Walk the Talk

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV)

The book of James encourages Christians to act like Christians and live a life that proves the gospel is at work.  It is intensely practical, action oriented and describes the outward serving of faith.  According to James, if faith is real and if we truly trust God, then our faith will lead to all kinds of practical actions for the benefit of others.

In today’s verse, James urges the believers who listen to God’s Word to demonstrate a sincere commitment to the Lord by reacting to what they hear with obedient action.  The very nature of this passage is application, being doers of the Word.  The original language gives the sense that we must “keep on becoming” doers of God’s Word.  Genuine faith calls for obedience that endures.

The Word of God is not just a beautiful piece of literature to be savored and enjoyed.  Its purpose goes beyond provoking thought and inviting meditation.  It demands a change of heart that prompts a change of behavior.  Genuine faith does what God’s Word says and experiences the blessings from it.  Genuine faith believes God is right and is willingly to change to do what is right based on God’s Word.

The keys to the Kingdom

THE KEY OF DAVID

Matthew 16:19 — I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

BOOK QUOTE: When Heaven Invades Earth [Chapter 2]

THE gospel of salvation is to touch the whole man: spirit, soul, and body.  A study on the word evil confirms the intended reach of His redemption.  That word is found in Matthew 6:13 (KJV), “Deliver us from evil.”  The word evil represents the entire curse of sin upon man.  Poneros, the Greek word for evil, came from the word ponos, meaning “pain.”  And that word came from the root word penes, meaning “poor.”  Look at it: evil—sin, pain—sickness, and poor—poverty.

Jesus destroyed the power of sin, sickness, and poverty through His redemptive work on the cross.  In Adam and Eve’s commission to subdue the earth, they were without sickness, poverty, and sin.  Now that we are restored to His original purpose, should we expect anything less?  After all, this is called the better covenant!

We were given the keys to the Kingdom — which in part is the authority to trample over all the powers of hell (Matthew 16:19; Luke 10:19).  There is a phrase key of David, which is mentioned in both Revelation and Isaiah (Revelarion 3:7; Isaiah 22:22).

All that the Father has is ours through Christ.  His entire treasure is at our disposal in order to fulfill His commission.  But the more sobering part of this illustration is found in controlling who gets in to see the King.  Isn’t that what we do with this gospel?

When we declare it, we give opportunity for people to come to the King to be saved.  When we are silent, we have chosen to keep those who would hear away from eternal life.  It was a costly key for Him to purchase, and it’s a costly key for us to use.  But, it’s even more costly to bury it and not obtain an increase for the coming King.  That price will be felt throughout eternity.

When we are silent, we have chosen to keep those who would hear away from eternal life.

[A LIFE OF MIRACLES by Bill Johnson]

Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob. . . . I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. (Isaiah 41:14–15)

Could any two things be in greater contrast than a worm and a threshing tool with sharp teeth?  A worm is delicate and is easily bruised by a stone or crushed beneath a passing wheel.  Yet a threshing tool with sharp teeth can cut through rock and not be broken, leaving its mark upon the rock.  And almighty God can convert one into the other.  He can take an individual or a nation, who has all the weakness of a worm, and through the energizing work of His own Spirit, endow that person or nation with strength enough to make a profound mark upon the history of their time.

Therefore a “worm” may take heart.  Almighty God can make us stronger than our circumstances and can turn each situation to our good.  In God’s strength we can make them all pay tribute to our soul.  We can even take the darkest disappointment, break it open, and discover a precious jewel of grace inside.  When God gives us an iron will, we can cut through difficulties just as an iron plowshare cuts through the hardest soil.  As He said in the above verse, “I will make you. . . .” Will He not do it? John Henry Jowett

Christ is building His kingdom with the broken things of earth.  People desire only the strong, successful, victorious, and unbroken things in life to build their kingdoms, but God is the God of the unsuccessful—the God of those who have failed.  Heaven is being filled with earth’s broken lives, and there is no “bruised reed” (Isaiah 42:3) that Christ cannot take and restore to a glorious place of blessing and beauty.  He can take a life crushed by pain or sorrow and make it a harp whose music will be total praise.  He can lift earth’s saddest failure up to heaven’s glory. J. R. Miller

“Follow Me, and I will make you . . .” Make you speak My words with power, Make you vessels of My mercy, Make you helpful every hour.

