It had been a couple of days since I could not find my passport. I was not too sure where I had put it. Even to the point of of not being certain if I had taken it with me when I went out two weeks ago.
I looked everywhere in my room. I searched all my clothes and on the table where I normally put it and still could not find it. I began to panic as I had not even photocopied it knowing I had visa stamps inside and am planning to travel this month.
Today, after cleaning my room and being fed up that I could not find it, I randomly opened one of my books and I saw my passport on the inside cover! I had such an unspeakable joy!
I instantly sensed God speaking to me about the things that we hold dear to us in our lives: passport, houses, cars, jewelry, etc but then how much value do we place on His Word? This may sound cliché but the psalmist in Psalm 119 saw it as a reality. For he said
"The law from Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces." (verse 72)
Do we have such a passion, such desire, such hunger, such craving for God's Word? May we re-evaluate our priorities in life.
I'll end with this:
"My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother.
For they are a [victor's] chaplet (garland) of grace upon your head and chains and pendants [OF GOLD WORN BY KINGS] for your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9 Amplified,emphasis mine)
May we harken unto God's voice in His teachings and treasure it more than anything.
Blessings.:)
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Heart Matters
I am excited about this new season in my life because God has been speaking to me through His Word, although the flesh does not want to hear it all the time.
I have come to know that in life, it is vital to have a clean hearts before God and not only have it altogether outwardly. People generally say that silent men are the most dangerous, because when they act, you would be so suprised and the impact would be deeper than the expected 'loud' person. There was something residing in their hearts that propelled them to act out so furiously.
I believe God's more interested in the condition of our hearts than He is with our works.
When Job's sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a bust offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one them sinned by defying God INWARDLY" (Job 1:5 The Message, emphasis mine)
There's a lesson I'm learning here: What do I have inside of me that is residing in my heart that is unpleasing to God. We may not be sexually active, but do we lust in our hearts? We may not be thieves, but do we covet or get jealous about other people's things? We may not be murderers but do we have anger towards other people?
Jesus said:
"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder'. I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder...You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices- they also corrupt." (Matthew 5:21-22a, 27-28 The Message)
Wow. May we be purified from the inside out and may our hearts be cleaned by Him that sees it as barely as it is.
Blessings.:)
I have come to know that in life, it is vital to have a clean hearts before God and not only have it altogether outwardly. People generally say that silent men are the most dangerous, because when they act, you would be so suprised and the impact would be deeper than the expected 'loud' person. There was something residing in their hearts that propelled them to act out so furiously.
I believe God's more interested in the condition of our hearts than He is with our works.
When Job's sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a bust offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one them sinned by defying God INWARDLY" (Job 1:5 The Message, emphasis mine)
There's a lesson I'm learning here: What do I have inside of me that is residing in my heart that is unpleasing to God. We may not be sexually active, but do we lust in our hearts? We may not be thieves, but do we covet or get jealous about other people's things? We may not be murderers but do we have anger towards other people?
Jesus said:
"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder'. I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder...You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices- they also corrupt." (Matthew 5:21-22a, 27-28 The Message)
Wow. May we be purified from the inside out and may our hearts be cleaned by Him that sees it as barely as it is.
Blessings.:)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Hold On
Still on the book of Esther, I cannot help but be inspired in the way to persevere concerning our rights and promises in God.
The Jews were meant to be destroyed by Haman, the most powerful man after the king. But Esther prayed and fasted believing God for the restoration of her people.
She kept knocking both on God's door and on the king's too.
Jesus tells us to "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keep on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. " (Matthew 7:7-8 Amplified).
I urge us to hold on to what we know is rightfully ours. For God does not forget.
I'll end with this:
"I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward." (Philippians 4:14 Amplified)
Blessings.:)
The Jews were meant to be destroyed by Haman, the most powerful man after the king. But Esther prayed and fasted believing God for the restoration of her people.
She kept knocking both on God's door and on the king's too.
Jesus tells us to "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keep on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. " (Matthew 7:7-8 Amplified).
I urge us to hold on to what we know is rightfully ours. For God does not forget.
I'll end with this:
"I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward." (Philippians 4:14 Amplified)
Blessings.:)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Walk With Me
I'm enjoying writing these posts because these are practical lessons that I keep learning over and over again.
I have just been reading the book of Esther and the first chapter is full of lessons as it is. I'll zoom into one that stands out the most: "Who am I walking with?"
