Who am I
We are the Reason
Thank God for the performances!
Dj Hao™
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
PAID IN FULL BY OUR GOD, OUR SAVIOUR
PAID IN FULL
After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time on earth came to the end.
The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.
The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.
As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor.'
He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.
I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.
The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes.
He commanded an awesomepresence as He moved across the room I couldn't take myeyes off of Him.
As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."
The prosecutor rose and said,
"My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this woman belongs in hell..."
He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.
I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.
As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form ofdefense at all.
I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?
Satan finished with a fury and said, "This woman belongs in hell, she is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise."
When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward.
As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty.
I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi, Dad," and then He turned to address the court.
"Satan was correct in saying that this woman had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this woman deserves to be punished."
Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and she has accepted Me as her Savior, so she is Mine."
My Lord continued with, "Her name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch her from Me."
"Satan still does not understand yet. This woman is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done."
"I've done it all."
The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips..
"This woman is free."
"The penalty for her has already been paid in full."
"Case dismissed."
As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I will win the next one." I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"
Christ lovingly smiled and said,
"Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you."
~"Paid In Full"~
Credits: Email from Joyce :D
God bless,
- JO
After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time on earth came to the end.
The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.
The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.
As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor.'
He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.
I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.
The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes.
He commanded an awesomepresence as He moved across the room I couldn't take myeyes off of Him.
As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."
The prosecutor rose and said,
"My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this woman belongs in hell..."
He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.
I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.
As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form ofdefense at all.
I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?
Satan finished with a fury and said, "This woman belongs in hell, she is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise."
When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward.
As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty.
I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi, Dad," and then He turned to address the court.
"Satan was correct in saying that this woman had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this woman deserves to be punished."
Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and she has accepted Me as her Savior, so she is Mine."
My Lord continued with, "Her name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch her from Me."
"Satan still does not understand yet. This woman is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done."
"I've done it all."
The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips..
"This woman is free."
"The penalty for her has already been paid in full."
"Case dismissed."
As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I will win the next one." I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"
Christ lovingly smiled and said,
"Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you."
~"Paid In Full"~
Credits: Email from Joyce :D
God bless,
- JO
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Be thankful
I asked for Strength & God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.I asked for Wisdom & God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity & God gave me Brawns and Brains to work.
I asked for Courage & God gave me Dangers to overcome.
I asked for Patience & God placed me in Situations where I was force to wait.
I asked for Love & God gave me Troubled People to help.
I aked for Favours & God gave me Opportunities.
I asked for Everything so I could Enjoy life.
Instead, He gave me Life so I could enjoy Everything.
I received Nothing I Wanted, I received Everything I Needed.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, remember to give thanks to the Lord for everything that He has given us. Be thankful always !
God bless.
Jo.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
SEEK THE LORD, YOUR GOD.
Seek Him with all your hearts
"But if you shall seek Jehovah your God from there, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." - (Deu 4:29)
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." - (Heb 11:6)
SEEK THE LORD
To seek the Lord means to endeavor to have a closer relationship with Him.
No husband who loves his wife does not seek to be closer to her.
If this is the case for a romantic relationship, how much more should the relationship be with our Lord and Savior? Seek the Lord with all your heart.
He is your first love.
THE PROMISE OF SUCCESS
First of all, be encouraged.
The very fact that you are seeking the Lord ensures your success.
You have a promise from God Himself.
“For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.” - (Mat 7:8)
So how does one seek the Lord? Below are some pieces of advice:
CHRIST THE ONLY WAY
A question once rose in my mind which was this: “Why at the end of all my prayers do I end with saying ‘In Jesus’ name’.”
First of all, when you seek God remember that JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY.
There is no way to the Father but through Him.
This is why we end our prayers with saying ‘In Jesus’ name’.
We are acknowledging that it is by our Lord Jesus that we approach the throne of the Father.
In this way, we seek the God – through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
GET AWAY WITH GOD
Husbands and wives spend alone time together.
They go on vacation or at least get some quiet time.
The church is the bride of Christ and so we must get away with God.
Find a quiet place and spend time alone with Him – just you and Him.
"And it happened in those days that He went out into a mountain to pray, and He was spending the night in prayer to God." - (Luk 6:12)
KEEP THE SABBATH
Remember the Sabbath.
God made this a commandment for a reason, though in these days it has been forgotten.
To remember the Sabbath means to be disciplined to set aside time with God. It doesn’t just have to be on Sunday.
If I say “I’ll spend time with God sometime this week,” the time may never come.
But if I say “I’ll spend time with God before bed tonight on these nights,” I’m much more likely to do it.
PRAYER, SCRIPTURE
During this time obviously prayer, meditation, and reading scripture can be part of it.
But remember that prayer is communication with God.
Do not list out a shopping list of requests for Him to answer, but have a conversation with Him.
Don’t just speak, but listen.
Also remember that reading God’s word is a form of listening to God.
If we listen to what God says in prayer through the Holy Spirit, then we can also listen to what God says by reading His word - for scripture is what God has already said.
Ask the Lord questions, and then pause for awhile and listen for an answer.
MEDITATE ON GOD’S LOVE AND BLESSINGS
Meditate on how much the Lord loves you, what He has done for you and His promises. Thank the Lord for his bountiful provisions and your daily bread.
Meditate on the fact that God has provided others that have blessed your life.
The good that they have done for you is nothing more than God working through them for your good, and vice versa.
Thank the Lord for these people.
PRAISE
Sing to God.
No doubt you know some worship songs.
If you don’t then find some that inspire you to express your heart to the Lord.
Sing them out loud to the Lord.
Think about the words of the song and what they mean, and then open your heart to God in song.
Most secular songs people write are about one thing: romance.
The believer’s song is almost the same except it is aimed toward the Lord, not a girlfriend or a boyfriend.
SERVING
Serve Him.
Serving God is like when a husband buys a wife flowers or a wife cooks a nice dinner for her husband.
Or it’s like when a boy happily mows the lawn and then shows his father.
Serving God is an expression of our love to Him.
Serve the Lord in your church by seeing what you can do to help.
Serve Him outside of the church by becoming a servant to others, for our Lord Himself came not to be served but to serve (Mat 20:28).
Is a servant above his Master?
CAST OFF HINDRANCES
Shun the distractions which serve to draw you away.
If you would run toward a goal, you must cast off all that hinders.
An athlete is going to shed pounds before he or she can be successful in sports. Confess, repent and forsake your sins.
These are the hindrances that keep you from the closest fellowship with God.
