I read up this story in Matthew chapter 8, using a few translations. I wanted to check and confirm the word ''under'' in verse 9. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, "'Go", and he goes; and to another, "Come." and he comes....
This word has so far escaped my eyes and understanding. I have always assumed this centurion was saying, "For I also am a man with authority..." When I read the word ''under'', this story seems to have even a deeper meaning. He did not equate himself with Jesus, but humbled himself and acknowledged that he is under Jesus' authority - just like the spirit of infirmities.
Prayer:Thank you Lord for teaching me new lessons each time I read Your Word - even if it's the same story. Same story, but a different lesson learned each time.
Friday 17 September 2010
Thursday 9 September 2010
His Grace Is Sufficient For Me
Paul was afflicted with a thorn in the flesh, and he asked the Lord to remove it 3 times. But God says to him"My grace is sufficient for you." Thus I have always associate this verse to mean strength - God's strength is enough to see us through trials and tribulations.
But something happened yesterday and this verse popped out of my mind, and has given me a new meaning. My younger boy was taking his piano practical exam and I was with him. On the way to the exam. hall, I checked with him whether he brought along the letter from the exam board. He searched his bag and could not find it. I was angry because we were almost there and there's no way I could go home. Though I did not scold him, but I was mumbling about his carelessness, and wonder out loud how he could enter into the exam hall. Just then I checked my bag to see whether I could have brought it with me, and to my surprise it was with me, all along. Of course I apologized to my son, but I knew that I was not a good ambassador of Christ, and I was ashamed and feeling guilty. And at this point, this verse popped up. I almost cried because God is so gracious. By His grace, it's sufficient. His grace has forgiven me. His grace has made things right both for me and for my son. His grace has seen us through the ordeal. His grace has patch up things. His grace covers all guilt feelings and regrets. His grace is indeed sufficient.
But something happened yesterday and this verse popped out of my mind, and has given me a new meaning. My younger boy was taking his piano practical exam and I was with him. On the way to the exam. hall, I checked with him whether he brought along the letter from the exam board. He searched his bag and could not find it. I was angry because we were almost there and there's no way I could go home. Though I did not scold him, but I was mumbling about his carelessness, and wonder out loud how he could enter into the exam hall. Just then I checked my bag to see whether I could have brought it with me, and to my surprise it was with me, all along. Of course I apologized to my son, but I knew that I was not a good ambassador of Christ, and I was ashamed and feeling guilty. And at this point, this verse popped up. I almost cried because God is so gracious. By His grace, it's sufficient. His grace has forgiven me. His grace has made things right both for me and for my son. His grace has seen us through the ordeal. His grace has patch up things. His grace covers all guilt feelings and regrets. His grace is indeed sufficient.
Tuesday 7 September 2010
The Work of the Holy Spirit
During the last lesson by the BSF on the work of the Holy Spirit, the teacher mentioned that one of the works of the Holy Spirit is tohelp believers know, love, obey and worship Jesus.
Then she asked us 2 questions:"What attitude do I take when I study the Bible?" and "What fruit might Jesus want me to produce?"
Prayer:Dear Lord, as I read Your Word, help me to search for You, know You, know Your will and Your character. I want to be bold and know for myself, for sure that Jesus is who He claims to be - the Son of God. I want to behold Jesus and '"catch Him and hold Him" and experience Him. I want to share His joy, His sorrow and His victory, His life. I want to be intimate with Jesus and obey Him as my Bridegroom. I want to please Him. Amen
Dear Lord, indeed "What fruit might Jesus want me to produce?" Lord, I can only say I am still at the starting point of the process of producing the fruit. May Thy Holy Spirit do the pruning work, teach me, counsel me, reproof me, and chastise me so that people may see the beauty and smell the fragrance of Jesus in me and that Your name be glorified. Yes Lord, more of love I desire, more of joy, more patience, more gentleness, more and more! In Jesus name. Amen
Then she asked us 2 questions:"What attitude do I take when I study the Bible?" and "What fruit might Jesus want me to produce?"
