2 Peter 1:2-3
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
One of the most amazing sights that I observed in my holidays in Switzerland is to witness trees growing in the tall peaks of the mountains. Many of which are resting on the sharp edges of the sides of the cliff and even on the crevices which seem to defy gravity.
It's really mind blowing to stare at the shoots amidst the rugged mountainous terrain and wonder how the trees will survive. Yet, many do because there is so many trees that seem to stand the test of time.
Like these little shoots that grow into trees even in the worst of physical terrain, we need to recognise that God's divine power has the ability to give us everything we need for a godly life in the difficulties that we face in the world.
M.
21 June 2013
24 May 2013
In loving memory of Evelyn Leong Wai Lin
Exodus 15:13
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
It is with great sadness that I hear of the news of a fellow commander who departed us after a 1 1/2 year battle with Lymphoma on 4:30pm of 24 May 2013. The feeling is heavy because of the courage and fighting spirit that she possessed throughout the arduous journey and more so when she recovered briefly to come back into the ministry to help out in this year's youth leadership camp, in-spite of the fact that there was a risk of infection and she still wasn't in her full strength.
How many would have stopped doing what she did in her condition, but her heart was always to serve. How grateful I am to be able to have the chance for her to be there in this last camporama and youth leadership camp.
Evelyn was one feisty character with a similar nature to mine. When we first met, I recall the sharp tongue of hers and insistence of getting things met her way. How very like me! But instead of repelling off each other like most situations where people of similar feisty nature, we ended up as kindred spirits when it came to matters of getting things done in a administrative efficiencies.
It is very heartbreaking to constantly lose friends in life who live with so much zest and contribute so much more than the others who amble on aimlessly or walk with downtrodden paths. I sometimes wonder why God takes them back instead of the many who waste their lives away or those who don't even seem to contribute much. Surely, the precious time given to the productive would reap more than that given to those who do not live to redeem their time. But, that is where God is above all and in my saddened condition, I have also recognised that this time we possess is but temporary and to be lead to heaven is indeed a better option.
Time will go on, memories will slowly fade from a sharp remembrance to a mellow forgetfulness. Evelyn, you are missed greatly and will be every time we meet to organised camp, there will be a gap that you have left behind. Yet, I must also remember that every one that goes before me in heaven is only a forerunner whom I must someday meet.
For everyone that departs before me is a reminder to live my time on earth well and responsibly. I owe it to them and God to live righteously and be accountable for the added time placed in my hands.
With tears and my love, thanks for every sharp witty comment and laughter that you brought my dear commander Evelyn. You are deeply missed.
M.
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
It is with great sadness that I hear of the news of a fellow commander who departed us after a 1 1/2 year battle with Lymphoma on 4:30pm of 24 May 2013. The feeling is heavy because of the courage and fighting spirit that she possessed throughout the arduous journey and more so when she recovered briefly to come back into the ministry to help out in this year's youth leadership camp, in-spite of the fact that there was a risk of infection and she still wasn't in her full strength.
How many would have stopped doing what she did in her condition, but her heart was always to serve. How grateful I am to be able to have the chance for her to be there in this last camporama and youth leadership camp.
Evelyn was one feisty character with a similar nature to mine. When we first met, I recall the sharp tongue of hers and insistence of getting things met her way. How very like me! But instead of repelling off each other like most situations where people of similar feisty nature, we ended up as kindred spirits when it came to matters of getting things done in a administrative efficiencies.
It is very heartbreaking to constantly lose friends in life who live with so much zest and contribute so much more than the others who amble on aimlessly or walk with downtrodden paths. I sometimes wonder why God takes them back instead of the many who waste their lives away or those who don't even seem to contribute much. Surely, the precious time given to the productive would reap more than that given to those who do not live to redeem their time. But, that is where God is above all and in my saddened condition, I have also recognised that this time we possess is but temporary and to be lead to heaven is indeed a better option.
Time will go on, memories will slowly fade from a sharp remembrance to a mellow forgetfulness. Evelyn, you are missed greatly and will be every time we meet to organised camp, there will be a gap that you have left behind. Yet, I must also remember that every one that goes before me in heaven is only a forerunner whom I must someday meet.
For everyone that departs before me is a reminder to live my time on earth well and responsibly. I owe it to them and God to live righteously and be accountable for the added time placed in my hands.
