Psalm 24

It is wonderful to read the bible and suddenly have a tune rush through my head. It happened today while reading Psalm 24:4-6 from the bible:

 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
       who does not lift up his soul to an idol
       or swear by what is false.

 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
       and vindication from God his Savior.

 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
       who seek your face, O God of Jacob. [b]
       Selah

Can you hear the tune? :) wonderful right? I started singing along to it and just had to google it to see the full lyrics and whose song it is! It is 'Give us Clean Hands' by Chris Tomlin.

Chris Tomlin - Give us clean hands Lyrics 

We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes
From evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let this be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes
From evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another 
Give us clean hands--Oh God
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

Oh God of Jacob

(Give us clean hands)

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another 
Give us clean hands--Oh God
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

Oh God of Jacob
Oh God of Jacob

Give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another 
Give us clean hands--Oh God
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

Oh God of Jacob

Here is the link to the YouTube. Enjoy! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2SsVM7C6vs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

As we turn to Him everyday for little things at first, and then more and more as we see His marvelous love, we will turn away from our idols even if the idols are our own children or family but we only need to take that one tiny step ie to turn to the God of Jacob. You will start experiencing Him and then get ready for an adventure! :)

'Ephphatha' - God's rhema word for Nic

While Rev. Marvin was preaching 2 Sundays ago about Jesus healing a person who was deaf and could hardly talk, the word 'Ephphatha" stood out from the following verses:

Mark 7: 33-35
33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” 35 Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly.

I nudged Henry and whispered that we should lay hands on Nic and pray 'Ephphatha' on him. I didn't think he would take me seriously (but I am glad he did). That night, we laid hands on Nic's head and prayed an Ephphatha prayer for him. Henry normally prays "open brains open" that is why using the term 'Ephphatha' made much sense to me. I was a bit concerned that if we just pray for the brains to open, bad stuff could go in too! We also told Nic to say 'Ephphatha' to his brains and told him the story of how Jesus healed this deaf man. We would pray nightly like this.

Last Sunday (24.10.10) after Sunday School, Nic passed Henry an envelope full of stickers and  Henry asked what happened. Nic said he was rewarded for being the only boy in class who volunteered to sing 'Walking with Jesus' in front of the class! He also told his dad not to tell mummy for surely mummy would ask him to sing it again. Ah, but he voluntarily sang it to me at home. :) I was so surprised when Henry related this to me. Both Ethan and I were homebound because of the stomach bug. It is amazing. This is the first time i hear Nicholas volunteering and singing all alone and in front of everyone. That was THREE big steps he made! I asked Henry "What is the date today?". Before I could get over his achievement, Henry said that Nic also asked to play chess. What? Chess? Amazing! What a growth spurt! Praise the Lord!

Only God can supernaturally provide for Nic like this and give him such confidence in such a short timeframe. While we were figuring out whether to pull him out of Chinese school, change schools or put him into another tuition class, we have seen God's hand these days and knew we just had to wait upon him for the best direction to go.

We are really are in awe of what just ONE word from God can really do. It is really God's rhema word for Nic and the holy spirit's nudging for me to tell Henry and Henry's obedience to execute it.  

Nic has more tremendous growth spurts this week. On Tuesday for the first time, his Bahasa Malaysia teacher (and I know exactly how she feels) rewarded Nic for finishing his bahasa homework in school! And last night, I spotted Nic pick up a church library book to read it for the first time. He whispered, "Does it say 'I love my family'?" Yes!  It was Stella Jane that gave me this very good tip to just read storybooks to my kids every night whether or not they can read along or not. She used to read 12 different books from the church library and another place to her children and it paid off. She said 'Just read it to them but be prepared to do it over a year". It has only been a month! Praise the Lord!

I know it is tough sometimes to decide for your kids whether to send them to see a child counselor, or which types of extracurricular classes for them to attend or whether to pull them out from school because of our concerns for them but I am slowly learning how to trust God to supernaturally provide for my children. This week has been so amazing, so many ups and so many downs (namely stomach bug hitting Ethan, myself, Henry, Nic and today, Adrian and not to mention the awful muscle spasm pain) but through this week, we have seen and heard more victories and the evil one cannot steal our joy away.

I just want to encourage you to keep trying to hear from God, through the sermons, through the bible, through friends etc. All it takes is just ONE rhema word from Him and stand back and watch victory! I love you Jesus! I love you Jeeeeesus!

