The Poison of Bitterness

Nobody's life is perfect.  We will all encounter broken relationships with friends or family at some point in our lives.  Satan will try to sow bitterness into our lives through some means.  Once bitterness takes root in our lives, it grows like weeds.

Many people we encounter in our lives will inevitably hurt us.  When we are hurt, we have two choices: forgive, or become bitter.  When bitterness takes over our life and we are overcome with sorrow, there is no other way but to turn to Jesus.  Bitterness cannot be sweetened by sugar or honey - they can only be sweetened by the tree of life, the cross of Jesus, the manifestation of dying love, the application of atoning blood of Jesus.

Christ admonishes us in Luke 17:3-4 to always offer forgiveness to those who hurt us.  We must trust in the power of Christ and remember that He wants what is best for us.  Believing that we can go on living with the heart wounds of bitterness is foolish and dangerous.  Let's forgive today, trusting in the love and power of Christ.

[Extract from Living Life -April 2012]

   

The Power and Blessing of Living in Unity

It brings constant joy and delight to God when His children live together with purpose and in unity.  The gift that we receive from living in unity with one another is the holy anointing of oil upon our lives.

We love because Christ first loved us, and we forgive because Christ first forgave us.  A life of unity is impossible when things are always about us.  A life of unity comes through laying down our lives for one another and focusing on others first.  We need to stop living for ourselves and start focusing on Christ's love and how we can show that in our relationship.

Fellowship builds us up and binds us together.

In Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul reminded us;  "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
 

Psalm 133: 1-3  How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!  It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe.  It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.  For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Submission

Submission is defined as the acknowledgement of the legitimacy of the power of one's superior or superiors.[Wikipedia]

The word "submission" often comes with many negative connotations.  People often think that it means to be forced to do something against one's own will by someone more powerful.

Do we at times want something so badly that we submit to doing anything to get it?  Are we submitting to admiration?  Possessions?  Self?  Food?  Money?  Pleasure?

This is not what God calls us to do when He calls us to submit.  In his epistle to the Romans, Paul said, "to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves" (Romans 6:16)  Consider Romans 12:9-21, Submission is nothing short of love.  We do not submit for our own sake, or even for the sake of others, but because of our love for our Lord.  We submit to every ruler and authority, regardless of who they are, because by doing so, we express the love of the Gospel.

Submission is not a call to weakness but to strength.  As Anne Dutton states,  "Nothing like faith in God's love to us, as His dear children in Christ - strengthens our spirits to endure afflictions patiently to His glory and our joy."

TRUE FREEDOM IS NOT IN CHOOSING OUR OWN WAY, BUT IN SUBMITTING TO GOD'S WAY. 

Choosing Joy

A joyful countenance has nothing to do with one's age or education or even one's good looks or circumstances.  Joy is a choice!

Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God - that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen. - Charles Swindoll

Every choice we make creates a ripple effect on our lives as well as on the lives of others.  The choices we have made throughout life determine where we are and what we are becoming. Paul captured the same idea in the universal law of sowing and reaping.  He said, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows."  Galatians 6:7.  Our choices often have a reach and impact that we could never imagine.  Thus the apostle's words remind us to choose wisely - choices that emanate from a heart fully committed to Jesus.  He stated that :- "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,"  Phillippians 1:9-10

When choosing between options one must make judgments about the quality of each option's attributes.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20  See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.  For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.  But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Joy is deep and consistent - the oil that reduces the friction of life.

Regardless of how severely the winds of adversity may blow, we set our sails toward joy - Charles Swindoll

Think It Over

We have reached the beginning of another year and now looked back as to what we have learned from our walk in Christ during the past 365 days.

We might have gone through sun-drenched days, or a few storms with howling wind and giants waves - we have been falling and getting back up, forgiving and forgetting, accepting and going on.  At the end of the 2012 pilgrim, how have the Grace, Joy and Love of Jesus touched our life? and through our life touches others?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

WITHOUT  GOD,  LIFE  IS  A  MONOTONOUS  REPETITION  OF  WEEKS,  MONTHS,  SEASONS,  YEARS,  DECADES,  AND  GENERATIONS. - Charles Swindoll

CHRISTMAS CAROLLING

This year Christmas bears special meaning as a group of us are able to share the CHRISTmas joy with our neighbors. A group of 30 Hokkien members from our church visited and sung a few Christmas carols and bring Christmas greetings to them.

We then adjourned next door for a small dinner spread including fried hor fun, noodle, roast chickens, 'tang yuen', 'boo bor cha cha', nyonya cakes and fruits.

CHRISTmas is celebrating the birth, the death and the resurrection of JESUS.

           

   MERRY  CHRISTMAS

Spirit of Christmas

It's true that the Bible does not tell us to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  We do not even know the exact date, and much about the season has a pagan background.

