I admit that I am a bad dog owner and that I have neglected Loki... been too busy surviving... With a tight schedule of working and training... I never had the time to tend to the needs of my Loki... All I did was hug and play with him for five minutes a day...
Wanted to feed him today... Made some chicken.. It was delicious... Wanted to share part of it with him... So I carefully shredded the chicken to small bite size bits and placed it into his bowl... I brought the bowl to him and lured him to the kitchen... But he refused to eat it... He just sat in front of the bowl...
Then I realized that it is because he wasn't used to me feeding him... I took a small piece of meat from the bowl and placed it in his mouth... His expression totally changed.. he loved it... He quickly proceeded to gobbling up what was in his bowl...
Perhaps we are all like Loki... after not feeding on God's word for awhile... We forget how hungry we are... And how much we need it... But taste and see... for the Lord is good!! =)
God's word... Awesome!!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Upside down
The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.
-Proverbs 29:7-
Pastor Prince once said this... That the world is confused... that we have gotten things upside down... that God intended for the day to begin in the evening and end in the next evening... But we so firmly believe that the day begins in the morning.
Consider these:
(A)Are we righteous because we care about justice for the poor?
(B)Or are we righteous because of the blood of Jesus and as a result we care about justice for the poor?
(A)Are we righteous as a result of our good deeds?
(B)Or are we helplessly drawn towards these deeds because we are righteous by the blood of Jesus?
The world sees A.... And we Christians too will begin to believe A when we spend too little time in the word of God...
The truth is B... After you are saved by the blood of Jesus, you are different... Your heart is new... You are no longer able to turn a blind ear to the cries of the poor... You will demand justice.. Every cell in you won't be at peace if you let injustice slide...
That's what happened to me... I used to be ashamed of it - My inability to conform... To just be humble enough to let the authorities of this world have their way... But who's the greatest authority of this world? Who's the prince of this world? The devil. Indeed... How can I bow down to his ways? How can I conform to this world now that I am hopelessly saved?
I am no longer ashamed... I am proud of myself... What happened was wrong.. I am proud that I was the only one with the courage to speak up. I am glad that my heart and every cell in me is so totally transformed by the blood of Jesus that injustice just cannot be tolerated anymore...
The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.
-Proverbs 29:7-
Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
-Proverbs 28:5-
but the wicked have no such concern.
-Proverbs 29:7-
Pastor Prince once said this... That the world is confused... that we have gotten things upside down... that God intended for the day to begin in the evening and end in the next evening... But we so firmly believe that the day begins in the morning.
Consider these:
(A)Are we righteous because we care about justice for the poor?
(B)Or are we righteous because of the blood of Jesus and as a result we care about justice for the poor?
(A)Are we righteous as a result of our good deeds?
(B)Or are we helplessly drawn towards these deeds because we are righteous by the blood of Jesus?
The world sees A.... And we Christians too will begin to believe A when we spend too little time in the word of God...
The truth is B... After you are saved by the blood of Jesus, you are different... Your heart is new... You are no longer able to turn a blind ear to the cries of the poor... You will demand justice.. Every cell in you won't be at peace if you let injustice slide...
That's what happened to me... I used to be ashamed of it - My inability to conform... To just be humble enough to let the authorities of this world have their way... But who's the greatest authority of this world? Who's the prince of this world? The devil. Indeed... How can I bow down to his ways? How can I conform to this world now that I am hopelessly saved?
I am no longer ashamed... I am proud of myself... What happened was wrong.. I am proud that I was the only one with the courage to speak up. I am glad that my heart and every cell in me is so totally transformed by the blood of Jesus that injustice just cannot be tolerated anymore...
The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.
-Proverbs 29:7-
Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
-Proverbs 28:5-
Faithless but saved nonetheless
If my faith was great.. And I had opened my heart to the message of God, I would have left immediately... I would have such great confidence in the Lord that I wouldn't have hesitated when he called me... What is a true sign of faith?
To act immediately upon instruction... Without questioning... Because you are confident that the person who gave the instruction loves you too much to instruct you to do something that could be potentially hurtful...
But I hesitated... I gave it great thought... I rotated the option around like a gem... And went through hours after hours of introspection only to discover that I was as clueless as I was before... The answer did not lie in me... It did not lie in my wisdom... For God's plan is far greater than any man can conceive or understand...
Eventually, I just left... Not as a result of my faith... For I had no faith in a good future... I was jaded... I left because I couldn't stay...
A man's step is directed by God,
How then can he understand his own ways.
Indeed, my steps are directed by God... I am glad that God is still able to direct my steps despite my lack of faith and dedication to his word... There is a form of helplessness associated to it... But it is a good form of helplessness... Whether I am aware of it or not... But God always protects and looks after his children...
