2 Corinthians 2:5
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves...to claim anything for ourselves, but our sufficiency comes from God."
This is a spiritual paradox, but so true. We may have stuff, but we can only be sufficient when we surrender everything to God and trust Him to provide.
God has given us ability, gifts, talents, and discernment, but these virtues must be surrendered to His control and authority. Otherwise, we plod through life making our own decisions, doing our thing, and living on the perimeter of all God wants to do in and through us. It's really easy for me to live life on auto-pilot as I utilise what I have to make decisions. I'm not talking about easy what to eat decisions, but those which consume more of my time and effort, and what I will place effort in. For example, I have ideal jobs which I just want to apply for and get. However, I must learn to be dependent on God that He will dictate the job which I am to have.
As long as you and I are self-sufficient, we need not ask God for anything. God will not impose His will or way on us. He has given us a "free will" to either obey Him or disobey Him. Have you ever prayed harder than when you are no longer in control and desperate for help that you ask God to make things happen, because we simply can't?
Our choice will determine the consequences we will experience. It is only when we surrender our rights that we can learn to lean and trust God to be our sufficiency. God wants us to be in the center of His will and for Him to be the center of our life.
It's little wonder why people who have little are often the happiest when they receive simple pleasures, rather than us contented folks who can never be satisfied. May we learn to be surrender our self-sufficiency to God.
blessings,
M.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest upon me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
12 November 2008
06 November 2008
Perspectives
Psalm 73:17
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end."
It's only day 2 since I returned from my holidays and here I am sitting in irritation and annoyance at the idiocy of my superior/s. People who sit there and do nothing and yet look extremely busy. Apart from creating problems which they can't or won't solve, they sit on work and do nothing until I return. What's worst, the two of them claim to be church attending folks. Yah right!Right now, I've the right frame of mind to call down heaven's fire down on them. Grrrh....
Why do we have such frustration over the many circumstances in life? We are perplexed by the actions and life-style of believers who profess to be devoted to the Lord and cannot understand the ways of man in relation to God. How can they fare so well and yet be so ungodly and abusive to others and live in such unethical principles.
Until, this verse and insights of it came into my inbox some 30 minutes ago, I realised that we, as David, need to go into the sanctuary.
David had this problem as viewed in Psalm 73. He could not understand the prosperity of the wicked, their wealth and welfare, when their life-style was so averse to God. He even thought his efforts to follow God and to live godly was in vain. He said, "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me." BUT then he said, "Till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny."
In His presence, God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit who dwells within each believer. He gives us His perspective, and an understanding that He is in control and all these little, petty frustrations are temporal and not meant to consume us. Honestly, one day we will all pass away and all these won't matter, so why spend the time fretting and getting agitated over people who don't matter to us?
So I say to myself today, Perspective! Relook at things and adopt a better, clearer perspective because all that is creating annoyance to me is nothing in God's eternal timeframe. As to the idiocy of those above me and still living successfully. Who cares! I'm fine in God's plans and purposes and I shall choose to be happy because His joy is my strength.
blessings,
M.
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever" (Romans 11:36).
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end."
It's only day 2 since I returned from my holidays and here I am sitting in irritation and annoyance at the idiocy of my superior/s. People who sit there and do nothing and yet look extremely busy. Apart from creating problems which they can't or won't solve, they sit on work and do nothing until I return. What's worst, the two of them claim to be church attending folks. Yah right!Right now, I've the right frame of mind to call down heaven's fire down on them. Grrrh....
Why do we have such frustration over the many circumstances in life? We are perplexed by the actions and life-style of believers who profess to be devoted to the Lord and cannot understand the ways of man in relation to God. How can they fare so well and yet be so ungodly and abusive to others and live in such unethical principles.
Until, this verse and insights of it came into my inbox some 30 minutes ago, I realised that we, as David, need to go into the sanctuary.
David had this problem as viewed in Psalm 73. He could not understand the prosperity of the wicked, their wealth and welfare, when their life-style was so averse to God. He even thought his efforts to follow God and to live godly was in vain. He said, "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me." BUT then he said, "Till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny."
In His presence, God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit who dwells within each believer. He gives us His perspective, and an understanding that He is in control and all these little, petty frustrations are temporal and not meant to consume us. Honestly, one day we will all pass away and all these won't matter, so why spend the time fretting and getting agitated over people who don't matter to us?
So I say to myself today, Perspective! Relook at things and adopt a better, clearer perspective because all that is creating annoyance to me is nothing in God's eternal timeframe. As to the idiocy of those above me and still living successfully. Who cares! I'm fine in God's plans and purposes and I shall choose to be happy because His joy is my strength.
blessings,
M.
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever" (Romans 11:36).
04 November 2008
Overseeing your flock
Acts 20:28
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."
I stand here in the morning of Kansai Airport awaiting for my flight back home. It has been a fast 8 days of holiday and extremely purposeful. The most purposeful holiday I ever had in all my trips to Japan.
Many reasons exists for me being here and one of the key top priorities is for me to be here for one of my flock. Despite the fact that I have an annual national leaders conference to attend, I willingly skipped it, not because there was a social holiday excuse, but because I knew this was the most opportune time for me to be here to talk, counsel and encourage one of my mentees.
As I read this verse via my email newsletter, I am again reminded of the purpose of the call of a leader. Firstly, we are to be vigilent over ourselves. Without taking good care of our lives and soul, we will be unable to do anything more. A maintained vehicle is a operational vehicle good for transporting people.
Thereafter, being ministered, we need to keep our eyes over the others placed before us. Life comprises more than US, OUR STUFF and OUR GOALS. People whom the Lord purchased with His blood are treasure which need to be guarded and watchfully monitored. What good does it do when we someday go up to heaven, safe and sound, but without bringing along people with us?
May you too recognise the truth of this passage as I did, standing here in front of the free internet portal, with the morning sun shining at the airport runway. Keep watch over yourself, and then, the flock which is before you.
blessings,
M.
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."
I stand here in the morning of Kansai Airport awaiting for my flight back home. It has been a fast 8 days of holiday and extremely purposeful. The most purposeful holiday I ever had in all my trips to Japan.
Many reasons exists for me being here and one of the key top priorities is for me to be here for one of my flock. Despite the fact that I have an annual national leaders conference to attend, I willingly skipped it, not because there was a social holiday excuse, but because I knew this was the most opportune time for me to be here to talk, counsel and encourage one of my mentees.
As I read this verse via my email newsletter, I am again reminded of the purpose of the call of a leader. Firstly, we are to be vigilent over ourselves. Without taking good care of our lives and soul, we will be unable to do anything more. A maintained vehicle is a operational vehicle good for transporting people.
Thereafter, being ministered, we need to keep our eyes over the others placed before us. Life comprises more than US, OUR STUFF and OUR GOALS. People whom the Lord purchased with His blood are treasure which need to be guarded and watchfully monitored. What good does it do when we someday go up to heaven, safe and sound, but without bringing along people with us?
May you too recognise the truth of this passage as I did, standing here in front of the free internet portal, with the morning sun shining at the airport runway. Keep watch over yourself, and then, the flock which is before you.
blessings,
M.
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)