Selah

my thought have been racing around these lately..
it's easier to remain in my current job now.
it's not easy to move out of my comfort zone. my flesh is weak but my spirit is willing..
it's stepping into to the unknown.
what if I can't handle...
i'm afraid.
there's too many changes happening at the same time.
i'm scared of change but I know it's the only way to grow.
I can't sweep those feeling of fears away and that comes on me so suddenly.
when i'm feeling this way...it's a sign i've lost the sense of His love.
Perfect love cast out all fears.
Lord, bring me back to your first love. The love I had with you when I was growing up.
The times when I cried & you swept me off my feet. I'm rebuilt.
The dryness makes me tear now.
Jesus I miss those times.
Selah.

the unexpected

I would never have imagined that I would work elsewhere, in another company. I gave myself two more years so maybe i'll get the five years award. Hehe. Two days back, I signed the contract with a company I have never imagined I would go to. But there's so much life and purpose when I looked back now.
It happened from a thought. Spurred by my compulsive buying of my cheap air ticket to aust for 3 weeks in April. Afterwhich, I regretted not because i don't wish to go that long but I would have finished up my leave and i'll not get to travel anymore for the rest of the year. After going hong kong this year & staying with my toddler whom i've taken care since she was a baby..i love the place. It was like a resort=) I 'vowed' to go there once a year until they get transfer again.
There was a strong desire to change. At the same time, god was painting dreams and vision in my heart. I just felt that the season in my current place has ended. I cried when I had to tell my boss this news. I'm still not prepared to move, But I know I had to. The 3 months notice is somewhat good.
It wasn't a decision that was easy to make. I didn't want to be double minded too. But the most amazing thing happened. The day I sent out my resume, was the day my school had an off day. I went to Paper Market at Raffles City and bum into my 2 ex principal from Pat's Schoolhouse at the same time! And we were there separately. One of which was someone I highly esteem. Someone I love very much and caught much from. I've never met someone like her. She took me out for tea & shopping at Paragon the first week I started work=) Met her 4 kids & husband and eversince i'm always inspired to be like her.
She asked if I wanted to have a chat over tea. I brought out this topic. I wanted to hear from her. She is the person I would love to hear from. She gave me the 'green light'. And I know it can only be god that I bum into her.
Cut the story short. I went for 2 interviews. One I liked very much. Prayed to god to close the door which was not for me.
I got the second one. The one I feel ok. The one that I didn't have much intention to join. The one that gave me the salary I asked for. 33% more than what i'm getting and thought they'll lower but didn't. The one that people go thru few rounds of interview & have difficulty getting in but he accepted me on the first interview? And he is fine with me joining in May aft my aust trip.
Everything just went so smoothly. I hardly try.
The benefit : 35days leave, I only work till 4pm, I have an assistant in class.
What attracted me most is the number of days leave! =) I get to go home more & travel.
And hopefully to Israel next Christmas...
Every decision is a process. What seems best to me at first, may not be the best for me. I thank god he closes a door and open another which he thinks is best for me. When it's from the Lord, it'll be smooth and easy.
The joy I have now for the school I thought I'll not like is greater that the wish I have for the school I wanted. He knows best.

Fear cripples you

I took awhile to decide if I should write this. The journey, though short..over just a span of 3 days was significant and it brought me to a higher level of faith i’ve never experience before.

It happened 2 weeks ago when I woke up 2 times during the night. The first was to the restroom. Second was a voice of two words I heard by a young lady just beside my bed. Hope this dun send chills down your spine. The first time I felt just something, not visible, as I went out. Maybe it's a dream..

The next day, I was crippled with fear. I kept replaying it in my mind the voice I heard. Did I really hear? Aunty did mentioned she does scolds her husband at night as she fears he may fall down walking out alone due to his condition. But the voice was different…it was very clear. I told my colleagues and the first reply that came from 3 of them was to take out my bible and open it wide..even non believers know the power of the bible hehe

My mind was occupied with these thoughts. I could not focus on my work. Every thoughts of fear went through my mind..

I thought this house was a blessing? Should I move out? When will this fear ever leave me…Will I overcome it?I really thought I’ll never overcome it. I was thinking of plans to move out...

I went to band prac that day and asked the 2 girls to pray for me & I even borrowed the anointing oil as I couldn’t find mine when I needed it most.. that night I text my housemate, & she came down to sleep with me.

The next day, nothing changed. I was still in fear. It was cg day. Should I go to cg? I thought to myself. I have every reason not to…as I was tired & I wanted to ask the aunty abt the house. If I go, I wouldn’t be able to ask her & I’ll be home late…BUT I choose not to go by my feelings & I went.

The most amazing thing happened was when Jayden shared abt his recent honeymoon experience & their evil spirit experience in the hotel. My heart jumped & beat so fast when I heard that. At that time, I was looking at every scripture to find words of comfort. I was hoping to come to cg for a word. How amazing the Lord can even use the topic on Righteousness & relate it to his experience there & share it with us! Even Faith his wife was surprised when he started sharing abt it.