With tears and my love, thanks for every sharp witty comment and laughter that you brought my dear commander Evelyn. You are deeply missed.
M.
21 May 2013
Focus on fighting for something positive and redemptive
Romans 15:5-6
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A post from Dr Tim Elmore raised this point that we are prone to fall at the very thing we try to do to help others avoid
"What is it that makes us so prone to fail at the very thing we try to help others avoid or overcome? Have you noticed this? Leaders, including myself, can be vulnerable to submit to temptation, moral failure and even crimes…and not just any crimes or failures…but ones that revolve around an area we’ve studied, experienced, focused on and become preoccupied with. So strange. "
He raised the key point of the need to be conscious and alert if our job focuses on fighting against something negative and doesn’t include fighting for something positive and redemptive. Medically, it can be linked to our Reticular Activating System, in the back of our brains. Our R.A.S. has one primary function: to cause us to move in the direction of the dominant thought of the moment.
This is how it is described in a document which explains how the RAS works in psycho-cybernetics:
"There are some interesting points about your RAS that make it an essential tool for achieving goals.
First, you can deliberately program the reticular activating system by choosing the exact messages you send from your consicous mind. For example, you can set goals, or say affirmations, or visualize your goals. Napoleon Hill said that we can achieve any realistic goal if we keep on thinking of that goal, and stop thinking any negative thoughts about it. Of course, if we keep thinking that we can't achieve a goal, our subconscious will help us NOT achieve it.
Second, your reticular activating system cannot distinguish between 'real events' and 'synthetic' reality. In other words it tends to believe whatever message you give it. Imagine that you're going to be giving a speech. You can practice giving that speech by visualizing it in your mind. This 'pretend' practice should improve your ability to give the speech.
What we need to do is to create a very specific picture of our goal in our conscious mind. The RAS will then pass this on to our subconscious - which will then help us achieve the goal. It does this by bringing to our attention all the relevant information which otherwise might have remained as 'background noise'."
The key bit I believe is really how Dr Elmore and this last paragraph above states, that we have to ensure that we create a positive specific target that we focus our life and mission on, but it should most importantly be a positive God centric thought- not just that of a crime-ridding crusader. If our dominant thought in life is just fighting against the bad stuff, what we focus on will sure get our attention and eventually move us to action and we may well fall into the same sin of what we fight against because we become so entrenched in everything about it.
To prevent us from also falling into the same trap of sin and corruption that we fight against, we need to recognise a need to shift our focus on the positive redemptive work of Christ and be preoccupied with something good to replace the wrong. So, if our goal is to glorify the Father, our RAS will make us function to amend all that is wrong to achieve that goal. (May sound complex and confusing but I'm simplifying it to focus on God's redemption, than to be a sin changer)
What is your dominant thought of the moment?
M.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A post from Dr Tim Elmore raised this point that we are prone to fall at the very thing we try to do to help others avoid
"What is it that makes us so prone to fail at the very thing we try to help others avoid or overcome? Have you noticed this? Leaders, including myself, can be vulnerable to submit to temptation, moral failure and even crimes…and not just any crimes or failures…but ones that revolve around an area we’ve studied, experienced, focused on and become preoccupied with. So strange. "
He raised the key point of the need to be conscious and alert if our job focuses on fighting against something negative and doesn’t include fighting for something positive and redemptive. Medically, it can be linked to our Reticular Activating System, in the back of our brains. Our R.A.S. has one primary function: to cause us to move in the direction of the dominant thought of the moment.
This is how it is described in a document which explains how the RAS works in psycho-cybernetics:
"There are some interesting points about your RAS that make it an essential tool for achieving goals.
First, you can deliberately program the reticular activating system by choosing the exact messages you send from your consicous mind. For example, you can set goals, or say affirmations, or visualize your goals. Napoleon Hill said that we can achieve any realistic goal if we keep on thinking of that goal, and stop thinking any negative thoughts about it. Of course, if we keep thinking that we can't achieve a goal, our subconscious will help us NOT achieve it.
Second, your reticular activating system cannot distinguish between 'real events' and 'synthetic' reality. In other words it tends to believe whatever message you give it. Imagine that you're going to be giving a speech. You can practice giving that speech by visualizing it in your mind. This 'pretend' practice should improve your ability to give the speech.
