Yesterday a sister called me complaining about someone close to her. She was angry and upset with the person and deeply hurt by his words. So upset was she that she said she did not want to have anything to him anymore. I counseled her to pray for him and forgive him.
This brings to mind Luke 8:15 on the good soil. A person with good soil condition "hear the word of God, cling to it". To cling to something is to "adhere as if glued firmly, to hold on tightly or tenaciously". One person in the Bible exemplified this strongly...Ruth in making the confession to Naomi "your people will be my people, your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die and there I will be buried" clearly demonstrated how someone can cling tenaciously to something. Ruth, in leaving her country and obeying to the hilt all that Naomi asked her to do experienced a great blessing. Truly if she had not done what Naomi had told her to do, she might not have married Boaz and given birth to Jesse in order to be counted in the lineage of the Lord!
To cling to the Lord is to obey His commands. Deut 13:4 "Obey His commands, listen to His voice and cling to Him"
In the New Testament, to cling to the Lord is to abide in Him. The abiding life produces fruit. Echoing Luke 15 is John 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in Him, bears much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing".
Truly to bear the fruit of lonsuffering and patience is to cling to Jesus so dearly, so closely, so tightly and tenaciously..... until we become like Him in every aspect!
"Lord grant my dear sister to truly forgive from the bottom of her heart. Give her the grace to pray for the person who had used harsh words on her and treated her badly. Grant her the grace and mercy to bless the person who had despitefully used her. Heal her every hurt. In Jesus Name. Amen."
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Too kind hearted and soft spoken
Recently a head hunter contacted me and asked me if I was keen to pursue another job. Although I was in two minds about it, she persuaded me to go for the interview as they were prepared to consider the pay that I wanted and the condition that I will not work on contract (HR people will tell you that when you touched 50 most organizations will put you on contract rather than permanent employment).
After the initial hesitation, I agreed to go. Although the first interview went well, the second set of people who saw me felt that I was not suitable because I was too soft spoken and kind hearted!
When I told my life group members about this they had a good laugh!
Are not these good qualities for an employee to have? I would have thought that these are good qualities for a gentle and quiet spirit is precious in the sight of the Lord.....
Just goes to show that the values of the Bible and the values of the world are like chalk and cheese!
Ps - By the way, I also told them that I relaxed by worshipping the Lord, praying and going to church!
After the initial hesitation, I agreed to go. Although the first interview went well, the second set of people who saw me felt that I was not suitable because I was too soft spoken and kind hearted!
When I told my life group members about this they had a good laugh!
Are not these good qualities for an employee to have? I would have thought that these are good qualities for a gentle and quiet spirit is precious in the sight of the Lord.....
Just goes to show that the values of the Bible and the values of the world are like chalk and cheese!
Ps - By the way, I also told them that I relaxed by worshipping the Lord, praying and going to church!
Seeds on good soil
This morning during prayer, I saw a vision of a farmer squatting down, tending to a growing plant. The plant was just sprouting green leaves and the branches were still weak and thin. I saw the farmer weeding the soil, removing little rocks and pulling up the thorns from the soil. I saw wild birds flying overhead trying to pull up the plant and have it for food. It was the farmer's diligence and hard work that protected the young plant and caused it to grow strong and healthy.
I guess God was answering my question concerning the soil of our hearts. As I meditated on Luke 8:15 I had asked the Lord whether the condition of the soil of our heart was something we were born with. After the vision, I realized that the soil can certainly change from that of a poor quality to that of a good quality.
This particular scripture in Luke 8:11-15 has been my meditation of late. This was partly due to a few conversions lately of people I know. God knows that I really desire to see them becoming disciples not just converts.
Disciples can only be made when the soil of their hearts are of a certain quality. Luke 8:15 describes the soil of their hearts "And the seeds that fell on good soil represent honest and good hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it and patiently produce a huge harvest" I thank God that over the years, I have seen many with good soil coming to Jesus. They have grown in the Lord and impacted others with their faith. Some of these dear sisters have brought their entire families to the Lord, some are still work in progress. Once in a while some of them will call me and share the goodness of God in their lives. I rejoice to hear their many testimonies that will take more than one blog entries!
