Apr 30, 2009
Apr 29, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [Apr 29 - May 05, 2009]
This week continues the Book of Esther 4:1-17
Living by Grace in the World - Transform in the midst of Ambiguity
The world is filled with such marvels! The world was made perfect but somehow our lives in this age and society is controlled and domesticated by our occupation. God places us in the positions we are in and rather introduce God's grace in our lives we might chose to look the other way. How comfortable we are in our mist of activities, social status, work environment, etc etc etc, that sometimes we forget to remind ourselves how important it is - God has place me there!
I was reading an interview that Hillsong's song writer, Amanda Ferguson, written a book called Songs of Heaven, and in it she describes worship as this: “setting aside one’s pre-occupation with self, and focusing on God.” She placed her self-centerness out and allow Christ to use her occupation of song-writing to do God's work. Didn't place Christ aside but instead focus on God first, and her worship songs become of praise that spring forth like living water to glorify Christ. Christ comes before your occupation not after as it was the grace of God we realize that Jesus is our ultimate savior, source of identity and where our real worth comes from, we are now free to use our occupations for him. Stop my friends in your busy life, sit with the Lord, and listen to his voice. For he wants of great things to come out from each and single one of us.
This week "When you talk, do not say harmful tings, but say what people need-words that will help others become stronger" (Ephesians 4:29). Learn to be humble as your life is already full of joy why place harmful thoughts in your mind. Surrender all for him and know that you are not alone . . . as we follow Jesus unconditionally to use our skills for him knowing Jesus has already done for us.
Living by Grace in the World - Transform in the midst of Ambiguity
The world is filled with such marvels! The world was made perfect but somehow our lives in this age and society is controlled and domesticated by our occupation. God places us in the positions we are in and rather introduce God's grace in our lives we might chose to look the other way. How comfortable we are in our mist of activities, social status, work environment, etc etc etc, that sometimes we forget to remind ourselves how important it is - God has place me there!
I was reading an interview that Hillsong's song writer, Amanda Ferguson, written a book called Songs of Heaven, and in it she describes worship as this: “setting aside one’s pre-occupation with self, and focusing on God.” She placed her self-centerness out and allow Christ to use her occupation of song-writing to do God's work. Didn't place Christ aside but instead focus on God first, and her worship songs become of praise that spring forth like living water to glorify Christ. Christ comes before your occupation not after as it was the grace of God we realize that Jesus is our ultimate savior, source of identity and where our real worth comes from, we are now free to use our occupations for him. Stop my friends in your busy life, sit with the Lord, and listen to his voice. For he wants of great things to come out from each and single one of us.
This week "When you talk, do not say harmful tings, but say what people need-words that will help others become stronger" (Ephesians 4:29). Learn to be humble as your life is already full of joy why place harmful thoughts in your mind. Surrender all for him and know that you are not alone . . . as we follow Jesus unconditionally to use our skills for him knowing Jesus has already done for us.
Apr 22, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [Apr 22 - 28, 2009]
This week it is exciting that Andre has gone into the book Esther. I had gone through the book of Ruth as it was interesting for books in the Bible that have no mention of God and makes one wonder why would it even make into the Bible.
"Living out of Grace in the World" - Grace in the Ordinary; a new series as the last time we were looking at Spiritual Awakening. The Book of Esther refers to Esther whom is chosen out of the many women taken by force to the palace of King Xerxes as the currently Queen Vashti refused to be paraded in front of the King's guest when Xerxes demanded her presence. Hence she was disposed and Esther was given the chance to prove herself in front of King Xerxes for one night or else she would either become an instant widower or part-time concubine.
Even thou God's silence in the Book Esther doesn't mean he is absence. He works in smallest details in our lives, and makes us be filled and joyful!
Faith brings joy, through Christ if we allow him and receive him - we will begin to taste and understand the goodness and dispose the tasteless and bad stuff in our lives. Our beings were made in perfect by God and so we should desire his approval and take guard the evil and lies in our exterior. Give thanks for God who send his son Jesus who was not made famous by dying but by dying he won our freedom to be proclaim Glorious!
Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Prayer: My sisters and brothers, let us bow our heads to allow Christ to touch our minds; close our eyes so that we shut the exterior out to be with him. Our Father, with the love you have given us through sending your son. Thank you for the cross and giving us grace even thou we didn't ask for it and don't deserve it. We might not even fully appreciate it when we get it but God you never stop giving and opening your arms to ask us to turn away from lies and turn towards him to move that one step. Thank you Lord and may you take care of us during the week and to every moment of our busy lives.
"Living out of Grace in the World" - Grace in the Ordinary; a new series as the last time we were looking at Spiritual Awakening. The Book of Esther refers to Esther whom is chosen out of the many women taken by force to the palace of King Xerxes as the currently Queen Vashti refused to be paraded in front of the King's guest when Xerxes demanded her presence. Hence she was disposed and Esther was given the chance to prove herself in front of King Xerxes for one night or else she would either become an instant widower or part-time concubine.
Even thou God's silence in the Book Esther doesn't mean he is absence. He works in smallest details in our lives, and makes us be filled and joyful!
Faith brings joy, through Christ if we allow him and receive him - we will begin to taste and understand the goodness and dispose the tasteless and bad stuff in our lives. Our beings were made in perfect by God and so we should desire his approval and take guard the evil and lies in our exterior. Give thanks for God who send his son Jesus who was not made famous by dying but by dying he won our freedom to be proclaim Glorious!
Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Prayer: My sisters and brothers, let us bow our heads to allow Christ to touch our minds; close our eyes so that we shut the exterior out to be with him. Our Father, with the love you have given us through sending your son. Thank you for the cross and giving us grace even thou we didn't ask for it and don't deserve it. We might not even fully appreciate it when we get it but God you never stop giving and opening your arms to ask us to turn away from lies and turn towards him to move that one step. Thank you Lord and may you take care of us during the week and to every moment of our busy lives.
Apr 16, 2009
Inspiring Britian Got Talent, 2009!
Stavros Flatly Father & Son - Greek Irish Dancers, entertaining to the end!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gHvATmUsSg
47; Susan Boyle - Didn't expect her to be able to SING! I dream a dream from Les Miserables
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gHvATmUsSg
47; Susan Boyle - Didn't expect her to be able to SING! I dream a dream from Les Miserables
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
Apr 15, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [April 15 - 21, 2009]
The past 3 weeks I got to watch the Truth Project. One every week at our care group and it is a total of 12 DVDs you watch to finish what the tour guide (presenter), Dr. Tackett puts forward to us as the truth and what is lies that puts us away from the truth of God. It is very interesting as it does make me feel like a Paul wannabe...to be the troublemaker in the new town, to upset the businessmen, lifestyle, worshiping standards, etc. To see to the people, are you not hearing the GOOD NEWS ... Jesus Christ, it is so good I can taste it, how come you are not listening to it...
Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)
Life by the Spirit
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
To do what you do not want to do...Wow, isn't it suppose to be to do what I want to do! That is the real deal right? But if you do what you want, do you know you are making the right one? Making decisions are cool, having a directed lifestyle is reasonable...but I believe the statement that Paul was writing was that our lives need to desire away from ourselves for a change. Let God's spirit be above you...to be your number 1 and not some stuff to be randomly remembered later on.
Andre in his sermon during Easter was the assurance that Christ came to accomplish, his death and resurrection validates and provides us the assurance of God's victory over our sin, and the promise of a new life in grace. Be moved, touched, transformed and informed of this wonderful news! Christ at the God's expense (Grace).
Take care, and lovingly your brother, Francis
Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)
Life by the Spirit
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
To do what you do not want to do...Wow, isn't it suppose to be to do what I want to do! That is the real deal right? But if you do what you want, do you know you are making the right one? Making decisions are cool, having a directed lifestyle is reasonable...but I believe the statement that Paul was writing was that our lives need to desire away from ourselves for a change. Let God's spirit be above you...to be your number 1 and not some stuff to be randomly remembered later on.
