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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FW: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Time for Everything

 ¹ There is a time for everything,
       and a season for every activity under heaven:

 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
       a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
       a time to tear down and a time to build,

 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
       a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
       a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
       a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
       a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
       a time for war and a time for peace.

Notice in the verses, there are good times and bad times. All these reflect life; we have our peaks and our slumps. And in these times; GOD is most likely to be neglected. During good times, it's all about fun and doing the things that make us happy and during bad times; we are busy occupying and putting ourselves in the worst possible position.

In both of these situations, we should not have GOD playing bystander role, but, to let HIM intervene and be a part of our joy and sadness - to be able to experience the fullness of the joy and to gain the most valuable lessons from the sadness.

 

Continue to hope in the LORD and give thanks to our wonderful GOD.

yechow

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The Growing Bud (Child)

 

 

Have you seen a flower bud slowly transforming into a beautiful flower?

 

When a bud, it's enclosed and no one will know how this bud will turn out to be. It's so vulnerable that if there is strong wind or rain, it might just blow it off the stem where it's attached to. When we are a child in our Christian walk – still in a stage where we are unsure and adjusting to the new faith; and just like the bud, it's either we sustained the strong wind and rain and grow to be a beautiful flower or fall off the stem.

I saw this stem with a lot of white flowers growing on it (i.e. white sakura flowers). As it continues to grow tall, a rainbow appeared behind it. The petals of the flowers slowly fall off,  dispersing into the direction of the rainbow. A bright white light appeared soon after that - taking the shape of the Cross in front of the rainbow.

 

I felt GOD was saying when you start to grow in your Christian walk, we will be like the bud; so fearful, unsure and with the vague knowledge of what Christianity, we tend to sway in and out of it.

 

And, as we grow to being more like Christ, that advancement of the stage from being a raw Christian to be in a stage where we have already gained more understanding and knowledge and, that we are more steadfast and sure of our faith. Others see a transformation in us and we know that we are in some ways mimicking the life of Christ or working and developing on the values of Christ in us. This is the stage where people will tend to acknowledge that our life is 'shining' for the LORD; reflected from what they see in us – our attitudes and behaviours.

 

As we know more, we begin to understand GOD delivers or fulfilling HIS promises; we know and acknowledges that everything comes from HIM. Take for instance, everything that happened not in our expectations are considered as luck or coincidences when we do not know about Christ but, when we know more about GOD, there are no such things that things unexpectedly happen and it's because you are lucky or the thing happen coincidently. But, everything have happened because of HIM – which also signifies a part of the growth in your Christian walk.

 

The Cross signifies you and your Christian walk and the rainbow tells us about GOD's promises to us. As we walk closer, when you are able to understand who Christ is and transforming to be more like HIM, GOD fulfils HIS promises to u because you are able to decipher how things come about and what HE can do for you – and what GOD is doing is not going to be in vain and, as HE does it and as you understand it your faith heightened gradually with understanding. 

 

Colossians 3:10 (New Living Translation)

¹⁰ Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

 

2 Corinthians 3:18 (New Living Translation)

¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

 

yechow

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When I thought I suffer a great deal ...

Am I suffering?

 

When you think of suffering, think again … many of times when things doesn't seems right or doesn't go right and way beyond your capabilities to handle and it hit the dead ends of our minds – we then classify it in our mind as "we are suffering" …

I had a week of messed up emotions due to what I perceived myself to be in and have it planted in my thoughts … I never look elsewhere … only me, myself hobbling at that thought … it affected almost everything – it ripped my joy and contentment that I should have …

When I was at it, GOD showed me … I saw HIM on the Cross … it was only ONE SIDE of HIM that I saw; HE was at this point in time where the soldiers were going to pinned HIS hand on the Cross …

 

Now, let us imagine, we have all know how painful is it when we get cut or fall and hurt ourselves and it has caused a stigma in us and so much so, we try as much to prevent it from happening again - the 'known' pain  … it's just a surface cut that has caused such weary reactions in us …

How about this? Think of how you would feel (the psychological state) if a big nail is pierce through your palm, break the layer of the skin, penetrates through the inner the muscles, veins and then crush the bones and out from the other side … a BIG ouch to that, right? The thought of it as crazy painful and eerie … and most of us just do not want to go to the extent to give a thought to those kind of pain …

 

