Spiritual Lessons from 2005

Hello people :D I know this seems self-centered and egotistical, but for my first post to this devotional, I'm going to share about the Spiritual Lessons I've learnt in 2005. My justification for doing so is taken from 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV) "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

1) Miracles don't belong to Big Shots.
Over the years, I've heard many testimonials of miracles and healings from Pastors and Church leaders. Exposure to this sort of minstering has left me with the deep conviction that "God does Miracles in the lives of Pastors and Leaders for the empowerment of their church community" Upon coming to Melbourne. I've realised gradually that God is a God of Love, and that the very fact that He died on the cross to save me from my sins is a miracle that I'm living in all day, everyday (virgin birth, Resurrection, etc). The God of the universe loves us so much that He's willing to entertain our prayers anytime. To sum this up, everyone sick or infirmed that I've prayed for has been miraculously healed by the blood of Jesus Christ as written in 1 Peter 2:24,
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (KJV) and in "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases" "(NIV) Isaiah 53:4 cited in Matthew 8:16-17
I am a nobody. I don't have any position in church. But even though I am a nobody in the eyes of the world, God loves me as much as any Pastor, Evangelist or Prophet in the church.

2) God loves me.
Having come from a self-destructive Pre-salvation state. The idea of someone loving me was a non-existential concept (satan used to convince me thoroughly that people alighted from Public Transport because someone named Darren got on). But what I've learned in 2005, is that not only does God love me; He loves me very much too. Probably one of the biggest spiritual lessons learnt in 2005 took place yesterday at City Harvest Church. Jane assured me that I was going to feel very welcome in her church. On the contrary, I did not. The only two people who came up to talk to me were requests to move to the front and for tissue paper. During the service, when everyone was hugging each other and thanking everyone for the great work they've done. I felt like the loneliest person on earth (picture everyone singing fellowship songs with arms around each other's shoulders...everyone except me). But it was in that critical moment,
God began to show me the revelation that I've been looking for throughout the year. That NO MATTER how lonely I was, God still loves me. It seems like a simple lesson. But to Darren, who has been feeling resentment at his home church for isolation...it's big. As written in Psalm 23:4 (NIV) "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me..."

3) Freedom
The lesson of Freedom had been taught to me in a dramatic turn of events one night at the BOOM youth service. I went for service alone. I was feeling depressed, and my heart was full of nasty crap which satan had placed in my heart to weigh me down. Then the first song played, and the revelation which I had been subconciously looking for slowly opened my eyes. Freedom. Freedom. I had been depressed because someone had been saying mean things about me and it held me in bondage. I had been depressed, because I let the world, and sin, and satan, and the lies of the enemy bind me into submission. But then I realised, Jesus died to set me free. Why am I living a life of bondage to the enemy? Is it not written in Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" Gal 5:1 (NIV). From that moment on...I lived a life of freedom.

4) God Answers Prayer
Perhaps this is the most embarassing lesson I've learnt over the year. It's straight-forward and simple. God answers Prayer. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you"Matt 7:7 (NIV)

In all things...I cannot stress this enough. Give God Glory. All Honour and Glory and Power Belongs to God above. I dont need to give evidence here because it is unnecessary. All reason and arguments fail when You're confronted by the holiness of God. Everything wallows up into a deep ball of Praise when Confronted By the Glory of God. (Isaiah 6:5...Note that Isaiah was a big shot in his times, He was a writer, a politician and a teacher)

To God be all Honour, Glory and Power, Forever and Ever.
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen

missing you all

Hey guys, i miss you all badly...i guess for the past few days i've been faccing some difficulty maintaining that so called 'level-of-faith; that i had in melb. but something happened recently that got my hopes up again! GUESS WHAT!
well, i started this sister cell group thing for my sisters, the three of us, back home, in a format much like the one we had in melb. and my youngest sister, right at this very moment, she's actually doing QT in earnest. IN EARNEST. with a pen and notebook and everything!!! i'm inspored... so guys, remember her in your prayers, that she willlcontinue to seek God with all her heart and FIND him. oh, and my mom wants to recieve the gift of tonges. so pray for her too!!! love you all!!

miracles.

It's me. again. Am I the only using this blog? anyway, whatever it is... if this is read, then so be it. If not, then too bad :P


Many a miracle we see and hear about.
Each day, every passing moment is a miracle in itself.
Yet we just don't notice, what is a miracle?
Is it a prayer answered? A dream fufilled? A wish granted? Things that you long and hope for, finally realised?
Doesn't matter anyway.