Only when one has a clean conscience can one enter into the Holy place.
Be balanced in the time you spend doing your hobbies.
They are relaxing and fun… and altogether a temptation to steal all of our time away.
Just as our money belongs to the Lord, so does our time.
WORK AT IT
You have to put work into it.
“Seek” is a verb, which implies that it is an action.
The sluggard cannot draw near to the Lord because he is lazy.
When the Lord stands at the door and knocks this one is so lazy that he will not even rise to open it!
One too lazy to seek the Lord cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.
SEE GOD IN TRUE LIGHT
You must see God as He really is.
Aim to have such high and lofty thoughts of the Lord that you would rather do nothing other than seek Him.
The only reason to strive toward a goal is that there is a valuable prize.
If you see the Lord in true light then you will see His beauty and majesty and naturally be drawn to Him.
A pig cares nothing of beautiful scenery.
Does a pig stare at a mountain range in admiration?
It takes a person to realize the beauty of God’s creation.
In the same way the more mature we get, the more we will be awe-struck by the majesty of God and desire to look upon Him and draw near.
DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU
Don’t be limited to these methods. Do whatever you can think of in order to get closer to Him. God has given us liberty and has promised success to those who diligently seek Him.
"Evil men do not understand judgment; but those who seek Jehovah understand all things." - (Pro 28:5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeap dear brothers and sisters, let us seek the Lord and continue to grow spiritually together in this family!
Lastly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JIYAO DAOSHI AND REBECCA! :D
God bless!
Jo.
"But if you shall seek Jehovah your God from there, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." - (Deu 4:29)
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." - (Heb 11:6)
SEEK THE LORD
To seek the Lord means to endeavor to have a closer relationship with Him.
No husband who loves his wife does not seek to be closer to her.
If this is the case for a romantic relationship, how much more should the relationship be with our Lord and Savior? Seek the Lord with all your heart.
He is your first love.
THE PROMISE OF SUCCESS
First of all, be encouraged.
The very fact that you are seeking the Lord ensures your success.
You have a promise from God Himself.
“For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.” - (Mat 7:8)
So how does one seek the Lord? Below are some pieces of advice:
CHRIST THE ONLY WAY
A question once rose in my mind which was this: “Why at the end of all my prayers do I end with saying ‘In Jesus’ name’.”
First of all, when you seek God remember that JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY.
There is no way to the Father but through Him.
This is why we end our prayers with saying ‘In Jesus’ name’.
We are acknowledging that it is by our Lord Jesus that we approach the throne of the Father.
In this way, we seek the God – through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
GET AWAY WITH GOD
Husbands and wives spend alone time together.
They go on vacation or at least get some quiet time.
The church is the bride of Christ and so we must get away with God.
Find a quiet place and spend time alone with Him – just you and Him.
"And it happened in those days that He went out into a mountain to pray, and He was spending the night in prayer to God." - (Luk 6:12)
KEEP THE SABBATH
Remember the Sabbath.
God made this a commandment for a reason, though in these days it has been forgotten.
To remember the Sabbath means to be disciplined to set aside time with God. It doesn’t just have to be on Sunday.
If I say “I’ll spend time with God sometime this week,” the time may never come.
But if I say “I’ll spend time with God before bed tonight on these nights,” I’m much more likely to do it.
PRAYER, SCRIPTURE
During this time obviously prayer, meditation, and reading scripture can be part of it.
But remember that prayer is communication with God.
Do not list out a shopping list of requests for Him to answer, but have a conversation with Him.
Don’t just speak, but listen.
Also remember that reading God’s word is a form of listening to God.
If we listen to what God says in prayer through the Holy Spirit, then we can also listen to what God says by reading His word - for scripture is what God has already said.
Ask the Lord questions, and then pause for awhile and listen for an answer.
MEDITATE ON GOD’S LOVE AND BLESSINGS
Meditate on how much the Lord loves you, what He has done for you and His promises. Thank the Lord for his bountiful provisions and your daily bread.
Meditate on the fact that God has provided others that have blessed your life.
The good that they have done for you is nothing more than God working through them for your good, and vice versa.
Thank the Lord for these people.
PRAISE
Sing to God.
No doubt you know some worship songs.
If you don’t then find some that inspire you to express your heart to the Lord.
Sing them out loud to the Lord.
Think about the words of the song and what they mean, and then open your heart to God in song.
Most secular songs people write are about one thing: romance.
The believer’s song is almost the same except it is aimed toward the Lord, not a girlfriend or a boyfriend.
SERVING
Serve Him.
Serving God is like when a husband buys a wife flowers or a wife cooks a nice dinner for her husband.
Or it’s like when a boy happily mows the lawn and then shows his father.
Serving God is an expression of our love to Him.
Serve the Lord in your church by seeing what you can do to help.
Serve Him outside of the church by becoming a servant to others, for our Lord Himself came not to be served but to serve (Mat 20:28).
Is a servant above his Master?
CAST OFF HINDRANCES
Shun the distractions which serve to draw you away.
If you would run toward a goal, you must cast off all that hinders.
An athlete is going to shed pounds before he or she can be successful in sports. Confess, repent and forsake your sins.
These are the hindrances that keep you from the closest fellowship with God.
Only when one has a clean conscience can one enter into the Holy place.
Be balanced in the time you spend doing your hobbies.
They are relaxing and fun… and altogether a temptation to steal all of our time away.
Just as our money belongs to the Lord, so does our time.
WORK AT IT
You have to put work into it.
“Seek” is a verb, which implies that it is an action.
The sluggard cannot draw near to the Lord because he is lazy.
When the Lord stands at the door and knocks this one is so lazy that he will not even rise to open it!
One too lazy to seek the Lord cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.
SEE GOD IN TRUE LIGHT
You must see God as He really is.
Aim to have such high and lofty thoughts of the Lord that you would rather do nothing other than seek Him.
The only reason to strive toward a goal is that there is a valuable prize.
If you see the Lord in true light then you will see His beauty and majesty and naturally be drawn to Him.
A pig cares nothing of beautiful scenery.
Does a pig stare at a mountain range in admiration?
It takes a person to realize the beauty of God’s creation.
In the same way the more mature we get, the more we will be awe-struck by the majesty of God and desire to look upon Him and draw near.
DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU
Don’t be limited to these methods. Do whatever you can think of in order to get closer to Him. God has given us liberty and has promised success to those who diligently seek Him.
"Evil men do not understand judgment; but those who seek Jehovah understand all things." - (Pro 28:5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeap dear brothers and sisters, let us seek the Lord and continue to grow spiritually together in this family!
