Why doesn't GOD bless me???

Some people ask, "why doesn't GOD bless me? Why are others more blessed? Doesn't GOD love me?"

GOD loves you, even while you were still a sinner. And He still loves you when you rebel against Him. Like a loving father, GOD doesn't disown us, despite our wilful disobedience, though some might be guilty of walking away from Him.
So if GOD loves me, why am I not as blessed as others?

Firstly, what is your definition of blessing? Are you primarily looking at material and worldly blessings? Are you looking at wealth, creature comfort, sensual pleasure, status symbols?... If so, please look at how Jesus defines blessing in Matthew 5:1-12. To Him, blessing stems invariably from a relationship with GOD and a security and assurance that lies in His presence.

King David said he would rather be a doorkeeper in the temple of GOD than to dwell in the tents of the wicked, and that a day in GOD's temple is better than a thousand elsewhere. Blessings are to be defined in relation to GOD, not to self. Blessings are never separate from GOD. If you are looking for blessings apart from GOD, there is the world and all that satan promises, if you worship him.

How dare you judge me and call me a devil worshipper!

The truth is, if satan can convince you to desire his kind of "blessing", if he can make you look away from GOD, if he can make your stomach your god, it is enough. You have chosen to worship him.

OK, so tell me, how am I blessed if I am struggling with so many challenges, when I don't have enough for all my needs?

There is only one thing you need to do. Seek first GOD's Kingdom and His righteousness. Make His business yours, and nothing else. Have no agenda besides His. He promises you He would take care of your needs.

Martha complained to Jesus about having so much to do and a loafer of a sister who did nothing to help. Jesus said that only one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen it, which was to sit at His feet.

Go, and do likewise.

Thomas

A reminder of GOD's grace

The topic of Cochlear Implant (CI) cropped up again this morning.

My wife suggested that I consider it. She told me not to worry about the financial aspects of the implant and all that it entails. She assures me that we have enough savings. It pains her to see me struggle with losing my hearing, and not do anything about it.

I thank GOD for a loving wife who thinks nothing of letting me spend tens of thousands of dollars, just so that I can hear better. A year ago, she encouraged me to get a new hearing aid which costs over $2000. And now she says go for the CI.

When I prayed about the CI option this morning, it just didn't seem right, no matter how I tried to justify it. A good friend and sister in Christ, J, who is also hearing impaired like me, told me that she decided against CI as she felt GOD is able to sustain her by His grace. His grace, His boundless grace! The apostle Paul says, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9. What was I thinking??? I am sorry, GOD.

I just told my wife that I will not go for CI. I thank GOD for reminding me through J that He sustains us through His grace. I will face my giants as David did, without special armour or powerful weapons. Just GOD. A BIG GOD.

Even though I know the world, especially the marketplace demands nothing but the best, I will face it with my weaknesses and faith in GOD. If nothing, this will serve as my testimony of GOD's love and power. I don't need to package myself as a perfect person, just a regular person with weaknesses who trusts in a perfect GOD who provides and sustains. Hallelujah!

In His Love,
Thomas

Going, and letting go

"But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another..." -
Matthew 10:23

It was a week of DOUBLE whammy.

First, I learned that a colleague in Malaysia, L, who is a good friend, has resigned. Then I found out that another colleague J, a faithful brother and wonderful friend, is also leaving the organization.

People come and go; that's life. But when you have seen the best and the worst, the sincere and the hypocrites, the diligent and the political, you can't help but feel a tinge of sadness as more of the former leave.

They say birds of a feather flock together. I can't agree more. Can a sparrow flock with hawks without becoming lunch? While the migratory birds have flown south, those who remain face a tougher time with flocks of a predatory kind. They circle endlessly, swoop down when you barely notice, and knock you out cold.

But praise be to GOD, for "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Father GOD, give us the strength and grace that we badly need. Strength to stand up to the oppressors, grace to forgive and love them as You do. At the right time, LORD, lead us where You want us to go. There is a time for everything, as Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:1. "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted" - Ecclesiastes 3:2. By inference, a time to join, and a time to separate, a time to come, and a time to go, a time to draw near, and a time to walk away, shaking the dust off our feet.

In everything, let no sin be found in our words, actions and thoughts. May Your will be done, O LORD, and may Your Name be blessed forever.

Amen.