Jesus my source of strength!

I was so very weak Monday morning. I could hardly get out of bed and when I laid on the sofa in the living room, I could hardly muster enough strength to get to the dining room. Henry thinks it was a stomach bug which I had gotten from Ethan after caring for him for 2 days. Ethan was down for a day last Saturday but by lunch the next day, he declared to me that he was no longer sick. "See, I have no fever, see I have no vomit". Indeed, he was recovering very well after that declaration except he made one final purge on Sunday night that caused such uproar and mess at Sunway Giza's toilet.

So, for most of the day on Monday I was sleeping. Thank God there was no pain, just terribly weak. I kept praying "O God, I pray you will strengthen me by the power of your holy spirit in my inner man". Then, by lunch time, I stared at the food and could hardly eat. This was bad. I thank God for my mum who heard my call for help and came to look after me for the day.  I asked God for one verse in the bible that would just break all this yoke away. And then, I flipped open the bible and I found 1 Samuel 17:45,46 and as I read I cried and I spoke it against the stomach bug that came against me:

"...You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head...."

After that like Ethan, I grew stronger and stronger. I too gave a final vomit at night before I slept soundly and woke up the next morning and managed to exercise around my neighborhood. I marveled at the difference that only the previous day I could hardly walk to the dining table!

Another attack came in the evening just as I was about to go for Deeper life seminar class. I was beginning to get muscle spasm pain on the back (Yin Ling calls it a hidden nerve) but I sensed it was an attack because I was feeling fine the whole day. So I shouted, "By the blood of Jesus Christ, I will go to deeper life seminar class today!". Then I got up and changed as if I was getting ready to go and I felt better but as I reached class it was threatening to come back again. But I felt God speaking to me was when the speaker Sunny suddenly spoke something about the BLOOD and I started crying again as he said it again and again and praying in tongues before lessons. During the break, Elaine and I went to ask him to pray for me and after he prayed for me, I could sit the entire class, a bit of discomfort but no spasm. It was when I got home that the spasm broke out. I tried oil, lying flat, rolling my legs up but finally I hit the magic spot of propping pillows up and I fell asleep until all the nerves calmed down and then I could lie flat. I woke up at 5.30 am for thanksgiving. I survived the many ordeals.  Praise the Lord, He is the source of my strength and my hope, my God in whom I trust! Thank you Jesus! Thank you Jesus!

Miracle Healing Rally 30.10.10

Come believing God for miracles to heal you. There is a parable in Mark 4 about the seed that fell on rocky ground and they have no root in themselves, but go on for a time; then, when trouble comes or pain, because of the word, they quickly become full of doubts. (see Mark 4:17). So, if you believed, just press on believing unless you hear differently from the Lord.

The best part about Deeper Life Seminar is I can always get Ps Vernon to pray for me after classes. At east I don't have to wait for a miracle rally. On Tuesday, I asked Ps Vernon to pray for the itchy cough to go away from me. Ps Gerry overheard and together they prayed for me. That day, I also received a word while reading the bible on Genesis 32:26 about Jacob wrestling with a man until nearly dawn and he found out it was God himself. "Then he (the man) said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he (Jacob) said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me.""

It was just an itchy cough but it has been so long and I just knelt down and prayed meditating on this word and whenever I coughed. I will not let you go Lord until you bless me and take my cough away! So, it is not that itchy anymore, praise the Lord! Amazingly, my mum came with pegaga, a new remedy for cough! Praise the Lord! His timing is always great!

Pegaga Juice Recipe

A handful if pegaga
2 passion fruit
A few leaves of basil
2 inches of aloe Vera
A bit of water
Blend into a smoothie

Voilà! It actually taste good.

Oh, and my dear mum introduced me to a nasal spray thinking it could be tickling around the ear, nose throat area that is causing me to cough. Got one from a pharmacy and it is quite easy to use and without any discomfort. All these have helped reduce the cough but it always starts with the power of prayer and God working through all the natural things around us.

So, persevere and press on after the miracle healing rally.

The details are as follows:
Venue: Renewal Lutheran Church
Address: Lot 5, Jalan 51A/221, P Jaya

Date: 30.10.10

Time: 7 pm

Those in stretchers and wheelchairs can come as well as they have assistance at the door step and a lift leading to the hall. It is air conditioned and there is Chinese translation as well.

