my Grace identity ... do i follow the ways of the world or do i follow Jesus' ways: Do you identify your life with the 3 points below?
1. I am What I Acquire
2. I am What I Feel
3. I am Whatever I Say I am
i have one part in my life experience a bit of these 3 points and as the message over the weekend, I am will never allow you to discover your inside; rather it will only let you see your outside. i was reading my devotionals today and the title read 'What Worship Does' ... Worship humbles the smug (self-righteous) and lifts the deflated (exhausted). i forget to let God be in control of my daily activities, and allow the ways of the world to tell me how my life will be more joyful or exciting if i work towards having more money or having a girlfriend/boyfriend to love ...
i believe that God has a plan for you and even if you think God hasn't had one for you - you just try running and He will find you and reach out to hold you no matter what. Our lives are filled with so much ideas that we can make it on our own strength, and even some books will point to your life saying no worries - the world is here to support you. Ha ha i really laugh at that and tell you that these truth claims will only work for you part-time / temporarily. In Psalm 8, David starts of by praising God
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
Trust in Christ and allow the truth of God be open to you ... 3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him (Romans 12:3 Msg) Our lives changes when we are secure in our identity based on the fact we know and experience God loves us!
Psalm 8
1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Jul 22, 2009
Jul 15, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [July 15-21, 2009]
This week the reading comes from Psalm 73; a psalm of Asaph. Asaph was very talented and gifted but had envy in the heart and center of thoughts, and so Psalm 73 shows us the outlook of Asaph looking at someone else's life and being unhappy at other people's happiness.
* Envy is invisible and hides itself
* Envy sucks joy out of our lives
i truly experience envy as it does not make you happy at all ... it just creeps up and silent attacks you from the inside, rotting from your life inside. I believe it was a poison that was psychologically and socially blinding in my life. Envy was not taught when i was in school, but it existed on every corner, "that is a nicer looking car than mine"; "wow! your computer is way cooler than mine - i just have a small laptop."; "somehow you have more friends than me on your online profile, what's that about?" ... etc etc etc and it can go on and on and it really takes our eyes of the one we should be focus on - Jesus. Envy helped reveal our true idols and understand our own heart.
i choose to be honest before God as it is a step to overcome envy and discouragement, because i know God is trustworthy and i know you can trust him long-term and not just now. But it takes time to make sense and to allow Grace to flow into our lives. God accepts us no matter how messed up we are - HOW GREAT is THAT?!?!?! So my friend i choose to worship and fully experience the unconditional grace of God as i choose to be free and not be powered by the world in my life - i wonder if you will give God a little bit of your time to let Him tell you how much He loves and wants to hold you.
Allow God to draw you to Him, my friend i wish you well and joy - till next time :))
James 4 NLT
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but favors the humble.”
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
* Envy is invisible and hides itself
* Envy sucks joy out of our lives
i truly experience envy as it does not make you happy at all ... it just creeps up and silent attacks you from the inside, rotting from your life inside. I believe it was a poison that was psychologically and socially blinding in my life. Envy was not taught when i was in school, but it existed on every corner, "that is a nicer looking car than mine"; "wow! your computer is way cooler than mine - i just have a small laptop."; "somehow you have more friends than me on your online profile, what's that about?" ... etc etc etc and it can go on and on and it really takes our eyes of the one we should be focus on - Jesus. Envy helped reveal our true idols and understand our own heart.
i choose to be honest before God as it is a step to overcome envy and discouragement, because i know God is trustworthy and i know you can trust him long-term and not just now. But it takes time to make sense and to allow Grace to flow into our lives. God accepts us no matter how messed up we are - HOW GREAT is THAT?!?!?! So my friend i choose to worship and fully experience the unconditional grace of God as i choose to be free and not be powered by the world in my life - i wonder if you will give God a little bit of your time to let Him tell you how much He loves and wants to hold you.
Allow God to draw you to Him, my friend i wish you well and joy - till next time :))
James 4 NLT
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but favors the humble.”
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
Jul 8, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [July 08-14, 2009]
deaR friend,
How are you? i am sorry for always asking this question but i do miss your company and hope to fellowship someday. i hope all is well in your life ... i'm doing well and if you do not know we are already in the month of JULY! Well it was a wonder to be able to see fireworks on the eve and actual 4th of July Independence Day! From what i hear there is normally no fireworks on the eve just on the actual, so it was great to be able to catch the spectacular display of lights in the sky
This week's journey brings us into John 13:1-16
Jesus washes his disciples' feet. Peter protested to Jesus that he will never wash his feet, however Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." If we do not learn to receive from Jesus, we will never be a part of him.
If we do not know how to receive, we will not know how to give freely to others. i think for me that is something i am working on all the time. i have a hard time of receiving as in my culture i have been so cautious when people are giving as they are expecting something back from me ... how much more am i to give them, the pressure is on-going to return the favor to others when it is given. In Michael Jackson's life, he was always trying to do so much to make everyone happy as it would allow him to have peace. To work and work and work and working to accomplish of now at his death - he is a legend. Jesus teaches us through his parables that God is a seeking one, He goes out to find the lost sheep; the lost coin; and the son who is lost - He does not sit on his butt but runs out with his arms open wide to show how much he cares for you not because you are messed up but because He loves you so very very much.
Grace offers us relief from the crushing weight of the past and can truly change a future! Jesus cleansed us and will continue to do so as we are dumb sheeps who like to run our own way and be lost. Turn towards the everlasting life of Jesus Christ and allow him to wash you immediately by his Love and Grace.