Anyway coming back to the vision, God gave me this understanding. The birds that attempt to pull out the growing plant represent the enemy who will try to take away the message of the gospel from our hearts. We have to chase the birds away by rebuking and taking authority over the spirit of unbelief, fear, idolatry, world religion, occult, mind control spirits, deception. Some prayer and fasting could also be involved.
The rocks represent the harshness, hardness and sufferings of life. Some people come to Jesus because they want something from him...perhaps a healing breakthrough, perhaps a financial need...one particular person I know wanted God to give her a quick fix i.e. to quickly fix her relationship with her husband. When the quick fix did not happen, she got dissapointed with God and turned her back to him.
The thorns represent the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. Believers who live from hand to mouth, who are loaded down with debts, who find it hard to give up the secret pleasures of gambling or illicit relationships will soon find the message of the gospel choked out of their lives. It takes patience and care to wait for these believers to humble themselves and share their problems with you. If they are not ready, they are not ready. However hard we pull at the thorns, the soil will not give it up. We just need to continue praying for them.
So are we born with a particular kind of soil or is the soil of our hearts a condition which can be changed vide prayers, cares, concern and constant follow up? I tend to believe that the condition of the soil is not "carved in stone" so to speak.
Through faithful prayers, diligent follow up, care, love and genuine concern, we can certainly trust God to change the soil from 'poor grade' to 'first grade'!
I guess God was answering my question concerning the soil of our hearts. As I meditated on Luke 8:15 I had asked the Lord whether the condition of the soil of our heart was something we were born with. After the vision, I realized that the soil can certainly change from that of a poor quality to that of a good quality.
This particular scripture in Luke 8:11-15 has been my meditation of late. This was partly due to a few conversions lately of people I know. God knows that I really desire to see them becoming disciples not just converts.
Disciples can only be made when the soil of their hearts are of a certain quality. Luke 8:15 describes the soil of their hearts "And the seeds that fell on good soil represent honest and good hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it and patiently produce a huge harvest" I thank God that over the years, I have seen many with good soil coming to Jesus. They have grown in the Lord and impacted others with their faith. Some of these dear sisters have brought their entire families to the Lord, some are still work in progress. Once in a while some of them will call me and share the goodness of God in their lives. I rejoice to hear their many testimonies that will take more than one blog entries!
Anyway coming back to the vision, God gave me this understanding. The birds that attempt to pull out the growing plant represent the enemy who will try to take away the message of the gospel from our hearts. We have to chase the birds away by rebuking and taking authority over the spirit of unbelief, fear, idolatry, world religion, occult, mind control spirits, deception. Some prayer and fasting could also be involved.
The rocks represent the harshness, hardness and sufferings of life. Some people come to Jesus because they want something from him...perhaps a healing breakthrough, perhaps a financial need...one particular person I know wanted God to give her a quick fix i.e. to quickly fix her relationship with her husband. When the quick fix did not happen, she got dissapointed with God and turned her back to him.
The thorns represent the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. Believers who live from hand to mouth, who are loaded down with debts, who find it hard to give up the secret pleasures of gambling or illicit relationships will soon find the message of the gospel choked out of their lives. It takes patience and care to wait for these believers to humble themselves and share their problems with you. If they are not ready, they are not ready. However hard we pull at the thorns, the soil will not give it up. We just need to continue praying for them.
So are we born with a particular kind of soil or is the soil of our hearts a condition which can be changed vide prayers, cares, concern and constant follow up? I tend to believe that the condition of the soil is not "carved in stone" so to speak.
Through faithful prayers, diligent follow up, care, love and genuine concern, we can certainly trust God to change the soil from 'poor grade' to 'first grade'!
Friday, April 15, 2011
A difficult time in the office
The other day I was just thinking of the amount of hours I spend at work. Almost 10 hours a day, meeting and interacting with the same group of people day after day. Imagine if you have been in the same working place for the past 22 years you would have spent more hours with your colleagues than your family members!