Lastly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JIYAO DAOSHI AND REBECCA! :D
God bless!
Jo.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Why go church?
Have you ever wonder why Christians should go to church?
For believers, there is no substitute for attending church.
Besides something that pleases God, it is necessary for a believer’s spiritual well-being.
For shut-ins or invalids who aren’t able to go to church, the ministries on radio or TV might be the only kind of fellowship or spiritual nourishment that they get.
God certainly understands the circumstances of these people, and recognizes the sincerity of their hearts.
However, it is a different matter for those who could attend church but are too lazy, or put other things such as entertainment and amusements before God, or who harbor bitterness or indifference toward other believers.
It is important to attend church for the following reasons:
(1) It is an Expression of our Love for God
Going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God.
It is where we can gather with other believers to publicly bear witness of our faith and trust in God, something that is required of all Christians (Matt. 10:32-33) -- and it is where we can bring Him offerings of praise, thanks, and honor, which are pleasing to Him.
The psalmist wrote, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You” (Psa. 22:22).
People are often motivated toward church attendance for how it will bless themselves, however we should remember that the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring “service” to the Lord as a blessing to Him (Psa. 134:2).
Indeed, the Lord is deserving of our time and energy to honor Him with our service of devotion. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11).
(2) It builds up our Spiritual Strength
Receiving the preaching and teaching of the Word of God increases our faith and builds us up spiritually.
Every believer knows what it is to face spiritual conflicts to their faith, and must realize the importance of being fed spiritually so that they can overcome the challenges.
Paul states that Christians face a wrestling match with the Devil and his evil spiritual forces, and warns that the church must put on spiritual armor for protection, as it will take everything at our disposal to stand (Eph. 6:10-18).
How important that we take every opportunity available to receive ministry and strength from God’s Word.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
(3) It brings a special visitation of the Lord’s Presence
There is the promise of a special visitation of the Lord’s presence whenever two or more gather specifically in the name of Jesus.
By implication, this means whenever “Jesus” is the object of gathered prayer, worship, praise, preaching, etc.
Even though Jesus resides within the heart of every believer, he honors a gathering in his name by coming in the “midst,” with his power, awareness, and anointing.
In such a gathering, Christ is able to do things in hearts that he may not at any other time.
The scripture says that God inhabits the praise of His people (Psa. 22:3), and in such an atmosphere the Holy Spirit will often manifest spiritual gifts that minister to the body of Christ. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
(4) It provides fellowship with other Christians
Gathering together also has compounded importance to the relationship of the Christian brethren.
The Bible makes it clear that a right relationship with God requires a “vertical” and “horizontal” alignment — that is, we must have a vertical fellowship with God and a horizontal fellowship with other believers.
It is not possible to love God and refuse to love the brethren.
If you have a problem loving other Christians, you have a problem in your relationship with God. Scripture warns us that unforgiveness toward others will void God’s forgiveness of our own sins (Matt. 6:15).
John wrote, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:9-10).
One of the most important reasons that we go to church is to practice love toward the brethren in the form of fellowship.
The Bible clearly shows that if we have a right relationship with God, we have fellowship with others believers.
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with other believers keeps us humble before God so that Christ’s blood can continue to cleanse us from our sins.
(5) It is an act of obedience to God
Not to be forgotten, going to church is also a matter of obeying God’s Word.
The writer of the Hebrew epistle tells us not to forsake assembling together, implying that continued absence can lead to willful sin.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Heb. 10:24-26). Once again, we are reminded that a great part of the purpose of the gathering is for the consideration of our brethren, coming together to help motivate and encourage one another. This is a responsibility charged to every believer. To reject church attendance, is a rejection of one of the sacred duties of the believer. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
(6) It provides accountability to spiritual leadership
More strong evidence that proves that we’re to be a part of a church fellowship, is that we’re told to submit to the authority of spiritual leaders (within the boundaries of God’s Word). “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). God designed this system of accountability for the progress and protection of His flock. Obviously, this really isn’t possible unless we are a part of an organized fellowship which has identified elders, pastors, or leaders. It is easy to see that one cannot genuinely be under submission to a TV pastor who has never met you. Nor is it possible to be under submission by visiting a different church each week. The Bible tells us to know them that are over us in the Lord (1 Thes. 5:12). Submission necessitates a commitment and relationship to a local body of believers and to their spiritual leaders.
(7) It combines our spiritual strength in prayer
The Bible indicates that agreement in prayer with other believers has special favor with God. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19). There is multiplied strength in the combined faith of God’s people, and it is clear that greater spiritual gains can be realized through corporate prayer and worship. This agrees with how God has historically blessed the union of His people in battle against their enemies. “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you” (Lev. 26:8).
(8) It honors the Lord’s Day
The fourth commandment of the law that God gave Moses was to set aside the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a holy day to the Lord. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). This was, and will always remain, the official Sabbath. However, after Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday, the early Christians began meeting together on this day as well as with the Jewish community in the synagogues on the Sabbath. History indicates that due to the enmity of the orthodox Jews toward the Christian Jews in their midst, the Jewish Christians were eventually ostracized. And although they were no longer bound to a rigid code of laws (Gal. 3:10-11, Col. 2:16), it is believed that they came to view Sunday as a combined observance of the Sabbath and the resurrection day of Jesus (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2). This day of Christian worship came to be called the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10), a day to fellowship in celebration of the resurrection, to worship, pray and study the Word together.
Today, the Christian Jew or gentile, is free from the bondage of the old law. The indwelling of God’s spirit has brought a new way for Christians to fulfill the desires of God through His love (Gal. 5:18, Rom. 13:8-10). However, the new covenant does not invalidate the relevance of the ten commandments as they pertained to God’s wishes for His people. As much as it remains God’s desire for man not to kill, steal or commit adultery, God is still very much pleased for believers to honor Him on a day reserved for Him, out of their love for Him and His people.
Source : http://www.victorious.org/whygo.htm
Additional question to ask yourself and additional information:
(1) What is really your main purpose of going to church?
(2) Excuses why people don't go to church (click on link)
-http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/a/whygotochurch.htm
(3) Do you take an effort to draw close to God everyday? Even for 10minutes?
(4) How strong is your relationship with God? What are the steps that you will take today to build a stronger and closer relationship with Him?
(5) Misconceptions about Christian life (click on link)
-http://christianity.about.com/od/newchristians/a/misconceptions.htm
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Hope dear brothers and sisters will take time to read this and ponder on the questions ! (:
Have a blessed dayyyyyy.
