Ephesians 4:22-24 (MSG)
"Everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you."
I think my life is hard to understand - wake up and thought about how much good I can do for God ... good that will guarantee my greatness. WRONG!
You began your life in Christ by the Spirit, why would I want to complete it by my own power? This is FOOLISH
(Gal 3:3 NCV).
Pastor Andre tells us:
"You are sailing along in the ocean and rowing your boat, lost and alone - cold...
Then a ship appears and it's name was - GRACE sailing constantly in the water and not stopping.
Waving to catch its attention and it took a long while but GRACE notices you and starts to swing around to pick you up. But you bring your boat up to the decks of the GRACE and found it to be a luxury cruise, however you are still in your own boat trying to sail and rowing even thou you are on such a wonderful cruise ship: GRACE"
What are you doing today my brothers and sisters? Will you stop, listen, and simply not just know but encounter the grace that Christ has come into this world to give us.
I am a dumb sheep, I shall not be in want
Let the shepherd our Christ lead us as he does not stop - he keeps on going, it is we who stop, complain - So transform and be changed!
Now our Savior Jesus Christ, speaking of entering the
Kingdom of Heaven said; Indeed there are those
who are last who will be first, and first who
will be last." ( Luke 13:30 ) Also Jesus' brother
wrote; He gives more grace. Therefore He
says: "God resists the proud, But gives
grace to the humble." ( James 4:6 )
Mar 24, 2009
Mar 19, 2009
My heart is pouring
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out
I am pouring out, my life is for you and all I want is to keep doing the impossible. I pray I remain faithful to you Jesus. Keep your hand on me Lord, for I am your servant...
Mar 18, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [Mar 18 - 24, 2009]
Philippians 4:10-13 (New Living Translation)
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Who am I? In my mind I was thinking of Jackie Chan's film he starred in titled, "Who Am I?" Well, he was a secret agent that lost his memory after falling from a crashing helicopter, then chased by a number of other agency operatives, and he has no idea why. I was thinking and this struck me, am I blind to the outside of me and unable to see the false programming in my life causing sin to chase me and I keep wondering
How could this be happening?
This week talks about having the Right Attachment...in our Spiritual Awakening series. Are we in constant struggle with the world whom seems to feed us a standard that brings happiness? Maybe, in some examples I have seen - having certain things in life will bring about satisfaction, however what is true happiness and satisfaction in the long-term run. Paul who has reach out to tell men and women about the joy of having Christ in you - and receive the everlasting love and salvation that he has already won for you. In Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT), Paul talks about how he is not perfect! Reading about the letters he wrote, how could he not be perfect, however Paul was aware that he is nothing and he focus on one thing:
13 I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
If you would only listen to Christ Jesus - through him may we be overturned away from our past and learn to reach out and love him in return. To be in Christ's approval and not our own approval in our lives.
Give Me Your Eyes
by Brandon Heath
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Who am I? In my mind I was thinking of Jackie Chan's film he starred in titled, "Who Am I?" Well, he was a secret agent that lost his memory after falling from a crashing helicopter, then chased by a number of other agency operatives, and he has no idea why. I was thinking and this struck me, am I blind to the outside of me and unable to see the false programming in my life causing sin to chase me and I keep wondering
How could this be happening?
This week talks about having the Right Attachment...in our Spiritual Awakening series. Are we in constant struggle with the world whom seems to feed us a standard that brings happiness? Maybe, in some examples I have seen - having certain things in life will bring about satisfaction, however what is true happiness and satisfaction in the long-term run. Paul who has reach out to tell men and women about the joy of having Christ in you - and receive the everlasting love and salvation that he has already won for you. In Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT), Paul talks about how he is not perfect! Reading about the letters he wrote, how could he not be perfect, however Paul was aware that he is nothing and he focus on one thing:
13 I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
If you would only listen to Christ Jesus - through him may we be overturned away from our past and learn to reach out and love him in return. To be in Christ's approval and not our own approval in our lives.
Give Me Your Eyes
by Brandon Heath
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Mar 11, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [March 11 - 17, 2009]
Sit right here and don't move.
Stop jogging.
Don't jump like a monkey.
Slow down.
Just, be still!