Andre in his sermon during Easter was the assurance that Christ came to accomplish, his death and resurrection validates and provides us the assurance of God's victory over our sin, and the promise of a new life in grace. Be moved, touched, transformed and informed of this wonderful news! Christ at the God's expense (Grace).
Take care, and lovingly your brother, Francis
Apr 8, 2009
GoD M.S.G [April 8-14, 2009]
Dearest friends & family,
It has been a sunny week here in San Diego, except Tuesday night for now - as it rained, poured, showered, watered...got wet while walking to car or to neighbors home. But for those if you have a shelter path, while it is raining; that is GREAT!
It has been quite a walk with God and such a marvelous joy it is to walk with him. The way our lives shape and form once awaken by Grace - and knowing Christ is not working his magic but his love so that we can be risen from our death in sin and transformed into life through Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Do you conform to the world's reality? I look at the movies I own and the TV shows I watch...hmmmm media is such a great tool to spread lies or bombard us with more lies if we do not catch what we are seeing, hearing or receiving. I almost wanted to go study nursing or become a doctor after watching a touching movie on how they save lives (Patch Adams), or a coast guard (The Guardian). They provide great entertainment and visual aid to other people's lives, but it is not our lives. God created us in his image and we go about our lives seeking other Gods(Idols), forgetting the God who created the heaven and earth. Seek the truth=reality - Jesus came to testify to the truth (John 8:37).
Our minds are a wonderful tool given to us but we fill it with stuff that you might think is good, sufficient knowledge for you. One day you will end up empty and find your life to be meaningless. Let God transform us, like Jesus when he was transformed after he died on the cross, so that we can be fully not dead in our lives with sin, but alive with Jesus Christ in his grace.
Dear brother & sisters,
As the time for Easter has arrive, let it now about finding easter eggs, and great music, nice atmosphere in the church, but it is about you - whom has come down to earth, encountered us, died for us, and because of this we can be transform through Christ inside out in our lives to be renewed in our minds and say, I am here God. Amen.
Have a great week ahead, I miss you all those back home and to those close by - see you soon for Easter service.
Cheers,
Francis Law
It has been a sunny week here in San Diego, except Tuesday night for now - as it rained, poured, showered, watered...got wet while walking to car or to neighbors home. But for those if you have a shelter path, while it is raining; that is GREAT!
It has been quite a walk with God and such a marvelous joy it is to walk with him. The way our lives shape and form once awaken by Grace - and knowing Christ is not working his magic but his love so that we can be risen from our death in sin and transformed into life through Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Do you conform to the world's reality? I look at the movies I own and the TV shows I watch...hmmmm media is such a great tool to spread lies or bombard us with more lies if we do not catch what we are seeing, hearing or receiving. I almost wanted to go study nursing or become a doctor after watching a touching movie on how they save lives (Patch Adams), or a coast guard (The Guardian). They provide great entertainment and visual aid to other people's lives, but it is not our lives. God created us in his image and we go about our lives seeking other Gods(Idols), forgetting the God who created the heaven and earth. Seek the truth=reality - Jesus came to testify to the truth (John 8:37).
Our minds are a wonderful tool given to us but we fill it with stuff that you might think is good, sufficient knowledge for you. One day you will end up empty and find your life to be meaningless. Let God transform us, like Jesus when he was transformed after he died on the cross, so that we can be fully not dead in our lives with sin, but alive with Jesus Christ in his grace.
Dear brother & sisters,
As the time for Easter has arrive, let it now about finding easter eggs, and great music, nice atmosphere in the church, but it is about you - whom has come down to earth, encountered us, died for us, and because of this we can be transform through Christ inside out in our lives to be renewed in our minds and say, I am here God. Amen.