Tears just roll down my cheek when I shared. I told them I was afraid. I’ve come to a point that nothing really terrifies me & worries me anymore until this happens. All the scriptures I know seem to have come to void. I tried everything from anointing oil to prayer to Holy Communion. The encouragements were nice but it made no difference to how I felt at that point. I knew I needed to deal with it myself. It was an issue of the heart.

That night I went home still afraid. At 2am, I text my fren who was still awake. She text me & called me to comfort me. I cried. I was frustrated. I needed my sleep. But I couldn’t. That night, my lights were on the whole nights. I listened to a sermon twice and even in the sermon was the mentioned of the disciples being afraid of ghost when they saw the waves but Jesus words to them were, “Do not be afraid”. But still I couldn't sleep.

I didn’t know what took place. The next afternoon, every fear I had left. It was supernatural. I felt a newness of boldness it me. It felt like an aura of god surrounded me & every darkness has left. There was peace in the house. I really understood what it means the presence of god drives out every fear. I could literally feel it. You cannot reason fear away.

During my experience, god showed me the story of the Joshua & Caleb. What god meant for you as a blessing can be turned to be giants when you allow fear to come in.

Wow so cool, I went to look up for the story of Joshua & Caleb & the first site I landed on was (Your Inheritance -  All things work together for good 14June 2009) by this man who has been writing pastor’s sermon notes weekly I found recently.

Your giant is never meant to make you feel smaller or afraid. It was never meant to hinder your walk. It was bread for your taking. It was meant to be a blessing to youJHave faith & god will do the rest.

The Proverbs 31 Man

 

Happened to see this book, "In Search of the Proverbs 31 Man" before I embarked on writing down my vision today. It's partly done. My aim was to write down my desires in a handmade card like. I'm still not there yet. Any craft work takes more time & mental work in me than anything else. I saw this book many years ago at the Rock Bookshop and found it to be interesting. How nice I thought if I knew when I bought it & to my surprised, I actually did note down the date & time. Interesting cause I seldom do.

 

Bought : 1/05/05(After Women's Meeting)

Finish   : 2/05/05

What a nice date i thought it was=) grace grace.

 

You've read about Proverbs 31 woman..have you thought about the other side, for the man. Maybe hased/faithfulness..I thought the final page summarized by Michelle McKinney Hammond gave a very good description of a 'Proverbs 31 Man'. I guess it's in every girl's heart desire but we probably are not good at writing it down. It may be in every guys heart's desire too to be the man for their woman=) Read on & be blessed!

 

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He will do her good and not evil all the days of his life.

 

Though he waxes strong, he exercises humility.

 

He diligently works to answer and supply the needs of his family and household. His wife has no fear of the times to come, for he prudently considers the future and prepares for it.

 

He is kind to the needy, and his name is synonymous with a good report. his reputation precedes him; therefore, others seek his counsel and follow his example as well as instruction.

 

His mouth is a fountain of life to his household and to all who seek refreshing.

 

He walks in confidence and sound judgement, administering wise instruction to his wife and children.

 

He sets his house in God-ordained order. He redeems his household and covers it's inhabitants with prayer.

 

He considers the words of his wife, celebrates her wisdom, and crowns her as a helpmeet for him.

 

He grants her a double portions her gifts, and boast of her achievements.

 

He is clothed in love and faithfulness.

 

He trusts and rests secure in the help of His Redeemer.

 

Many men appear to be desirable at first glance, but the man who fears the Lord is to be praised, for his witness endures the test of time and scrutiny. Give him the honor he has earned and let the work of his hands prosper and be spread abroad.

 

-Michelle McKinney Hammond.

Why pay attention to character?

A usual before I rush out of the house, I would randomly grab a book to read on my way to work. This time it was a book by Michelle McKinney Hammond. The first page I flip open to gave me a surprise=) "The Importance of Character". How timely I thought as Pastor has been emphasizing it. I read it in a different light. Things I thought I knew, to realised actually i've not really understood it. If I had, I would not have fall for the guys I had in my younger days;) maybe even crying for them even when I don't really know them. I was purely falling for their looks & personality. Jesus has grow me through all this. What matters to Jesus matters to me now because I matter to him. I hope he'll open your eyes too to this. It's long though..my hands are numb from typing..hehe if this speaks to you, it's worth it. It'll change your love life. You'll grow together with someone you love & respect=)

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There is a difference between character & personality. The Bible says much about character & little about personality because God has predetermined that everyone's personality should be different. He delights in our uniqueness. Be true to your personality. If you are naturally humorous person, you should not try to become a quiet, serious person. Doing that would be incongruent to the way you were created. On the other hand, if you happen to be quiet, serious type, you should leave the funny stuff to someone else.

 

Clearly personality is important to attraction, more important than physical attraction, but personality alone fails to tell us enough about the inward person to make an informed decision. The elements of attraction(such as appearance and personality) that are important when we first meet someone will not be as important as the information we out later. I(Joel) have friend telling me all the time about woman they would like to meet. The first thing I think about--but the last thing I ask--is how does she look? I don't want to appear carnal, shallow, or immature, but this really is the first thought that does to mind. I'm still growing in this area, but I do understand that, though attraction is important, the features that initially attract me to a woman are the least important in qualifying her marriage.