Thomas

P.S. 1005

"For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations." Psalm 100:5

The LORD is good

Indeed, I cannot agree with the psalmist more. The LORD is good, and goodness is embodied in Him alone. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD. The good that we have measures poorly in the eyes of GOD, no matter how hard we try. Yet, it is this contrast that helps us see and appreciate the good in GOD.

I thank GOD that He is not afraid to identify with me and my sins. After all, He was the One who took my sins upon His body at the cross. He is familiar with my sins, and the temptations and trials that I face. Now, He longs for me to be familiar with His love, to understand how it is sufficient to cover a multitude of sins in my life and those of others, and to apply His love over every shortcoming, every unmet expectation, and every trespass.

His mercies are everlasting

The LORD is also patient and His mercies are everlasting. Each day I come to Him in dire need of His mercies and forgiveness, and I have never failed to receive them, not even once. The tax collector "stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'" - Luke 18:13. And Jesus said, "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. (v.14). Justification for a tax collector, scumbag, public enemy, and me. Always.

The thief at the cross, condemned for perhaps a lifetime of transgressions, turned to Jesus and said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" - Luke 23:42-43

Is this fair? No, it is not, but that's exactly how mercy works. This is the mercy we receive from GOD, and it is the same mercy that others need to experience from us.

His truth endureth to all generations

GOD's Word is truth, truth that lasts, truth that makes a difference in a corrupt and degenerating society. In a world where lies are openly paraded as alternatives, and moral truths compromised for convenience or selfish gains, GOD's truth is the only one that remains, the only beacon shining out of the intense darkness that has enveloped this world. It is our only hope, the only foundation that stays strong when others are being eroded.

The psalmist says in Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path". And again in v24: "Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors". GOD knows the way and His Word shows the way. His Word directs us above the confusion and confounding of moral values. It will expose the lies plainly as lies. Hold on to GOD's Word for life, for "for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body" - Proverbs 4:22

Love,

Thomas

Rising from The Valley of The Shadow of Death

Ancient of Days, You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

You were there when the world began, and You will be there at the end.

Right from the start, You have presided over all that takes place in our world, in our lives.

When I found myself in the valley of the shadow of death, and my heart trembling, I realised that You are with me.

I didn't know where to look, what to do and who to speak to as deadenness increased.

That's when

You met me in the depth of my sorrow, breathed life into a deadened spirit looking for rest.

And You said, "I will sustain you. I will get you out of bed - out of your listlessness and exhaustion, and out of your condition of being half dead while you are still alive.

I will penetrate you with the spirit of life." "Come to me......and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NLT.

GOD grabbed me. GOD's Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them - a lot of bones!

There were bones all over the plain - dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Master GOD, only you know that."

He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones: 'Dry bones, listen to the Message of GOD!" GOD, the Master, told the dry bones, "Watch this: I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life.

I'll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You'll come alive and you'll realise that I am GOD!" Ezekiel 37:1-6 The Message.

If there is anyone who can resurrect the dead, it would be GOD. Only the Author of Life can restore life to dry bones, bring hope to a situation of utter despair.

Some of us linger a little too long in the shadow of our past, only to miss living in the present. Some of us try to live in the present carrying the baggage from our past.

It takes time to heal and step out of the shadow of our past and begin walking in the light of life again. While we are on the road, it's best to carry only what we need and leave old baggage behind.

And sometimes God places people in our lives that play a part in the process of helping us grow.

For the past two years, I have had the God-given opportunity to share my life with someone who did just that.

The authenticity and forthrightness of her character drew me out of my shell. She showed me strength, tenacity and generosity in living.

We fought, laughed and cried. Through the years, I have found a mentor, a senior, a friend, a confidante and a support in you.

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 NKJV. You have sharpened me, Da Guo.

And I like to share this with you.

Come, my friends,

'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

Push off, and sitting well in order smite

The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds

To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths

Of all the western stars, until I die.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:

It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,

And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.

Though much is taken, much abides;

and though we are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

ULYSSES - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Xiao Guo ",+

The Pursuit of the Heart of God

From the epilogue of "The Pursuit of the Heart of God" by Rev Dr Abel Thomas:

"In the many countries that I have travelled in which are poor and disadvantaged, I find the Christians there vibrant, enthusiastic and zealous for God. They come to church faithfully, sitting for hours on a straw mat listening to the preacher. They give sacrificially out of their poverty. When they pray, they seem to take the roof off. When they are persecuted, they take it on the chin and rejoice. With minimal resources, they care for one another.

Somehow in our affluent societies, Christians are apathetic, indifferent. We only love to hear of success, material gain, achievement and so on. We don't like to hear of dying to self, taking up the cross, giving up our rights, sacrificing for His Cause.