Have a great week ahead, I miss you all those back home and to those close by - see you soon for Easter service.
Cheers,
Francis Law
GoD M.S.G. [April 1-7, 2009]
[April 1 - 7, 2009]
Hi hi!!!
Greetings from me, Francis. Hope your day has been treating you well, if not I hope you find your favorite or enjoyable thing you like to do and take some time to do it so it your mind will be rid of the bad day! This week I did not manage to find anything to write in the devotional and so please look out next week for it. If you have a short story or devotion you saw that is wonderful, share it with me. Take care and be safe along your travels, rest & love ones around you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi hi!!!
Greetings from me, Francis. Hope your day has been treating you well, if not I hope you find your favorite or enjoyable thing you like to do and take some time to do it so it your mind will be rid of the bad day! This week I did not manage to find anything to write in the devotional and so please look out next week for it. If you have a short story or devotion you saw that is wonderful, share it with me. Take care and be safe along your travels, rest & love ones around you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mar 24, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [March 25 - 31, 2009]
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 )
"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 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)
Feb 28, 2009
Pride / Humility
Define out Pride and Humility?
Kayoko's definition:
Pride is placing oneself in a higher position,
Humility is placing others in a higher position.
I like what Elizabeth said, "I"specialist!!! A lot of capital I.
In Luke 18:9-14 (NLT)
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
------------------------------------------------------------
The tax collector humbled himself and did not ask God to for more rewards, but more for his faults. Three points I learn from today's sharing was -
#1. Awareness Ps 139:23-24
#2. Repentance Heart 2 Cor 7:10
#3. Come to God with your BROKENNESS
Let God change you, it is ok to be broken, poor in spirit
Matt 5:3-11
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Are you broken and need God? Don't only accept the good things in your life, but also the bad things. Take all and give him praise, and be in the presence of God as he picked you, to be his creation and his likeness. Be saved in the name of Jesus Christ.
Kayoko's definition:
Pride is placing oneself in a higher position,
Humility is placing others in a higher position.
I like what Elizabeth said, "I"specialist!!! A lot of capital I.
In Luke 18:9-14 (NLT)
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
------------------------------------------------------------
The tax collector humbled himself and did not ask God to for more rewards, but more for his faults. Three points I learn from today's sharing was -
#1. Awareness Ps 139:23-24
#2. Repentance Heart 2 Cor 7:10
#3. Come to God with your BROKENNESS
Let God change you, it is ok to be broken, poor in spirit
Matt 5:3-11
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Are you broken and need God? Don't only accept the good things in your life, but also the bad things. Take all and give him praise, and be in the presence of God as he picked you, to be his creation and his likeness. Be saved in the name of Jesus Christ.
Feb 25, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [Feb 25 - Mar 3, 2009]
Last weekend in church, we continued on Spiritual Awakening - I updated my facebook profile status to, "Francis is changing his programming", and a friend of mine up in Seattle who does programming commented on my status saying he liked it ...
I found that amusing but yet I think he grasp the wrong meaning to my update. Are we even aware of our own insecurity is part of an emotional programming that can be reversed, replaced and corrected.
My life is so unaware of this, emotions take control of the every being and all views of it too. I want to be transformed and don't you want to be too??? Transformed to be better and be loving to others more - or are you moved by society on the norm of things in life. Jesus is the way, why look under the bed, in your work, in your financial difficulties, in your insecurities. A note on Sunday was in the 3rd point -
* There is an inner need for security that is so deep that only God can fill it - and He has already done so - all we need is to be Aware & Receive it!
Wake up to the truth of Jesus and his Gospel of the Good news and be in his righteousness/approval, How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They're innumerable (Ps. 139:17). Come and see the pierced hand of God touch the most common heart, wipe the tear from the wrinkled face, and forgive the ugliest sin. Come and encounter my King . . . do you know him?
(Psalm 139:13-18 NLT)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
In His Grace,
Francis
(Thank you to Andre's sermon Feb 22, 2009 and Grace for the Moment)
How great it would be have a great white piano at the edge of a cliff and playing it to the tune the wind.