 

Remember our root issue is wholeness. Lack of wholeness can cause us to be attracted to a person  for the wrong reasons. If you don't know who you are, and you're looking for someone to complete you, you will be looking for features in him that you lack yourself or for qualities that you feel will give you validation with others. For example, you may desire someone really good looking, not because you are especially attracted to him, but because being on his arms wins you acceptance. In other words, you're telling yourself that you must be okay if this good-looking man wants you. (Perhaps this is why women sometimes beg physically attractive men not to leave them. If the man leaves, the woman thinks her value is walking out the door.) You may be overly attracted to men with means if you have struggled financially. Or you may fix your attraction on someone whose occupation would give you instant status--like a politician, a famous person, or a successful pastor--if your destiny seems vague. Looks, money, and power can be attractive, but with God as your provider, you don't need a husband for those things.

 

Even your own neediness can push you to be attracted to someone whom, under normal circumstances, you wouldn't give the time of day. If you haven't eaten for a while, a cracker can have the appeal of filet mignon, so don't be fooled by attractions while you are in a needy state.

 

All these deficiencies in people can play into attraction, so we need to have a strong sense of who we are. Proverbs 27:7 says that "honey seems tasteless to a person who is full, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry"(NLT). the same verse can apply to married too. A married man who is satisfied may find a woman attractive without feeling attracted to her because he is already fulfilled with his wife.

 

Look now at your list of attractions. You will notice that you could have everything on that list and still be unhappy. The impression we have of a person in the early stages of meeting him does not give us enough information to consider that person for the long haul. There is another picture that we need to be concerned with, and that is the person's character.  When we study the etymology of the word character, we find that it means "picture" or "image". The person's character is the photograph of he inward person. Man is a spirit, has a soul, and lives in a body. The spirit and the soul make up the inner man, the real person.

 

You have known a person for a long time, you really don't see their appearance as much as you see their appearance as much as you see the real person. Think about a person in your life who is really good person. When you think about him, you think about his characteristics. He is faithful, loyal, a person you can depend on, and a person who has come through for you when you really needed him. Although he may not be overly attractive on the outside, you think of him fondly. We can take this a step further and infer that, as your affection for him grew, he began to appear more and more attractive to you.

 

On the other hand, there may have been a person in your life who was attractive on the outside but turned on you. He may have deceived you, betrayed you, and let you down. He may have ultimately ended up being a bad person for you. When you think of this person, you don't see a a beautiful person. You see an ugly person because the photograph you now have is of the inward person, the one you had to deal with, not the one you originally saw.

 

Learn how to identify good character. Proverbs 31 will help describes a certain virtuous woman. The author praises her attributes while never mentioning her looks, and he concludes his tribute to her in part by saying, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised"(31:30). So if a woman (or a man) fears the Lord, she will be a person of great character with wonderful, desirable attributes. Galations 5:22-23 gives us another photograph of good character:"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and slef-control."

 

What is going on inside a person is the most important factor you consider marrying someone. You do not marry the outward person; you marry the inward man. If he has a bad character, your chances of being happy with him are slim to none. Faithfulness is the cornerstone of character. Marry someone without character means at least you can't count on him. Ask yourself, too, whether the person is a loving person. One of the worst things you can ever do is marry a selfish person. Imagine submitting to someone who puts you last. And does the person have his own source of joy, of do you constantly have to cheer him up, pump him up, and encourage him? When we talked about disappointment earlier in the book, it had to do with setting an appointment by yourself. If you set an appointment with a person of bad character, you schedule yourself a disappointment.

 

Some women have what we call a "broken chooser". They choose based upon attraction and overlook the inward picture. Disrespect, disloyalty, laziness, inconsistentcy, and impatience are ignored because of her attraction to a man. Your chooser must be adjusted so that you do not focus on the aspects that attract you to the person. You must not allow what your heart and hormones feel to override what your mind sees and comprehends of the person's character.

how can the mute confess the Word?

I woke up in the middle of the night at 400am last night & this question just popped in my head, "How does the mute speak". How is he going to confess his healing, his blessings...
Immediately I turned on my computer & looked for the Greek translation for the word 'say' Pastor mentioned in Mark 11:23.

For^{1063 verily281 I say3004 unto you,5213 That3754 whosoever3739, 302 shall say2036 unto this5129 mountain,3735 Be thou removed,142 and2532 be thou cast906 into1519 the3588 sea;2281 and2532 shall not3361 doubt1252 in1722 his848 heart,2588 but235 shall believe4100 that3754 those things which3739 he saith3004 shall come to pass;1096 he846 shall have2071 whatsoever3739, 1437 he saith.2036}
G3004 leg'-o
A primary verb; properly to "lay" forth, that is, (figuratively) relate (in words [usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 and G5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; by implication to mean: - ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say (-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
G2036 ep'-o
A primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, to speak or say (by word or writting): - answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare G3004.