I was in church last week, and I looked at the weekly church brochure/bulletin-like thing that they handed to me as I went in... The miracle service.
As usual, they talked about the same old stuff... this person got their healing.. blah blah. (they keep using the same people, same testimonials...) After a year, it really gets me wondering, aren't there other testimonies that they could share?
That very same day, the pastor talked about the miracle service. He said that the miracle service is one of the least held service in churches (around the world?). Well, that struck me. That was just about the only thing that I remember now after almost a whole week...
What about the miracle service? I don't know. The pastor urged us all to attend the miracle service on a regular basis. Because that is when God moves. That is when all come together and pray... for healing... all coming with expectations... and you can really see the results... some of the testimonials shared at the end of the service just make me feel so. AMAZED.
The last time I went for one of those services was a couple of years ago...

Today, I just read another testimonial. Not from someone I know personally. Just randomly surfing the net when I came across this:
http://www.memphiswest.com/jodie/index.html

And then I thought, is it only in times of sickness that people come closer to God, or even know him at that point? For me, it hits me like a hammer on the nail. It's something close to heart. Because it is through illness, that I have realised how vulnerable we are, and realise God's greatness and his awesome power... and it is in this, that I have learnt to value life more and more each day, despite it's trials and all the worries and problems.

I know it hasn't exactly been the greatest day of the year (16th December 2005) to have received Trinity Foundation Studies results early in the morning.. and for some, to have stayed up till 4am (or wake up at 4am) to go online and grab a hold of disappointment.
But all I want to say is that: much as everyone looks at results, grades, marks, all the numbers and letters that seem so insignificant, yet they bear so much weight... that's not everything there is to life.

Life is so much more. There's so much more to live for, especially when we are placing God first in all that we do. There's nothing better than having that feeling... to be able to cling on to a hope that many in the world do not see. It gives me a sense of joy to think that there's always someone who cares for me in this world, no matter who I am in this world.

This year has been a tough year. The years after may not promise anything better, but even as the year draws near the end, I will never forget what Pastor Matt said about 'not winding down at the end of the year, but continue to look forward and start believing greater things for next year'.

It's not easy for one who is disappointed, because of all the limitations and the pains in this world... all the worries, all the troubles. But choose instead, cast your cares upon the Lord, because He cares for you.
After all, He's all you're living for, right?


Basically, to sum it all up:
Keep praying for that miracle that you want, because I believe that a miracle in the world's eyes is really just another simple thing in God's eyes.
What's impossible can become a reality.
Even I am struggling to believe in my miracles.
If anyone has a prayer request, just post it here or send an email...

p.s. Jane actually suggested sending her all our prayer requests... and I think we've all forgotten about that?

devotions

Psalm 37

• "commit your way to the Lord"
• be joyful in the Lord + trust Him + being passionate = He will give you the desires of your heart
• fill our minds with things of God, not the 'wisdom' of the world
• having the right attitude when looking at things
  eg. rejoice in the successes of others
  not complaining but working towards the goal
• shouldn't let our emotions control us, but put God first
  eg. an emotion such as ANGER leads to wrath (wrath: manifestation of anger)
  putting God first is asking Him to help us control our tongue when we're angry OR developing an attitude of right speech (not venting emotions on others...)
• inherit the promise land of God, not dwell in the land of the world
• dwell in God's "safe pasture".. in the security of knowing that God has a purpose in everything
• striving the be pure and blameless, children of God (refer to Philippians 2:14); or else we'll spark off the war of speech because others have put a standard for Christians..

Psalm 107:2 “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so”

• always think and pray before you speak. (ASAP – always say a prayer… it’s not only for times when we cry out to God for help, but it’s also in our everyday lives... because prayer is as close as we can get to God, therefore, we should be praying as much as we can… whether we’re walking… talking to other people… we can choose to live in God’s kingdom, not in the natural world. To not live in the natural world means to be able to listen to God’s voice in everything that we’re doing… prayer helps in some way to allow God to speak to us, because when we focus our attention on God alone, in prayer… we are tuning out of the world and to His voice…)
• ‘Remember that outspokenness is good when it is the compelling desire to let others around you know about [God]’
• Because we live in this world for God and not for anyone else… we are going to say or speak of what the Lord has done in our lives… “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so”: because we have been given the greatest gift of salvation by our Father in heaven, we are His children. We must reflect His ways, His glory, His righteousness… In our everyday lives, whatever we speak should be reflecting a Christ-like character… to be exhibiting the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)
• We’re redeemed because of God’s love for us… and this is the greatest gift that He’s given us… so we should be using this love for everyone…