What we need to do is to create a very specific picture of our goal in our conscious mind. The RAS will then pass this on to our subconscious - which will then help us achieve the goal. It does this by bringing to our attention all the relevant information which otherwise might have remained as 'background noise'."
The key bit I believe is really how Dr Elmore and this last paragraph above states, that we have to ensure that we create a positive specific target that we focus our life and mission on, but it should most importantly be a positive God centric thought- not just that of a crime-ridding crusader. If our dominant thought in life is just fighting against the bad stuff, what we focus on will sure get our attention and eventually move us to action and we may well fall into the same sin of what we fight against because we become so entrenched in everything about it.
To prevent us from also falling into the same trap of sin and corruption that we fight against, we need to recognise a need to shift our focus on the positive redemptive work of Christ and be preoccupied with something good to replace the wrong. So, if our goal is to glorify the Father, our RAS will make us function to amend all that is wrong to achieve that goal. (May sound complex and confusing but I'm simplifying it to focus on God's redemption, than to be a sin changer)
What is your dominant thought of the moment?
M.
06 May 2013
I have no life
Job 22:2
Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him?
Over the weekend, I wanted to head out to Isetan to review the luggage that was available for sale. However I wasn't to because by the time I got out of my morning lazing moment, when the clock struck noon it was another typical weekend which was packed with meetings and serving in the ministeries. It was already a feat to have been able to squeeze in the chance to trade-in my old digital camera for a new model.
On sunday, before I headed off to church, I realised that I didn't have time to shop for the luggage as it would be a packed back-to-back program. True enough, by the time my last meeting ended, it was 9:15pm and time to eat a late dinner.
Truth be told, I sometimes tell myself that I seem to have no life on the weekend. While the average joe is busy doing weekend stuff to relax from the work days, I'm actually busy working or sometimes I tell myself working to be busy.
I'm not sure if I would have bought the luggage if I had the chance, because I would have like to upgrade the old luggage of 18 years. I would sometime just want to have tons of time time to aimlessly do stuff, but I know myself, and too much personal time would have made me do nothing. I am a task oriented character who sometimes feel that I do stuff to exist and be important.
The beauty of introspective days, and to chance up the scripture like the above, is to set in place the importance of ourselves. We are of no benefit to God and woe to us if we dare think that we are the ones who are of absolute importance to be the ones to do the deeds of God.
I may think I have little life on a weekend, but I must remember that God is above all of my sense of importance and the time of my being.
M.
Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him?
Over the weekend, I wanted to head out to Isetan to review the luggage that was available for sale. However I wasn't to because by the time I got out of my morning lazing moment, when the clock struck noon it was another typical weekend which was packed with meetings and serving in the ministeries. It was already a feat to have been able to squeeze in the chance to trade-in my old digital camera for a new model.
On sunday, before I headed off to church, I realised that I didn't have time to shop for the luggage as it would be a packed back-to-back program. True enough, by the time my last meeting ended, it was 9:15pm and time to eat a late dinner.
Truth be told, I sometimes tell myself that I seem to have no life on the weekend. While the average joe is busy doing weekend stuff to relax from the work days, I'm actually busy working or sometimes I tell myself working to be busy.
I'm not sure if I would have bought the luggage if I had the chance, because I would have like to upgrade the old luggage of 18 years. I would sometime just want to have tons of time time to aimlessly do stuff, but I know myself, and too much personal time would have made me do nothing. I am a task oriented character who sometimes feel that I do stuff to exist and be important.
The beauty of introspective days, and to chance up the scripture like the above, is to set in place the importance of ourselves. We are of no benefit to God and woe to us if we dare think that we are the ones who are of absolute importance to be the ones to do the deeds of God.
I may think I have little life on a weekend, but I must remember that God is above all of my sense of importance and the time of my being.
M.
29 April 2013
God of the valleys
1 Kings 20:23
Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.
I read this in a e-devotion and was so encouraged to be reminded that even in our valley seasons, God is there for us to have victory.
Sometimes we just need to be refreshed by the living truth found in God's word. However awful the season, however low and doubtful we can be, we need to be reassured that God isn't away from us in the lows of life.
Why are we in the lows, I cannot explain. What I can take faith is He's the lord of the rain as much as He's the lord of the sunshine and that itself is why we need to tell ourselves in simple faith, even if we beat ourselves for our negative doubts, that God never leaves us. We may be unfaithful, but He will never be. That's why He's full of grace beyond our understanding.