Definition from Greek Lexicon

to say before to say in what precedes, to say above to say before i.e. heretofore, formerly to say beforehand i.e. before the event: prophecies

What really caught my attention most & gave me the 'answer' was the mentioned of, 'to speak by writing.'
The meaning of discourse mentioned in G3004 is actually a spoken or written communication between people. You see here & also used in G2036 that speech & writing is interchangeable.
The deaf hear not, but he is able to read the writings of Jesus. The mute speak not, but they are able to write the words of Jesus.
I did ask him once, why then ask us to write our vision down & it'll come to pass & also speak. which? (went to look at the verse with vision)...my reaction was....omg!! check it out.
Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
This bring to rememberance a card I saw at Joan's place on her keyboard recently when I went to her place to learn. It was made abt ten years ago when she had not joined music min. It was the words of David being a talented musician written in Samuel. There were also two pics of her as a young little girl playing piano & flute. And this small 'poster' is always placed on her keyboard till today even when she practised! How the word written speaks for itself now. Amazing when I saw it. It makes me want to start writing now=)
I love how Strong’s & Greek Lexicon explains it. A definite past tense. A prophecy. Sounds like it’s sure to happenedJ
I love it how he shows me as I write each time. Something about writing;)
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Oct 21

He told me to look up the word readeth in Habakkuk 2:2 as I woke up this morning. And to my suprised, it is translated in Hebrew in BDB as:

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow
1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to call oneself
1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named
1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen

I see the word call out/forth more than read. cool eh? I always read it as 'read'.
Write your vision down, when you see it, speak it. Surely it'll come forth in its perfect time.

When you speak His Word, you'll never experience 'thirst'

Wow I dunno where I should start...I hope I can finish this in half an hour.
It was what the Lord showed me about the message Pastor preached today. I'll not elaborate on it, I presume you're from my church if you're reading this. Otherwise, you may not understand as i'll just be sharing a summary of it=)
It was last night after I came back from the Live Recording 'I Sing Hosanna' that I saw this three words very strongly in my spirit. Water. Drink. Thrist. It was the same strong witness in my spirit as when I wrote on the post of the first & last mentioned of thirst which ties it all with this.
It was a simple message he told me last night. 'Why aren't people drinking water(the Word) as much or as freely as they would to their natural water as they would to their body today." Even our body suffer for lack of it.
So when Pastor expounded the scriptures on the Water from the Rock experience of the Israelites wilderness journey they took with Moses, comparing the difference at the start of the journey and at the end of it(40 years), my spirit jumped at the mentioned of these 3 specific words I receive the night before.
The begin at (Exodus 17) and ended (Numbers20).
Here's a short summary of Exodus 17 - It was a rod of judgement(he hit the rock), water was not abundant, silence of scripture that they drank. Numbers 20 - Rod of grace(he spoke to the rock), water was abundant, the people drank.
When Pastor was showing us the Hebrew letter for speak(door/son - when we speak, we open up the door to the son) I kept asking god how is it related to the scripture mentioning whether they drink/not.
Here's what I saw. Speaking = drinking water. When you speak His Word(water), you are drinking.
In my last post I link above, I mentioned an amazing truth he opened my eyes to - Jesus never once mentioned he thirst on earth except on the cross(John 19:30)...
Check out the difference in speech here..it blew my mind=)
Exodus 17:3(law-hit the rock) "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and lives stock die of thirst?
Numbers 20:4(grace-speak to the rock) "Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our live stock should die here? (no mentioned of thirst)
The first time, it was mentioned they would die of thrist. The rod of judgement can never quench your thirst. There was no mentioned the people drank although there was water made available to them.
Jesus fifth word on the cross was 'I thirst' so that you and I will never die of thirst. And this is accomplished when we speak to the rock. When we declare His Word over our circumstances, you receive all that he has died to give you.
You can no longer die of thrist when you speak His Word.
Why thrist I asked. When you are thirsty, your body is missing out something. You have a need. When water is supply, that need is no longer there.
When you speak His Word continually, it's like pumping your body with water. You'll never 'die of thrist'. Your meets are always met.
I write myself happy. Apologies if this is confusing;)

a home beyond my expectation

I can't contain the joy that is bubbling inside me..guess writing it down is the best way to let it out=) as a reminder too of his goodness. I love reminiscing the past events when His goodness supersedes my expectation. Read only if you're into details, if not just the ones in bold;)

It was about two weeks back that my agent told me I had to move out as my landlady is selling of the place. I was a little sad, not fully as I had never quite like staying in a noisy environment. I love the convenience here though.