When Queen Vashti refused to obey her King Xerxes, the latter "called in his counselors, all experts in legal matters" (Esther 1:13 The Message). The Amplified says "...the king spoke to the WISE men who KNEW THE TIMES..." (emphasis mine)
This great king who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, who was wealthy enough to show the riches of his glorious kingdom for 6 months, this king in his situation where the queen disobeyed him, needed some advice.
Kings and presidents all have people around them to give them advice in governing a kingdom or country. Who do you run and listen to for advice in critical situations?
One of the king's highest-ranking priests who was also amongst his expert advisors named Memucan "spoke up in the council..." (1:16) and his "advice pleased the king and the princes, AND THE KING DID WHAT Memucan proposed" (verse 21)
When facing tough decisions, who do we listen to? Because "evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character." (1 Corithians 15:33 Amplified).
"Become wise by walking with the wise" is what King Solomon said in Proverbs 13:20a (The Message)
I choose this day to intentionally walk with the greatest counsellor there ever will be: the Holy Spirit. For He is a great "Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby" (John 14:16 Amplified).
He has counselled so many such as the Apostle Paul and other men of God and led them to do mighty exploits! And He does know the times I'm living in.
Join me to choose to have the G-O-D team on board to advise you how to best navigate through this life.
"The wise counsel GOD gives when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart." (Psalm 16:7 The Message)
I have just been reading the book of Esther and the first chapter is full of lessons as it is. I'll zoom into one that stands out the most: "Who am I walking with?"
When Queen Vashti refused to obey her King Xerxes, the latter "called in his counselors, all experts in legal matters" (Esther 1:13 The Message). The Amplified says "...the king spoke to the WISE men who KNEW THE TIMES..." (emphasis mine)
This great king who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, who was wealthy enough to show the riches of his glorious kingdom for 6 months, this king in his situation where the queen disobeyed him, needed some advice.
Kings and presidents all have people around them to give them advice in governing a kingdom or country. Who do you run and listen to for advice in critical situations?
One of the king's highest-ranking priests who was also amongst his expert advisors named Memucan "spoke up in the council..." (1:16) and his "advice pleased the king and the princes, AND THE KING DID WHAT Memucan proposed" (verse 21)
When facing tough decisions, who do we listen to? Because "evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character." (1 Corithians 15:33 Amplified).
"Become wise by walking with the wise" is what King Solomon said in Proverbs 13:20a (The Message)
I choose this day to intentionally walk with the greatest counsellor there ever will be: the Holy Spirit. For He is a great "Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby" (John 14:16 Amplified).
He has counselled so many such as the Apostle Paul and other men of God and led them to do mighty exploits! And He does know the times I'm living in.
Join me to choose to have the G-O-D team on board to advise you how to best navigate through this life.
"The wise counsel GOD gives when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart." (Psalm 16:7 The Message)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
One way, One vision, One door
At some point in my life, I had found myself living a "double life" and I've come to realise that it is this lack of singleness of purpose that made me stumble. My God tells me that He has placed before me life and death and even goes on to advise me to choose life! (Deuteronomy 30:19).
In the face of adversity we always have a choice to make. When Peter was walking on water, his focus was on Jesus, and when the atmosphere around him instilled fear in him, he stopped looking at Jesus and began looking at the waves and started sinking.
James tells me that the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (1:8). In Revelation Jesus says
"You're not cold, you're not hot- far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit."
(3:16 The Message). Other versions use the word 'lukewarm' which is double-mindedness. Have you ever had lukewarm tea or coffee? Its tastes weird in one's mouth..
What then is the solution? I've found out that singleness of purpose is the way to overcome. It is said of King Jesoshaphat that "He was single-minded in following GOD; AND HE GOT RID of the local sex-and-religion shrines" (2 Chronicles 17:6 The Message, emphasis mine).
That right there is the solution: to be focused on the person of Jesus, to be single-minded and as a result the things that used to appeal to you won't appeal to you anymore because they would have been displaced by a new vision, a new passion to please God.
I've found myself in the past lacking this single-mindedness and falling in the arms of temptation. But I now know better.
I'll end with this: The lover in Song of Songs describe his bride as follows,
"You're so beautiful, my darling, so beautiful, and your DOVE EYES are veiled" (4:1 The Message, emphasis mine).
I'm told that doves can only look at one direction at a time. This means that when the lovers look at each other, there is a passionate single-mindedness at hand that enables them to be focused on one another only..