Then I read online that pegaga is very good for those suffering for leukemia.

Pantai Baptist Church Prospective Members Meeting

My church, Pantai Baptist will be having a "Prospective Members Briefing" at 10:00 AM at Dayspring Room this Saturday 23 October 2010.
 
This is the best opportunity if you are looking to join a baptist church and to ask any questions you may have regarding the PBC membership process.

More details can be found here:

http://www.pantaibaptistchurch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=28

Wrath of God/ Discerning His body/ Rhema

Psalm 90:11
Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

The fear of God is the reverence that is due Him and i know how much in my heart that I should revere Him. What so amazing about Psalm 90:11 is that it showed me that God's wrath that was AS GREAT as this reverence due to Him was unleashed onto Jesus, on his body on the cross 2000 years ago and by His stripes I am healed!

I am so thankful I stumbled on this passage as it deepened my awe for God of how much He loves me. There is so much evil in this world that when I read them in the news I am quite desensitised by them all.  Even the thought of Jesus' death on the cross is like a mental acknowledgement of what God has done for me. Lately, I have been asking God to give me more compassion in my heart for how am I going to reach out to others with little compassion in me. 

God answers our prayers. I felt compassion for Adam Lambert when others saw it as just a performance to be enjoyed. A few days ago, I cried when the first man was pulled out from the Chillean mine. That's only a start for me. My mum was glued to the television for 2 days and she cried for them and prayed for their safety until the very last one was pulled out.

So as I take holy communion I have now this passage to meditate on. To think that the amount of wrath as great as the fear due to God  was unleashed on Jesus' body on the tree, cursed, punished, afflicted, and by His stripes I am healed! Then i crunch on the bread, chewing every morsel in my mouth reflecting how Jesus suffered for me.

His blood shed for me is the proof of his death that He died for me for the forgiveness of my sins past, present and future and now I can declare I am the righteousness of God in Christ by Jesus' blood. Then I drink his blood. 

It is really powerful when we can discern His body on the cross because that is "faith"ing (from the Greek word 'pistes').  

Hebrew.11.8: "By pistis (trust) Abraham, being called, obeyed to proceed to a place which he was about to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going." That is, Abraham not only accepted what God told him as being true, but also had enough confidence in it to act upon it (He obeyed).

I believe it is this pistis of being able to relate to God and yes, He did do all this for me so thst by Jesus' stripes, I am healed from all cancer, cough, fear, rejection, doubts, stress with kids, stress with work, unbelief and blindness. I am whole again, spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. I believe it is this pistes, this trust (not just mental knowledge) in God that enables the holy spirit to come upon me to strengthen me to do what He commands me to do even though i know not where i go. It is this holy spirit that then enables me to bear fruit and that is the transformation from within to produce good works. Transformation that can save marriages, break addictions, break bondages. It is truly amazing what believing in Jesus can do.

On this road of discovering Jesus all over again and God's promise of Isaiah 53:5 that I am made whole again, I am surprised then God comes down and shows more to me when CY mentioned this YouTube of Via Dolorosa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSvyuCaL9pc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

But how do we escape the corruption in the world if we don't get rhema like Abraham to stand on and act upon? 

I pray that not only that we know how much God has done for us but also that we may know that in our daily living, His divine power is in us that would set us free from all insecurities, diseases, fever, cough, flu, emotional turmoil, stresses in life.  Just discern His body all over again at the cross and ask God for the word specially for us as we soak in His word. That word would just strengthen us as we lean on His rhema promise for us. We need not bear the pain anymore as He has bore it all on the cross 2000 years ago and by His stripes, we are healed.

2 Peter 1:3,4

 3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

T'was the night of Halloween

T'was the night of Halloween when the druids came out to play. "twik" or "tweet", "twik" or "tweet". They were out looking for a treat, a princess or a woman for a human sacrifice to the devil. So off they went from castle to castle or homes to homes. When they found what they were looking for, they would drag her away and place  'Jack o lantern" outside the victim's home to protect those inside from being killed by demons that night. Dear Jack o lantern smiling carved out from a pumpkin lighted by human fat sitting on the porch guarding the home!