So I did what I should. Copy down the agent numbers. Do a search on the internet. Sign up for website that gave me more access to room details. I did this over & over again. Yesterday I spent the whole afternoon searching. It was so intense I needed to take a break. It was when I wanted to call it for a day, I saw an advertisement unbelievable to me.
These were my thoughts, "It cannot be so cheap. I think PUB is not included since it has air-con. It's rundown. It's old. Many people is staying in the place..."
It was a picture of the room I saw. It didn't look at all attractive. A double storey terrace house. The price was LOW. The lowest price I've seen in all my search as compared to all the hdb prices I saw. I called up the agent to give it a try.
I showed my colleague the picture & she has been teasing me ever since.. "Spooky, spooky..." "If you don't see me at work tomorrow, you know where to look for me" Hehe.
But one thing I knew was, "When I see it, I'll know that it's the house for me"
As I got of the bus stop, I love what I saw. Greeneries. People jogging around. Serene. And as I walk up the slope, I was looking around for an old house. When she stopped at a pretty house, pretty new too, I couldn't believe my eyes. The house doesn't match what my thoughts were & the picture I saw.
The first thing the aunty said when she saw me was, "So pretty":)..I was with my glasses on and tired after bringing my kids out the whole day for rehearsal. She just stared at me admiringly. Hehe. The one thing that got us connected and talking so much was, she's from ipoh too! And she used to stay the street just next to where my house is now.
I love my room I saw. Plus point : away from sunlight=) This house feels like my house in Ipoh. The way the furnitures are and how it's arranged. Even the back kitchen is connected to the neighbour like the one at home. A garden is something I always wish for. She showed me her fren -a star print tortoise when I was about to leave. She invited me for a simple dinner. Oh how I love home cook food even in its simplest form. Gave me my favourite mango & it's from her own tree.
I remember telling my fren this one day while walking around her house estate in 6th ave..I wish I could stay in a house and come out and walk around the estate to feel the night breeze. When i'm in the bus travelling pass all the houses, I would have this wish again.
And He made it come true for me in the sweetest way.
This was something I saw while writing. Sometimes we have so many misconception about things that we start worrying about it and even have negative thoughts. But in fact, god has already all good planned and prepared for us. My bad thoughts about the house could not change how it would turn out to be. He did not disqualify me from it. We simply receive the gift regardless of what it's said right/wrong. In fact, even if you did think negative, it'll cause you to be even more amazed when you experience it.
The last msg my mum sent to me on Sunday & in her last lines were, "TRUSTJESUS".
When faith & trust meets, you see Jesus working.

Prepare yourself, and doors will open to you everywhere.

Most morning, or rather on the days I’m well rested, I would usually read a book or the bible on the bus & train. How do I do it? I would simply open up my cupboard of books & randomly pick a book I feel like reading. Today was a little different from the rest as my bag was packed with things & I tried to look for the tiniest book I can find. And it was the book by E.W.Kenyon, ‘Signposts on the Road to Success’. What do I remember about this book every time I read it was, I gain a little more insight on success. Every line written is just so rich with meaning. The first topic I turned to was on seasons of preparation which brings to mind the tweets I read later this morning. I find it interesting, or it shouldn't even come as a surprise to me anymore – that the things shared by these successful man of god are quite similar. If it’s only one, we have reason to doubt their words. But it’s said again by countless man. I’m learning to read between the lines in their words. Not to just ‘gain knowledge’ from their experience but to truly grasp & apply it in my own life. I highly recommend this book to anyone from students to managers. I got it from Rock bookshop a few years ago & it has blessed me everytime I read it again.

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What of life? You are standing on the threshold. Before you lie the untried paths.

What are you going to do? Have you chosen your work, your vocation, your place in life, or are you drifting, hoping that something will turn up.

It will, but the thing that turns up will be of no value to you unless you are ready to take it as it comes. Don’t float. Dead fish float.

Make up your mind that you will put your dreams into blue prints, and then, with that blue print in hand, you will build your mansion.

Find your place, but be sure that you do through preparatory work. Put real hard work into days of preparation. Don’t just get by.

Don’t be satisfied with anything but one hundred plus. Fight for it. Work for it. Enjoy it. Make it a game to win. Be a success in youth and you will be a success in middle life. You will be crowned in old age. Make yourself a wanted person. Be so valuable that if you had to move, men and women would weep because of your departure.

If you plan to be a minister, be God’s best. If you go into business, be the best in your community. If you plan to be a lawyer or a physician, put a trained, cultured personality into it.

Whatever you do, plan to build your house on top of the hill. Harness that lazy mind and make it work. That mind can make a place for you. Let me say again to you, “Go under your own steam.” Prepare yourself, and doors will open to you everywhere.