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God... (Hillsongs)
The Lord is great! Be awaken to the message of God that you have already been approved! Not to be afraid to please anyone but only the approval of Christ. The week has been long as it was all about me stressing out money, the idols in my life that tells me that Christ is not the main focus in my life.
John 10:9-11 (NLT)
9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
The realization of your own program will beginning the awareness and restoring our lives that Jesus came to restore through the Gospel of Grace. Our lives need the constant fill of God whom fills us and never stops to fill you up with grace. There is more to this life than dying, as Jesus came to give life and to seek the joy that he unconditionally gives. Find him there at the cross, I sometimes find comfort in my Lord as there are so much uncertainties, my cultural fulfillment, the needs of your externals - Let Jesus be our inside out solution. Steven Curtis Chapman - wrote this song, "I will be Here".
Enjoy your day and may we meet one day where we can be in the love of our God.
I Will Be Here(Steven Curtis Chapman)
Tomorrow morning if you wake up
and the sun does not appear
I will be here
If in the dark, we lose sight of love
Hold my hand, and have no fear
'Cause I will be here
I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together
I will be here ...
The song sung by a gentleman who really captured Steven's song - God Bless
Stop jogging.
Don't jump like a monkey.
Slow down.
Just, be still!
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God... (Hillsongs)
The Lord is great! Be awaken to the message of God that you have already been approved! Not to be afraid to please anyone but only the approval of Christ. The week has been long as it was all about me stressing out money, the idols in my life that tells me that Christ is not the main focus in my life.
John 10:9-11 (NLT)
9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
The realization of your own program will beginning the awareness and restoring our lives that Jesus came to restore through the Gospel of Grace. Our lives need the constant fill of God whom fills us and never stops to fill you up with grace. There is more to this life than dying, as Jesus came to give life and to seek the joy that he unconditionally gives. Find him there at the cross, I sometimes find comfort in my Lord as there are so much uncertainties, my cultural fulfillment, the needs of your externals - Let Jesus be our inside out solution. Steven Curtis Chapman - wrote this song, "I will be Here".
Enjoy your day and may we meet one day where we can be in the love of our God.
I Will Be Here(Steven Curtis Chapman)
Tomorrow morning if you wake up
and the sun does not appear
I will be here
If in the dark, we lose sight of love
Hold my hand, and have no fear
'Cause I will be here
I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together
I will be here ...
The song sung by a gentleman who really captured Steven's song - God Bless
Mar 5, 2009
To Live is Christ! by K.P. Yohannan
To Live is Christ!
Feel the passion of K.P. Yohannan as he describes the life-giving power of total commitment to Christ. Be encouraged and amazed by real life stories of missionaries who willingly risk their lives to preach the Gospel. God can and wants to use our lives in similar, mighty ways if we will find our life by giving it away. 53 min -> http://www.gfa.org/to-live-is-christ
3-Minute/shorter presentation
Feel the passion of K.P. Yohannan as he describes the life-giving power of total commitment to Christ. Be encouraged and amazed by real life stories of missionaries who willingly risk their lives to preach the Gospel. God can and wants to use our lives in similar, mighty ways if we will find our life by giving it away. 53 min -> http://www.gfa.org/to-live-is-christ
3-Minute/shorter presentation
Mar 4, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [March 4 - 10, 2009]
Luke 22:27 (God's Word)
27 Who's the greatest, the person who sits at the table or the servant?
Isn't it really the person who sits at the table? But I'm among you as a servant.
Matthew 13:1-23 (New Living Translation)
Matthew 13
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
1 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[a] of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’[b]
16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
------------------------
This week has been not easy I can tell you my brothers and sisters in Christ. I look at the passage and the discussion at the care-group, if not for God I would have retreated in my shell like a turtle does and never stick my head out. I have pride, not wanting to admit that I am wrong - prove all that I am the correct one. I look at the the parable of the seeds that fall on different soil and I learn how to cultivate the soil of Grace through awareness listening. I grew up with friends and always wanting to serve and not ask for anything...but in my heart I use to say, "How good it is to be appreciated by friends and after knowing how much good I am doing." I have not received any grace or understanding, I am in my own world and self adapting to the world and allowing the world of sin to control me! Am I really listening to God, or implying that is silence.