I wrote this book out of my concerns for the Church. We have missed the plot. We need to get back to the basics. We need to hunger and thirst after righteousness. We need to think of eternal values. We need to pursue God's heart with all that lies within us..."

Lead us not into temptation

Temptation is part of the devil's arsenal to steal, kill and destroy, and it is a powerful and highly effective weapon.

Indeed, many broken lives can be traced to some form of temptation at some point in time. Marriages don't fail overnight. Often, they are due to couples drifting apart, and that usually means one or both parties gravitating towards something more appealing than their spouse. Similarly, drug, gambling and pornography addiction do not just happen to somebody but gradually as one yields to the temptation of seeking a higher "high", more gratification or thrill.

Crimes too, happen when people yield to certain temptation, such as lust and greed. The temptation to take the easy way out of challenging situations has also seen many resorting to murder, lies, cheating and the like.

John Doe didn't just wake up one morning and decides to shoot his neighbour, did he? Likewise, temptation comes like a smooth-talking marketeer, reasoning with you why the only way out is to take a certain course of action, and replaying 'compelling evidence' and 'justification' in your mind over and over again.

No wonder the Lord advised us to flee from temptation. Don't even entertain it or take a second look like Lot's wife. Just walk, no, RUN away.

Temptation often works by deceiving us into thinking that we are in control, that we are the master. That cannot be further from the truth. When we entertain any temptation, it masters us immediately, even though we don't feel that way. It's said that fire is a good servant but a bad master. Unlike fire, temptation can never serve us. It serves only her master the devil, whose sole purpose is to bring us to hell, by temptation or by crook.

Thomas

No questions asked

My heart tanked when i heard what happened
I'm lost for words when my eyes caught the headlines
To me you are always the elder sister i never had
For me you could do no wrong, not anything bad

I want you to know that we loved you and we still do
Those years of growing up we'll never forget
Though love had seemingly eluded your grasp
May you know that God's love is beyond our greatest despair

We have all messed up at various points in life
But all the same, we are souls that sin has made imperfect
May God comfort you with words of hope and love
That will shine brightly in a place of gloom and darkness

When God's love comes to us in our hour of realization
We become like newborn babes, a whole new creation
God is able to heal your innermost hurt
And remove those condemnation, shame and accusing words

In Jesus, we are given a life brand new
A life that up to now we hardly knew
Come to Him today as you are
He will do the needful, no questions asked

A song dedicated to Ah Yan Jie Jie
From Ah Han, your childhood friend

Till Dreams Come True

Once again, it's Oscar night. When movie making and storytelling are celebrated, when dreams come true.

Contrary to the boundaries and limitations we encounter in life; art and storytelling know no boundaries. Hence the irony that art celebrates life.

Reality is harsh and marriages don't always last. While every baby is created to be unique, they are quickly raised to conform to society and submit to bureaucracy.

Colours may separate, power may corrupt, and wealth may divide; but LOVE rises above ALL and paves the way for unity in the midst of diversity.

Technology may offer humanity connectivity but it will take more than technology and connectivity to draw the heart and mind of one person closer to another.

At 35, I feel closer to 70 in terms of dreams, hopes and direction in life. I wake up everyday praying for change, for God to show up.

May He hear my prayer, give us strength to love, renew our hopes and heal our land. "The challenges in life are part of life. It's how we learn."

I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalms 121 NIV.

Amen.

Sv+

Forgive thy brother

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times - Matthew 18:21-22, NIV

I haven't come across any explicit commandment in the Bible to forgive my enemies, although commandments to love my enemies, bless those who curse me, do good unto those who hate me, must also imply that I forgive them in the process. How does one love and bless another if unforgiveness remains?

Personally, I find forgiving enemies easier than forgiving brothers because I don't have any enemy other than Satan, but I do have many brothers in Christ.

Forgiveness is a tall order, especially between brothers who are both supposed to love the Lord and each other. Remember the two greatest commandments given by the Lord Jesus Christ in Mark 12:30-31?

When one does something to hurt another in the family of Christ, it shakes the Christian's order of things. "It's not supposed to be this way!", we cry out in despair. Our Lord's prescription to restore this order is none other than that which He personally subscribes to, as seen in Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.". And don't just forgive them - love them. Wash their feet if you must, including those of Judas Iscariot. The Lord Himself went through all these breaches of trust and betrayal of love. Are things not supposed to be this way?