Alas, if they could not find a treat, it would be time for a trick and they would carve a hexagram (a perverted star of David) on the door . That night Satan or his demons would kill someone from that home through fear.

Samhain (October 31) was most often recognized as the Celt's New Year, also called Ancestor Night. It represented the final harvest, when the crops were safely stored for the coming Winter. As the veil between the worlds of life and death is thin on this night, they take this time to remember their beloved dead.

The Druids weren't playing. They were high priests for the Celts who lived in Ireland. They helped the Celts predict the future during this time when there is a thin veil between the living and the dead. Their predictions for the future comforted these farmers through the cold winter season.

Nic was fascinated by the scary pictures at the front of the magazine in our church library. The comic book is called "Spellbound". the information on the human sacrifice by the Druids during Samhain was provided by John Todd an ex-grand Druid priest. I always knew there was a dark side of Halloween but I never knew the details. At least now I can explain to Nic why He should not even consider a Halloween party because once upon time they killed women for human sacrifice and this at the Stonehenge in UK as well!

One thing that stood out from this comic was this:

"A true bible believing Christian has more power than a witch. But they're not aware of this." 

The facts above were provided by John todd, an ex Druid high priest who was on the council of 13 and belonged to the most powerful organization on earth called the Illuminati. You can read more about him on  

http://socioecohistory.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/john-todd-1970s-ex-council-of-13-illuminati-member-reveals-how-the-illuminists-work-trilateral-commission-council-on-foreign-relations-illuminati-corporations-world-government-attack-on-christ/

Some history of Druids can be found in this website:
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/d/druids_the_a_brief_cultural_history.html   

No wonder I was mesmerized when I danced to the music in the Adam Lambert  concert. Even music beats which are used to summon in demons are put into contemporary music and the lyrics are used to cast spells on oneself. I can vouch that with Lady Gaga's music. No wonder Nic seem to be prevented in learning. I just mentioned to him yesterday that there seem to be a wall against him studying. Whenever I mention anything to do with studying, he will make a big drama sound. It is like whatever I tell him will bounce of his head. So I told him to say to himself "I love to study" three times!

I can see where the attack is coming from now. The thing is how do one throw away all the ultra man, power rangers, dark music, dark games from the computer. O help us Lord!

Ephphatha, ephphatha, I speak to Nic's brain to be opened to God's word that he is as bold as a lion, that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him, that Nic is quick to learn all languages and literature in Jesus' name. I bind and break all evil spirits assigned to Nic and Ethan, all spells cast on them through dark songs, dark games, dark movies begone in the name of Jesus! I plead for the blood of Jesus to cover Nic and Ethan and protect them from the evil one. O lord give us wisdom how to protect our children from the darkness in the world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Thank You for the Music, Adam Lambert!

It's broken lives, struggles, freedom from struggles that make beautiful songs. Knowing his background, I was reading a lot into his lyrics Last night (Glamnation Adam Lambert Tour Bukit Jalil 14.10.2010) while he was singing (hearing most of them for the first time) and feeling his pain, his longing to be loved amidst all the glamour and fame, hiding no more. I couldn't hear his pronunciation in 'Broken Open' but I can feel his song. Checked the lyrics on the net and it goes like this:

Broken Pieces, break into me 
So imperfectly what you should be 

I don't want you to go 
Don't wanna see you back out in the cold 
Air you're breathing out fades you to gray 
Don't run away, find me 

I know the battles of chasing the shadows of who you wanna be 
It doesn't matter, go on and shatter 
I'm all you need 

Broken pieces, break into me 
So imperfectly what you should be 
Lay here, it's safe here, I'll let you be broken open 
Hide here, confide here so we can be broken open


Adam explained that the lyrics are basically encouraging someone to feel safe in being vulnerable. 'Lay here, it's safe here, I'll let you be broken open.' It's about that moment where someone really opens up emotionally to you. He wrote that from some experiences that he had with certain people in his life, and he hopes that it comes across that way.