Then, I saw HIS face looking at the nails going into HIS hands  - the 'perceived' pain (the pain hurts even more when u look at the nail going through your hand) was already there even before he nail hits through the palm … and that's not all, JESUS did not only had one of HIS hands on the Cross, but, both HIS hands and feet …  and, I'm sure the nails on those parts were not done all at one go … JESUS had to endure this extreme pain more than once … JESUS had to go through the pain episode over and over again and, that's not the end of it, HE was hung up on the cross, bearing HIS weight against the pulling gravity, without water and drink under the hot sun … and the crown of thorns that was on HIS head …

 

What is suffering to you now? I have learnt much from it … not wanting to contemplate with the thought of that so-called suffering I had … what you sow is what you'll reap … so, if you perceive in your thoughts you are suffering, you would end up destroying what GOD has for you …

 

Galatians 6:7-9 (NIV)

A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

 

have a blessed day =)

 

yechow

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Ride With ME

Ride With ME .. this is not a song by Nelly, The single managed to peak at #3 in the U.S. & the UK in 2001 ... but, this so called to RIDE WITH ME is no. 1 in my charts …

 

HE taught me when I was in the MRT that day .. I was thinking to myself, gosh, how bored is it taking MRT day in and day out … but after that lesson, I began to enjoy taking the MRT because HE's there with me … bringing little surprises everyday …

 

The rail .. the walk ..

 

When I was given the thought, I did not know how I should write this down … I sat and ponder, how I should write this ..

It was just past few days GOD gave me the inspiration on what I should do with the thought I had initially developed ... and why I can't decipher what I have to write or how to go about writing it, is because all these happened in the train – the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit); how to write stuff that happen in the MRT? But, thank GOD for HIS wisdom n guidance (for the benefit of those who do not know, it's a express train system in Singapore – which I travel on daily to get to school) ...

It was one fine day, when I was travelling on the train, GOD point out something remarkable and that changes how I took the train … HE told me the our Christian walk using the train …

 

I remember holding on the railing of the train ... closing my eyes trying to catch a wink .. which is pretty impossible to do (I doze off a couple of time, n almost fall, haha) ... but, I just told myself to rest my eyes that day, half aware what's happening around … few seconds after that .. GOD began HIS lessons ...

The MRT is jus t like our Christian walk ... when we board the train, we already know we got up the train to get to a destination … and there are many people in the train ... each person having their own time to get to this destination ... the people travelling with you represents that in this walk there are many people who are with you and you are not alone … but each have their own timing to this ultimate destination (represented by people getting off at their station) 

 

People walk in and out your life ... some people reaches earlier than you ...

 

Holding on the rail is the only assurance that u get when travelling in the train ... keep u from falling and not being pushed around by people ...  

 

Although in this walk a lot of things u could not see or understand … but, you know that you are holding on to SOMEONE and that SOMEONE is GOD … noticed that in the train there are handles everywhere... handles that represent whenever you are going to fall .. there's something you can grab on to and not fall .. GOD make sure that every point of time HE'll be there for you with HIS hands outstretch ready for you to grab on to … Although u are swaying here and there but, as long as you grab on to HIM … you will never fall… everything and everyone will be left behind walking when you reach your destination … n everyone will also reach their destination eventually …

 

Hope when u take the train the next time it'll be a totally different experience =)

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"Do not stop doing good to others".

"Do not stop doing good to others".

 

The Words spoken are vividly planted in my thoughts. I was asking GOD what HE has to say about this. I heard of this verse before and I had to search my thoughts for awhile – then a prompting came that it might be in 2 Corinthians. I flip open my bible to 2 Corinthians and there it is - the page I need to find where my verse:

 

2 Corinthians 9:7-9

 
^"You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,

   

"They share freely and give generously to the poor.
      Their good deeds will be remembered forever."

 

This verse coincides what my thought were when I was deciphering what GOD has told me, "Do not stop doing good to others."

 

We were taught to 'do good; to others since we are young. As Christians, the emphasis of 'doing good' is even more evident. Many of us have been driven by notion whereby, by doing good deeds, we are to be blessed by GOD– and, indeed this is very true, GOD will bless us for 'doing good' and as an added bonus to that and coupled by the faith we have, we know that maybe we can stay in a big bungalow when we go back to Heaven.

 

Ask yourself these:

Do we ONLY do good cause we want to be blessed by GOD?

 

And, what are we going to do if this good does not bring blessings – DO WE STOP?

 

We should not let the notion of 'doing good' to be blessed by GOD; be the only reason for us to do good deeds to others. The basis and intention that comes by 'doing good', comes from our heart (ref: You must each decide in your heart how much to give); I believed that is what GOD want to see in us -the sincerity of out hearts of doing the act of goodness to others. And, this goodness and trueness of the heart of men will truly be blessed by GOD (ref:don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure).

 

have a blessed day

yechow

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