HAPPY FATHERS' DAY TO OUR BELOVED DADDY IN HEAVEN!
God bless
Jo.
For believers, there is no substitute for attending church.
Besides something that pleases God, it is necessary for a believer’s spiritual well-being.
For shut-ins or invalids who aren’t able to go to church, the ministries on radio or TV might be the only kind of fellowship or spiritual nourishment that they get.
God certainly understands the circumstances of these people, and recognizes the sincerity of their hearts.
However, it is a different matter for those who could attend church but are too lazy, or put other things such as entertainment and amusements before God, or who harbor bitterness or indifference toward other believers.
It is important to attend church for the following reasons:
(1) It is an Expression of our Love for God
Going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God.
It is where we can gather with other believers to publicly bear witness of our faith and trust in God, something that is required of all Christians (Matt. 10:32-33) -- and it is where we can bring Him offerings of praise, thanks, and honor, which are pleasing to Him.
The psalmist wrote, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You” (Psa. 22:22).
People are often motivated toward church attendance for how it will bless themselves, however we should remember that the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring “service” to the Lord as a blessing to Him (Psa. 134:2).
Indeed, the Lord is deserving of our time and energy to honor Him with our service of devotion. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11).
(2) It builds up our Spiritual Strength
Receiving the preaching and teaching of the Word of God increases our faith and builds us up spiritually.
Every believer knows what it is to face spiritual conflicts to their faith, and must realize the importance of being fed spiritually so that they can overcome the challenges.
Paul states that Christians face a wrestling match with the Devil and his evil spiritual forces, and warns that the church must put on spiritual armor for protection, as it will take everything at our disposal to stand (Eph. 6:10-18).
How important that we take every opportunity available to receive ministry and strength from God’s Word.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
(3) It brings a special visitation of the Lord’s Presence
There is the promise of a special visitation of the Lord’s presence whenever two or more gather specifically in the name of Jesus.
By implication, this means whenever “Jesus” is the object of gathered prayer, worship, praise, preaching, etc.
Even though Jesus resides within the heart of every believer, he honors a gathering in his name by coming in the “midst,” with his power, awareness, and anointing.
In such a gathering, Christ is able to do things in hearts that he may not at any other time.
The scripture says that God inhabits the praise of His people (Psa. 22:3), and in such an atmosphere the Holy Spirit will often manifest spiritual gifts that minister to the body of Christ. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
(4) It provides fellowship with other Christians
Gathering together also has compounded importance to the relationship of the Christian brethren.
The Bible makes it clear that a right relationship with God requires a “vertical” and “horizontal” alignment — that is, we must have a vertical fellowship with God and a horizontal fellowship with other believers.
It is not possible to love God and refuse to love the brethren.
If you have a problem loving other Christians, you have a problem in your relationship with God. Scripture warns us that unforgiveness toward others will void God’s forgiveness of our own sins (Matt. 6:15).
John wrote, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:9-10).
One of the most important reasons that we go to church is to practice love toward the brethren in the form of fellowship.
The Bible clearly shows that if we have a right relationship with God, we have fellowship with others believers.
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with other believers keeps us humble before God so that Christ’s blood can continue to cleanse us from our sins.
(5) It is an act of obedience to God
Not to be forgotten, going to church is also a matter of obeying God’s Word.
The writer of the Hebrew epistle tells us not to forsake assembling together, implying that continued absence can lead to willful sin.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Heb. 10:24-26). Once again, we are reminded that a great part of the purpose of the gathering is for the consideration of our brethren, coming together to help motivate and encourage one another. This is a responsibility charged to every believer. To reject church attendance, is a rejection of one of the sacred duties of the believer. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
(6) It provides accountability to spiritual leadership
More strong evidence that proves that we’re to be a part of a church fellowship, is that we’re told to submit to the authority of spiritual leaders (within the boundaries of God’s Word). “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). God designed this system of accountability for the progress and protection of His flock. Obviously, this really isn’t possible unless we are a part of an organized fellowship which has identified elders, pastors, or leaders. It is easy to see that one cannot genuinely be under submission to a TV pastor who has never met you. Nor is it possible to be under submission by visiting a different church each week. The Bible tells us to know them that are over us in the Lord (1 Thes. 5:12). Submission necessitates a commitment and relationship to a local body of believers and to their spiritual leaders.
(7) It combines our spiritual strength in prayer
The Bible indicates that agreement in prayer with other believers has special favor with God. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19). There is multiplied strength in the combined faith of God’s people, and it is clear that greater spiritual gains can be realized through corporate prayer and worship. This agrees with how God has historically blessed the union of His people in battle against their enemies. “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you” (Lev. 26:8).
(8) It honors the Lord’s Day
The fourth commandment of the law that God gave Moses was to set aside the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a holy day to the Lord. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). This was, and will always remain, the official Sabbath. However, after Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday, the early Christians began meeting together on this day as well as with the Jewish community in the synagogues on the Sabbath. History indicates that due to the enmity of the orthodox Jews toward the Christian Jews in their midst, the Jewish Christians were eventually ostracized. And although they were no longer bound to a rigid code of laws (Gal. 3:10-11, Col. 2:16), it is believed that they came to view Sunday as a combined observance of the Sabbath and the resurrection day of Jesus (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2). This day of Christian worship came to be called the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10), a day to fellowship in celebration of the resurrection, to worship, pray and study the Word together.
Today, the Christian Jew or gentile, is free from the bondage of the old law. The indwelling of God’s spirit has brought a new way for Christians to fulfill the desires of God through His love (Gal. 5:18, Rom. 13:8-10). However, the new covenant does not invalidate the relevance of the ten commandments as they pertained to God’s wishes for His people. As much as it remains God’s desire for man not to kill, steal or commit adultery, God is still very much pleased for believers to honor Him on a day reserved for Him, out of their love for Him and His people.
Source : http://www.victorious.org/whygo.htm
Additional question to ask yourself and additional information:
(1) What is really your main purpose of going to church?
(2) Excuses why people don't go to church (click on link)
-http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/a/whygotochurch.htm
(3) Do you take an effort to draw close to God everyday? Even for 10minutes?
(4) How strong is your relationship with God? What are the steps that you will take today to build a stronger and closer relationship with Him?
(5) Misconceptions about Christian life (click on link)
-http://christianity.about.com/od/newchristians/a/misconceptions.htm
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Hope dear brothers and sisters will take time to read this and ponder on the questions ! (:
Have a blessed dayyyyyy.