“Follow Me, and I will make you . . .” Make you what you cannot be— Make you loving, trustful, godly,

Make you even just like Me.

Source taken from Stream in the desert

Amazin'graze

Christmas comes early this year.  Received a surprise Christmas gift : 

December 1 - Amazin'graze : Festive Granola Box, Festive Nut Butter Box and Merry Gift Box.

7 December   - Merry Christmas facemask

                         Balocco  Panettone

18 December - Delicieux Gift Set

23 December - Domaine Saint Vincent Red Wine 

                         Ferrero Rocher + 3-tier Stainless Steel Steamer

DANISH BRIYANI HOUSE at Batu Ferringghi, Penang

We had a blessed Sunday lunch at Danish Briyani House, Batu Ferringghi.  We spend 3 hours eating and talking over a wide range of delicious food.  We had Cheese Naan and Garlic Naan, Mixed Vegetables, Chicken Briyani, Chicken Karahi and Mutton Rara Goshi. 

Present in Praise

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ACTS 13:2

IN WORD

A lot can happen when people worship God.  Many disciples were gathered together in Acts 2, presumably for worship, when the Holy Spirit came upon them in wind and fire.  The church was born, the first sermon was preached, and amazing things began to happen in Jerusalem and beyond.  In Acts 13, the Holy Spirit spoke with instructions: Send out Barnabas and Saul.

There seems to be a connection.  When people worship God—really worship Him with love in their hearts and truth in their minds—the Holy Spirit is there.  That’s no coincidence.  He inspires our worship, and the more we worship, the more deeply He dwells with us.  The God who is enthroned on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3, NASB) is mightily and manifestly present when we worship Him.  If we want Jesus to be in our midst, all we need to do is follow His instructions: Gather two or more in His name.  Worship brings the throne room of heaven into the company of our fellowship.
But He does more than just show up.  He also fills us and gives direction.  God may hesitate to instruct people who aren’t serious about following Him.  But a group of worshipers who have made it clear that He is their desire will hear Him.  The volume of His voice grows louder when we worship. At this point of genuine worship in the early church, a mission to a lost world was launched.

IN DEED  Have you ever wished for such specific direction from God?  Be careful what you wish for; an obedient heart is a prerequisite for hearing His voice.  But given such a heart, worship Him.  Praise Him in the company of others with similar hearts.

This gathering of the Antioch leaders to worship and fast is too infrequently repeated in our age.  But if we will spend our lives in worship, He will direct us in how to spend our lives.

Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little. —MATTHEW HENRY

[From The One Year Worship the King Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]

Merdeka Day Outing 2020

Started the day with breakfast at Xuan Wei Dim Sum before going to Greenish City Garden Mart in Butterworth.  We also spent some time at Cherok To'kun Nature Park in Bukit Mertajam before stopping for lunch at around 1.30 pm.

Lunch at Evo Fish Steamboat Restaurant, Butterworth included Baked Fish Belly, Steam Grouper Fish Head & Beehoon, Stir Fried Lala with Tau Cheow.

Before heading home, we stop by at Starbuck Raja Uda.

Dinner @ Star View Restaurant

Blessed to spent dinner and fellowship with the OBT team at Star View Restaurant.

Birthday Celebration @ Lembah Permai, Tanjong Bungah

A wonderful time with wonderful people over wonderful foods.  We had grilled and steamboat, Cheese cake, Garlic breads, Kim Chi, 'Too Kar Chor' Curry Chicken Bun, 

Koinonia after 103 days of MCO

The New Testament word for "fellowship," koinonia, expresses the idea of being together for mutual benefit. Hebrews 10:24-25 shares this idea, saying, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Two reasons fellowship with other believers is important are because it helps express love to one another and it encourages good works.