May we be men and women of one vision like the dove, and as a consequence be victorious over sin.
Blessings.:-)
In the face of adversity we always have a choice to make. When Peter was walking on water, his focus was on Jesus, and when the atmosphere around him instilled fear in him, he stopped looking at Jesus and began looking at the waves and started sinking.
James tells me that the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (1:8). In Revelation Jesus says
"You're not cold, you're not hot- far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit."
(3:16 The Message). Other versions use the word 'lukewarm' which is double-mindedness. Have you ever had lukewarm tea or coffee? Its tastes weird in one's mouth..
What then is the solution? I've found out that singleness of purpose is the way to overcome. It is said of King Jesoshaphat that "He was single-minded in following GOD; AND HE GOT RID of the local sex-and-religion shrines" (2 Chronicles 17:6 The Message, emphasis mine).
That right there is the solution: to be focused on the person of Jesus, to be single-minded and as a result the things that used to appeal to you won't appeal to you anymore because they would have been displaced by a new vision, a new passion to please God.
I've found myself in the past lacking this single-mindedness and falling in the arms of temptation. But I now know better.
I'll end with this: The lover in Song of Songs describe his bride as follows,
"You're so beautiful, my darling, so beautiful, and your DOVE EYES are veiled" (4:1 The Message, emphasis mine).
I'm told that doves can only look at one direction at a time. This means that when the lovers look at each other, there is a passionate single-mindedness at hand that enables them to be focused on one another only..
May we be men and women of one vision like the dove, and as a consequence be victorious over sin.
Blessings.:-)
Wait A Minute...
Wow, it has been a while since I wrote something. These past six months have been quite turbulent for me and I had found myself neglecting the crucial need of inquiring of God before making decisions.
I learnt something today: "the Art of Asking HIM before doing it". I came to learn it as I studied the life of Asa, King of Judah.
In his thirty-sixth year of reign, the king of Israel attacked him. Instead of first seeking the face of God, King Asa was found giving silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of GOD to the King of Aram in order to help him.
This is what God had to say:
"Because you went for help to the king of Aram and didn't ask GOD for help, you've lost a victory over the army of the king of Aram. Didn't the Ethiopians and Lybians come against you with superior forces, completely outclassing you with their chariots and cavalry? But you asked GOD for help and he gave you the victory...You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble- one round of war after another" (2 Chronicles 16:7-9 The Message).
Could the trouble many of us find ourselves in be attributed to the fact that we haven't asked for divine help? I've found myself making decisions from a merely intelligent point of view without 'consulting' Him that knows the way ahead and I'm still paying the price for such decisions.
Three years later, "Asa came down with a severe case of foot infection. He DIDN'T ASK GOD FOR HELP, but INSTEAD went to the doctors. THEN ASA DIED..." (verses 12-13 The Message- emphasis mine).
Once again I observe that King Asa relied on human help rather than inquire of God. It is crucial in this day and age to be found inquiring of God when faced with life's difficulties and pains. For it is in Him that we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
I choose to wait a minute (if not an hour or days) in order to seek God before I make a move simply because unless the Lord Himself builds the house that I'm building (ie have His blessing) I would be building in vain (Psalm 127:1).
I'm choosing this day to embrace King David's habit of inquiring of God before making a move.
I'll end with the words of King Asa's son, Jehoshaphat: "Before you do anything, ask GOD for guidance" (2 Chronicles 18:4 The Message)
Blessings!
I learnt something today: "the Art of Asking HIM before doing it". I came to learn it as I studied the life of Asa, King of Judah.
In his thirty-sixth year of reign, the king of Israel attacked him. Instead of first seeking the face of God, King Asa was found giving silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of GOD to the King of Aram in order to help him.
This is what God had to say:
"Because you went for help to the king of Aram and didn't ask GOD for help, you've lost a victory over the army of the king of Aram. Didn't the Ethiopians and Lybians come against you with superior forces, completely outclassing you with their chariots and cavalry? But you asked GOD for help and he gave you the victory...You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble- one round of war after another" (2 Chronicles 16:7-9 The Message).
Could the trouble many of us find ourselves in be attributed to the fact that we haven't asked for divine help? I've found myself making decisions from a merely intelligent point of view without 'consulting' Him that knows the way ahead and I'm still paying the price for such decisions.
