Sunday, November 27, 2005

Devotional 26 nov

"In Case I Ever Forget!"

Give thanks in all circumstances.1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

The following story has been reprinted by request; it needs no commentary: "They huddled inside the storm door - two children in ragged over-sized coats. 'Any old papers, lady?' I was busy. I wanted to say no - until I saw their feet. Little sandals sopped with sleet. 'Come in and I'll make you some hot cocoa.' There was no conversation. Their soggy sandals left marks on the hearthstone. I served them cocoa with toast and jam to fortify them against the chill outside. Then I went back to the kitchen to work on my household budget. The silence in the front room struck through me. I looked in. The little girl held the empty cup in her hands looking at it. The boy asked, 'Lady, are you rich?' I looked at my shabby slipcovers. 'Am I rich? Mercy, no!' The girl put the cup in its saucer! - carefully. 'Your cups match your saucers.' Her voice was old, with a hunger not of the stomach. Then they left, holding their bundles of paper against the wind. They hadn't said thank you. They didn't need to - they had done more than that. Much more. Plain blue pottery cups and saucers, but they matched. Potatoes and brown gravy; a roof over our heads; my man with a good steady job - these things matched, too. I moved the chairs back from the fire and tidied the living room. The muddy prints of small sandals were still wet upon my hearth. I let them be. I want them there in case I ever forget how rich I am!"

Bible-in-a-year Reading:Joshua 4-6, Mark 9:1-13,Psalm 114, Proverbs 27:20-22

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Sensitivity?

Jesus i pray you prosper my mistakes.

Had a wierd dream last night.. i was training or somethin, and war suddenly set upon the country. I then found myself flying in aircrafts and even on occasions shooting enemies down. The wierd thing? All those aircraft platforms are not going to be my future platforms at all. Plus, for various reasons, 3 times i went up, 3 times my aircraft crashed. I survived all three but i really wonder if this dream has any significance.. esp since i am in my line of career..

Today's devotional by Kenneth Copeland surprised me somewhat.. It taught to regain my sensitivity. Cos i have always been told and have the impression that i am a sensitive person, or even a snag. And i had for some reasons gained the impression that it wasn't entirely a good thing. But i guess the scriptures shown in the devotional has really changed my perspective again..

Monday, November 21, 2005

Daily Devotional 22 nov

Working In A Difficult Environment (4)
God...put him in the garden...to tend and keep it.Genesis 2:15 AMP

While David was out in the pasture tending sheep, everyone's eyes were on Saul. But not God's: His eyes were on David watching how he worshipped, how his character was coming along, his relationship with and fear of God, and how he confronted evil. Would he be easily intimidated, or did he have the stuff kings were made of? How would he fare in battle? Would he see a giant, or a giant God standing behind him? Was he proud and self-sufficient, running ahead of God, or did he rely solely on God? Would he be fair with people? How would he handle authority? Would he speak evil of those placed over him? Or would he respect those in authority, regardless of their personal shortcomings?
David wasn't fully aware of what God had planned for him, but he acknowledged God in all his ways. Someone once said, "Character is what you are when nobody is watching." Well, God is always watching! He was watching David - and He's watching you!
Most of us do not work as though God is watching, or even cares about the job we're doing. We fail to realise that promotion doesn't come "from the east or the west... but [from] God" ( Psalm 75:6-7 NIV). Do you understand that as difficult as your current job may be, God has placed you there for a purpose? He has deposited you there so that you can learn how to deal with the enemy, grow in grace and maturity, and be trained for better things. Think about it!
Bible-in-a-year Reading:2 Chronicles 32-34, Mark 6:45-56,Psalm 76, Proverbs 27:4-6

Stress..

i was quite stressed at work today.. perhaps cos i was worrying too much.. perhaps cos i had not flown for 10 days and knew i had done little in the way of preparation. Regardless, i only knew that i was stressed, and i was desperate for it to go away. I began to think to myself what Pastor ever thought about stressed. What ways were there to get rid of it? What consciousness did i have to awake to? Then i realised that what i needed to do was simply ask God. i beseeched God to take it away from me. And in my spirit He reminded me that He was always with me.