HAPPY FATHERS' DAY TO OUR BELOVED DADDY IN HEAVEN!
God bless
Jo.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Broken Heart?
Comfort for the Broken Heart
It is never easy to endure heartbreak.
Sometimes it may even feel as though half of your life has left you, but there is a Physician who can heal the wounded heart, there is One who loves you infinitely more than anyone on earth could ever love you.
`To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need.’ (MYP250)
Friend, God loves you with a love that is everlasting - it will never change - and He will never forsake you.
His is a love that is so strong that He was willing to bear the pain of seeing His Son dying the death that you and I deserve.
Would the one over whom your heart is now broken have been willing to do that for you?
Would your lost love have been willing to die so that you may live?
Yes, your heart is broken, but Jesus is waiting right now . . . He invites you to place your trembling hand in His.
He has a deep and intense interest in your life and He wants to calm your fears and to ease your sorrows.
No, God never promised that life would be easy, or that life would be free from pain, but He has promised that He will always be there when you need Him.
He longs to cradle your brow to His bosom, He wants you to tell Him just how you feel.
It does not matter how bad you might have been, or for how long you might have ignored Him - go on, right now, and speak to your heavenly Father, tell Him how much it hurts, unburden your sad heart to Him, and you will surely feel His love filling the aching void that has been left in your life.
The time will surely come when you will not feel the pain and the loss as you do now, so look ahead to that time, shift your thoughts from the present to the future - to the moment when you will look back on this day and marvel at how God uses time to heal all wounds.
You might have lost your love, but you are not unloved.
Start today and work on your vertical love relationship with God, then He will surely work out your next horizontal love relationship - without all the pain.
Make God's love the supreme interest of your heart, then you will be able to keep all other relationships in perspective. Give your heavenly Father your supreme affections, and you will never again hurt as you are hurting today.
We invite you to turn in your Bible to Isaiah chapter 53.
This chapter is the central message of Scripture, for it speaks of a love that has no parallel - it speaks of the brokenhearted Jesus . . . Yes, even He was brokenhearted.
This chapter tells how we broke His heart, and how He endured supreme suffering in order to attract us to Him. His love is true love and true love is unconditional, and it cannot change.
Spend time now considering this chapter - it will heal your aching heart.
Then, starting tomorrow, try setting aside the best hour in every day, preferably some time before breakfast, to sit quietly with Jesus and allow Him to speak to you out of His word.
No one will ever love you like Jesus does.
source: http://www.friendswhocare.org/heartbroken.htm
Yeap, as what Myrtie Hobson said, "God will mend a broken heart if you give him all the pieces."
-jo
It is never easy to endure heartbreak.
Sometimes it may even feel as though half of your life has left you, but there is a Physician who can heal the wounded heart, there is One who loves you infinitely more than anyone on earth could ever love you.
`To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need.’ (MYP250)
Friend, God loves you with a love that is everlasting - it will never change - and He will never forsake you.
His is a love that is so strong that He was willing to bear the pain of seeing His Son dying the death that you and I deserve.
Would the one over whom your heart is now broken have been willing to do that for you?
Would your lost love have been willing to die so that you may live?
Yes, your heart is broken, but Jesus is waiting right now . . . He invites you to place your trembling hand in His.
He has a deep and intense interest in your life and He wants to calm your fears and to ease your sorrows.
No, God never promised that life would be easy, or that life would be free from pain, but He has promised that He will always be there when you need Him.
He longs to cradle your brow to His bosom, He wants you to tell Him just how you feel.
It does not matter how bad you might have been, or for how long you might have ignored Him - go on, right now, and speak to your heavenly Father, tell Him how much it hurts, unburden your sad heart to Him, and you will surely feel His love filling the aching void that has been left in your life.
The time will surely come when you will not feel the pain and the loss as you do now, so look ahead to that time, shift your thoughts from the present to the future - to the moment when you will look back on this day and marvel at how God uses time to heal all wounds.
You might have lost your love, but you are not unloved.
Start today and work on your vertical love relationship with God, then He will surely work out your next horizontal love relationship - without all the pain.
Make God's love the supreme interest of your heart, then you will be able to keep all other relationships in perspective. Give your heavenly Father your supreme affections, and you will never again hurt as you are hurting today.
We invite you to turn in your Bible to Isaiah chapter 53.
This chapter is the central message of Scripture, for it speaks of a love that has no parallel - it speaks of the brokenhearted Jesus . . . Yes, even He was brokenhearted.
This chapter tells how we broke His heart, and how He endured supreme suffering in order to attract us to Him. His love is true love and true love is unconditional, and it cannot change.
Spend time now considering this chapter - it will heal your aching heart.
Then, starting tomorrow, try setting aside the best hour in every day, preferably some time before breakfast, to sit quietly with Jesus and allow Him to speak to you out of His word.
No one will ever love you like Jesus does.
source: http://www.friendswhocare.org/heartbroken.htm
Yeap, as what Myrtie Hobson said, "God will mend a broken heart if you give him all the pieces."
-jo
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
PRAY AND THANK GOD
Yup, dear brothers and sisters, let's lay our burdens before God.
Thank God for all that you've been through.
Continue praying until something happens.
Most of all, believe and have faith when you pray! (:
God bless,
JO.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
If you're not choosing to spend regular time with God, then you're choosing to die spiritually.
In many cultures, life is centered around food. Very few people in the western world would go for more than 10 or 12 hours without food or drink. Besides the fact that food is built into culture, doing so would make one very hungry.
Many people wouldn't dare going physically hungry; yet they starve themselves spiritually. If you ate food only once a week, you'd certainly die of starvation and malnutrition. Yet countless Christians do exactly that in their spiritual lives.
It is no wonder that Jesus called himself the bread of life (John 6:35). In order to grow spiritually, you must feed on spiritual food -- God's word.
Have the attitude found in Isaiah 26:8: Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Make it your desire to know God better.
When you regularly spend time with God -- praying, seeking him, and studying his word -- you will thrive spiritually. Take some advice from the psalmist: Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always (Psalm 105:4).
Make time with God a priority in your live. If you made being well fed spiritually as important as be well fed physically, your relationship with God would thrive.
extract from : http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2010-04-12
Dear brothers and sisters, let us regard His presence and the relationship with our Lord as the most important thing in our life ! Let us never to doubt it or take it for granted! :)
-jo
In many cultures, life is centered around food. Very few people in the western world would go for more than 10 or 12 hours without food or drink. Besides the fact that food is built into culture, doing so would make one very hungry.