~~*~~*~~

Revelations 2:1-7

The loveless church – God is love and shows love in abundance. He is patience; Love is patient… and love never gets angry. There’s a difference between saying things out of love and saying things out of anger. For example: “Come here now” à in hate: brings fear…. In love: brings comfort, hope, peace…

Most of the time we talk about actions speaking louder than words… but when you speak, your words speak louder than your actions. Are we an empty can rolling about making lots of sound, or are we the same can, filled with love, making sounds that are pleasing and loud. Or are we a can filled with hate, making horrible, evil sounds… it’s all about the sound of our words… even a whisper can create a whole change… even if the person you talk about never hears it… it creates a change… to think is one thing, to say is another. To synchronise what you think and what you say with your heart, what is it saying to you? We said that people hurt us with words, and often we complain about things that happened or has been said. We tell people what they should do, are you doing the same thing, which you said they are doing…? Are you more perfect than them…? Are you smarter… better? What gave you the right to say such things…? Rejoice when other people are happy. Be solemn when people are sad. Do not destroy joy with anger and hate. But rather, join in and rejoice… for in joy comes peace, with peace comes patience, kindness… the fruits of the spirit. And only if you can grab a hold of what you say and fix it on your spirit, your heart, only then may you be saying something that is worth it. For corrupting joy with anger, corrupting love with hate, you’re no better than the devil himself… For that is what he sets out to do. And that is what he wants us to do. Because what better way to bring down a Christian, than to set his friends against him. And… when you cause somebody to fear you, especially your friend, you make them start thinking, am I worth it? These things cause insecurities.. and eventual backsliding.. Because of one moment of anger most of the time due to lack of patience, you didn’t synchronise your heart, mind and spirit.. and after that, you didn’t seek apology and forgiveness and accepted it for the way it is. Healing begins when forgiveness starts… and also depends what kind of forgiveness we give.

Forgiveness in the Lord. Or forgiveness in the world. (grudge)

à Forgiveness but if we still hold on to the grudge, we tend to only look at the bad side of that person. So when the person makes the same mistake again, we just cling on even tighter to that grudge.. we should let go of it right from the beginning, or else the grudge will take over us and it will become harder to let go in the future.

put on the smile

Just a thought about something which I originally wanted to share during the last devotions on friday... but I decided not to because it seemed rather out-of-place. But since we now have a blog, I thought I might as well just post it here... Hopefully it makes some sense.

Because I'm a rather confused person, therefore I don't even feel like I understand myself most of the time. I don't know why I do things, but just because I do them... so often, I feel as if I were having multiple personalities.. because I could be happy for a moment and then suddenly walk away the next, feeling sad... maybe I'm just mad.. but oh well...

Here goes:

Keeping up appearances…? Why do we have appearances… why do we say that we’re tired of putting up a smile? If we say that we’re keeping up appearances, then it means that we’re not really joyful, but rather we’re creating a double standard for ourself.

We should be joyful in spirit… in our hearts, we should have that supernatural joy of God, and that will overflow into our speech and actions… not because we force ourselves into it, but because it’s in our nature…

In God’s kingdom, there’s freedom. What is this freedom? This is not freedom to let our minds wander and to let the devil come and implant his thoughts into our mind, but freedom in Christ… It’s freedom in Christ that allows us not to be bound by what others do, what they think and how they perceive us. It’s about living for God. Ignoring those who try to put us down. Just as when we’re happy, we don’t want to be put down, same thing goes for everyone… why should we be putting others down when they’re feeling happy?

What kind of appearances are we putting up? Is it because we have never really committed things into God’s hands, but rather we’re holding on to our past (values and everything…). We’re not smiling in our spirit, but we are placing the veil… But 2 corinthians 3:16 says that the veil is taken off because of Christ… so, why are we still keeping up appearances? Aren’t we supposed to live in freedom? We must cultivate that joyful spirit…something which I really need to learn…

Genesis..

Genesis 1 : 14 - 16
Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night' and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the ehavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. Then God made two great lights : the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser lgiht to rule the night. He made the stars also.

It's the beginning. It's our journey down the road of life with God. So let this journey be an awesome one.

Psalm 139

my ever- favourite chapter...:) to know that we have been fearfully and wonderfully made is awesome enough...now let's live out that beauty day by day in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity, by constantly asking God to search our hearts and know us. what an awesome God we serve... :)
by the way trish, this blog has almost the same name as my multiply one! hahaha kewl...