Contentment

Life is indeed ironic.  Sometimes we spend so much time in pursuit of our dreams, and when we finally get there, we yearn to be back where we were originally.

Why is contentment so elusive?  Perhaps it is because we do not know ourselves well enough.

Finding contentment often begins with being thankful for the little blessing in life.  If we focus only on the big achievements, we might find that the happiness it brings is fleeting, and we are disillusioned when things don't go our way.

Contentment is not an issue that is restricted to any class of people.  It is an issue that affects everyone from the poor to the very rich.

I believe that when our thankfulness is focused on the little things, the normal parts of our everyday life, then we realize that the small blessings add up, and making do with less actually gives us so much more.

Philippians chapter 4 recorded that; People are afraid that if they open the door of contentment, two uninvited guest will rush in: lost of prestige and laziness.

Jesus said, "Be content with your wages" (Luke 3:14) Paul said, "I am well content with weaknesses," and "if we have food and covering ... be content!" (2 Cor. 12:10; 1 Tim. 6:8)

Another apostle said, "Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have" (Heb. 13:5)

Contentment is a blessed place to dwell, but one that few find and remain in for very long.

Just like Paul, we need to learn "how to be content (satisfied to the point I am not disturbed)" no matter what the circumstances were (Philippians 4:11).

Contentment is something we must learn because every human being is born with discontentment.  It is in our flesh and will never be quiet unless we stop feeding it.

Contentment is a blessed place to dwell, but one that few find and remain in for very long.  Being content doesn't mean that we don't want things, but it means we are content with what we have until God sees fit to give us something else.

Security and contentment are found only in a personal relationship with God.  The contentment we find in the opportunities and successes of life is temporary.

Contentment is not the fullfilment of what you want, but the realization of how much that you already have - Annoymous

Happiness is a choice

We were blessed to a dinner by a Christian couple from Singapore at Nyonya Baba Cuisine at Nagore Road.

God is good to bring people along our path to share and encourage, and strengthen our walk with Him.

Happiness is not material goods or high achievement, but it boils down to our outlook in life and the quality of our relationships with the people around us.

To be happy - be part of something you believe in - like play an active role in community work and share time with friends and family.

Nobody is happy all of the time, but some people are definitely more fulfilled than others.

Happiness is a choice

Heaven on earth

"The nearest thing to heaven on this earth is the Christian family and the home where husband and wife, and parents and children, live in love and peace together for the Lord and for each other.

The nearest thing to hell on earth is an ungodly home, broken by sin and iniquity, where parents bicker, quarrel and separate, and children are abandoned to the devil and all the forces of wickedness."

"The Christian Home" by Dr. M.R.DeHaan

God's plan for home life is to be a haven of love where husband and wife and children live with a sense of security and a feeling of acceptance.

J O Y

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God.  This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.  Ecclesiastes 2:26 KJV

J   ESUS

O  THERS

Y  OU

If we cannot find joy in Christ who lives in us, we will never be able to find joy in anything else.  Jesus is the reason for our joy.

True joy has nothing to do with circumstances.  It is really about faith and trust in God.  Paul writes in Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit includes joy (Galatians 5:22).

That does not mean we enjoy the suffering and difficult.  It does mean, however that we have the strength and resilience to endure - because the Joy of the Lord is our strength - and God Himself will deliver us.

Isn't that the message of the cross?  We live and die on this earth, but we will live forever in eternity with Jesus Christ.  That is God's promise, and that is our joy.  Nothing in this world - not wealth, not beauty, not reputation - will give us true joy - only Christ Himself.

Let the JOY you receive from God be shared to others.

Grace

What is Grace?
Grace is God's unmerited favor.  It is kindness from God we do not deserve.  There is nothing we have done, nor can ever do to earn this favor.  It is a gift from God.  Grace is divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration (rebirth) or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine favor.  -  Mary FairChild

A preacher once explained grace to me with this aconym:
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expenses

Grace is internal.  It works from within, not from without.  It is written on the heart, not on tablets of stone.  It is written there only by the Holy Spirit.  No other agent can write the grace of God in our hearts but the Holy Spirit.  Grace is received only through faith.  The very essence of grace is that it cannot be earned.

Grace is not license to sin, because grace produces in us a passion for purity in Christ.

Contrasts between law and grace.

Law came through Moses But Grace comes only through Jesus Christ.

Grace is made available only through the cross and what Jesus did on the cross.  From the cross, grace has been released and made available to the human race.

Everything is of grace in the Christian life from the beginning to the very end - D. Martyn Lloyd James

Grace is getting what we do not deserve, Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve.

God's grace is not a license to continue in sin, but a call to live right with God since Christ has made us right with God.

恩

因  +  心

[yin]         [xin]

reason        heart      

Japanese lunch

We were blessed to a Japanese lunch at Bayan Baru, Penang recently.  We had a wonderful time celebrating God's blessing and goodness upon our lives.

Christians are like the several flowers in a garden that have upon each of them the dew of heaven, which being shaken with the wind, they let fall their dew at each others roots, whereby they are jointly nourished, and become nourishers of one another - John Buayan

WORRY

The most notorious faith killer in all of our life is WORRY.  "For this reason, I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, not for your body, as to what you shall put on.  Is not life more than food and the body than clothing." (Matt. 6:25)

Worry occurs when we assume responsibility for things that are outside our control.  Jesus said, "..only a few things are necessary, really only one. (Luke 10:42) - All Mary wanted was time with Jesus.

The root problem of worrying is two-fold :-

a) trust and, (b) purpose.

Trust is faith.  Trusting in God is having faith that He will provide for our needs.

Trusting in God is also results in living for His purpose.

Worrying is so natural for us that telling people not to worry about the future is like telling a fish not to swim. 

WORRY  DOES NOT EMPTY TOMORROW OF ITS SORROW; IT  EMPTIES TODAY  OF ITS STRENGTH - Corrie ten Boom

DON'T  WASTE  YOUR  TIME  OR  SAP  YOUR  ENERGY  ON  WORRY.

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow,
it only sap today of its joy - Leo Buscaglia

Worrying is like a rocking chair,

it gives you something to do,

but it gets you nowhere - Glenn Turner

Without God

Our week without God would be ...

               Sinday
             Mournday
              Tearsday
             Wasteday
              Thirstday
               Fightday
             Shatterday

     7 days without God
   would makes one weak

Promoter to SMART

As from today I am turning SMART - I mean my hand phone from NOKIA 3310 on the left to SAMSUNG [semi-smart] and the latest SAMSUNG Galaxie ACE.  I finally retired my prehistoric handphone (you know the type that can only make and receive calls and SMSes).  Thank God for technology.

A Privilege of a Parent

For the many years of my life, this is the first time that I celebrated Father's Day alone.  My spouse is away on a Mission trip to China while my son is travelling back to Labuan due to work commitment, where as my daughter in still stuck in Singapore, finishing up her graduating reports and assignments.

Today I have the privilege to spend some quality time in building up the relationship with my Father in heaven, and also a time reflecting the grace, love and mercy of the heavenly Father.

We use our time wisely when we combine the appropriate 'stop' with the proper 'steps'. According to Solomon, there is a time for all of God's purposes to be accomplished (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Missionary J.Robertson McQuilkin said, "God has planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical, but the strength and beauty of old age is spriitual."

Because God remains the same, we can rely on Him through the shifting seasons of life.  His presence is always with us (Psalm 46:1), His peace has the power to guard our hearts (Phillipians 4:7), and His love provides security for our souls (Romans 8:39).