Many people wouldn't dare going physically hungry; yet they starve themselves spiritually. If you ate food only once a week, you'd certainly die of starvation and malnutrition. Yet countless Christians do exactly that in their spiritual lives.
It is no wonder that Jesus called himself the bread of life (John 6:35). In order to grow spiritually, you must feed on spiritual food -- God's word.
Have the attitude found in Isaiah 26:8: Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Make it your desire to know God better.
When you regularly spend time with God -- praying, seeking him, and studying his word -- you will thrive spiritually. Take some advice from the psalmist: Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always (Psalm 105:4).
Make time with God a priority in your live. If you made being well fed spiritually as important as be well fed physically, your relationship with God would thrive.
extract from : http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2010-04-12
Dear brothers and sisters, let us regard His presence and the relationship with our Lord as the most important thing in our life ! Let us never to doubt it or take it for granted! :)
-jo
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Happy Easter Day!
As Christians, we believe that Jesus resurrected after 3 days from His death.
Through His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.
YAY! Let's thank God for His Sacrificial Love for us even though we are not worthy and don't deserve it, not even a single bit.
HAPPY EASTER DAY ! :D
-jo
What is Good Friday?
Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday, is a day when Christians remember Jesus' death on the cross.
For Christians, Good Friday is a time to be with Jesus in his time of suffering and wait with him in hope of God's promise, eternal life to all who believe. The "good" in Good Friday reflects the Christian hope of resurrection and new life in Jesus, foreshadowing Easter Sunday, when Christians believe that God resurrected Jesus from the dead.
Why is Good Friday called Good?
The words good and celebrate don’t seem like the right words to explain this holy day but they are.
Good Friday is celebrated the Friday before Easter Sunday. As with Easter Sunday, Good Friday does not fall on the same date each year. This is because Good Friday is a moveable feast and it is based on a lunar calendar similar to the Hebrew Calendar. Most other American holidays, like the Fourth of July, are based on the regular calendar known as the Gregorian Calendar, which is a solar calendar.
As discussed in Chris Armstrong's article titled "The Goodness of Good Friday," dated August 8, 2008 and found on the Christian History website, there are many explanations for why such a solemn day is called good. The Old English word for holy is good, so that translates to Holy Friday. Another thought is that Good Friday comes from “God’s Friday,” just like “good-bye” is derived from “God be with ye.” The simplest explanation is that the day is truly good because in Christ’s death, God had the last word. His people were redeemed by the death of Jesus Christ.
The Cross and Good Friday
Good Friday is the day that Christians focus especially on the cross and Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of the world. The cross is a central symbol of the Christian faith. Christians believe that Jesus, son of God, died to save all believers from sin, all that separates human beings from God. The cross reminds Christians of Jesus' death and their salvation, how Jesus saved them from death by dying in their place.
Jesus' crucifixion, death on the cross, is the source of eternal life for all who believe according to Christian teaching. Jesus put himself in the place of every believer's sins as he suffered for the whole world by sacrificing his own life.
Atonement, Jesus giving himself for the sins of Christians, saves all Christians from hell and suffering. Good Friday is a time for Christians to remember Jesus' sacrifice and reflect on how the cross has saved them from their sins
extract from:
http://catholic-practices.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_is_good_friday
http://protestantism.suite101.com/article.cfm/good_friday_meaning_and_purpose
Christ's death is celebrated by Christians around the world in many different ways but the signifigance of this holy day is universal; if Jesus had not suffered and died, we would not have been saved by his resurrection, so let's commemorate this day in rememberance of our precious Lord Jesus who died for us(:
-jo
For Christians, Good Friday is a time to be with Jesus in his time of suffering and wait with him in hope of God's promise, eternal life to all who believe. The "good" in Good Friday reflects the Christian hope of resurrection and new life in Jesus, foreshadowing Easter Sunday, when Christians believe that God resurrected Jesus from the dead.
Why is Good Friday called Good?
The words good and celebrate don’t seem like the right words to explain this holy day but they are.
Good Friday is celebrated the Friday before Easter Sunday. As with Easter Sunday, Good Friday does not fall on the same date each year. This is because Good Friday is a moveable feast and it is based on a lunar calendar similar to the Hebrew Calendar. Most other American holidays, like the Fourth of July, are based on the regular calendar known as the Gregorian Calendar, which is a solar calendar.
As discussed in Chris Armstrong's article titled "The Goodness of Good Friday," dated August 8, 2008 and found on the Christian History website, there are many explanations for why such a solemn day is called good. The Old English word for holy is good, so that translates to Holy Friday. Another thought is that Good Friday comes from “God’s Friday,” just like “good-bye” is derived from “God be with ye.” The simplest explanation is that the day is truly good because in Christ’s death, God had the last word. His people were redeemed by the death of Jesus Christ.
The Cross and Good Friday
Good Friday is the day that Christians focus especially on the cross and Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of the world. The cross is a central symbol of the Christian faith. Christians believe that Jesus, son of God, died to save all believers from sin, all that separates human beings from God. The cross reminds Christians of Jesus' death and their salvation, how Jesus saved them from death by dying in their place.
Jesus' crucifixion, death on the cross, is the source of eternal life for all who believe according to Christian teaching. Jesus put himself in the place of every believer's sins as he suffered for the whole world by sacrificing his own life.
Atonement, Jesus giving himself for the sins of Christians, saves all Christians from hell and suffering. Good Friday is a time for Christians to remember Jesus' sacrifice and reflect on how the cross has saved them from their sins
extract from:
http://catholic-practices.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_is_good_friday
http://protestantism.suite101.com/article.cfm/good_friday_meaning_and_purpose
Christ's death is celebrated by Christians around the world in many different ways but the signifigance of this holy day is universal; if Jesus had not suffered and died, we would not have been saved by his resurrection, so let's commemorate this day in rememberance of our precious Lord Jesus who died for us(:
-jo
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Being Optimistic not Pessimistic!
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:13)
I Can Vs. I Can't
He who THINKS he can, very likely can and will! Likewise, he/she who THINKS they can't is right, and surely will not, because they will follow what they THINK.
Some people fail to begin the Christian life, thinking they can't hold out! Some start and drop out, thinking there are too many difficulties! Many, as Paul, under difficult circumstances finish the course (2 Tim. 4:6-8). With the mind set that they could, they did.
Determination comes from having decided that one CAN and thus they will, because God will enable them to do so! Beloved, let us have the mind set that Paul manifested and therefore, we'll achieve good things on earth and be prepared for the blessing of heaven! Let each of us say with the apostle, "I can do all things through Christian who strengthens me."
