Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way
The glory and splendor of God will provide strength to feeble hands and will make wobbly knees stready. This is because God provides the super natural to our frail human conditions.
We are often so easily defeated by all we see and experience in life. I know because today, I went for another interview and as time ticked, I was informed that there was no perfect fit given my lack of experience in one crucial requirement that they needed.
Just one closed door and my spirit crumbles. Well, not just one closed door, it was a door that I was hoping for because the three months I've gone through in the start of the year seems to yield no success as time goes by.
It's so easy to look at anything laid before and think that it would be the opened, promise door. Yet, when it isn't, it's incredibly discouraging to look at the empty beyond.
However, for such a time like this, it is important to behold the promise that God will come to save as He did for His people of the days long ago.
The greatest honour is to someday be able to witness God at work, restoring and redeeming us from our current life crisis. God be praised.
M.
26 March 2014
24 March 2014
Treasure inside us
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
As I reflect on this verse, I realise how little I cherish of what God has placed in me the moment I made the choice to recieve my salvation in Jesus Christ.
I'm amazed at the boldness of how Paul states the fact that though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. This is really becuase the all-surpassing power of God lives in us and we need to only recognise and accept in faith.
How easy it is for us to get emotional, weak and affected by all that our eyes see, our bodies feel, and what our mind says. For the God who creates us is always perceived in our limited understanding. Some call it spiritual anemia where we forget that God is God and we arrogantly expect God to be there to do our bidding, answer our prayers and to bless us. It is one thing to recognise that God is in us and another to put God as a being who goes before us just to make our life smooth.
What good is the treasure inside us if God is not glorified? Enough of mediocrity and living life in an uneventful mode. Surely, you and I can start to see that God has given us the power to impact the lives of others around us.
M.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
As I reflect on this verse, I realise how little I cherish of what God has placed in me the moment I made the choice to recieve my salvation in Jesus Christ.
I'm amazed at the boldness of how Paul states the fact that though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. This is really becuase the all-surpassing power of God lives in us and we need to only recognise and accept in faith.
How easy it is for us to get emotional, weak and affected by all that our eyes see, our bodies feel, and what our mind says. For the God who creates us is always perceived in our limited understanding. Some call it spiritual anemia where we forget that God is God and we arrogantly expect God to be there to do our bidding, answer our prayers and to bless us. It is one thing to recognise that God is in us and another to put God as a being who goes before us just to make our life smooth.
What good is the treasure inside us if God is not glorified? Enough of mediocrity and living life in an uneventful mode. Surely, you and I can start to see that God has given us the power to impact the lives of others around us.
M.
21 March 2014
Trusting that God will make all things right.
Serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
I always thought it would be fine and dandy since I've prepared myself to have tons of savings for wet-weather days. However, what I felt yesterday was the reality of "no more money coming in" and that made me feel sucky. It is hard to explain how it feels to have your identity and surety shaken when the income stops, but the saver in me was feeling very crippled.
Now, when one part of the brain starts getting affected, the psyche goes after a while. I was rather taken aback at how I came back after a breakfast meeting to feel sullen and down because I find time clicking away and a lack of vision of where I was in the dark tunnel. (what happened to that confident person 3 years ago who was preparing for retrenchment by going to South America for a break?)
I really have no idea how long this employment 'drought' is going to be, and I've so many concerns that are not fun to have in my head. Like, what happens if I desperately accept a role in a new shitty place, or find myself out-dated and having to receive a paycut! The thoughts are in abundance and no lack that it is really not funny.
Somehow, I chanced upon the Serenity prayer today and finally saw the full version and for once, I realised that in surrender to God will I find my happiness. So, out goes the fear, the uncertainties, the paranoia, the thousand of thoughts that this planning brain is capable of. (If only I can numb myself via an induced thought coma drug)
All will be well because God is with me, always. Oh! He's also there for you as He hangs around me. :)
M.
03 March 2014
What's God's way?
