Bread of Life.

1 Samuel 21:4
But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here .

Yesterday the message from the pulpit stated, the church, the house of God is where you find bread for sustenance and a sword for your battles. If you read the chapter before and 21 itself, you'll understand that David was on the run from Saul and Ahimelek the priest placed  grace before the law and gave David the fugitive the food that he requested. Eventually, David also took the sword of Goliath because he needed a weapon to defend himself  

I cannot but agree with the statement that I enter the house of God weekly just to find bread and a sword for my life. I'm there yearning for more than just some nice to hear stories, I'm there to find food for the weakened body and would also love to be given weapons of battles so I can fight through my battles. At least, I feel safer with a weapon (the word of God) with me so I don't feel naked and defenseless.

I would love for the pulpit to sometimes cut the crap and not push across generic messages, draggy semons that don't hit the nail on the head or even what I sometimes feel to be a corporate agenda similiar to what the government is doing. I believe there is more that can be offered, sharpened weapons that individuals will willingly take up and to also offer sustaining bread that feeds the famished souls of the weary. I don't doubt that there are many different individuals with different needs, but I'm also sure that by pandering to the generic masses, you also satisfy no one.

M.

Do what we have to do.

2 Timothy 2:23-24

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”

I had a shock when I learned of a leader's decision to leave church and step down from his ministry. Apparently, due to frustrations with church, he decided to move onto another. However, during lunch as I was discussing with a Christian colleague, she mentioned that often people who leave church for another, due to disagreements, would end up bringing the unresolved issues.

I read that the Bible talks more about unity of the church than it does about either heaven or hell. Apparently, it’s that important because despite the fact that churches have tremendous potential, many never achieve what God desires because the members spend all their time fighting with one another. All of the energy is focused inward.

In these end times, Satan will do everything he can to cause division and the fact of the matter is we can squabble and disagree about any and everything. But, we must learn to be more than a frustrated opinionated church goer. I rather we be busy doing work for God, such that even if we are annoyed over matters, the tasks before our hands compels us to put our self-centered opinions aside and elect to continue to do what we have to do.

M.

Precious even though we stray

Mark 16: 7

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." 

The bible records in the book of Mark that as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to anoint Jesus’ body, they encountered angels who gave them this instructions.

It's really significant when you note that the Angels had said, 'his disciples' and 'Peter'. Why? because Peter had betrayed Jesus despite his insistence and in guilt and grief had fled away from the entire cruxifixion of Jesus. I can only imagine the guilt and horrible feeling that Peter had because of what he done and if you read this sentence, you'll know that Peter had also dis-associated himself as a disciple of Jesus. In modern days, it's equivilant to denouncing his faith.

This is where we witness the preciousness of each of us to God. Regardless of what sin we commit and how we step away from God because we feel unworthy, God's always ready to show more acceptance. The risen Christ  wanted the news to not only go to the disciples who were cowering in fear, but also  to Peter who had left the fellowship.

You and I can never understand how there is always love and grace from God to woo back anyone who walks away from Christ. We only see sin, and in guilt, elect to walk away because our shame or emotions lead us to behave as such. 

However, the truth of life is this; As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God's ways higher than our ways and His thoughts greater than our thoughts. We're sinful, we're unworthy, and it blows my mind that God still considers us precious. Just as Peter after his betrayal of Christ, Jesus always seeks to inform us that He's always ahead of us and ever wanting us back. Such is the amazing grace of God and His agape love.

I stand amazed.

M.   

The right time

Genesis 8:12
He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.

Here I am in Shanghai on my first business trip. It's China, a country that I don't really want to ever visit because I'm not a fan of the people. But I do appreciate this trip because I need to accomplish some key work stuff and can't just do it via my desk and a phone call. 

On a shallow note, I really needed this trip because my miles to maintain the frequent flyer status of, miserable, silver is due by the end of Feb. How dreadful to actually have it expire after flying to Europe thrice just to get it. 

God's timing is always right and how He works to fulfil my petty requests is always amazing. I needed about 4750 miles, this trip to Shanghai gives me all but 21 miles. However, because of the hotel stay which is part of the airline partner, I will be able to add in the hotel stay and eventually clock the required miles to maintain the card! Everything I need and just a few more spare miles.

How often  do we see God providing just enuff and a bit more in our life and situation. To add to that, He also replies at the very right time and not after the clock strikes 12. Noah's story is precisely representative of this fact. At the right time, the flood will strike, and also end. At God's time, not ours.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

M.

The will of God

The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

Everything happens for a purpose.
We may not see the wisdom of it all now,
but trust and believe in the Lord that everything is for the best. (Amen)

The new is here.

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

A new year beckons.

This year was the first year I spent in my adult years sleeping through the new year. I just needed some time off from the standard year end countdown in church, and spent some time jogging while sorting out my evaluation for the year and thoughts for the year ahead.

The year of 2011 has been amazing in terms of fulfilling personal secular needs, however in was a disaster in all things spiritual.

It's just a calendar change, but it is a new chance to retart everything with God's grace and strength. It will be a really tough year, but I'm hanging on to the simple statement that in Christ, the new is here.

M.