In order to endure the long hours in the office, we need to cultivate good and peaceable relationships with our bosses and colleagues. I have learnt from the last 5 years at my workplace that peaceable relationships take time to build. At times, key relationships can start off with a really sour note. However it is enough if we have godly confidence and quiet peace in our heart day after day. It will take us through every fiery trial, every injustice, every unkind word spoken and every wicked and malicious action engineered against us. How do we acquire that godly confidence and supreme peace in our hearts?
A dear brother, MH shared at our home fellowship meeting recently on the wickedness and ill-treatment he had been subjected to at his work place. The lady boss made fun of his size, his work, his performance and even the long hours he kept in the office. Even his work output (which was actually above average) was ridiculed and criticized. The boss was intent on finding fault with everything he did. The attacks were personal, malicious and delibrate. The purpose: to make him resign on his own accord. If he refuse to resign, they were bent on finding as many faults as they could to justify any termination after the probationary period.
I really want to thank the Lord for Sister A and her sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. During the life group meeting the Lord led her to share with on Ps 27:1-6. The message really ministered to all of us, especially our dear brother who had tears in his eyes.
Some insights into this Ps.
1. When going through trouble, the first thing to do is not to focus on the trouble but to FOCUS ON THE LORD. Ps 27: 1. The Psalmist focussed on who God is to him. God is his light and his salvation. God is the strength of his life.
2. When going through trouble, it is OK TO ADMIT OUR FEARS TO THE LORD. Ps 27:2 "Whom shall I fear?" "Whom shall I be afraid?" Sister A encouraged our brother to bring his problems to the Lord in prayer. In doing so, we will experience great relief from stress.
3. When going through trouble, our physical strength can be sapped. We need to CHARGE UP OUR SPIRITUAL MAN BY FAITH. At times, it can be like we are facing a warfare in our minds. Verse 2 and 3 mentions about "enemies and foes, army and war" Our enemies in the office can sometimes be like a battalion, not just one person coming against us but 2 or more and they happen to be people in authority over us in the office! At times, it can even seem like everyone is ganged up against us. However we are to constantly meditate and declare God's word such as "MY HEART SHALL NOT FEAR"... "IN THIS I SHALL BE CONFIDENT" even though no deliverance has come to us yet.
4. When going through trouble, KEEP OUR HEARTS PURE BY SEEKING THE LORD DEEPLY AND INTENSELY. The Psalmist did not seek the defeat of his enemies in his prayers. Instead he sought to soak himself fully in the Lord. Verse 4 says that he sought the house of the Lord and the beauty of the Lord. He also sought the wisdom of the Lord by enquiring in His temple. Instead of praying "Lord get me out of my situation. Send burning coals on those who persecute me! Lord destroy them for my sake", he prayed for himself more than anything else. His prayers were for greater closeness with the Lord.... "Lord keep me close to you, let me seek your face, let me hear your voice, let me dwell in your presence"
5. When we do all the above, we will BE USHERED INTO GOD'S PRESENCE. We will be lifted high above our problems. A right attitude and a right response will come naturally to us without any struggle. Our brother shared with us on how in the past, he would try to apply secular principles to deal with his problems...(he tried to apply some principles such as "thick face and a black heart" which he learned from secular management books).....believe me, he says, none of all these principles taught by the so called management gurus work for me! Only God can help!
Precious lessons from God's word! May it help us find joy in our working place, godly confidence and supreme peace.
In order to endure the long hours in the office, we need to cultivate good and peaceable relationships with our bosses and colleagues. I have learnt from the last 5 years at my workplace that peaceable relationships take time to build. At times, key relationships can start off with a really sour note. However it is enough if we have godly confidence and quiet peace in our heart day after day. It will take us through every fiery trial, every injustice, every unkind word spoken and every wicked and malicious action engineered against us. How do we acquire that godly confidence and supreme peace in our hearts?
A dear brother, MH shared at our home fellowship meeting recently on the wickedness and ill-treatment he had been subjected to at his work place. The lady boss made fun of his size, his work, his performance and even the long hours he kept in the office. Even his work output (which was actually above average) was ridiculed and criticized. The boss was intent on finding fault with everything he did. The attacks were personal, malicious and delibrate. The purpose: to make him resign on his own accord. If he refuse to resign, they were bent on finding as many faults as they could to justify any termination after the probationary period.