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Even as I sit at my dining table waiting for my instant noodle to cook (takes minutes to boil a laksa la mian, not a 2 sec pour hot water cup noodle) , I've literally waiting for someone to call me so I can eventually go for an interview and possibly secure the job that God will grant me.
In the past hours, I've gone through a short talk with God because there was a particular job that my friend had sent me, but I'm not keen to pursue. It's quite funny to state to God, "can you give me something better, as this really isn't what I want. So, i'm not applying for it ok, because I know you surely know me better to give me what I thrive in - just I hope it's fast coz the salary stops by mid this month"
I don't know if you know this, but we human are generally very dense. (ok, maybe not you if you don't feel so. At least I know it applies to me) Given the incredible sight of the universe and what we witness of God's hand of creation, we can still fail to grasp the fact that God is above all our fears.It's so easy to waver in fear, to feel afraid that our lives are not living according to expectations, we're unpaid, we're losing out. Yet, nothing can be further from the truth because the same God who calmed the storm in 1 breadth, raised the dead, stopped the sun and moon from moving, is in absolute control of the plans of our life.
As I make great efforts to reflect on the bigness of God, it always gives me strength because I remember that God's way is complex and yet, the best for His children. Time, man's ideas, the world has nothing that stands in His way.
For the time that we wait, seeming in vain, it's because God does not want us to proceed on. His thoughts are for us and therefore, He'll continue to release the grace and strength needed for us to release our doubts to Him and yes, the day will come when we see the God given solution.
M.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Even as I sit at my dining table waiting for my instant noodle to cook (takes minutes to boil a laksa la mian, not a 2 sec pour hot water cup noodle) , I've literally waiting for someone to call me so I can eventually go for an interview and possibly secure the job that God will grant me.
In the past hours, I've gone through a short talk with God because there was a particular job that my friend had sent me, but I'm not keen to pursue. It's quite funny to state to God, "can you give me something better, as this really isn't what I want. So, i'm not applying for it ok, because I know you surely know me better to give me what I thrive in - just I hope it's fast coz the salary stops by mid this month"
I don't know if you know this, but we human are generally very dense. (ok, maybe not you if you don't feel so. At least I know it applies to me) Given the incredible sight of the universe and what we witness of God's hand of creation, we can still fail to grasp the fact that God is above all our fears.It's so easy to waver in fear, to feel afraid that our lives are not living according to expectations, we're unpaid, we're losing out. Yet, nothing can be further from the truth because the same God who calmed the storm in 1 breadth, raised the dead, stopped the sun and moon from moving, is in absolute control of the plans of our life.
As I make great efforts to reflect on the bigness of God, it always gives me strength because I remember that God's way is complex and yet, the best for His children. Time, man's ideas, the world has nothing that stands in His way.
For the time that we wait, seeming in vain, it's because God does not want us to proceed on. His thoughts are for us and therefore, He'll continue to release the grace and strength needed for us to release our doubts to Him and yes, the day will come when we see the God given solution.
M.
19 February 2014
You only need to be still
Exodus 14:10-14
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
I've applied for what I think is a fair number of jobs. Yet, no one has called me to arrange an interview or talk to clarify my appplication. Sometimes, my mind will wander and lead me to ask why is it that I'm not being called. It's a bit unnerving and self-doubts start to creep in when I consider myself to be a great employee with amazing capabilities. (Self praise, no doubt, but I truly believe that I am superb in what I do in marketing)
Yet, I'm not panic stricken nor anxious simply because I know that time to God is. It is but a blink of an eye and in the greater scheme of my life, it's only a phase in a long working period. So while I can endure the stress free days, days with lunch appointments and even aimless days of doing nothing but laze at home because the sun is simply too hot to leave the home. Life will just be passing days untill God opens the door for my next employment.