Christ is the avenue to real spiritual success.
Strength is provided for me, you and anyone who willingly submits! Paul attributed all his success to the strength given him by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So, must we all recognize and accept that fact: without Him we can actually do very little or nothing that really counts in the eternal perspective (Jn. 15:4).
Conclusion: Look at Paul, Daniel and others --in difficult situation purposed Not to be defeated; understanding each can succeed!
1. Only in and through Christ!
2. He'll give us strength -- when we are weak enough to depend on Him, we are strongest! Beloved each of us can do all things that REALLY COUNT through Christ who strengthens!
extract from: http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-philippians-4-13.htm
Fellow brothers and sisters, let's learn to lean on God and His Strength always. Remember that there is nothing that you and the Lord can't handle together today (:
-jo (finally signing off with my name)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
praying even when you feel spiritually dry
Why I must pray even when I don’t feel like it
I’m feeling very convicted by what I read in Don Carson’s book, “A Call to Spiritual Reformation“.
Some time ago I developed a very strange way to evaluate my prayer life that actually led me to pray less. Originally this helped to alleviate my feelings of guilt about not being as prayerful as the giants of the faith, and it ironically arose from a deeper grasp of the doctrine of my salvation by grace alone. Where before I had wrongly viewed prayer as an obligation to earn God’s love and acceptance, yet because I now knew it was not by my prayerfulness or any other good works that I am saved and justified, I find myself less motivated to pray. Why should that be?
I say things like “I’m sure God doesn’t want me to pray out of obligation”, and “praying when I don’t feel like it means I am doing it to justify myself and earn brownie points, thus nullifying the Cross, and that’s wrong”. I was thinking that to please the Lord by praying more is to deny the power of the Cross. But what was good and right was that I came to see I didn’t have to pray in order to get grace and love from God. Whenever I was tired or dry, or just don’t feel like praying I’d simply say “It’s okay not to pray.” I sure thought I was avoiding legalism successfully.
Don Carson writes in the chapter on ‘Excuses for Not Praying” that we are in fact ‘casting a terrible slur on the cross when we act as if the usefulness or acceptability of our prayers turns on whether we feel full or dry’ (pg 114). And then he describes a further error I make, which is ‘to assign to my mood or my feelings the right to determine what I ought to do (which is) unbearably self-centered. It is to act as if the Bible never says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom 12:12, emphasis added)’ (pg 115)
Of course it’s catastrophic and heretical to think that my prayerfulness earns my salvation, justifies me before God, and is the basis of his love for me. But, on the basis of the Cross alone, now that I am reconciled to him, it would be more atrocious notto seek him in regular prayer, which is essentially communion witth him.
As one preacher I’ve been learning from often puts it: It’s not that we ought to pray, but we get to pray. To the God of the Universe, who loves me not on the basis of my saintliness or prayerfulness but on the basis of his own faithful love! So I should pray even when I feel spiritually dry. It’s my privilege and also a command which I should love to obey, because it’s for my good that he has commanded it.
I’m feeling very convicted by what I read in Don Carson’s book, “A Call to Spiritual Reformation“.
Some time ago I developed a very strange way to evaluate my prayer life that actually led me to pray less. Originally this helped to alleviate my feelings of guilt about not being as prayerful as the giants of the faith, and it ironically arose from a deeper grasp of the doctrine of my salvation by grace alone. Where before I had wrongly viewed prayer as an obligation to earn God’s love and acceptance, yet because I now knew it was not by my prayerfulness or any other good works that I am saved and justified, I find myself less motivated to pray. Why should that be?
I say things like “I’m sure God doesn’t want me to pray out of obligation”, and “praying when I don’t feel like it means I am doing it to justify myself and earn brownie points, thus nullifying the Cross, and that’s wrong”. I was thinking that to please the Lord by praying more is to deny the power of the Cross. But what was good and right was that I came to see I didn’t have to pray in order to get grace and love from God. Whenever I was tired or dry, or just don’t feel like praying I’d simply say “It’s okay not to pray.” I sure thought I was avoiding legalism successfully.
Don Carson writes in the chapter on ‘Excuses for Not Praying” that we are in fact ‘casting a terrible slur on the cross when we act as if the usefulness or acceptability of our prayers turns on whether we feel full or dry’ (pg 114). And then he describes a further error I make, which is ‘to assign to my mood or my feelings the right to determine what I ought to do (which is) unbearably self-centered. It is to act as if the Bible never says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom 12:12, emphasis added)’ (pg 115)
Of course it’s catastrophic and heretical to think that my prayerfulness earns my salvation, justifies me before God, and is the basis of his love for me. But, on the basis of the Cross alone, now that I am reconciled to him, it would be more atrocious notto seek him in regular prayer, which is essentially communion witth him.
As one preacher I’ve been learning from often puts it: It’s not that we ought to pray, but we get to pray. To the God of the Universe, who loves me not on the basis of my saintliness or prayerfulness but on the basis of his own faithful love! So I should pray even when I feel spiritually dry. It’s my privilege and also a command which I should love to obey, because it’s for my good that he has commanded it.
source: http://www.victorcandy.com/2009/10/why-i-must-pray-even-when-i-dont-feel-like-it/
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So let's apply what we've learnt and start a prayerful life by taking everything to our God in prayer!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS
sorry for the lack of updating.
big thank you to all of you who are still checking out this blog!
i have a few announcements to make.
#1: Anshao camp is in 6 days time!!
Remember to pack your bags and prepare your hearts for the camp!
Also, for those who have not pay up, please pay by this Sunday (13dec) to Esther or Grace.
The shirts have been nicely printed, we will be able to get it on Tuesday (15dec) itself :D
#2: Caroling!
For those who have signed up for caroling or are interested, there will be a short practice on Sunday (13 dec), from 11am - 1130am.
Let me know if you guys want the list of songs, i can email you guys. :D
#3: Last day of the year.
Thanksgiving dinner on 31 Dec will be held at Yan Ge Restaurant, situated in Chinatown.
There will be programmes, other than food, lined up for you!
Those who have not paid, please pass the money to Junyan.
If you face any financial difficulties, feel free to look for any Daoshis or Junyan.
After the dinner, everyone is encouraged to go back to church to attend Watch Night Service.
We'll be sharing our thanksgiving for the church and ourselves, praying and counting down together!
Annual Unofficial Anshao Stayover is not confirmed yet.
More details and information to be released at a later date.
Do check out your Fackbook events and remind your friends to visit this space + fb!
