blood shed on the Cross. Our spirit renewed by HIM through overcoming death and HIS resurrection. We have been made new by HIM. (1 Corinthians 1:30 "God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.")

So, we have got some work to do on our lives and spiritual lives.

Upkeep and maintenance of our spiritual life is essential -'washing' the impurities of the world that have sheered of spiritual life and be constantly on the check of our spiritual lives - to be more attuned to GOD. Effective listening and communicating with GOD; navigates us to correct paths in our lives in the world and the spiritual realm. 

GOD has opened up the eyes and ears of our spiritual lives (HE has helped the blind man sees and deaf ears listened) so, that we are not blind and deaf to the world but, to walk a victorious and meaningful life in the world and our spiritual lives because of HIM.

Be conscious.

 

 

Isaiah 42:18-25 (NIV)

Israel Blind and Deaf

¹⁸ "Hear, you deaf; 
       look, you blind, and see!

 

¹⁹ Who is blind but my servant, 
       and deaf like the messenger I send? 
       Who is blind like the one committed to me, 
       blind like the servant of the LORD ?

 

²⁰ You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; 
       your ears are open, but you hear nothing."

²¹ It pleased the LORD 
       for the sake of his righteousness 
       to make his law great and glorious.

²² But this is a people plundered and looted, 
       all of them trapped in pits 
       or hidden away in prisons. 
       They have become plunder, 
       with no one to rescue them; 
       they have been made loot, 
       with no one to say, "Send them back."

²³ Which of you will listen to this 
       or pay close attention in time to come?

 

²⁴ Who handed Jacob over to become loot, 
       and Israel to the plunderers? 
       Was it not the LORD, 
       against whom we have sinned? 
       For they would not follow his ways; 
       they did not obey his law.

²⁵ So he poured out on them his burning anger, 
       the violence of war. 
       It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand; 
       it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

have a blessed day =)

yechow

 

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The ‘OVER’sized Cross

Have you been wondering what kind of Cross you'll be carrying for JESUS when we were all save by HIS grace on the day of our salvation?

The Cross to me, simply means living the Christian life.

The Cross is not about what you have to do or what you are called to do. It is mainly about giving up our old self and be renewed to living a life being a Christian.

A lot of us including myself, before GOD called us, we have plant thoughts in our heads, some of us have even taken a step back; even before we experience HIS hands in it, we find the nearest door and make our exit. For us, when GOD called us for tasks, it is going to be the biggest and the most not achievable task ever  – consciously or subconsciously we put on the shield that says 'I can't do it', 'I don't have the it, to do it'.

We often magnify our Cross – which adversely make us, look at ourselves as we are too small or weak to handle our lives. We blow up our callings and our servings, making it much more tiresome and difficult for us to reach.

A Cross will not be oversize if we have GOD in it, manoeuvring the steering of our life for us. For HE has walked on path before us and smoothen out rough passages so, that we go through it with the least difficulties.

What makes the path difficult and rough could be the reflection of our minds. It is in all normal human being's defense system - to keep us protected from harm. Physically, we have the skin as the outermost layer which acts as our first layer of defense from any harmful elements. Mentally, we evaluate and discern what is good and bad for us, what we can and cannot do – to keep ourselves protected. How many of us venture into something without giving the slightest thought of it?

Living a Christian life can be a challenge as we battle with our mind. But ultimately, at the end of the challenge, we learn something and grow in our walk which at the same time we are able to experience GOD's miracles and blessings. What could be better than all these?

LIFE is about GOD and you.

No CROSS is too hard to bear because you have HIM.

Through verses GOD has reveal HIS promised to us, to assure us that going through with HIM is not difficult. We must constantly and consciously remind ourselves of GOD's Words:  

Matthew 11:29-30 (New International Version)

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

1 Corinthians 10:13 (New International Version)

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Psalm 55:22(New American Standard Bible)

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

 

have a blessed day =)

yechow

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