I really want to thank the Lord for Sister A and her sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. During the life group meeting the Lord led her to share with on Ps 27:1-6. The message really ministered to all of us, especially our dear brother who had tears in his eyes.
Some insights into this Ps.
1. When going through trouble, the first thing to do is not to focus on the trouble but to FOCUS ON THE LORD. Ps 27: 1. The Psalmist focussed on who God is to him. God is his light and his salvation. God is the strength of his life.
2. When going through trouble, it is OK TO ADMIT OUR FEARS TO THE LORD. Ps 27:2 "Whom shall I fear?" "Whom shall I be afraid?" Sister A encouraged our brother to bring his problems to the Lord in prayer. In doing so, we will experience great relief from stress.
3. When going through trouble, our physical strength can be sapped. We need to CHARGE UP OUR SPIRITUAL MAN BY FAITH. At times, it can be like we are facing a warfare in our minds. Verse 2 and 3 mentions about "enemies and foes, army and war" Our enemies in the office can sometimes be like a battalion, not just one person coming against us but 2 or more and they happen to be people in authority over us in the office! At times, it can even seem like everyone is ganged up against us. However we are to constantly meditate and declare God's word such as "MY HEART SHALL NOT FEAR"... "IN THIS I SHALL BE CONFIDENT" even though no deliverance has come to us yet.
4. When going through trouble, KEEP OUR HEARTS PURE BY SEEKING THE LORD DEEPLY AND INTENSELY. The Psalmist did not seek the defeat of his enemies in his prayers. Instead he sought to soak himself fully in the Lord. Verse 4 says that he sought the house of the Lord and the beauty of the Lord. He also sought the wisdom of the Lord by enquiring in His temple. Instead of praying "Lord get me out of my situation. Send burning coals on those who persecute me! Lord destroy them for my sake", he prayed for himself more than anything else. His prayers were for greater closeness with the Lord.... "Lord keep me close to you, let me seek your face, let me hear your voice, let me dwell in your presence"
5. When we do all the above, we will BE USHERED INTO GOD'S PRESENCE. We will be lifted high above our problems. A right attitude and a right response will come naturally to us without any struggle. Our brother shared with us on how in the past, he would try to apply secular principles to deal with his problems...(he tried to apply some principles such as "thick face and a black heart" which he learned from secular management books).....believe me, he says, none of all these principles taught by the so called management gurus work for me! Only God can help!
Precious lessons from God's word! May it help us find joy in our working place, godly confidence and supreme peace.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Seeds among thorns - money problems
Financial cares is one category of thorns that can really choke out the word of God. More than 10 years ago, my husband and I reached out to a family with severe financial problems. Not only was the family deep in debt, the husband was borrowing heavily from loan sharks. We brought them to church and they accepted Christ. We gave them what we could afford. When the husband fled the home due to the harassment of the creditors, Tim had to confront a group of them who had come looking for him in the middle of the night.
Later we helped to partially sponsor him to join a Bible school in East Malaysia. The family left to join him soon after but they left behind their 12 year old son for us to take care. We agreed as he was taking a major government exam that year. After finishing his studies, the young man went off to join his family. Fast forward more than 10 years later, the young man visited us. We were surprised but happy to hear that he had graduated from a local University and was holding a steady job. He came to thank us for what we had done for him and his family during that difficult year.
When the sisters (all in their teens and extremely tall and good looking like their dad) visited us for CNY this year, I was saddened to hear about their father. Apparently the whole family was doing well for a time. The father started a new business which was doing well and they were attending a local church that gave to their financial needs.
Apparently the father did not change. The cares of this life, the riches and pleasures of wine, women and song overtook him and he began to indulge once again in his old habits of borrowing money from loan sharks. I was also shocked to learn from his wife that his habits had cost him his life!
Here was a man who was born again, went to Bible school, spoke in tongues and who had experienced a glorious deliverance under the ministry of a renowned Bible teacher, going back to the indulgences of his past life. Like a dog returning to his own vomit or a pig returning to the dirt of his pig-pen, I was saddened by the report received from his wife.