Be joyful, for "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:11-12, NIV

Thomas

Our Promise-Keeper

The year was 587 B.C. The year before Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians. The siege that began in 588 B.C.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.
The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah. Jeremiah 32:1-2 NIV.

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah (640-609 B.C.) son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim (609-598 B.C.) son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah (597-586 B.C.) son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. Jeremiah 1:1-3 NIV.

Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there saying, "Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, 'This is what the LORD says: I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape out of the hands of the Babylonians but will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him, declares the LORD. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.' " Jeremiah 32:3-5 NIV.

Jeremiah's prophetic ministry began in 626 B.C. and ended sometime after 586 B.C. It was a period when the doom of entire nations, including Judah came to past.

Primarily known as a prophet of doom, proclaiming God's judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem; Jeremiah was also a prophet of hope, proclaiming oracles of salvation. The memory of his divine call and God's frequent reaffirmations of his commissioning as a prophet made Jeremiah fearless in the service of God.

GOD's Message to Jeremiah: "GOD says, 'If my covenant with day and my covenant with night ever fell apart so that day and night became haphazard and you never knew which was coming
and when, then and only then would my covenant with my servant David fall apart and his descendants no longer rule. The same goes for the Levitical priests who serve me. Jeremiah 33:19-21 The Message.

God's faithfulness to His covenantal people and His promise of restoration prevailed throughout Israel's history and was as secured as the order of creation.

Jeremiah was the voice of God when establishments failed, when the destiny of God's chosen people seemed derailed, when hope was disappearing from the horizon.

Jeremiah with his own struggles with regards to God's will for his own people, with his contemporaries, and even with God's will for his life; remained faithful to God and proclaimed God's will for His people.

In the midst of turmoil, uncertainty and aloneness, sometimes faithfulness is all there is. And God is always there for those who love Him.

Sv ".+

Winter Solace

Winter, the season between autumn and spring, when it gets really cold and snow falls in some parts of the world.

There are times in our lives when the carpet is suddenly pulled from underneath our feet. We fall, crash and land hard. Lose our orientation and find ourselves hurt.

Even as dirt is dusted off our wounded soul, we have absolutely no idea on what to do, how to make things better or back to the way they used to be.

Helpless, drained, confused. The present lies in shambles, while the future remains uncertain. Washed over by the continuous waves of weariness and deep disappointment.

Winter, the season between autumn and spring, when it gets really cold and the wintry air cuts into our soul.

When relationships are strained and tested. When what has been hidden in our heart is revealed. When we have to take on new roles in life with no experience.

Solace, comfort in grief or anxiety; lessening of trouble in the mind. To give comfort in mind to or for; console.

Yet(!) in the midst of winter, one can find pockets of warmth among trusted old relationships, and rest in solitude. Overturning judgmental mindset through reflection, admission and letting go.

As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield. To You alone may my spirit yield.

You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship You.

I want You more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy. You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye.

You're my friend and You are my brother, even though You are a King.

I love You more than any others, so much more than anything.

Parched, I returned to the source of life to replenish my soul. Slowly but surely, living water soaked through my heart.

His breath coursing through my veins as I sat quietly in His Presence. In time, my heart began to beat to a new rhythm, to a new strength, a new grace.

Winter, the season between autumn and spring. Spring, the season between winter and summer; the part of the year when leaves and flowers appear.

Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water." John 4:10 The Message.

Time to get ready for the Spring of Life,

Sv ",+

A Powerful Presence - An Awesome Silence

In quietness and in confident trust
I rest in all that You are......until I behold Your face (Lyrics from "My Living Sacrifice")

There are times when we find ourselves at the brink of cynicism and atheism when reality simply defies all logic, hopes, reasoning and justice.
When it seems like even God has abandoned ship......that God does not exist.

When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day's journey.
He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all - to just die: "Enough of this, GOD! Take my life - I'm ready to join my ancestors in the grave!"
Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.

Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, "Get up and eat!" He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep. The angel of GOD came back, shook him awake again, and said, "Get up and eat some more - you've got a long journey ahead of you." He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep. 1 Kings 19:3-9 The Message.

Only to realise that His presence is but found in the hearts of those who thirst for Him, where He permeates. That He sustains us by His grace as He teaches us to discern His voice.

Then the word of GOD came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?" "I've been working my heart out for the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah.
"The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before GOD. GOD will pass by." A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before GOD, but GOD wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but GOD wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but GOD wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?"
Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for GOD, the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me." 1 Kings 19:9-14 The Message.