I know you may not clean your computer screen very often and it is hard to do the inside, so here is my present to you.
I found that amusing but yet I think he grasp the wrong meaning to my update. Are we even aware of our own insecurity is part of an emotional programming that can be reversed, replaced and corrected.
My life is so unaware of this, emotions take control of the every being and all views of it too. I want to be transformed and don't you want to be too??? Transformed to be better and be loving to others more - or are you moved by society on the norm of things in life. Jesus is the way, why look under the bed, in your work, in your financial difficulties, in your insecurities. A note on Sunday was in the 3rd point -
* There is an inner need for security that is so deep that only God can fill it - and He has already done so - all we need is to be Aware & Receive it!
Wake up to the truth of Jesus and his Gospel of the Good news and be in his righteousness/approval, How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They're innumerable (Ps. 139:17). Come and see the pierced hand of God touch the most common heart, wipe the tear from the wrinkled face, and forgive the ugliest sin. Come and encounter my King . . . do you know him?
(Psalm 139:13-18 NLT)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
In His Grace,
Francis
(Thank you to Andre's sermon Feb 22, 2009 and Grace for the Moment)
How great it would be have a great white piano at the edge of a cliff and playing it to the tune the wind.
I know you may not clean your computer screen very often and it is hard to do the inside, so here is my present to you.
Feb 19, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [Feb 18 - 24, 2009]
Have a lovely day and take a break to sit-stop-listen (Pine: Rice&Virtue).
Cheers,
Francis Law
As I was siting down on my desk today and looked at the sky, wow - so many stars ... too many probabilities that might occur in that vast amount of space. Movies that talk about how you should believe in them, their ideas, their love and their their their - don't let the world misguide you in life. Jesus is the way and an everlasting change in our lives - Wake up, come to OUR SENSES!!! Begin to see, reality as it really is. I really like the poem Andre read when he was on a flight, it is indeed very amazing how God fills our lives. So I leave you with the poem and pray for your days ahead in the weeks so that you will continue to receive God's love.
I was a neurotic for years.
Anxious, depressed, selfish.
And everyone kept telling me to change.
And I resented them, and agreed with them,
and wanted to change, but simply couldn't, no matter how I tried.
What hurt the most was that,
like the others, my closest friend kept urging me to change.
So I felt powerless and trapped.
One day he said "Whether or not you change. I love you as you are."
Those words were music to my ears: "Whether or not you change. I love you as you are …
Whether or not you change. I love you as you are ... I relaxed.
I came alive. And, suddenly, I changed!
Now I know that I couldn't really change till I found someone to love me whether I changed or not.
Is this how you love me, God?
(Quoted from Andre's sermon Feb 15, 2009)
Cheers,
Francis Law
As I was siting down on my desk today and looked at the sky, wow - so many stars ... too many probabilities that might occur in that vast amount of space. Movies that talk about how you should believe in them, their ideas, their love and their their their - don't let the world misguide you in life. Jesus is the way and an everlasting change in our lives - Wake up, come to OUR SENSES!!! Begin to see, reality as it really is. I really like the poem Andre read when he was on a flight, it is indeed very amazing how God fills our lives. So I leave you with the poem and pray for your days ahead in the weeks so that you will continue to receive God's love.
I was a neurotic for years.
Anxious, depressed, selfish.
And everyone kept telling me to change.
And I resented them, and agreed with them,
and wanted to change, but simply couldn't, no matter how I tried.
What hurt the most was that,
like the others, my closest friend kept urging me to change.
So I felt powerless and trapped.
One day he said "Whether or not you change. I love you as you are."
Those words were music to my ears: "Whether or not you change. I love you as you are …
Whether or not you change. I love you as you are ... I relaxed.
I came alive. And, suddenly, I changed!
Now I know that I couldn't really change till I found someone to love me whether I changed or not.