Three years later, "Asa came down with a severe case of foot infection. He DIDN'T ASK GOD FOR HELP, but INSTEAD went to the doctors. THEN ASA DIED..." (verses 12-13 The Message- emphasis mine).
Once again I observe that King Asa relied on human help rather than inquire of God. It is crucial in this day and age to be found inquiring of God when faced with life's difficulties and pains. For it is in Him that we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
I choose to wait a minute (if not an hour or days) in order to seek God before I make a move simply because unless the Lord Himself builds the house that I'm building (ie have His blessing) I would be building in vain (Psalm 127:1).
I'm choosing this day to embrace King David's habit of inquiring of God before making a move.
I'll end with the words of King Asa's son, Jehoshaphat: "Before you do anything, ask GOD for guidance" (2 Chronicles 18:4 The Message)
Blessings!
Friday, April 17, 2009
"Oh Snap! What Was It Again?"
It's been just over a month and I decided to even blog from my mobile! Because I desire to be intentional about this:
I was having a cell (connect/home) group meeting last night and whilst we were praying, I was stirred to challenge us all about the things we allow to be fed into our systems.
On many instances, when God revealed Himself in the Old Testament, the people built altars as a visual remembrance of what God Himself had done, or to recall and mark down the encounter they had with Him.
In fact, Psalm 106 tells us of how many times the Israelites would turn away from God, just after He did astounding miracles such as letting crossing the Red Sea!
"Our Fathers in Egypt understood not nor appreciated Your miracles; they did not [earnestly] REMEMBER the multitude of Your mercies nor IMPRINT Your loving-kindness [on their hearts], (Amplified)... They were barely beyond the Red Sea when they defied the High God-the VERY PLACE HE SAVED THEM! -the PLACE He revealed His amazing power! (The Message)
(Psalm 106:7-8)
That's because when they were faced with a situation, they immediately placed their focus on that problem they had, instead of "meditating on and talking of God's wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27b).
We become what we behold. And many times, just like the Israelites, we're faced with situations even just after our breakthrough, yet we end up 'meditating' (aka worrying) on the issue at hand than ponder on His previous works in our lives.. For this reason Moses commanded the Israelites to magnify God's commandments:
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
"And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]
You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them PENETRATE, and TEACH and IMPRESS them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.
And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets (forehead bands) between your eyes.
And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Wow! God wants us to have His Word "dwell in us richly" (Colossians 3:16a) in order that we may be ready to bounce back with it when we faced with challenges..
I urge you to start writing the Word on your walls. Use a big foot, make them large so that you can always SEE it and refer to it in your trials. May we be people in whom the Word of God is found richly than all the other intakes life throws at us such as movies, newspapers, music, television, studies.
Blessings on you all!
I was having a cell (connect/home) group meeting last night and whilst we were praying, I was stirred to challenge us all about the things we allow to be fed into our systems.
On many instances, when God revealed Himself in the Old Testament, the people built altars as a visual remembrance of what God Himself had done, or to recall and mark down the encounter they had with Him.
In fact, Psalm 106 tells us of how many times the Israelites would turn away from God, just after He did astounding miracles such as letting crossing the Red Sea!
"Our Fathers in Egypt understood not nor appreciated Your miracles; they did not [earnestly] REMEMBER the multitude of Your mercies nor IMPRINT Your loving-kindness [on their hearts], (Amplified)... They were barely beyond the Red Sea when they defied the High God-the VERY PLACE HE SAVED THEM! -the PLACE He revealed His amazing power! (The Message)
(Psalm 106:7-8)
That's because when they were faced with a situation, they immediately placed their focus on that problem they had, instead of "meditating on and talking of God's wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27b).
We become what we behold. And many times, just like the Israelites, we're faced with situations even just after our breakthrough, yet we end up 'meditating' (aka worrying) on the issue at hand than ponder on His previous works in our lives.. For this reason Moses commanded the Israelites to magnify God's commandments:
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
"And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]
You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them PENETRATE, and TEACH and IMPRESS them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.
And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets (forehead bands) between your eyes.
And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Wow! God wants us to have His Word "dwell in us richly" (Colossians 3:16a) in order that we may be ready to bounce back with it when we faced with challenges..
I urge you to start writing the Word on your walls. Use a big foot, make them large so that you can always SEE it and refer to it in your trials. May we be people in whom the Word of God is found richly than all the other intakes life throws at us such as movies, newspapers, music, television, studies.
Blessings on you all!
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