by E.W. Kenyon

Power to create - Entrepreneurship

"Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.."Deut 8:18

Lately, the term 'Entrepreneurship' has been boiling in my heart.
I walked into Popular on Wednesday while waiting for my dinner appointment & the book that I was drawn to was how Harry's was started. Interestingly, my boss mentioned to me just before that, about another book shop just round the corner I could go to and it was Harry's. So there I was, squatting by the side of the shelf reading.
Coming home to Ipoh, I searched for books in the shelf related to it. A little different from my usual of looking for Christian books.
This afternoon I search on youtube for clips related to the life of Entrepreneurs and any article relating to it.
It dawn on me more when I read a tweet this afternoon, "I'm very sure Pastor was looking at me as he was talking abt the God-idea for entrepreneurs." Wow =) What an encouragement!
This seed of thought about entrepreneurship has never been there. I remember going for the entrepreneurship seminar not to gain more understanding abt it but just to listen to the life journey of Coach Lily.
The questions I've been asking myself lately is..."I have many areas I would love to learn & am interested in...but which should I choose to pursue". Wow he just gave me the answer as I write this.
Entrepreneurship starts from a seed of thought. It's may or may not start from your interest. But many times it does. If it doesn't, I believe god can put the desire in you. It can start from anywhere. Take for example the lady who invented NEWater. It's said to be the 'world's first' invention. I wonder what was her passion then that drew her to this. Water?:) Maybe. More than that, it was a new thought - a god given idea.
Majority of the time we work & spent our time in something that has been created by someone else. When god makes you an entrepreneur, he goes beyond your imagination. Be open to try out something you've not.
This was something the Lord showed me. God created the earth from nothing. He spoke it into existent. Whatever that we see around us is a form of creation. We mirror the image of god when we create.
Shortly after that, I found this beautiful quote that express the heart of god for Entrepreneurship.
"God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and glories of creation." - Lloyd D. Newell
A seed of thought from god is worth more than your years of labour.
If you say to yourself, I have nothing in my hand, how/where do I began. Look at creation. Jesus spoke the world into existent. Jesus always made something out of nothing. That's his way of economy=)
I'm believing today that when I tap into his grace, His Person, he drops ideas I would never have imagined.

Your heart is all I want

I was browsing through my blog really fast wanting to just read some of my first few entries. Interestingly before I even got to where I want, my eyes fell on this particular post I wrote in Jan 11, 06 about heart too(something the Lord has been showing me lately) and the example given was also from the life of David which was the example I gave yesterday. This article has blessed me then and now as I read it. How it warmth my heart to know that all he wants from us is our hearts not what we have or can do for Him. Be blessed=)
from Extravagant Worship by Darlene (Repost)

…The only thing I want from you is your heart. God says, “I don’t need your talent. I don’t need your gift. I don’t want all the stuff that you can do. I just want you. I want your heart.” David was the runt of the litter, overlooked as the one nobody wanted, but God loved his heart. He said, “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart;he will do everything I want him to do”(Acts 13:22). God saw David’s heart and ready obedience, and He responded to David’s offering in a magnificent way—He made him king over His chosen people.

            One morning I was lying on bed, when Chloe said, “Mummy, sit up, sit up;I want to make you a breakfast.” She was five at the time, so I know her meal would be unique! She knew I liked toast, but she’s not allowed to use the toaster, and we kept the bread in the freezer. So her “toast” was rock hard. I also drink herbal tea, but she’s not allowed to use the kettle, so she put a teabag in a cup with cold water. And I don’t know where it came from, but she added a squashed banana to my breakfast tray.

            She was so proud herself when she put the tray on my lap. Words fail me.

            “Do you love it, Mum?”

            “Yep, I sure do!” I waited for her to leave, but she didn’t. “Thank You, Chloe, this is lovely.” She sat on my bed, looked at me with the cutest expression, and waited. Suddenly I knew that I had to eat the breakfast!

            “Mmmmm, Chloe, it’s beautiful!” The look on her face was priceless. She didn’t bring me breakfast to win points with me. She was too young yet to know that there might be money attached. All she wanted to do was to bless me. She gave me her best with a pure heart.

            You are not empty-handed, with nothing to bring to the table. God doesn’t want what you would like to be. He wants all that you are today. You can offer yourself to Him in worship; you can let that explosion of faith force you to praise His name and offer your attention to bless Him. Do you think giving your heart will bless God? Chloe blessed me. I still think about it! And you will bless God, because He looks past all the stuff of life and looks straight to the heart.

            When I exalt the Lord, God is increased, and the “me” in my life is decreased! I know I need more of God and less of me. I need more of His wisdom and less of my great ideas. I need more of his presence and less of my talent. Isn’t that what we all need?

            When we worship God, He is exalted, and our problems shrivel in His presence. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Remember that song? That is the truth. When He is exalted, everything about us—the good, the bad, and the ugly—is decreased as we focus on Him.

Beg god?

The Lord just showed me something really beautiful yet so simple but profound and have missed seeing it and hearing it so many times...
I've never did see it so clearly as now.
Been thinking lately or living as the Scriptures says of guarding my heart as the Lord tells us to guard above all else. For me it is in the context of not allowing my heart to be irritable, angry or even worried...something the Lord showed me in my last post. So here I am, whenever my kids in class drive me up the walls in class...I would tell myself. Hold it there, my heart matters=)
So here I am listening to the verse from Phil 4:7 today which states,
"and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus."
The next question you should be asking is how then do I get the peace like u would ask how do I guard my heart.
The verse before that gives us the answer. "Be careful about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication make your request be made known to god. (Phil 4:6)
So there is two things you need to do:
1. Do not worry about anything,
2. Tell the Lord what troubles you.
I've read this verse many times and thought I understand it but interestingly i've never truly understand the full meaning of supplication.
And the dictionary defines a supplicant as a person who humbly ask God or an important person to help them or to give them something they want very much. to earnest ask, one translation says to beg, even in Strong's concordance. Wow...dun you think that is a strong word to use.
I think many times we would have want something very much, think about it...would probably think god knows about it, he loves me...so I dun need to tell god or remind him.
You don't call someone who ask simply or quietly in his heart begs...but someone who ask eagerly and earnestly. Like a child begging for that toy till the parents give in=) God is like a father to us too who longs to hear us ask.
A clear example of someone who talks or even write psalms telling god about his problem is the life of David. Whatever he lifted up to god, that area he experience victory. The only area he fell was with the women he loved and that was the area he kept silent.
Is there something in your heart you has been longing for?You so want it. Keep on telling god. Remind him. And you'll see the floodgates of heaven open for you!=)

Are u really guarding your heart?