How would you then define "the Christmas spirit?"  Would it be a friendly smile between strangers, the sound of familiar carols, a tree with twinkling lights in a sea of brightly wrapped packages, or just that good feeling you get this time of the year?

We can enjoy christmas because we know the Joy of Christ.  It's the Christ of Christmas we celebrate, not Christmas itself.  Everyday would be Christmas day, if Christ is with us in our daily walk.

To the Christian - our life on earth is like a journey on a road or a highway - moving and going forward (progressive) - that is, we need to grow in our spiritual life, from baby to teenager to young adult then to middle age to senior age.

Our life journey is like a car (vehicle) travelling on the road.  When we are a new convert (new car) - we tend to go very fast, our faith being strong and vibrant - everything is Praise God Amen.

After a few years, we tend to slow down (car not so new) - we will let others take the lead, we are more cautious, we do not want to be hurt or to hurt others.
As the years passed, we become contented - we know we are blessed - we know God's Grace and Mercy- so we slack in our spiritual life - we become just a Sunday Christian - we forget to worship and fellowship with God, we focus and pursue our own life and goals, we then put God aside.
  

So make the most of Christmas, focus on Christ.    X'Mas is nothing without     CHRISTmas.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas celebration with all your loved ones. As we continue to rejoice and celebrate our Lord and Saviour King Jesus, may we remember that everyday is a reason for celebration because of Him!

Christmas isn't Christmas till it happens in our hearts.
Celebrate Jesus tills He returns!

Winter Solstice on 21-12-12

The end of the world is predicted to coincide exactly with the time of the Winter Solstice.  If we write out the time and date, it looks elegant and slightly mysterious:   12:12   21.12.2012.

Is this the end?  Or is it just another ordinary day?

The world is not going to end ... because the rumours and fears that were triggered several years ago by reports of interpretations of the Mayan long-count calendar, which stops, some say, at a date coinciding with day.  Many IT-savvy youngsters admitted they were haunted for some time after the Doomsday prediction first started making its rounds on the Internet three to four years ago.  The Bible recorded that no one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36) - the Day of Judgment.

So let us rejoice and be glad for these day, 21 December is the day that the Lord has made.  This is also the day where most Chinese and other East Asians celebrate Winter Solstice Festival.

Traditionally, this festival is also a time for the family to get together.  One activity that occurs during these get togethers is the making and eating of 'tang yuan' or glutinous rice ball, which symbolize reunion.

Worship

Before I go any further, please understand that when I use the term "worship", I am not referring merely to church attendance.  Regular church attendance does not make us worshippers.  Having attended a church service begs the question, "Did you worship while you were in the church?"  "Did you go to meet God or just be part of a gathering?

The same is true in our worship to God, be it in public or private.  When we enter into God's presence in worship, there should be two-way communication, as well.
 
Worship is not three fast songs and two slow ones; it’s not about getting the right atmosphere so everyone gets going; rather, it’s the expression of your love to the Almighty God.  It is an expression of an adoration heart - heart of love and thankfulness.

It’s not just the responsibility of the worship leader or the preacher to create the right atmosphere – it’s everyone’s responsibility to worship Him and prepare their heart.

God wants to speak to us in our times of worship.  I believe that we can sometimes attempt to "manufacture" God's presence and His voice in worship.  But we must understand that God is perfectly capable of speaking for Himself.  Our job is as watchmen, listening for His voice (Proverbs 8:34).  We talk to God in worship - extolling Him for His greatness, wisdom, care, and love.  And just as in our times of prayer, God desires to speak to us in our times of worship.

In Psalm 51 when David prayed for God to create in him a clean heart, he states in verse 6, "Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ...".  The sole criteria God has given us for coming to Him in worship is "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24).  This kind of worship is Holy Spirit-led, and in a manner according to the truth of God's Word.

You cannot separate prayer from worship - prayer is worship and worship is prayer.  Prayer is the highest form of worship.

When God says that He inhabits the praises of His people, He's not just talking about being present when we have the right atmosphere when we are singing.  It's our attitude that is utmost important.
 

Don't worship God to gain His benefits - worship Him for who He is.

Our worship is right only when we are right with God and with others.

True worship of Christ changes admiration into adoration.

Just Enough

The Bible affirms that God meets the needs of those who seek His Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). 

I was blessed when I can spare my time and resources with a dear brother and her daughter.  Instead of going out eating and enjoying myself, we spend an hour fellowshiping and encouraging them.  This time spend reminded me of what psalmist David wrote in Psalm 34:10 "  .. but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."

If today you're thinking, "I need just a little bit more" of something, consider instead the possibility that God has given you 'just enough'. - Julie A. Link