When the word of God falls among thorns which are the cares, riches and fleshly pleasures of this life, it will be choked out if we are not careful to weed them out. Having a consistent daily devotional life, attending church regularly and allowing others to sharpen us are essential activities that will help us keep our lives clear from the thorns.
If it can happen to this late brother, it can happen to me! That's why I need to to be ever vigilant to guard my heart from being choked by the cares/riches/pleasures of this life!
However I must say that I received tremendous encouragement from this precious family because I saw that all the 5 of them (mother, 3 daughters and the young man) were the good ground spoken off in Luke 8:15. Unlike their late father, they are still standing firm for Jesus despite the persecution from their father's family. I also understand from the mother that although financial problems are a major concern, they have refused to allow this particular thorn to choke the word of God in their lives!
Later we helped to partially sponsor him to join a Bible school in East Malaysia. The family left to join him soon after but they left behind their 12 year old son for us to take care. We agreed as he was taking a major government exam that year. After finishing his studies, the young man went off to join his family. Fast forward more than 10 years later, the young man visited us. We were surprised but happy to hear that he had graduated from a local University and was holding a steady job. He came to thank us for what we had done for him and his family during that difficult year.
When the sisters (all in their teens and extremely tall and good looking like their dad) visited us for CNY this year, I was saddened to hear about their father. Apparently the whole family was doing well for a time. The father started a new business which was doing well and they were attending a local church that gave to their financial needs.
Apparently the father did not change. The cares of this life, the riches and pleasures of wine, women and song overtook him and he began to indulge once again in his old habits of borrowing money from loan sharks. I was also shocked to learn from his wife that his habits had cost him his life!
Here was a man who was born again, went to Bible school, spoke in tongues and who had experienced a glorious deliverance under the ministry of a renowned Bible teacher, going back to the indulgences of his past life. Like a dog returning to his own vomit or a pig returning to the dirt of his pig-pen, I was saddened by the report received from his wife.
When the word of God falls among thorns which are the cares, riches and fleshly pleasures of this life, it will be choked out if we are not careful to weed them out. Having a consistent daily devotional life, attending church regularly and allowing others to sharpen us are essential activities that will help us keep our lives clear from the thorns.
If it can happen to this late brother, it can happen to me! That's why I need to to be ever vigilant to guard my heart from being choked by the cares/riches/pleasures of this life!
However I must say that I received tremendous encouragement from this precious family because I saw that all the 5 of them (mother, 3 daughters and the young man) were the good ground spoken off in Luke 8:15. Unlike their late father, they are still standing firm for Jesus despite the persecution from their father's family. I also understand from the mother that although financial problems are a major concern, they have refused to allow this particular thorn to choke the word of God in their lives!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Seeds that fell among thorns
I pondered over this type of ground in Luke 8:14 " The seeds that fell among thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity"
Sister A and family have been Christians for many years. They have been going from church to church expecting some breakthrough for their family in terms of health and finances. Each time they will go to the altar for prayer. Each time they will complain bitterly that despite so many people praying for them, their lives have not changed for the better. In fact they spoke to me once that even the unbelievers appear to have less problems than them. It was as though their problems were choking out God in their lives.
Yet another group of unbelievers who hear the word will politely decline Jesus because they feel that becoming Christians will restrict their freedom of partying, clubbing, splurging (spending money without having to account to anybody). They see Christianity as imposing on them a set of dos and donts which are uncool and which will make them lose their independance. Yet another group of young people said that they will resist God's call into full time ministry as they want to earn 'big money' and become millionaires at as young an age as possible!
The thorns of life are the "cares, riches and pleasures of this life". I have seen those struggling with the cares of life to know that the thorns can be hard to entangle. The thorns can be the struggles of putting food on the table, the problems in the family, the quarrels between husband and wife, the frustration of dealing with rebellious adult children, immorality in the family etc. Indeed if the thorns are not taken out one by one, the seeds will be choked and they will not be able to take deep roots in our hearts.