Take heart, strength for the lows of your journey is always provided by the God of the hills and valleys.
blessings,
M.
Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.
I read this in a e-devotion and was so encouraged to be reminded that even in our valley seasons, God is there for us to have victory.
Sometimes we just need to be refreshed by the living truth found in God's word. However awful the season, however low and doubtful we can be, we need to be reassured that God isn't away from us in the lows of life.
Why are we in the lows, I cannot explain. What I can take faith is He's the lord of the rain as much as He's the lord of the sunshine and that itself is why we need to tell ourselves in simple faith, even if we beat ourselves for our negative doubts, that God never leaves us. We may be unfaithful, but He will never be. That's why He's full of grace beyond our understanding.
Take heart, strength for the lows of your journey is always provided by the God of the hills and valleys.
blessings,
M.
15 April 2013
We're valued
Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Life is a constant worry.
I cannot state how I'm always worried and concerned for others. I may not show it, but as age catches up, I do spend more time thinking about others now that I'm stable in my career and work. For others I know, they are worrying about medical health, changing jobs or even work issues.
As I walked to work today, I walked pass a small mynah who didn't fly away even though I was just stepping beside. That got me thinking because my mind was just thinking of a couple of individuals whom I've not heard from and my mind was racing with worries.
For such a time like this, I'm grateful that God values those I think about more than the birds that he feeds. It may sound silly, but I sometimes feel that I need to move the hand of God and imagine His passively not doing anything for those who are so distanced from God. Yet, this could not be further from the truth of who God is and how He is more concerned and involved than I am.
So into God's hand, I hand my worries over and claim a promise of restoration over those I think about much.
M.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Life is a constant worry.
I cannot state how I'm always worried and concerned for others. I may not show it, but as age catches up, I do spend more time thinking about others now that I'm stable in my career and work. For others I know, they are worrying about medical health, changing jobs or even work issues.
As I walked to work today, I walked pass a small mynah who didn't fly away even though I was just stepping beside. That got me thinking because my mind was just thinking of a couple of individuals whom I've not heard from and my mind was racing with worries.
For such a time like this, I'm grateful that God values those I think about more than the birds that he feeds. It may sound silly, but I sometimes feel that I need to move the hand of God and imagine His passively not doing anything for those who are so distanced from God. Yet, this could not be further from the truth of who God is and how He is more concerned and involved than I am.
So into God's hand, I hand my worries over and claim a promise of restoration over those I think about much.
M.
09 April 2013
Do you see Him as Lord
Mark 10:17
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The rich young man was to many, one who failed to give all he had to God. What I found interesting was how he only saw Jesus as a good teacher.
Scholars have recognised that the rich young man recognizes that Jesus speaks with authority when preaching. This young person did not come upon Jesus; rather he ran to Jesus giving homage by falling to his knees, and addressing Jesus as teacher.
The fact of the matter is, even though the young man fell on his knees and recognised Jesus authority in preaching, he doesn't see Him as Lord of his life. Thus, he found it hard to give up his life's entitlement when Jesus challenged him to sell everything he had to follow Christ.
What about you? Is your relationship with God based on a learning perspective, convenience or great experiences only? Will you willingly give up the rights of your life just to follow Christ. It may sound extremist, but He's not asking you to be homeless, starving or fanatical. The plans of God when we surrender the rights to our life is for us to live for His glory.
What will you willingly do to inherit eternal life?
M.
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The rich young man was to many, one who failed to give all he had to God. What I found interesting was how he only saw Jesus as a good teacher.
Scholars have recognised that the rich young man recognizes that Jesus speaks with authority when preaching. This young person did not come upon Jesus; rather he ran to Jesus giving homage by falling to his knees, and addressing Jesus as teacher.
The fact of the matter is, even though the young man fell on his knees and recognised Jesus authority in preaching, he doesn't see Him as Lord of his life. Thus, he found it hard to give up his life's entitlement when Jesus challenged him to sell everything he had to follow Christ.
What about you? Is your relationship with God based on a learning perspective, convenience or great experiences only? Will you willingly give up the rights of your life just to follow Christ. It may sound extremist, but He's not asking you to be homeless, starving or fanatical. The plans of God when we surrender the rights to our life is for us to live for His glory.
What will you willingly do to inherit eternal life?
M.