With some confidence, I know that there's nothing I can do to force open an interview or a job offer. I know for a fact that I need to learn how to be standing still, even in the face of uncertainties. But isn't life always like this for us? We can do any and everything but it is the Lord who will deliver us from life. It is just the actual moment of learning to stand still in the face of uncertainties that unnerves us. Such is the shallow nature of our faith.
When I come out of this unemployment phase, I hope to be able to look back and recognise how childish the paranoia I had, and how amazing the hand of God is to instrument the next steps of my career. In the meantime, all I do is be hopeful and wait in obedience without giving my head many chances to run wild in panic.
My God is mighty to save!
M.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
I've applied for what I think is a fair number of jobs. Yet, no one has called me to arrange an interview or talk to clarify my appplication. Sometimes, my mind will wander and lead me to ask why is it that I'm not being called. It's a bit unnerving and self-doubts start to creep in when I consider myself to be a great employee with amazing capabilities. (Self praise, no doubt, but I truly believe that I am superb in what I do in marketing)
Yet, I'm not panic stricken nor anxious simply because I know that time to God is. It is but a blink of an eye and in the greater scheme of my life, it's only a phase in a long working period. So while I can endure the stress free days, days with lunch appointments and even aimless days of doing nothing but laze at home because the sun is simply too hot to leave the home. Life will just be passing days untill God opens the door for my next employment.
With some confidence, I know that there's nothing I can do to force open an interview or a job offer. I know for a fact that I need to learn how to be standing still, even in the face of uncertainties. But isn't life always like this for us? We can do any and everything but it is the Lord who will deliver us from life. It is just the actual moment of learning to stand still in the face of uncertainties that unnerves us. Such is the shallow nature of our faith.
When I come out of this unemployment phase, I hope to be able to look back and recognise how childish the paranoia I had, and how amazing the hand of God is to instrument the next steps of my career. In the meantime, all I do is be hopeful and wait in obedience without giving my head many chances to run wild in panic.
My God is mighty to save!
M.
17 February 2014
Time and Stewardship
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Now that I'm jobless, I've tons of time.
The conundrum that one has when working is the lack of personal time, but availability of money. So you have the ability to afford things but sadly, time to enjoy it is limited to the weekends and the annual leave. The opposite applies when one is not working; you have the ability to enjoy the time at hand, but limited to the money available.
I must say that I've enjoyed the freedom of not working. The unnerving thing is the worry of when I'll eventually find a job that pays me what I was last worth. Now, that is quite a challenge because it is always easier to find a lower salary job at my stage of the career.
In the many hours that I have, I realised that it is so easy to slack off. For example, I can literally watch TV, surf the net to watch anime or comedies, read an article or two and simply not do anything productive for the whole day. I shock myself at how I can afford to stay at home the whole day without feeling aimless and that makes me only realise how terrible a steward of the time I'm given.
With the days that I live, I would dread to use it all on working in the rat race found in the corporate world. Yet, I cannot possibly use this current phase and waste all the days given to me.
Peter tells the church in this chapter that the end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Time for me to really be a bit less slack and more sober and pray. For such a time like this, I should be make better use of the time so I can be accountable to God for the time He has given me in this phase of unemployment.
M.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Now that I'm jobless, I've tons of time.
The conundrum that one has when working is the lack of personal time, but availability of money. So you have the ability to afford things but sadly, time to enjoy it is limited to the weekends and the annual leave. The opposite applies when one is not working; you have the ability to enjoy the time at hand, but limited to the money available.
I must say that I've enjoyed the freedom of not working. The unnerving thing is the worry of when I'll eventually find a job that pays me what I was last worth. Now, that is quite a challenge because it is always easier to find a lower salary job at my stage of the career.
In the many hours that I have, I realised that it is so easy to slack off. For example, I can literally watch TV, surf the net to watch anime or comedies, read an article or two and simply not do anything productive for the whole day. I shock myself at how I can afford to stay at home the whole day without feeling aimless and that makes me only realise how terrible a steward of the time I'm given.