And where the Presence of GOD is, there is life and a vision and hope for our tomorrows.

GOD said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel.
Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha.
Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven't bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image." 1 Kings 19:15-18 The Message.

In Christ,
Sv ",+

At Its Best

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1-5 NLT.

 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. John 1:14 NLT.

For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ......He has revealed God to us. John 1:17-18 NLT.

 

God in Jesus Christ has never ceased to reveal, reconcile and restore to humanity that which was lost through the ages from oppression, prejudice, fear, ignorance, small mindedness, hatred, greed and lust; in the individual, in cultures, in society and that which I believe is close to His heart, the body of Christ.

 

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power......when he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD's favour has come." Luke 4:14,16-19 NLT.

 

Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" Luke 4:21 NLT. The fullness of God was brought to life in Jesus who reached out and touched the lives of people from any cultural, societal, economical and religious background. He was unflinchingly always completely himself with anyone anywhere. All were included in Him, none was excluded. The poor, the sick, the despised, women, children, outsiders, the demon possessed, even those who betrayed and persecuted him were invited to find wholeness in Him.

 

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 NLT.

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT.

 

On November 4th 2008, the people of the United States of America created a revolutionary and historical moment in the history of the country which will set the pace that will deepen and broaden how people see and live as Americans for generations to come.

 

Barack Obama, age 47, became the first African American to be elected to the highest office in the country, as the 44^th President Elect of the United States of America. To think that four decades ago, the country was still torn apart by civil rights movement. 

 

During that time, the country witnessed the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These men were proud of who they were, stood up for what they believed in and gave their lives for it. In the words of the 44^th President Elect, “Out of many, we are one” and “our stories are singular but our destiny is shared”.

 

God in fullness in those who believe in Him will see humanity as He has intended it to be, not being shackled by mindsets that shrink life but continually redefining itself to drink in, create and allow LIFE to OVERFLOW in and through us! TO LIVE, TO LOVE and finally understand with every inch of our being what we are, to be ALL that we can be!

 

As Irenaeus once observed, “The glory of God is man fully alive.”

 

In Christ,

Sv   ",+

Dealing with bigotry

Truly he taught us to love one another
His law is love and the gospel is peace
Chains shall he break
For the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise his holy name

Christ is the Lord
Then ever ever praise we
Noel Noel, O night o night divine
Noel Noel, O holy night

(Lyrics from O Holy Night)

For GOD says:

“To the mutilated who keep my Sabbaths and choose what delights me and keep a firm grip on my covenant,
I’ll provide them an honoured place in my family and within my city, even more honoured than that of sons and daughters.
I’ll confer permanent honours on them that will never be revoked.

“And as for the outsiders who now follow me, working for me, loving my name, and wanting to be my servants –
All who keep Sabbath and don’t defile it, holding fast to my covenant – I’ll bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.
They’ll be welcome to worship the same as the ‘insiders,’ to bring burnt offerings and sacrifices to my altar. Oh yes, my house of worship will be known as a house of prayer for all people.” Isaiah 56:4-7 The Message.

In other versions of the Bible, the mutilated is also referred to as the eunuch, which is broadly defined as a castrated man employed as a harem attendant or as a functionary in certain Asian courts. A man or boy whose testes are nonfunctioning or have been removed, or an ineffectual, powerless, or unmasculine man. Outsiders refer to non-Jews. The first group of people faced an irreversible status. The second group faced an impossible situation. The former is incomplete while the latter is excluded. Then God showed up to set things right; received the outcasts; called them His own.

I had written these words before the bigot in me was exposed. I went on a stupid, baseless and judgmental rant on someone I don’t even know.
What was I thinking of? The truth is I wasn’t even thinking. I still don’t quite know what came over me. I guess sometimes we get carried away with our emotions, fears, pride, prejudices, insecurities and possessiveness. All these expose the bigot in us. A bigot is someone who is strongly partial to one’s own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ. Hence bigotry is the attitude, state of mind, or behaviour characteristic of a bigot; intolerance.

You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town. Luke 12:2 – 3 The Message.

“He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave.” – Sir William Drummond. {My apologies, Fin.}

Sv

O Holy night

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour?s birth
 
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth
 
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
 
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine 
O night, o night divine

"Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth..." It was lunchtime. I was listening to this record in the office. It was not until Jesus appeared in my life that my soul felt its worth.
For all that I am and all that I am not, He loves me. At that very moment, from the innermost recesses of my heart, I yielded completely to His love.
In the heavenly, the angelic hosts announcing, no, trumpeting the love of God for all mankind.
"Fall on your knees... O hear the angel voices...O night divine...O night when Christ was born..."

Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution. When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they are doing. " Luke 23: 32-34 The Message. One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself!     Save us!" But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him - he did nothing to deserve this." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise." Luke 23: 39-43 The Message.

A last minute request granted. No work needed, no good deeds to redeem oneself. Merely by faith alone. Wholly by grace alone. This is the reason for Christmas, this is the gospel of Jesus Christ.          For the Jew as well as the Gentile. For Christians and non-Christians. For the righteous and the unrighteous. For the good and the wicked.  For the powerful and the weak. For the untouchable and for the reputable. For the healthy and the sick. For the rich and the poor. For both gay and straight people. For every tribe, every nation. For anyone who would believe, who would receive His love.

Sv   ".+

Finding my voice

It started raining again, so I stayed in and watched the sunset. Catching precious moments of nature as deep luminous blotches of fiery sunlight burst through thick voluminous rain clouds.

In that instance, the sky was bursting with hues of red, pink, orange and white. The only word that I can think of to describe what was before my eyes was "majestic".

Took that all in and ran it through my heart. Thank God for sight but appreciation of nature's beauty is to be relished with the heart.

 

The backdrop of nature's wonder conjured up a similar picture in my mind. The only thing missing before my eyes (which was in the poster) was a plane flying towards the sun. If a picture says a thousand words, than none capture the moment better than these - Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10 NKJV.

 

What a tremendous sense of belonging! What a timeless sense of security! The poster was a Christmas present given to me in 1994. It held all my hopes and dreams as a 21 year old.

The giver of the poster is no longer in my life, but her well wishes for the fulfillment of my dreams remained in my heart. Even as the Maker of dreams has always been with me.

None of the phases in our life can be considered futile. Even instances when we have failed and experienced disappointments have a place in our lives, they reveal what is inside us to bring us forward.

 

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation!

You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day. Psalm 139:16 The Message.

 

Growing up, I never thought I would write or could express myself in words. Even writing on the most passé composition topic in class was always a challenge.

I had neither the conceptual nor the linguistic skills to describe how I felt or what I thought. Too much with too little, too little for too much. But God has His way of moulding me.

While studying overseas, my girlfriends and I communicated almost everyday via emails. In that manner, the five of us stayed in touch when a couple of us were living abroad.

 

That was how I started writing, how I found my voice, through sharing with my oldest friends.

 

Shalom,

Sv   ".+

It is written

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 NLT

Even as sand dunes are being recreated by the winds, so are the foundations of our lives being constantly re-laid, remade and recreated by the Creator.

Re-lay – To lay again.

Remake - To make again or anew.

Recreate – To impart fresh life to; refresh mentally or physically.

Whatever is has already been,

And what will be has been before;

And God will call the past to account.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 NIV

Maktub,

Sv

Honoured by God

Now Jabez was more honourable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”. So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicle 4:9 – 10 NKJV.

Jabez was more honourable than his brothers, God granted him his request.

Honourable - Deserving or winning honour and respect, bringing distinction or recognition, possessing and characterized by honour.

Honour – High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem. Good name; reputation. A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction.

Labeled all his life, Jabez turned to the only one who could turn things around for him. And God granted his request.

True honour comes from God who knows our heart. And whom He honours, He protects.

Shalom,

Sv “,+

Where is God when you need Him?

Ever wonder that? Where do you go to find Him? What keeps you going?

Two nights ago, it was so tranquil and peaceful where I was that I thought it would have been perfect to be called Home.

Ever felt that way? For the first time in a very long time, even for a moment, my heart rested.

It was not absent of desires but like an abandoned child, it could only soothe its dull ache by humming a tune, by rocking itself.

Mate, thank you for being my companion and listening ear at the desk.

Gor, you are like a big brother that I never had.

Bao, you are my big sister. May you find back yourself, and happiness.

Siang, I’ve always been proud of you. You are kind and giving. You are a good person, truly the good twin (unlike me).

To the other twin, if I ever had a soul mate, it would have been you.

Aud, whatever I need to say to you, I have. You are one lucky bastard.

Coz, when I look at you these days, there are times when I see the cheeky boy whom I grew up with.

I will live to fight another day. Score another victory. This He promised me. ; P

Ling “.+