To act immediately upon instruction... Without questioning... Because you are confident that the person who gave the instruction loves you too much to instruct you to do something that could be potentially hurtful...
But I hesitated... I gave it great thought... I rotated the option around like a gem... And went through hours after hours of introspection only to discover that I was as clueless as I was before... The answer did not lie in me... It did not lie in my wisdom... For God's plan is far greater than any man can conceive or understand...
Eventually, I just left... Not as a result of my faith... For I had no faith in a good future... I was jaded... I left because I couldn't stay...
A man's step is directed by God,
How then can he understand his own ways.
Indeed, my steps are directed by God... I am glad that God is still able to direct my steps despite my lack of faith and dedication to his word... There is a form of helplessness associated to it... But it is a good form of helplessness... Whether I am aware of it or not... But God always protects and looks after his children...
Law or Grace?
Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.
-Proverbs 20:28-
When love rules, power takes a backseat...
When power thrives, love recedes...
Either will stay in the shadow as the other shines...
---------------------------------------------------
It is not by brute force and violence... Or by proving yourself with your capabilities that your throne is secured... it is through love and faithfulness...
As a leader, everyday you will be presented with choices... People will trespass against you... they will make mistakes and upset you... They can't help it... They are fallible humans... And you will have two choices - law (discipline) or grace (forgiveness)... of course, every situation is unique... And it is grossly inaccurate to simplify the options into purely law or grace...
But my advise is... Always try to choose grace... For grace is love... Love is God... Forgive and gently guide the person to the right path... Grace is not soft... It is kind and lovely but firm... Never speak from a position of superiority:
Eg: Why are you so stupid? Why do you make this stupid mistake? I will never make it... Your friends will never make it... What's the matter with you?
Instead, understand that you are as likely to make the same mistake... Instead of being angry.. Sympathies with him/her and guide her gently:
Eg. It is a mistake... And it will have its consequences... We cannot nullify those consequences but don't be too hard on yourself... All of us are capable of making this mistake... Mistakes are just opportunities for us to learn... So let's not waste any energy being upset about it... Let's learn from it and become wiser together.
If Jesus could forgive us of everything... Including striping, spitting on and crucifying him... Why can't we forgive our brother? Leaders must have an abundance of grace and love in them... they must have an abundance of Jesus in them... Remember that as a leader, your job is to feed God's sheep... Love them as God's inheritance to you...
through love his throne is made secure.
-Proverbs 20:28-
When love rules, power takes a backseat...
When power thrives, love recedes...
Either will stay in the shadow as the other shines...
---------------------------------------------------
It is not by brute force and violence... Or by proving yourself with your capabilities that your throne is secured... it is through love and faithfulness...
As a leader, everyday you will be presented with choices... People will trespass against you... they will make mistakes and upset you... They can't help it... They are fallible humans... And you will have two choices - law (discipline) or grace (forgiveness)... of course, every situation is unique... And it is grossly inaccurate to simplify the options into purely law or grace...
But my advise is... Always try to choose grace... For grace is love... Love is God... Forgive and gently guide the person to the right path... Grace is not soft... It is kind and lovely but firm... Never speak from a position of superiority:
Eg: Why are you so stupid? Why do you make this stupid mistake? I will never make it... Your friends will never make it... What's the matter with you?
Instead, understand that you are as likely to make the same mistake... Instead of being angry.. Sympathies with him/her and guide her gently:
Eg. It is a mistake... And it will have its consequences... We cannot nullify those consequences but don't be too hard on yourself... All of us are capable of making this mistake... Mistakes are just opportunities for us to learn... So let's not waste any energy being upset about it... Let's learn from it and become wiser together.
If Jesus could forgive us of everything... Including striping, spitting on and crucifying him... Why can't we forgive our brother? Leaders must have an abundance of grace and love in them... they must have an abundance of Jesus in them... Remember that as a leader, your job is to feed God's sheep... Love them as God's inheritance to you...
Proverbs that caught my eye today
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
-Proverbs 17:22-
A man's spirit sustains him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
-Proverbs 18:14-
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
-Proverbs 18:21-
How many of us speak so freely without thinking? And as a result, make enemies, hurt people. What is that a result of? Carelessness? Nope. It is a result of underestimating the power of the tongue...
If we only knew how powerful the tongue is. How did Jesus raise the dead? How did Paul cast out evil spirits? By the fruit of his lips... By speaking in a loud voice.. By his tongue...
As such, as Jesus is, so are we in this world.. You have the power to motivate and save people with your words... Your words can encourage and bring life to the weak... Similarly, it has also the power to condemn, demoralize and belittle people...
Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
-Proverbs 29:20-
Please think twice before speaking... =)
Consider this:
Even a fool kept silent is thought wise...
If you have nothing good to say... Keep quiet... It's better to keep quiet than to cause unintended destruction with rash words...
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
-Proverbs 17:22-
A man's spirit sustains him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
-Proverbs 18:14-
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
-Proverbs 18:21-
How many of us speak so freely without thinking? And as a result, make enemies, hurt people. What is that a result of? Carelessness? Nope. It is a result of underestimating the power of the tongue...
If we only knew how powerful the tongue is. How did Jesus raise the dead? How did Paul cast out evil spirits? By the fruit of his lips... By speaking in a loud voice.. By his tongue...
As such, as Jesus is, so are we in this world.. You have the power to motivate and save people with your words... Your words can encourage and bring life to the weak... Similarly, it has also the power to condemn, demoralize and belittle people...
Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
-Proverbs 29:20-
Please think twice before speaking... =)
Consider this:
Even a fool kept silent is thought wise...
If you have nothing good to say... Keep quiet... It's better to keep quiet than to cause unintended destruction with rash words...
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
----------------------------------------------
Spent too long away from the word of God... It's like I have fallen into a different frequency... Unable to receive the messages of God or interpret his signs and word as freely as I was able to do before... Too much introspection... Too much of me... I must remove me from my core and allow Jesus in once more... At hand, I have this beautiful verse... but I fail to interpret it..
Dear Lord,
I pray for shalom peace...
I pray that you remove me from my mind...
That all day I am preoccupied only on thinking about Jesus...
On your word...
Remove me...
So that I can focus on Jesus...
I am indeed weak, lowly and insignificant...
But Jesus is everything that's good...
As Jesus is so am I in this world...
Help me fix my eyes on Jesus...
In Jesus's name,
Amen
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
----------------------------------------------
Spent too long away from the word of God... It's like I have fallen into a different frequency... Unable to receive the messages of God or interpret his signs and word as freely as I was able to do before... Too much introspection... Too much of me... I must remove me from my core and allow Jesus in once more... At hand, I have this beautiful verse... but I fail to interpret it..
Dear Lord,
I pray for shalom peace...
I pray that you remove me from my mind...
That all day I am preoccupied only on thinking about Jesus...
On your word...
Remove me...
So that I can focus on Jesus...
I am indeed weak, lowly and insignificant...
But Jesus is everything that's good...
As Jesus is so am I in this world...
Help me fix my eyes on Jesus...
In Jesus's name,
Amen
Hebrews 11
Finally, God showed it to me today... The phrase I have been looking for...
Hebrews 11:13-16
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
------------------------------------------------
I can't describe the relief I felt... When God showed me this verse... I have always felt like an alien.. like a stranger... in the place I was in...
It is not their fault.. And it is certainly not my fault... We are different... It is impossible for people who do not understand you to love you... It is impossible for people who do not love you to bring out the best in you...
I tried my best to love them... but I could never fully mingle with them... They tried their best to love me... but they could never bring out the best in me...
-----------------------------------------------
A better place awaits... I am confident... It is day five since I have left and already see an improvement in my health.. My skin... that has been looking dull and old has begun to regain its former glow... I find myself a lot more relaxed and happy... I am also more likely to form happy and positive thoughts of people... And that makes me less reclusive and more friendly... I am more able to care for the people around me... Just five days...
I believe that in this month of rest... God will restore to me everything I lost... My health, my beauty... my confidence.... my youth... I am confident.. Because God loves me... It's not about what I eat or how much I exercise... Only one factors matters... God's love..
Hebrews 11:13-16
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
------------------------------------------------
I can't describe the relief I felt... When God showed me this verse... I have always felt like an alien.. like a stranger... in the place I was in...
It is not their fault.. And it is certainly not my fault... We are different... It is impossible for people who do not understand you to love you... It is impossible for people who do not love you to bring out the best in you...
I tried my best to love them... but I could never fully mingle with them... They tried their best to love me... but they could never bring out the best in me...
-----------------------------------------------
A better place awaits... I am confident... It is day five since I have left and already see an improvement in my health.. My skin... that has been looking dull and old has begun to regain its former glow... I find myself a lot more relaxed and happy... I am also more likely to form happy and positive thoughts of people... And that makes me less reclusive and more friendly... I am more able to care for the people around me... Just five days...
I believe that in this month of rest... God will restore to me everything I lost... My health, my beauty... my confidence.... my youth... I am confident.. Because God loves me... It's not about what I eat or how much I exercise... Only one factors matters... God's love..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)