I cried when he sang "Whataya want from me"! Maybe I was feeling God's love for him that he need not go through these lies, contradictions and pain. Watching him sing is so mesmerizing. I think it is that dark eye shadow of his. I don't think many men can carry it off. I think it is the way he belts it out and his screams. Oh, he has a beautiful scream. Have you ever heard of such thing? Beautiful scream. I like 'Aftermath" which he co wrote: 

Have you lost your way?
Livin' in the shadow of the messes that you made
And so it goes
Everything inside your circle starts to overflow

Take a step before you leap
Into the colors that you seek
You get back what you give away
So don't look back on yesterday

Wanna scream out, no more hiding
Don't be afraid of what's inside
Gonna tell ya you'll be alright
In the aftermath

Anytime anybody pulls you down
Anytime anybody says you're not allowed
Just remember you are not alone
In the aftermath

You feel the weight
Of lies and contradictions that you live with everyday
It's not too late
Think of what could be if you rewrite the role you play

I loved "Fever" too and the performance that came with it. Little did I know that it was written by Lady Gaga. Oh dear more bad company. I hope his future songs won't turn into songs singing death to himself! But Fever is bad enough, about sexual passion and of the wrong kind is worse. Sigh. Minus the perversion, the performance was great. It is really like broadway! Our very own little broadway in Malaysia. 

He left a message to us at the end - to know all the glamour, fame, wealth is nothing without love. As long as he has love in his heart God can still work in him one day. I pray that one day in the aftermath, he would come out stronger knowing nothing he has done against God's ways profited him and then, he would realize that only could Jesus can fill up the longing for love in his heart.

One day heaven will be a place that we can enjoy wonderful concerts like this - broadway, drama, beautiful clothes, dancing, music without the perversion. In a way, Malaysia is like heaven since Adam agreed not to repeat his kissing act with his bass guitarist on stage. At least people like me got to enjoy his music minus the perversion. 

Thank you Lord for the complimentary tickets from Digi. Thank you for a lovely time of music and dance. Thank you for talented Adam Lambert. Thank you for helping me understand people in need of you. Bless Adam Lambert Lord, send him a perfect laborer across his path when the time is right. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!

Love the sinner, not the sin.

O the pain, the pain - take the balance

O the pain, the pain - take the balance

I like to hear sermons from Ps Joseph Prince because he taught me grace all over again and made Isaiah 53 come alive. Putting what I learned from Ps joseph Prince and Leong Tien Fook in such a short time is amazing. It has strengthened my understanding of who this Jesus is. So, I find it irritating that people have nasty things to say about JP. I don't really want to defend him but he doesn't deserve all the comments. Really, no one is perfect. I get irritated when Nic listens to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance but we live in an imperfect world which is getting worse each day. I hate the song because it has such awful lyrics. Who wants bad romance or 'i want your ugly' or 'I want your disease'. I have come to a point that I tell Nic to take what is good and throw what is bad. The music, the melody, the rhythm is brilliant. Just change the lyrics to something good like "I'm bold, bold, bold as a lion, bold, bold, bold as a lion'.  it's so catchy, it makes a good memory verse tool!

I guess some people will fall for the song and subconsciously take in all the bad and become bad influence in society but we can't save the world. Only Jesus can! John 3:17 "For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him."

Just pretend that JP is only teaching a class on righteousness and grace. We know that there is more to grace in the bible but JP has beautifully referenced grace to all parts of the bible and it's wonderful to see how God was at work from the beginning of time. It was he who gave me an interest to study the tabernacle so much so when Leong Tien Fook gave a class on Hebrews, I just snatched the opportunity. I knew it was my key to knowing Jesus better.

A lot of criticism has been taken off tangent, like they take half of what JP says and then criticize how it is not consistent to the bible. But if you continue to hear what he says, his emphasis is always on Jesus' finished work on the cross, the life transformation through the holy spirit and then all the things criticized about will be tackled. It's like seek ye the kingdom of God and all will be added unto you. He definitely does not promote sin. Like in Hebrews, he does not want us to be sin conscious where the Jews had to annually sacrifice goats and bulls for the forgiveness of sins. He wants us to be Jesus conscious. Repentance is over time with the power of the holy spirit. The holy spirit does not condemn but gently leads and guides. He is saying that we have a wrong understanding of the word "convicts". The devil, the accuser condemns us and puts us through guilt, condemnation and shame but the holy spirit reveals and gently guides and leads us back to Him and be aligned again with His word.

So, if we are not quick to condemn but slow to listen, there's actually really good sermons and teachings we can hear not only from JP but from other preachers. I know some may not be so discerning but should we spend time rescuing everyone or building our own faith and sharing Jesus. Be like a berean to check back to the gospel with the guidance of the holy spirit. Take what is good, throw away what is bad.