This post came or rather the thought I have on heart came after I went for an echogram of my heart. I saw how my heart beats, how the valves flaps, and hear how it sounds so different at different segment. The experience changed my whole perspective on how I view my heart and made aware to me how little focus I have put into it.
Prior to the check up I was afraid of the different beats I was feeling.You can say too that life and death is in the power of your heart beat. No sickness, defect on my body worries me more than my heart. It never did occur to me this until I was going through it.
A cut on a finger, a plaster will suffice. Fever, I could just pop a panadol and go to sleep. If there's a swell, I'll do the necessary treatment. But what would you do if you felt pain in your heart? Would you just pop a pill and go to sleep?
Jesus NEVER says, Above ALL else, guard your fingers...your hands, your head...but guard your heart.
I always saw guarding your heart as not allowing bad influences from the media, friends to come in, not opening it up to people who will take it lightly, to put it simply...keep it in good ground.
But He open my eyes to see this...
Do you ever think of your heart when you get angry? when you spread poisonous rumours of your colleagues, when you speak words of death into a situation...when you stress over your work...
Many times these actions do not produce immediate consequences on your outward circumstances, but it's like a veil slowly covering your heart.
When you get angry, your heart gets angry too...when you harbour unforgiveness, your heart feels it...when you stress, your heart is stress too. But when you choose to do otherwise, you're guarding your heart.
It's interesting what I saw in one of the account of Pharoah plagues.
Exo 9:14

(ESV)


God sees a heart as he sees a person...He plagues the heart/person. Heart=You. Whenever the Lord wants to impart wisdom, understanding, directions...he imparts it to your heart. If you are able to see how important your heart is, you'll do all to make it happy and be watchful of how you live your life. It's funny when the Lord was showing me this, Bob Fits in one of his songs was singing, 'Dancing heart'. That really came as a confirmation to me.
What do you see when you look into your heart today. Is it joyful, disheartened, or you're just not sure...
A good book to see how God prioritize your heart is the book of Proverbs...it even teaches you how you could make it happy=D
Prov 15:30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart (your smile brings life to someones else heart!!)
Prov 17:22 A merry heart does good like a medicine (If you're sick, make your heart happy:))
Just check out the verses on heart in Proverbs and you'll understand what He means when he say 'Above ALL else, guard your heart!'^{For 3588 I589 will at this2063 time6471 send7971 (853) all3605 my plagues4046 upon413 thine heart,3820 and upon thy servants,5650 and upon thy people;5971 (KJV) For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people.}

Trust me...

Wow the Lord just showed me this when I was brushing my teeth all ready for bed heh-
As I was thinking about the subject of trust & relationship and how it's interchangeable.
How deep your trust in someone, is how far your relationship will go. How much and what you share with someone is how much you trust him/her. He just showed me this as i'm writing...your level of love cannot grow where there is no trust, but your level of love grows when there is trust.
This is what he told me just now,
"I did not ask you to 'Love me with all your heart' but to 'Trust me with all your heart'.
It takes more faith to trust someone than to love someone.
When you put aside walls of doubt, and put you trust in your Father in heaven, you break the barrier that is allowing the relationship to grow to a deeper level. We are afraid many times because of what broken trust has caused us. See His love, trust your Father's heart. Take a step of faith to let go and let him. And he will direct you.
When a woman does not trust her lover, she will not open up her heart fully to him and may even doubt his love for her even though he loves her. But if she trust him, she is able to embrace the love. It starts from us...and it begins with trust.
I hear this often,..Do not trust your husband, go and work...cause one day he may leave you. Yes, it may be true out there but not with Jesus. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Open up your heart to him. Only when you do, he can come in to embrace you.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path" Proverbs 3:5,6 (My childhood favourite verse:))
Nights!=)

The first & last mention of "I thirst"

This is a delayed post on what god has put in my heart the past week.
First it was a picture of a stream of water with lush greenery by its side, signifying fruitfulness in the area where there is life.(previous post) When there is water, there'll always be trees along it. It was then the Lord told me too that if I see no life in an area, bring in the Word into that situation and soon you’ll see fruits.
What makes a plant IMPOSSIBLE to grow? Water. You can have the best soil, the most well carve pot, the best breed of seed, the best climate but it’ll still remain as a seed the day you do not put water in it. It remains as it is. A seed. With all it’s potential to be. (That just came from the Lord as I write=))
Last week, I kept seeing these two words, “Water & Word”. The only verse I knew that directly relates the Word to water is in Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
The funny thing was when a twitter msg came in from a parenting blog on water, “Why drink water the first thing in the morning”
“Moms and dads, before you sip that morning cup of coffee, before you down that little glass of juice, many doctors recommend drinking a cup of water. Yes, plain, unadorned, unsparkled, unflavored . . . water.
We all know that water is beneficial and that we should drink several glasses a day, but why the first thing in the morning? Two reasons are important ones:

1.       Water rids the body of toxins that have been stored over night.

2.       Water aids your digestive tract and helps start your day off right….”

Don’t that sound like what Pastor has been asking us to do—to feed on His Word at the start of the day. 