Is this how you love me, God?
(Quoted from Andre's sermon Feb 15, 2009)
Feb 12, 2009
Music for Thought
Akiko shared her thoughts and this song makes a lot of sense ... knowing how messed up we are - and the lyrics creates in my life that he is the way! My King
Here are the lyrics:
How many times have I turned away
The number is the same as the sand on the shore
But every time You've taken me back
And now I pray You do it once more.
Chorus:
Please take from me my life
When I don't have the strength
to give it away to You Jesus
How many times have I turned away
The number is the same as the stars in the sky
But every time You've taken me back
And now I pray You do it tonight
Feb 11, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [Feb 11 - 17, 2009]
(Rom 12:2, Philip. 4:11-13, John 8:32)
Throughout the week, there was a thought stuck in my head and it was really just how Jesus would be your pilot. He is behind you with the wheel on the ship so you will be sailing the right direction - and then God is the point your ship is sailing towards ... an invisible line that Jesus' sees to lead you on the right path - & finally the Holy Spirit blowing that breeze you need so that you will be able to sail or else it would be floating in mist of the ocean for me.
Romans 12:2-3 (The Message)
Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3 I'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.
---------------------------------
Our lives are filled with different programming. Our upbringing, cultural and worldly programming affects and influences us more than we realize - it will shape us and move us - hence if you observe carefully yourself, you will know what is our programming then being aware will lead us to right living by having the right thoughts. Pine brought up a sign he saw outside while driving, outside a Vietnamese church the sign read: "God seems so far away .......................Guessed who moved?"
Our change in our life, true change will last if we perform it from the INSIDE-OUT out and not the other way around.
Throughout the week, there was a thought stuck in my head and it was really just how Jesus would be your pilot. He is behind you with the wheel on the ship so you will be sailing the right direction - and then God is the point your ship is sailing towards ... an invisible line that Jesus' sees to lead you on the right path - & finally the Holy Spirit blowing that breeze you need so that you will be able to sail or else it would be floating in mist of the ocean for me.
Romans 12:2-3 (The Message)
Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3 I'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.
---------------------------------
Our lives are filled with different programming. Our upbringing, cultural and worldly programming affects and influences us more than we realize - it will shape us and move us - hence if you observe carefully yourself, you will know what is our programming then being aware will lead us to right living by having the right thoughts. Pine brought up a sign he saw outside while driving, outside a Vietnamese church the sign read: "God seems so far away .......................Guessed who moved?"
Our change in our life, true change will last if we perform it from the INSIDE-OUT out and not the other way around.
Feb 4, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [Feb 04 - 10, 2009]
Mark 5:21-43
I was reading through the reading on Sunday and the title for this reading was - Jesus heals in response to faith.
When Jesus went onto shore, so many people were awaiting to see him. Then there was one woman who knew there were so many people crowding Jesus and yet she struggled to reach out to him. She hoped by maybe touching Jesus' robe, she will be healed. And indeed she was healed by touching Jesus! It is the direction and object of our faith that will save not the size of our faith. Our lives are so messed up and sometimes do we really realized that? How desperately helpless, and our struggles are like storms and hurricanes - blowing and hurling things in our way and we can only feel quite helpless. Jesus holds us by our hand and tells us to awake from our sleep that we so deeply believe is sufficient, but only through Jesus his grace is sufficient for us in the mist of our trials, troubles and storms.
[Ephesians 2:5-6 NLT]
5that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
Let the seasons of Christ, his resume of weakness and goodness be our every stream of life . . . our minds and hearts following Jesus, everyday wanting him to live by grace - So do not be afraid. Just have faith (Mark 5:36) Give God the time-line of your life and allow Jesus to become our deepest personal all in all and to connect with him relationally at our deepest levels.
Thank you Andre for his sermon and Grace For The Moment
2009/01/18 ICCSD sermon
How to Receive a Miracle of Grace by Andre Ong
I was reading through the reading on Sunday and the title for this reading was - Jesus heals in response to faith.