With the days that I live, I would dread to use it all on working in the rat race found in the corporate world. Yet, I cannot possibly use this current phase and waste all the days given to me.
Peter tells the church in this chapter that the end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Time for me to really be a bit less slack and more sober and pray. For such a time like this, I should be make better use of the time so I can be accountable to God for the time He has given me in this phase of unemployment.
M.
06 January 2014
New. It's all new
Psalms 139:17-18
How precious to me are your thoughts,God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand when I awake, I am still with you.
This is a new year and now that I'm not working, boy is it a new experience to get up at the same time and not have to go to work. I get to slumber, laze and wonder what to do when everyone else is getting back to the hustle and bustle of life. I call it the retirement internship phase of life until I find myself a new job.
Knowing me and how I can laze all day long without accomplishing anything, I've elected to do up a list of matters that I need/have to do and now need to discipline myself to get it all done!
As I sit in the library and capitalise on the free WiFi, power and aircon (and escape the noisy drilling renovation noise at home), I marvel at how this feels like a student's school holiday period. Yet, it isn't for me because I can't enjoy this all my life (or can I? hmm......)
This new year marks a year of new perspectives because of the new beginnings now that I don't have a job. Yet I know that it is for a significant purpose that God decreed that I would lose my employment on 20 Dec 2013. His thoughts of what he expects me to do would outnumber the sands on the beach. For that, I'm waiting with baited breath what He will place before me in the coming days, weeks and months.
It's a strange feeling to wake up, free from work, but also insecure because come 20 March, I would no longer receive financial income. Humanly, I would love to get myself a job that pays me much more and also treat me much better. Ideally by Feb I would have this all sealed. But, who is to dictate what God will do.
Therefore, on the week 1 of 2014, I seek out in simple faith for the precious thoughts of God in my career path. I proclaim a new revelation on what I am suppose to do, new industry to be in, because the steps I walk ahead should never be same-old stuff. Something new, refreshing and liberating so the days at work at enjoyable and a breath of fresh air.
How pleasant it is to know that the higher thoughts of God on my life are precious gold, and more vast than what I can count.
All is well, all can only get better from here. This also applies to you. Woots!
blessings,
M.
How precious to me are your thoughts,God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand when I awake, I am still with you.
This is a new year and now that I'm not working, boy is it a new experience to get up at the same time and not have to go to work. I get to slumber, laze and wonder what to do when everyone else is getting back to the hustle and bustle of life. I call it the retirement internship phase of life until I find myself a new job.
Knowing me and how I can laze all day long without accomplishing anything, I've elected to do up a list of matters that I need/have to do and now need to discipline myself to get it all done!
As I sit in the library and capitalise on the free WiFi, power and aircon (and escape the noisy drilling renovation noise at home), I marvel at how this feels like a student's school holiday period. Yet, it isn't for me because I can't enjoy this all my life (or can I? hmm......)
This new year marks a year of new perspectives because of the new beginnings now that I don't have a job. Yet I know that it is for a significant purpose that God decreed that I would lose my employment on 20 Dec 2013. His thoughts of what he expects me to do would outnumber the sands on the beach. For that, I'm waiting with baited breath what He will place before me in the coming days, weeks and months.
It's a strange feeling to wake up, free from work, but also insecure because come 20 March, I would no longer receive financial income. Humanly, I would love to get myself a job that pays me much more and also treat me much better. Ideally by Feb I would have this all sealed. But, who is to dictate what God will do.
Therefore, on the week 1 of 2014, I seek out in simple faith for the precious thoughts of God in my career path. I proclaim a new revelation on what I am suppose to do, new industry to be in, because the steps I walk ahead should never be same-old stuff. Something new, refreshing and liberating so the days at work at enjoyable and a breath of fresh air.
How pleasant it is to know that the higher thoughts of God on my life are precious gold, and more vast than what I can count.
All is well, all can only get better from here. This also applies to you. Woots!
blessings,
M.