It's not mine to begin with

1 Chronicles 29:3-4

Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple

King David fought many battles and reaped the spoils of it. Coupled with the ribute paid by many defeated nations, he amassed a lot of riches. However the bible states that it was all stored for the creation of the temple of God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,  stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.

The context of the passage here is of an old David addressing an assembly of people as he seeks of their support to assist his son Solomon in the construction of the temple of God.

David had amassed alot of stuff to build the temple, but still he offered to give out of his own resources, because he recognised the truth that all the riches that he possessed was not his to begin with. He was just a steward of the provisions which God had provided to him.

I know it's hard, but it is true wisdom and liberty when we recognise this truth. The hundreds, thousands, millions of dollars which we have to finance our lives are not permanently ours. It's only awarded to us to be stewards of, so the harder we hang onto money, the further from the truth of the matter we are.

May we not be a slave to wealth, because our wealth is but an interest free loan to our lives.

M.

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you." (1 Chronicles 29: 14-16)

God be with me

1 Chronicles 4:8-10

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

I've heard about the prayer of Jabez, but when it was shared to us at the leaders conference, some part of the prayer resounded loud and clear as if it was the first time I heard it true and loud.

What a terrible thing it is to be given the name "pain" and to live life with such a name. I have an ex-colleague who wanted to name her soon-to-be-born son "anakin" and I gagged at the suggestion because how many parents will some day make fun of her darth vader inspired named son.

The cry of Jabez to God cannot be more honest and heart-felt to me, and many of us included. We all want to be blessed! But this succinct prayer covers all that we will need for our life. For the almighty God to bless us and be with us! Afterall, with God for us, who and what can come against us?

As the cry of Jabez was read out and exhorted, I couldn't help but to cry out in my heart. God bless me and be with me throughout the entire of next year and my life forever. I cannot and don't want to live/trudge through life by my own strength.

M.

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns." (Revelations 19:6)

A fine balance

Ephesians 4:26 (NLT)

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

In Max Lucado's book, a love worth giving, he states the following:

"There's also a test for the tongue. Before you speak, ask: Will what I'm about to say help others become stronger? You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body. If you had food and saw someone starving, would you not share it? If you had water and saw someone dying of thirst, would you not give it? Of course you would. Then won't you do the same for their hearts? Your words are food and water! Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged. Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down! Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you."

The truth behind the word of God and what Max Lucado says of our need to affiirm other brings out the conundrum and the wisdom that I need in life to manage the words I say. 

It got me thinking of the way which I am to speak to some of the charges under me. Over the past 2 years, I've wrestled with the need to balance between being my usual self or more mellow and affirming when I do follow-up and counseling. It is partly attributed to a mellowing with age which allows me to restrain myself, but I reckon it is also the reality of being more resigned. Afterall, I can possibly only help so much and I often struggle if i should say what is needed or choose to back-off and not say anything more.

Left to my own devices, I'm a fiery, confrontational, irritable and very instructional when I deal with lives. I can't stand to beat around the bush, endure individuals who are uncommitted, whiny, needy or with weak resolution. I rather say things once and let it be, not repeat it again and again. I also prefer to shoot off the mouth and be blunt when talking to idiots, bums or scums.  

However, it is hard to have a one size fits all approach and expect everyone to be able to take the hard draconian attitude. Over the past 2 years, as i serve in living springs, I'm hardly in-character because it is not my church, nor am I in charge. Through it, the Lord has brought much changes to how I teach and talk. I can see myself being pulled to see the spectrum opposite of harshness. It is a very out-of-character experience as sometimes I find myself lapsing into a silent, passive, and resigned bystander. Not that it makes me irritable or feel a lot better, but I have learned through various occasions that being too passive and silent often results in one being very stand-off and disengaged from the situation. This would leave the individual and situation unchecked and unresolve, often spiraling into a worst condition than if I chose to confront. But, if I had exacted the in-character draconian style, the end result is likely to also explode into an equally terrible mess.

It is truely a fine balance in how we are to talk to others. Over time, I have come to realisation that the best of intentions we have cannot be better than allowing the spirit of God to guide us in how we are to use the words of our tongue. Too much fiery anger or passive observation is not going to cut it, the fine mix of how much of each element can only be dictated by God. So that that our words and its tonality will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

M.

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21)

Only a thing of beauty

2 Kings 25:8-9 On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.

This verse accounts for the final destruction of the Temple of God and the kingdom of Judah. When the temple was built, the bible records it in as an amazing work of art. 7 years was spent constructing it and if you read the description in 1 King 6, one cannot be amazed at the lavishness of the materials used to build the temple of God.

Yet, what is a thing of beauty if everything else doesn't reflect the the same values. Judah was corrupt and did evil in the sight of the Lord. So evil that 2 Kings 24 records that "the LORD was not willing to forgive".