For these ones, my heart goes out to them...how would the Lord want me to help them? I pray for their heart to be open to share their problems to me, then I need God's loving wisdom to speak the word for their situation.I then seek God's help to help them bring their cares to the Lord one by one and let God unravel it for them.
As for those with riches and pleasures of life crowding out the message of life, I lay hands on them (especially my children) and ask God to show them that greater blessing and riches await them if they only know how to apply Matt 6:33 "Seek first and kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you"!
Sister A and family have been Christians for many years. They have been going from church to church expecting some breakthrough for their family in terms of health and finances. Each time they will go to the altar for prayer. Each time they will complain bitterly that despite so many people praying for them, their lives have not changed for the better. In fact they spoke to me once that even the unbelievers appear to have less problems than them. It was as though their problems were choking out God in their lives.
Yet another group of unbelievers who hear the word will politely decline Jesus because they feel that becoming Christians will restrict their freedom of partying, clubbing, splurging (spending money without having to account to anybody). They see Christianity as imposing on them a set of dos and donts which are uncool and which will make them lose their independance. Yet another group of young people said that they will resist God's call into full time ministry as they want to earn 'big money' and become millionaires at as young an age as possible!
The thorns of life are the "cares, riches and pleasures of this life". I have seen those struggling with the cares of life to know that the thorns can be hard to entangle. The thorns can be the struggles of putting food on the table, the problems in the family, the quarrels between husband and wife, the frustration of dealing with rebellious adult children, immorality in the family etc. Indeed if the thorns are not taken out one by one, the seeds will be choked and they will not be able to take deep roots in our hearts.
For these ones, my heart goes out to them...how would the Lord want me to help them? I pray for their heart to be open to share their problems to me, then I need God's loving wisdom to speak the word for their situation.I then seek God's help to help them bring their cares to the Lord one by one and let God unravel it for them.
As for those with riches and pleasures of life crowding out the message of life, I lay hands on them (especially my children) and ask God to show them that greater blessing and riches await them if they only know how to apply Matt 6:33 "Seek first and kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you"!
The seed on rocky soil
The other day, M a new believer told me that she was thinking of giving up the faith because the person who had influenced her to become a Christian had failed her.
That had me thinking about Luke 8:13 "The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation" M had received the gospel with joy. She shared testimonies of God's touch upon her life after each church service. During the second Sunday, she signed up for follow up class and on the third Sunday, she told me that she wanted to be baptized. So how did this confession of wanting to give up the faith came about?
I myself had this experience very early in my Christian walk. The first few months salvation experience were like honeymoon with the Lord. He was so real, His touch was so tangible and His word ministered to me daily. Then came one dark day, when all the wonderful feelings left me. I felt that God had deserted me. Suddenly He was not there anymore, He seemed to have hidden Himself behind a cloud. I felt abandoned and rejected by God. At that point in time, I doubted my salvation and the reality of God.
Then during a time of contemplative prayer, I saw what seemed like the vision of a giant eagle kicking out her young from the nest. The mother eagle watched her young one falling and falling...with one swoop she flew downwards and carried the young eagle on her wings back to the nest. One more time, she pushed the little one out of her nest...again and again she swooped down when the eaglet was falling midway. Then miraculously it happened, the young eagle suddenly unflapped her wings and began to discover that it could fly! I felt there and then that God was weaning me off feelings and teaching me that true faith is the unwavering trust in God no matter my feelings!
This, I discovered is the process of the testing of our faith! God allows it to enable us to build endurance and character. He stands from afar to see how we will respond to trial, testing and temptation. Like the children of Israel led out into the wilderness where they were tested with the lack of water, food and surrounded by their enemies, God sometimes watches and see what will come out of our mouth/what our attitude will be in the hardest of circumstances/situations.
Being a new Christian, my dear sister had not developed deep roots as yet. As for me I will do my part to buy her books for her to read, send scriptures to her on my mobile and prayed for her to be strong in the Lord. However eventually she would have to learn to flex the wings of faith that God had given her!