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK AHEAD! :D :D :D
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
some rights and wrongs
Sometimes we wonder if what we do is right or wrong. Here are answers to some questions which you might want to know.
Question: "Should a Christian listen to secular music?"
Answer: The question of whether a Christian should listen to secular music is one that many Christians struggle with. There are many secular musicians who are immensely talented. Secular music can be very entertaining. There are many secular songs that have catchy melodies, thoughtful insights, and positive messages. In determining whether or not a Christian should listen to secular music, there are three primary factors to consider: (1) the purpose of music, (2) the style of music, and (3) the content of the lyrics.
(1) The purpose of music. Is music designed solely for worship, or did God also intend music to be soothing and/or entertaining? The most famous musician in the Bible, King David, primarily used music for the purpose of worshipping God (see Psalm 4:1; 6:1; 54:1; 55:1; 61:1; 67:1; 76:1). However, when King Saul was tormented by evil spirits, he would call on David to play the harp in order to soothe him (1 Samuel 16:14-23). The Israelites also used musical instruments to warn of danger (Nehemiah 4:20) and to surprise their enemies (Judges 7:16-22). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul instructs Christians to encourage one another with music: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19). So, while the primary purpose of music does seem to be worship, the Bible definitely allows music to be used for other purposes.
(2) The style of music. Sadly, the issue of music styles can be very divisive among Christians. There are Christians who adamantly demand that no musical instruments be used. There are Christians who only desire to sing the “old faithful” hymns. There are Christians who want more upbeat and contemporary music. There are Christians who claim to worship best in a “rock concert” type of environment. Instead of recognizing these differences as personal preferences and cultural distinctions, some Christians declare their preferred style of music to be the only “biblical” one, and declare all other forms of music as ungodly at best or at worst, satanic.
The Bible nowhere condemns any particular style of music. The Bible nowhere declares any form of musical instrument to be ungodly. The Bible mentions numerous kinds of string instruments and wind instruments. While the Bible does not specifically mention drums, it does mention other percussion instruments (Psalm 68:25; Ezra 3:10). Nearly all of the forms of modern music are variations and/or combinations of the same types of musical instruments, played at different speeds or with heightened emphasis. There is no biblical basis to declare any particular style of music to be ungodly or outside of God’s will.
(3) The content of the lyrics. Since neither the purpose of music nor the style of music are determinant as to whether a Christian should listen to secular music, the content of the lyrics must be considered. While not specifically speaking of music, Philippians 4:8 is an excellent guide as to what we should listen for in the lyrics of music, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” If those are the things we should be thinking about, surely also those are the things we should invite into our minds through music and lyrics. Can the lyrics in an entirely secular song be true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? If the answer is yes, there would be absolutely nothing wrong with a Christian listening to a secular song of that nature.
At the same time, it is abundantly clear that much of secular music does not meet the standard of Philippians 4:8. Secular music often upholds immorality and violence while demeaning or belittling purity and integrity. If a song glorifies what opposes God, a Christian should not purposefully listen to it. However, there are many secular songs that have no mention of God, but still uphold godly values, such as honesty, purity, and integrity. If a love song promotes the sanctity of marriage and/or the purity of true love—but does not mention God or the Bible—such a song can still be listened to and enjoyed.
It is a fact that whatever a person allows to occupy his mind will sooner or later determine his speech and his actions. This is the premise behind Philippians 4:8 and Colossians 3:2,5: establishing wholesome thought patterns. Second Corinthians 10:5 says we should "take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ." These Scriptures give a pretty clear picture of the kind of music we should not listen to.
Obviously, the best kind of music we can listen to is that which praises and glorifies God. There are very talented Christian musicians in nearly every musical genre, ranging from classical, to rock, to rap, to reggae. There is nothing inherently wrong with any particular style of music. It is the lyrics that determine whether a song is “acceptable” for a Christian to listen to. But if a style of secular music, whether in the music itself or in the lyrics, leads you to think about or get involved in something that does not glorify God, it should be avoided.
Question: "Is it a sin to cuss / swear / curse?"
Answer: It is definitely a sin to swear (curse, cuss, etc.). The Bible makes this abundantly clear. Ephesians 4:29 tells us, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." First Peter 3:10 declares, "For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech." James 3:9-12 summarizes the issue: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
James makes it clear that the lives of Christians—the “brothers”—should not be characterized by evil speech. By making the analogy of both salt water and fresh water coming from the same spring (which is uncharacteristic of springs), he makes the point that it is uncharacteristic for a believer to have both praise and cursing come from his/her mouth. Nor is it characteristic for us to praise God on one hand and curse our brothers on the other. This, too, is uncharacteristic of a true believer.
Jesus explained that what comes out of our mouths is that which fills our hearts. Sooner or later, the evil in the heart comes out through the mouth in curses and swearing. But when our hearts are filled with the goodness of God, praise for Him and love for others will pour forth. Our speech will always indicate what is in our hearts. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
Why is it a sin to cuss / swear / curse? Sin is a condition of the heart, the mind, and “the inner man” (Romans 7:22), which is manifested in our thoughts, actions and words. When we swear and curse, we are giving evidence of the polluting sin in our hearts that must be confessed and repented of. Thankfully, our great God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When this happens, we receive a new nature from God (2 Corinthians 5:17), our hearts are transformed, and our speech reflects the new nature God has created within us.
***
Hope this helps to clear up some doubts.
Lets cont to leave a life that is pleasing and glorifying to God! :) Have a blessed week ahead!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Hello all,
since this blog has not been update for quite a while, i shall take the honor to do so.
any way, as majority of us are in the examination period, do remember to take time to pray and praise the Lord, cause He is worthy of our praises. =)
no matter what your results are, praise Him.
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
kai wen.
since this blog has not been update for quite a while, i shall take the honor to do so.
any way, as majority of us are in the examination period, do remember to take time to pray and praise the Lord, cause He is worthy of our praises. =)
no matter what your results are, praise Him.
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
kai wen.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Desert Song
hey all, there are some of us having exams/test season right now, and it's probably high-stress time. just want to share this song which reminds us that in every season, we can praise God and be victorious in all that we do.
the lyrics:
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow
i've also posted this song on the anshao facebook group. listen to it, it has significance for everyone =)
jiayou to the people who are having CAs/common test week/Poly semester exams!
- becky
the lyrics:
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow
i've also posted this song on the anshao facebook group. listen to it, it has significance for everyone =)
jiayou to the people who are having CAs/common test week/Poly semester exams!
- becky
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