The trouble with traditional churches is there is a lot of head knowledge and not enough of practice. When they do practice, i wonder how much is really out of love and how much is out of "doing". And how do we grow and bear fruit and receive all that He wants to give us. Most times, i was struggling to read the bible and be a good christian. Where is the holy spirit? Sigh. And in charismatic churches, how much of giving is out of the heart and how much is out of greed to want more? How do we know how well they utilise the money or is that not our concern because we tithe to God and not to men? See, no one is perfect, not the traditionals, not the charismatics not anyone.

But the holy spirit is right! If we stay close to God he will lead us along the straight path come what may. We should always pray for our own pastor, our leaders, our own church if we have any complaints. Only God can move great and mighty things amongst us. Ok, I better talk to God about this then.

Kingfisher across my path

I saw a kingfisher fly across my windscreen again. I immediately praised God for the beautiful sight. It's that kind of beauty that just lifts my spirit and I can't help but praise God over and over again. Then I recalled that the last time I saw this electric blue kingfisher was when I was with my dad and today, as I was on my way to fetch my dad I saw it again!

The kingfisher flew past the same stretch of road as the last time so it was very deja vu. I can't help but ask God "What is it Lord?". I shared it with my dad. I have had several opportunities to share Jesus with my dad. Every time I share Jesus with him, I can't help but praise God. I have been praying for his salvation. The way i saw the kingfisher, the delight that sprung up within me is how God sees my dad. He loves my dad very much for God, the creator of heaven and earth made him.

The psalmist David (my dad's name!) wrote in
Psalm 139:13
"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well"

Praise God that my dad was fearfully and wonderfully made! I pray that my dad's heart will open to realize this love that God has for him and the delight he brings Him like the kingfisher delighting my heart. 

  

Streaked, Speckled or Spotted

This morning's devotion was interesting. As I read the bible on Genesis 28 to 31, I came across Jacob's experience raising speckled, streaked and spotted sheep from Uncle Laban's flock. It was part of their deal that Jacob could have all the speckled, streaked and spotted sheep as his wages. So interested was I, I started drawing Jacob's strategy in increasing his own flock size.

Jacob made Laban's unblemished flocks mate in front of freshly cut branches (which he then made white stripes on them by peeling the bark) in water troughs where the flock came to drink. And they bore young that was streaked, speckled or spotted (Genesis 30:37-39).

I asked God "How did Jacob get this amazing idea to put striped branches in front of the mating flock?".  It was like having fixed deposit and trying to increase what you have from uncertain deposit rates!

It took me awhile to figure out that the answer was in the next chapter, Genesis 31:10-12
 
"One time during the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the females were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Yes, here I am.’.  The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you."

He received the idea from God in a dream. There is actually a lot to learn from these few chapters and I discovered a good explanation in the following website. Even the questions he asked at the end of it seem so apt to us who are in the world.
 
http://www.unionchurch.com/archive/091999.html

But the lesson I learned from this is to continue to hear from God and follow His ways. I get many comments from people who tell me they can't hear from God. I used to be one of them. I thought gone are the days where God speaks like a loud speaker, burning bush and all. Just persevere and spend that quiet moment with him. Earlier even into the first week of this journey I saw the words 'fast' and 'Henry' which led to God choosing the tarceva strategy for us. I saw it even though I had only started to read the bible again. So, just persevere. It is only through hearing God through the spirit that great things happen like for Jacob.

My cry to God this morning was for Him not to let me go, that I continue to hear him loud and clear. It is so much easier these days. I remember I asked Hamir how he did it. I was so amazed. During the recent prayer advance, we prayed in groups of 5. I saw the word 'shipwreck' and visually I saw choppy sea but then the word 'calm' came. I told the lady I was praying for what I saw and she kept nodding her head. I was actually afraid to tell her what I saw but it was pretty clear. Later she came up to me to say I was right about that shipwreck but it has passed. But to her it was a confirmation from God to her about something. Praise God! I don't understand the things from God but He has his ways and His ways are sure better than our ways. Oh, I pray come January, I still hear him loud and clear. I pray for all my friends in PBC who are in a dry season that they will persevere and stay close to God and listen to Him through the spirit for He  will show them great and mighty things. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

What a Dream!