I then opened my bible and flipped not knowing where to flip to. Somehow 2 Cor caught my eye. and the following goes:

2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me.

God is so good. And He loves me so. I susequently went for the flight.. but the instructor had already decided to use the sortie as a free ungraded refresher for me due to the bad weather.. It was indeed better than anything i could ask or think of.. for i had indeed asked my brother to agree with me in prayer that i would have a good flight or wouldnt fly due to bad weather.. haha.. Thank You Jesus.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

My Shield

Jesus you are my vindication. My Rock, Fortress and Strong Tower, in whom i can trust. You lead me beside green pastures and still waters. Thank you Lord for who knows me better than you.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

the Power of God

Yesterday’s service was awesome for me.. in that it was the revealing of the power of God. God who created everything. In the perfection and harmony of creation, the perfection of God is shown. This God who is so powerful, who created the air i breathe, also came down to die for me. I guess to come to any understanding of the magnitude of the power of God, we have to know the magnitude of our God.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The Gospel of Christ, IS the power of God, unto SALVATION! It is not the faith of the one praying but the preached good news that is the power! I guess it is when we realize this, that we become truly unashamed of the Gospel of Christ, preaching and praying!

Abba, I want to be the 200 men at the Brook Bensor. Sitting and drinking of the good news. And the free gift of grace and mercy!
Teach me Lord, in Your ways and wisdom. Give me Your wisdom, understanding and a kind heart. That everything I do would be out of Your guidance and infinite wisdom.
I have been forgiven not out of mercy but out of Your Righteousness! Your righteousness demands my success!

Friday, November 18, 2005

Online Devotional 19 nov

Working In A Difficult Environment
(1)God...put him in the garden...to tend and keep it.Genesis 2:15 AMP

Reject any notion of victim-hood that's laying claim to your peace and robbing you of contentment. Your job, in spite of its challenges, would have been the dream of your forefathers. Hey, didn't you pray to get this job that you now complain about? As difficult as it may be to accept, you are in your present position for a reason; you are also there for a season. Study the course, take the tests, graduate and move on to what God has for you next. There's something you need to learn and take with you from your present position into your next one. Like what? (a) Skill building. (b) Character building. You may need to learn computer skills such as Excel and Microsoft Word - plus patience and gratitude. You may need to learn how to manage an office -plus manage your moods. For those ! who love the Lord, no experience is ever wasted. Listen: "All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" ( Romans 8:28 NKJV). Sometimes it's difficult to see this in the moment. When Joseph was in the pit and the prison, it was hard to see how this road would lead to the palace, but it did. God has a master plan for your life. Your current job may well be preparation for the job God has in mind for you. Look back at the steps that have moved you in your present direction. Then trust that God is using each experience to bring about His will - and your joy.
Bible-in-a-year Reading:2 Chronicles 25-28, Mark 6:14-29,Psalm 50, Proverbs 26:27-28

Sunday, November 13, 2005

busy busy

Been really busy lately.. busy like i have never been before in my life.. Flying's been exceptionally successful.. maybe unexpected..

Saw a show recently where a father and daughter were reconcilled through rock climbing. A flood of emotions came over me as i watched the show. As i watched it i realised i wanted to be able to trust God too, that whenever i fell, He would be there to catch me.

And He is always there. We are jus so quick to forget His love, His promises. But He always comes back and tells us He still loves us. Still forgives us.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Love

Someone taught me about love quite some time back. For sensitivity reasons, i decided not to put his/her name here. But don't speculate ok.

Yes yes, love is exactly like what the Bible says about it in 1 Cor 13. But this person summed it up to me in one word. Sacrifice. Said that when you love someone, you would sacrifice for that someone. And i asked, whether it was possible to love someone too much that it hurt the other person?

No, was the answer. Cos when that happens, in actual fact, you have already loved yourself more than that someone. Sometimes loving involves letting go of the person too. It all depends on the time and circumstances i guess. As i was told these things, i felt the Spirit raise up inside of me and say "There's no greater love than this, that a man would give up His life..."

Well this was actually sometime back. But for some reason i keep meeting situations in my life that remind me of that conversation and the truths in it.