That had me thinking about Luke 8:13 "The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation" M had received the gospel with joy. She shared testimonies of God's touch upon her life after each church service. During the second Sunday, she signed up for follow up class and on the third Sunday, she told me that she wanted to be baptized. So how did this confession of wanting to give up the faith came about?
I myself had this experience very early in my Christian walk. The first few months salvation experience were like honeymoon with the Lord. He was so real, His touch was so tangible and His word ministered to me daily. Then came one dark day, when all the wonderful feelings left me. I felt that God had deserted me. Suddenly He was not there anymore, He seemed to have hidden Himself behind a cloud. I felt abandoned and rejected by God. At that point in time, I doubted my salvation and the reality of God.
Then during a time of contemplative prayer, I saw what seemed like the vision of a giant eagle kicking out her young from the nest. The mother eagle watched her young one falling and falling...with one swoop she flew downwards and carried the young eagle on her wings back to the nest. One more time, she pushed the little one out of her nest...again and again she swooped down when the eaglet was falling midway. Then miraculously it happened, the young eagle suddenly unflapped her wings and began to discover that it could fly! I felt there and then that God was weaning me off feelings and teaching me that true faith is the unwavering trust in God no matter my feelings!
This, I discovered is the process of the testing of our faith! God allows it to enable us to build endurance and character. He stands from afar to see how we will respond to trial, testing and temptation. Like the children of Israel led out into the wilderness where they were tested with the lack of water, food and surrounded by their enemies, God sometimes watches and see what will come out of our mouth/what our attitude will be in the hardest of circumstances/situations.
Being a new Christian, my dear sister had not developed deep roots as yet. As for me I will do my part to buy her books for her to read, send scriptures to her on my mobile and prayed for her to be strong in the Lord. However eventually she would have to learn to flex the wings of faith that God had given her!
Friday, April 8, 2011
The seeds that the devil takes away
At the request of our younger daughter, we agreed to allow her friend J to stay with us as he was from outstation. Both of them got a job with a popular downtown clothing store and the reason we allowed him to stay was because we wanted to reach out to him (I guess we wanted to see another conversion like in Paul's case, which will take another time to write). We also took pity on him as he was from the East Coast and for him to rent a room in KL and furnish it would have set him back by a month's pay at least. Since he came, we have fed him, washed his clothes, cooked for him, provided transport for him, taken him out for family meals etc. Once when he came back from work, he called me 'mummy' which was surprise for me! Now I feel that I have 2 sons in the house, instead of one!
Anyway the crunch time came when my daughter took him to a Chinese Christian Youth Outreach (he was from a Chinese medium school and more comfortable with Mandarin). When they came back from the meeting, I asked her whether he responded to the message. My daughter told me that many accepted the Lord during the meeting but not J. Reason: he was offended because according to him "Christians were converting the people".
No wonder Jesus said "Blessed is he who is not offended because of me". This young man missed a great blessing that day.
This incident brought to my mind the parable of the seed and the different type of ground. I find that sowing the seed of the gospel is relatively easy i.e. I give the tract or the church magazine, say a few words on the gospel and if the Lord open doors, take out the 4 Spiritual Laws and go through it cover to cover. It is the response of the person to whom the seed is sown that I have absolutely no control. Whilst Tim and I have had success with Paul who stayed with us for over a year, this young man seem to have a different response.
Luke 8:11 - 12 tells of one of the reason why the seed did not take root. "The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved." How is this so? I think it must be that the enemy has already got some sort of foothold in their lives to begin with. Perhaps its their background of idol worship, bondage, bad habits or recurrent sin or even a mind control spirit. Maybe its some kind of wrong teaching or indoctrination (like in my case - I was reading books on Tibetan Buddhism/occult/astral traveling). Perhaps its some unforgiveness, bitterness or resentment, hurt or grieve which arose as a result of altercation with Christians. For some young people, perhaps its their fear of parental objections.
The only way to deal with this is to bind the works of the enemy so that the enemy's foothold will be smashed, broken and cut down!
Lord we take authority over every work of the enemy in J and bind every spirit of doubt, fear or unbelief. We bind and break every bondage of the mind, every unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment, every past experience that is a stumbling block to J's salvation. Have mercy on him. In Jesus name. Amen!