We want to be lead into greater faith so that it becomes easier to change and overcome difficulties, and therefore I need awareness-listening. Doing my devotions and allowing rest to come from God helps me bridge the silence I think that God is not responding in my life. God is amazing, and in his time-line I will be touched and with Christ we can be in his approval/righteousness. Turn away from sin and turn towards the love and grace that the Gospels preach to you are saying. Turn and listen and be in his Rest.
A friend of mine who i knew, during a retreat in Singapore once walked over to me with a towel and basin and placed my feet in it and washed them carefully and gently, and after that he bended over and kissed it. I started to tear and knew my life has changed through Christ, the Christ who encountered life and whom all nations will one day knee now kneels before his disciples. You showed your love by the Gospels, coming to bring the dead in sins to life, washing away our dirt and transforming our lives so that we will put only fall into the good soil and live in Grace.
I was playing and hearing this song,
Towel and the Basin [Scribbling in the Sand: The Best of Michael Card (2002)]
I leave you with the lyrics to it:
In an upstairs room, a parable
is just about to come alive.
And while they bicker about who's best,
with a painful glance, He'll silently rise.
Their Savior Servant must show them how
through the will of the water
and the tenderness of the towel.
And the call is to community,
The impoverished power that sets the soul free.
In humility, to take the vow,
that day after day we must take up the basin and the towel.
In any ordinary place,
on any ordinary day,
the parable can live again
when one will kneel and one will yield.
Our Saviour Servant must show us how
through the will of the water
and the tenderness of the towel.
And the space between ourselves sometimes
is more than the distance between the stars.
By the fragile bridge of the Servant's bow
we take up the basin and the towel.
(Thanks to Pastor Andre and the grace for the moment)
27 Who's the greatest, the person who sits at the table or the servant?
Isn't it really the person who sits at the table? But I'm among you as a servant.
Matthew 13:1-23 (New Living Translation)
Matthew 13
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
1 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[a] of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’[b]
16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
------------------------
This week has been not easy I can tell you my brothers and sisters in Christ. I look at the passage and the discussion at the care-group, if not for God I would have retreated in my shell like a turtle does and never stick my head out. I have pride, not wanting to admit that I am wrong - prove all that I am the correct one. I look at the the parable of the seeds that fall on different soil and I learn how to cultivate the soil of Grace through awareness listening. I grew up with friends and always wanting to serve and not ask for anything...but in my heart I use to say, "How good it is to be appreciated by friends and after knowing how much good I am doing." I have not received any grace or understanding, I am in my own world and self adapting to the world and allowing the world of sin to control me! Am I really listening to God, or implying that is silence.
We want to be lead into greater faith so that it becomes easier to change and overcome difficulties, and therefore I need awareness-listening. Doing my devotions and allowing rest to come from God helps me bridge the silence I think that God is not responding in my life. God is amazing, and in his time-line I will be touched and with Christ we can be in his approval/righteousness. Turn away from sin and turn towards the love and grace that the Gospels preach to you are saying. Turn and listen and be in his Rest.
A friend of mine who i knew, during a retreat in Singapore once walked over to me with a towel and basin and placed my feet in it and washed them carefully and gently, and after that he bended over and kissed it. I started to tear and knew my life has changed through Christ, the Christ who encountered life and whom all nations will one day knee now kneels before his disciples. You showed your love by the Gospels, coming to bring the dead in sins to life, washing away our dirt and transforming our lives so that we will put only fall into the good soil and live in Grace.
I was playing and hearing this song,
Towel and the Basin [Scribbling in the Sand: The Best of Michael Card (2002)]
I leave you with the lyrics to it:
In an upstairs room, a parable
is just about to come alive.
And while they bicker about who's best,
with a painful glance, He'll silently rise.
Their Savior Servant must show them how
through the will of the water
and the tenderness of the towel.
And the call is to community,
The impoverished power that sets the soul free.
In humility, to take the vow,
that day after day we must take up the basin and the towel.
In any ordinary place,
on any ordinary day,
the parable can live again
when one will kneel and one will yield.
Our Saviour Servant must show us how
through the will of the water
and the tenderness of the towel.
And the space between ourselves sometimes
is more than the distance between the stars.
By the fragile bridge of the Servant's bow
we take up the basin and the towel.
(Thanks to Pastor Andre and the grace for the moment)
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