When do we long most for water? It’s when our body tells us we are thirsty.

Which story in the bible you know of when Jesus offered water to the one who was thirsty. It was with a Samaritan woman who was outcast by people. Who was living with a man who was not her husband.

What I found most amazing was it was NEVER mentioned in any of the scriptures that Jesus was ever thirsty! We would have thought he would have mentioned because he asked the Samaritan woman for a drink. But was that the main reason he asked her for water. Look it up in John 4.

Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40days and 40nights, but the scripture did not mentioned he was ever being thirsty.

Luk 4:2  For the space of forty days, and was tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

But the ONLY time the mentioned of thirst was made was in the fifth words of his last seven words on his crucifixion. “ I thirst”

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do(Luke 23:34) / Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise(Luke 23:34)/ Woman, behold your son :behold your mother(John 19:26-27)/My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?(Matt27:46, Mark15:34)/I thirst (John 19:30)/Father, into your hands I commit my spirit(Luke 23:46)

Six of Jesus words were outward to god the father and the people. Only one was of Himself. It was a word he never did mentioned in his walk on earth. All the sins that was laid on him, everything that he died for – he cried out, “I thirst”.

Was it coincident that it was the fifth words(grace) mentioned by Jesus on his crucifixion. Or was it also coincidence that the first mentioned of this word thirst(G1372) was, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled.(Matt 5:6) and it was the same thirst used when he cried “I thirst”

Was it coincidence too that the last word thirst is mentioned in Revelation at the end of all that was said was, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth, say, Come. And let him that is thirsty, come: And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

I love how the Amplifiied version puts it, “Come!…who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened] drink the water of Life without cost!

Grace & Righteousness is your greatest gift of salvation He has died to give you.

Come draw from the water of Life, the Word of God, in your deepest moments. For there, you’ll see life in every area of your life!

To embrace life

Here I am sitting in from my my com still thinking of what I should write for this entry. It's unlike all my entries where I already have in mind of what I want to write, many times inspired. So I would try my best to write all my thoughts down. I still remember my early day of multiplying. I could spend one whole day just writing an entry. I kinda miss reading entries written by me(yes, I do read my own entry sometimes & get encouraged). So I better write something before it becomes mouldy.
Piano lesson was postponed yest to Saturday as I have to meet the landlady and the rest. Just found out today's worship practise was cancelled too as we're using recorded music. This week have been so packed so the change was for good, in a way. Growing up and walking this journey of life day by day, meeting challenges and crying my way to heaven has taught me to embrace life with an open hand. Nothing happened by chance. God has his best interest for you. He makes everything beautiful in his time.
Last year and the years before have not been a bed of roses for me. I found a resolution card I wrote a few years back while I was packing up my stuff recently. It sounded like the same resolution I made seven years back when I was still a teen...I remember asking the Lord that each time I see it the last time.It seem to be the same hurdle I have to cross each year. But when I looked at it this year, it wasn't the same feeling anymore. Unknowingly, god has answered my desires and it didnt feel like a burden to me anymore.
I walk into this year with a sense of Christ in me giving me the ability to do all things. He enlarge my capacity and gives me the wisdom to steward the things given to me. It'll be a year of great increase. There so much sometimes I wish to do...and that always reminds me of Esther Khong=) who have so many things on her plate but was always full of energy. But when I reach that point, I just want to spend some time with God. Nothing enables you to do more than a heart at rest in god.
I see so many coincidental happenings in my life some times and meeting great people. Something that made me wow again was the new room I'll be shifting to 500meters away. It belongs to an american missionary. And on his bed was Pastor Prince's Destined to Reign=) one thing I know is this room is anointed haha put that aside, for the first time I wasn't worried when asked to move there. This kind of issue did trouble me the last time. Amazingly, god told me bef I was told e next day. I had a strong peace in my heart. The place didn't look as pretty but I was strangely happy. Before I went to look for the place, I saw a tuition agency next to my place and called to ask if they need help. The lady interviewed me and gave me a shocking comment. "What do you think if I ask you to head the K2 tuition class". Happy yes but more than that, on that night I knew it was so easy for god to just blessed us and put us with the right people. But my prayer nowadays was with a loose hand, "If you want me in, open the door. If not close it." The next day the lady called me. Gave some good comments. Offered me a very very good pay to teach part time. Better still it was just downstairs=)
If you would to ask me, what is the one thing I have catched just early this year...it would be to obey the holy spirit's leading. Your natural circumstances and surrounding usually contradicts it at the beginning. That is why faith is necessary in our walk with Christ. You'll see yourself reigning and blessings multiplied to you.
Grace and peace be with you this year!