Henry just shared his dream with me just now. He and Peter Lim took my car for a ride. They parked my car but when they went back for my car it had disappeared. I was so sad when he told me that. But then he continued that he and Peter met a group of little children about 4 to 5 of them and they looked like little angels. They told him who took my car, two neatly dressed man and woman. So, in the end they found my car. Praise the Lord! His impression was that although he was in trouble there were people everywhere willing to help him. He does not know why Peter was in his dream...ha ha.. I think it is because he is the fountain of all wisdom!

What an encouraging dream. Even though the devil comes to kill steal and destroy, God has a different plan for us and also my heart is warmed because we are surrounded by many friends and family and even people around the world whom I have not met before praying for us as a family. We thank the Lord for all of you. God bless you all richly.

Oh, and in the dream, there was only one reward that the little children asked for - Bak Kut Teh!

Can you relate to that?

http://www.j2kfm.com/best-klang-bak-kut-teh/

Sort Your Mail

Imagine a father holding a toddler's hand. The toddler trips and falls on his knees and hurts his knees. His father pulls him up, cleans his knees and continues their journey. Along the way, he bumps into a tree and see stars, falls into a hole and hurt his ankles, falls into mud and gets dirty but his father is always there holding his hand and pulling him out of danger.

You have probably heard of this line "Even though we are Christians does not make our problems go away". I get confused when i hear this phrase for the bible says in Psalm 34:17 that

 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; 
       he delivers them from all their troubles.

The former line if not explained properly makes me feel like I cannot trust God to deliver me yet i know God is able to but why not for my case? The example of the father holding his son's hand opened my eyes to see how God does deliver us from all our problems. He is in it with us but like a good and wise father, he doesn't over protect us. Between Henry and I, I think Henry is wiser in this area. He will leave things for Nic to do, simple things like taking the plate to the sink, wiping up the mess. My sis is also very good in this area. The other night Ethan dropped a pack of yoghurt drink from the cold area in the supermarket. My immediate instinct was to pick up for him but my sister held me back and she said to Ethan "Pick it up, Ethan and put it back on the shelf' and Ethan happily did it. Father God is like that as well. He is there by our side guiding us, sometimes letting us do things ourselves and not just taking the problem away from us. Then he hugs us and we feel loved by Him and we love Him back in return and soon even the dirt on our face, the scratches on our knees, the stars that we see, the sprained ankle that hurts grow dimmer for we only feel God's big hand holding us securely.

During class last week Ps Vernon told us to put our right hand on our belly and raise up our left hand as he prayed Ephesians 3:16 over us. As i munched on that night's lesson, I woke up the next morning with tears in my eyes with a sudden realization of how i was over protected as a child. As I grew older, I would try to psyche myself to get things done all on my own strength and without the holy spirit. And soon i gave excuses so i wouldn't have to try including serving God the way that he wanted me to serve him. It explained why i also tend to over protect my children yet i am somehow not so equipped to handle the stress resulting from it which then adds on to my stress! What a heavy load!

That morning the holy spirit also prompted me to sort my mail. Strange, i had told a friend earlier that morning to follow the holy spirit's leading and sometimes it has nothing to do with the trouble we're facing. Then i heard "Sort your mail". I sensed that if i asked the right questions why i hate to open mail so much, it would reveal my deep fears. And it did! Thank you holy spirit!   It was fear of failure. And it took me the next 3 days to sort and file my mail.

But it was the visual of God holding my hand, guiding me through difficult times and pulling me out of trouble that melted my heart that i need not face all the fears in my mind. I just need to be courageous to take the first step and let the holy spirit guide me. Come January will be trusting in action. Come January, it is He who will still hold my little hand in his big hand and I need only believe that he won't let me go. 

It was his spirit in my inner man that helped me realize all the above and I prayed for this deep understanding of his love to be with me in my inner man that will see me beyond January.

Father God I pray for your spirit to go deep down into my inner man that I may know that I know that I know that I know how much you care for me and how you are always by my side even when the going gets tough. I thank you for your revelation of Ephesians 3:16 and the father-son visual by Ps Maragreth. Thank you for putting it so plainly to me. Thank you for helping me realize I am not alone in facing the fears in my mind. Help me realize this for my children that I too will not over protect them but just guide them through like you do for me. In jesus' name i pray. Amen.

Ephesians 3:16
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,..