Anyway the crunch time came when my daughter took him to a Chinese Christian Youth Outreach (he was from a Chinese medium school and more comfortable with Mandarin). When they came back from the meeting, I asked her whether he responded to the message. My daughter told me that many accepted the Lord during the meeting but not J. Reason: he was offended because according to him "Christians were converting the people".
No wonder Jesus said "Blessed is he who is not offended because of me". This young man missed a great blessing that day.
This incident brought to my mind the parable of the seed and the different type of ground. I find that sowing the seed of the gospel is relatively easy i.e. I give the tract or the church magazine, say a few words on the gospel and if the Lord open doors, take out the 4 Spiritual Laws and go through it cover to cover. It is the response of the person to whom the seed is sown that I have absolutely no control. Whilst Tim and I have had success with Paul who stayed with us for over a year, this young man seem to have a different response.
Luke 8:11 - 12 tells of one of the reason why the seed did not take root. "The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved." How is this so? I think it must be that the enemy has already got some sort of foothold in their lives to begin with. Perhaps its their background of idol worship, bondage, bad habits or recurrent sin or even a mind control spirit. Maybe its some kind of wrong teaching or indoctrination (like in my case - I was reading books on Tibetan Buddhism/occult/astral traveling). Perhaps its some unforgiveness, bitterness or resentment, hurt or grieve which arose as a result of altercation with Christians. For some young people, perhaps its their fear of parental objections.
The only way to deal with this is to bind the works of the enemy so that the enemy's foothold will be smashed, broken and cut down!
Lord we take authority over every work of the enemy in J and bind every spirit of doubt, fear or unbelief. We bind and break every bondage of the mind, every unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment, every past experience that is a stumbling block to J's salvation. Have mercy on him. In Jesus name. Amen!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Security alarm
One of the younger members in my life group, Sister S just recently acquired a dog for her household. When I took Aka Lata to visit her (Aka is my god sister from India and a woman of God) Sister S had to rein in the dog as he was barking fiercely at us. According to Sister S, the dog's keen sense of smell protected the family from strangers who will come knocking at their gates in the middle of the night. Sister S also told me that there being 5 girls in the family (mum who is bed ridden and 4 sisters who were still schooling) having a dog was a necessity as he could function like a security guard/alarm for the family.
I thought of my own house....big spacious open balcony with a huge sliding door that's always open to catch the wind, windows without bars, doors that open into the corridors of my apartment so that passers-by can look in and see what I am doing in the kitchen....God, do you think I need to get a dog or wire up my house with an alarm system?
Then the Lord showed me that I do have an alarm. In fact it is absolutely foolproof, the best there is that money cannot buy. It is the PRAYERS that I say for my children in the morning and at night when I lay hands on them and bless them. Since buying the book 'Praying for your adult children' and praying over the children prayer by prayer, I can sense a spiritual covering over the lives.
I believe that everytime I pray for my children, I switch on the best security alarm/system in the world for them and a wall of protection envelopes them. The glory and the presence of God surrounds them, shield them and protect them from every evil work.
PRAYER IS INDEED THE BEST SECURITY ALARM WE CAN EVER SWITCH ON FOR OUR CHILDREN!
I thought of my own house....big spacious open balcony with a huge sliding door that's always open to catch the wind, windows without bars, doors that open into the corridors of my apartment so that passers-by can look in and see what I am doing in the kitchen....God, do you think I need to get a dog or wire up my house with an alarm system?
Then the Lord showed me that I do have an alarm. In fact it is absolutely foolproof, the best there is that money cannot buy. It is the PRAYERS that I say for my children in the morning and at night when I lay hands on them and bless them. Since buying the book 'Praying for your adult children' and praying over the children prayer by prayer, I can sense a spiritual covering over the lives.
I believe that everytime I pray for my children, I switch on the best security alarm/system in the world for them and a wall of protection envelopes them. The glory and the presence of God surrounds them, shield them and protect them from every evil work.
PRAYER IS INDEED THE BEST SECURITY ALARM WE CAN EVER SWITCH ON FOR OUR CHILDREN!
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