As I listened to the passage of how the temple was destroyed and plundered. A sense of regret filled me as I recognised that the temple was only a thing of past beauty. It didn't mean anything to God anymore. 

What about us? Are own lives a thing of beauty without the presence of the one true God? 

M.

The word of the LORD came to Solomon: "As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel." (1 Kings 6:11-13)

The Lord of my Sabbath

Mark 2:27
The Sabbath was made to benefit man, and not man to benefit the Sabbath.

God created the Sabbath for our benefit and to prevent burnout. My Sabbath happens to be the point of contention because the events of the past weeks have made my weekends to be more tiring than refreshing. There are always people to meet and talk, counsel or entertain. Increasingly, each weekends have been a blur of busy activities filled with disappointment as I work with others around me. In spite of the situation, I often need to handle myself maturedly and prevent myself from snapping or just giving up. This takes a very heavy toll on me and on Monday's I end up crawling to work, looking terrible and too feeble to do much.

Every day of the week, it's either work at office or do work in church. Honestly, the work at office is less draining as it doesn't involve the act of imparting into lives and without the emotional and spiritual aspects.

In one of the weekly e-newsletter from Ps rick Warren, he states that the Sabbath is the antidote to burnout and the stress-filled world we live in as pastors and leaders and quoted this verse. It ministered to me when I told myself that man wasn't created for the Sabbath but to have a day which the Lord presented as a gift to man.

In the midst of my demoralised, tired condition on Mondays, I can't help but recognise that my Monday's have been designated as the Sabbath of my life. For the past Monday's, I've received adequate protection from the Lord from major work issues and seek solace through putting on my headphones and soaking in the worship songs being played. For this really simple restful moment, I'm blessed that the Lord is the Lord of my Sabbatha as He provides a Sabbath for me to rest, even though it is at work.

M.

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat for he grants sleep to those he loves." (Psalms 127:2)

See you in heaven!

Psalm 96:11-13
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.

No, I'm not dying or going to die. Yesterday, a childhood church friend based overseas popped into church during the service and I couldn't help but squeal in sheer joy before giving him a hug. Yes, I am quite sure I squealed so loudly that everyone in the midst of singing heard me. The last time I was so overjoyed was during my OCS commissioning parade when I squealed in delight with my buddy because we made it successfully as officers. Thereafter, my close collage mate also appeared in front of me uninvited and gave me such a wonderful surprise congratulation.

I can't describe the giddy feeling of joy felt when you meet a close friend after many years, but this is truely joy which bubbles from the inside and causes you to beam with a wide smile. Yesterday, I had to stop myself from yakking and had to refocus myself to worship God.

What dawned upon me as I pondered the moment was the joy which will be in heaven someday when we go up and meet all the friends and family who have gone up before us. It must be a wonderful feeling to meet up with many of the individuals in a beautiful setting and knowing that we made it! Heaven will truly be full of individuals rejoicing, squealing, screaming in sheer delight as one by one old friendships are renewed and we cannot wait to chat with each other.

I really cannot wait to go to heaven, and I also want to make sure that I make it there and not drop out of my christian life's journey. More importantly, may you and many of my friends and close ones will also be found in Heaven someday rejoicing with me.

M.

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' (Luke 15:8-9)

What’s in your hand?

Exodus 4:1-2

Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?" Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"

"A staff," he replied.

What’s in your hand? It is a simple question which we often don’t think too much of it.

In layman terms, it actually means what do you have or what have you been given? There is lots, such as your talents, time, ideas, physical abilities, personality, resources, spiritual gifts, experiences…

As a youth, I was surrounded by extremely talented friends. Everyone was musically talented, and all I knew was I could talk and had a fiery personality. I did well in school, but wasn't the most brilliant, just the top 20% cohort at best. So when I was told that God had given me talents and that he could use me, I really doubted and would ponder what I could really do.

To an extent, many of us are like Moses. Educated by the Egyptian court as a prince of Egypt despite the fact that he was born a slave, blessed to grow up in the protection of the royal palace even though the rest of the Hebrew baby boys were killed by Pharaoh. Like many of us, Moses never recognised God's hand upon his life and God's purpose for his life. I'm sure that when he fled out of Egypt, he thought he had abandoned all of his life and was now resigned to just living a reclusive life of a shepherd in the wilderness.

Like Moses when he encountered God in a burning bush at the age of 40 years, you too may never know when in life God will call you and ask you to do something for him. When that happens, it is very much like Moses when God will just need us to present what you have in our hand.

Billy Graham once answered a student who once ask him, “what surprises you of life”. He answered, “the brevity of life. It passes by so fast”. If you look at your hands, you'll be amazed at what God can do with what you have today. Don't wait till you are older, wiser, smarter, richer, have more time or am more successful.

M.

Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life (Psalms 39:4)