When Jesus went onto shore, so many people were awaiting to see him. Then there was one woman who knew there were so many people crowding Jesus and yet she struggled to reach out to him. She hoped by maybe touching Jesus' robe, she will be healed. And indeed she was healed by touching Jesus! It is the direction and object of our faith that will save not the size of our faith. Our lives are so messed up and sometimes do we really realized that? How desperately helpless, and our struggles are like storms and hurricanes - blowing and hurling things in our way and we can only feel quite helpless. Jesus holds us by our hand and tells us to awake from our sleep that we so deeply believe is sufficient, but only through Jesus his grace is sufficient for us in the mist of our trials, troubles and storms.
[Ephesians 2:5-6 NLT]
5that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
Let the seasons of Christ, his resume of weakness and goodness be our every stream of life . . . our minds and hearts following Jesus, everyday wanting him to live by grace - So do not be afraid. Just have faith (Mark 5:36) Give God the time-line of your life and allow Jesus to become our deepest personal all in all and to connect with him relationally at our deepest levels.
Thank you Andre for his sermon and Grace For The Moment
2009/01/18 ICCSD sermon
How to Receive a Miracle of Grace by Andre Ong
Jan 27, 2009
GoD M.S.G. [Jan 28 - Feb 3, 2009]
Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds (Psalm 119:27 NLT)
I found this black sheet with these white letters written on it, and on the opposite side it was written in chinese. This was inserted in one of the pages in my books and I was quite amaze how I came across it, then at the bottom of the sheet it read - Put this black sheet beneath a page to enhance readability. :)) Place a smile to my face as it was a very small but lovely gesture of the person creating that slogan and I smiled.
Nothing . . . in the whole world will ever be able to seperate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39).
We are all someone, special! Our life's resume ... what would you put in it? Will you place only the good things and leave the rest hidden. I learned in Matt chapter 1:1-17 - the Genealogy of Jesus - he places not only the good people but also the people that are not so good. It shows me how great God's plan eventually, all the people who path the way for Jesus Christ. Believe and recive the Grace knowing our own sinfulness but constantly being loved by God at the same time! When you sit and rest, God fights for you. When you fight your battles, he will sit and rest. Therefore allow grace to work in our lives, as God restores the lost time and renews a better future for us.
Take some time to do some devotional ... if not spend a bit of time to pray - to allow God's son to brighten or heal us at all times.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information about ICCSD, please visit our website,
To support us, please visit www.iccsd.org/home/support.html God bless you. International Christian Church of San Diego
On the Resumé of Grace Matthew 1:1-17 by Andre Ong
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds (Psalm 119:27 NLT)
I found this black sheet with these white letters written on it, and on the opposite side it was written in chinese. This was inserted in one of the pages in my books and I was quite amaze how I came across it, then at the bottom of the sheet it read - Put this black sheet beneath a page to enhance readability. :)) Place a smile to my face as it was a very small but lovely gesture of the person creating that slogan and I smiled.
Nothing . . . in the whole world will ever be able to seperate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39).
We are all someone, special! Our life's resume ... what would you put in it? Will you place only the good things and leave the rest hidden. I learned in Matt chapter 1:1-17 - the Genealogy of Jesus - he places not only the good people but also the people that are not so good. It shows me how great God's plan eventually, all the people who path the way for Jesus Christ. Believe and recive the Grace knowing our own sinfulness but constantly being loved by God at the same time! When you sit and rest, God fights for you. When you fight your battles, he will sit and rest. Therefore allow grace to work in our lives, as God restores the lost time and renews a better future for us.
Take some time to do some devotional ... if not spend a bit of time to pray - to allow God's son to brighten or heal us at all times.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information about ICCSD, please visit our website,
To support us, please visit www.iccsd.org/home/support.html God bless you. International Christian Church of San Diego
On the Resumé of Grace Matthew 1:1-17 by Andre Ong
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