Matt 18:3; 5; 19:14
Romans 5:10-11
How are you? i am sorry for always asking this question but i do miss your company and hope to fellowship someday. i hope all is well in your life ... i'm doing well and if you do not know we are already in the month of JULY! Well it was a wonder to be able to see fireworks on the eve and actual 4th of July Independence Day! From what i hear there is normally no fireworks on the eve just on the actual, so it was great to be able to catch the spectacular display of lights in the sky
This week's journey brings us into John 13:1-16
Jesus washes his disciples' feet. Peter protested to Jesus that he will never wash his feet, however Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." If we do not learn to receive from Jesus, we will never be a part of him.
If we do not know how to receive, we will not know how to give freely to others. i think for me that is something i am working on all the time. i have a hard time of receiving as in my culture i have been so cautious when people are giving as they are expecting something back from me ... how much more am i to give them, the pressure is on-going to return the favor to others when it is given. In Michael Jackson's life, he was always trying to do so much to make everyone happy as it would allow him to have peace. To work and work and work and working to accomplish of now at his death - he is a legend. Jesus teaches us through his parables that God is a seeking one, He goes out to find the lost sheep; the lost coin; and the son who is lost - He does not sit on his butt but runs out with his arms open wide to show how much he cares for you not because you are messed up but because He loves you so very very much.
Grace offers us relief from the crushing weight of the past and can truly change a future! Jesus cleansed us and will continue to do so as we are dumb sheeps who like to run our own way and be lost. Turn towards the everlasting life of Jesus Christ and allow him to wash you immediately by his Love and Grace.
Matt 18:3; 5; 19:14
Romans 5:10-11
Jul 1, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [July 1-7, 2009]
Hi Hi,
Wow, so fast time has moved ... anyway to all in the US - Happy Independence Day on coming 4th of July!!! i will be having a BBQ with the international fellowship down at a bay, yummy tummy is going fill my belly . Hope all is well in your life and your loved ones close to you ... i have been getting wonderful news in Singapore as some of my friends have either gotten married or are having their first baby! i am so excited for them and not sure what to say but just a lot of joy for them.
This week out reading comes from Luke 18:1-8 ; Genesis 3:1-9
God is really a great provider as this week i have been feeling a bit emotional, however all the words around have been encouraging. My devotions this day was “[Humble Service in the Body of Christ] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3) and last Sunday Pastor Andre talked about How Grace Enables Us to Persevere in Prayer ... WOW to me not listening to the encouragement and throwing a Pity Party on my own ... (thanks Pine for this term!). i should rely on the strength of Christ and not looking at my own self thinking i can handle it on my own. Andre talked about how when we persevere our heart and emotions can endure the process and catch up to be aware of God's gracious promises and not lose heart while we wait.
i am not going to stop in my pursuit towards the love of God, Lincoln Brewster's recorded a song and here's a verse and chorus;
in brokenness|i know you hold me|safe in redemptions arms|and i confess you alone restore me|leading me to your heart . . .and oh where else can i turn|but to the love of god|| the love of God ... that's so wonderful as i do not have to hide no more as once we believe the grace, goodness, and the Love Of God ... we want to turn towards, reveal me for God!
it is funny that a person like me who is not afraid of my past anymore as Christ conquered my life ... i struggle with the God of How Much More - i worry so much about how will i ever accomplish what He wants of me ... i keep on praying and persist in my asking to Christ for my struggles.
1 John 5:15 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Le me leave you with this message, the tree in which Christ Jesus died on was a cut down tree - and Jesus turned it to a tree of life that we can all lean on. Jesus can tell us about his love but we will not really understand, hence only but showing us do we slowly realize Christ's love is that of the How Much More! Amen, Hallelujah my friend and may your week be a wonderful.
Wow, so fast time has moved ... anyway to all in the US - Happy Independence Day on coming 4th of July!!! i will be having a BBQ with the international fellowship down at a bay, yummy tummy is going fill my belly . Hope all is well in your life and your loved ones close to you ... i have been getting wonderful news in Singapore as some of my friends have either gotten married or are having their first baby! i am so excited for them and not sure what to say but just a lot of joy for them.
This week out reading comes from Luke 18:1-8 ; Genesis 3:1-9
God is really a great provider as this week i have been feeling a bit emotional, however all the words around have been encouraging. My devotions this day was “[Humble Service in the Body of Christ] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3) and last Sunday Pastor Andre talked about How Grace Enables Us to Persevere in Prayer ... WOW to me not listening to the encouragement and throwing a Pity Party on my own ... (thanks Pine for this term!). i should rely on the strength of Christ and not looking at my own self thinking i can handle it on my own. Andre talked about how when we persevere our heart and emotions can endure the process and catch up to be aware of God's gracious promises and not lose heart while we wait.
i am not going to stop in my pursuit towards the love of God, Lincoln Brewster's recorded a song and here's a verse and chorus;
in brokenness|i know you hold me|safe in redemptions arms|and i confess you alone restore me|leading me to your heart . . .and oh where else can i turn|but to the love of god|| the love of God ... that's so wonderful as i do not have to hide no more as once we believe the grace, goodness, and the Love Of God ... we want to turn towards, reveal me for God!
it is funny that a person like me who is not afraid of my past anymore as Christ conquered my life ... i struggle with the God of How Much More - i worry so much about how will i ever accomplish what He wants of me ... i keep on praying and persist in my asking to Christ for my struggles.
1 John 5:15 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Le me leave you with this message, the tree in which Christ Jesus died on was a cut down tree - and Jesus turned it to a tree of life that we can all lean on. Jesus can tell us about his love but we will not really understand, hence only but showing us do we slowly realize Christ's love is that of the How Much More! Amen, Hallelujah my friend and may your week be a wonderful.
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