Prayer:Dear Lord, as I read Your Word, help me to search for You, know You, know Your will and Your character. I want to be bold and know for myself, for sure that Jesus is who He claims to be - the Son of God. I want to behold Jesus and '"catch Him and hold Him" and experience Him. I want to share His joy, His sorrow and His victory, His life. I want to be intimate with Jesus and obey Him as my Bridegroom. I want to please Him. Amen
Dear Lord, indeed "What fruit might Jesus want me to produce?" Lord, I can only say I am still at the starting point of the process of producing the fruit. May Thy Holy Spirit do the pruning work, teach me, counsel me, reproof me, and chastise me so that people may see the beauty and smell the fragrance of Jesus in me and that Your name be glorified. Yes Lord, more of love I desire, more of joy, more patience, more gentleness, more and more! In Jesus name. Amen
Philippians 4:5
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
In this chapter of his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul exhorts the believers to stand firm in the Lord. Paul asked that whatever they have learned or received or heard from him, or seen in him - put it into practice.
But when I read v5 "Let your gentleness be evident to all" I know Paul wants us to follow his example to be gentle. But the next part of this verse is ''The Lord is near''. I find it strange that these words are attached to v5 and I felt these words should be attached to the beginning of verse 6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
As I ponder about it, the picture of a dove came to me. The Lord is as gentle as the dove. The dove sits or stands on my shoulder, thus He is near me. And should I lose my temper and shout or speak angrily, the dove is frightened by the loud noise and fly away. I have scared away the Holy Spirit who is ever the gentleman!
Prayer:Dear Lord, I desire to be gentle - just like You! Enable and empower me to be just like You. And may those around me see Your gentleness in me and glorify Your name. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
In this chapter of his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul exhorts the believers to stand firm in the Lord. Paul asked that whatever they have learned or received or heard from him, or seen in him - put it into practice.
But when I read v5 "Let your gentleness be evident to all" I know Paul wants us to follow his example to be gentle. But the next part of this verse is ''The Lord is near''. I find it strange that these words are attached to v5 and I felt these words should be attached to the beginning of verse 6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
As I ponder about it, the picture of a dove came to me. The Lord is as gentle as the dove. The dove sits or stands on my shoulder, thus He is near me. And should I lose my temper and shout or speak angrily, the dove is frightened by the loud noise and fly away. I have scared away the Holy Spirit who is ever the gentleman!
Prayer:Dear Lord, I desire to be gentle - just like You! Enable and empower me to be just like You. And may those around me see Your gentleness in me and glorify Your name. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES
To be a disciple, one has to be disciplined. If one lacks in discipline, one will also disobey or give up at the earliest possible opportune time.
To be disciplined needs self-control and most of all, practise it on an everyday basis until it becomes part of our lives - until we just do it automatically. For example, we brush out teeth everyday, make our bed, bathe everyday. One may be surprised that there are people who find these simple disciplines too difficult to do!
If one looks or thinks of the rewards of a certain discipline in the near future, one will press on. Because the smoker does not see the harm of smoking 1-2 cigarette today or tomorrow, he says to himself:""I don't see the harm, so why should I quit smoking?" If only he can see the harm done in the near future, he will press on to quit.
I have made a list of some simple disciplines that I desire to keep everyday:
1. Prayer and praise
2. Bible reading and study
3. Exercise (20-30 minutes)
4. Eat right
5. Do a few mental exercises (like Hangman, Sudoku)
6. Bedtime (in bed before 11pm)
7. Read a book, article etc
8. Write on my Journal or Blogging
9. Save the coins
10 Laugh heartily at least once per day
Prayer:Dear Papa God, in the name of Your Dear Son, Jesus Christ, I ask that You empower and enable me through Thy Holy Spirit to be disciplined in these simple acts for Thy glory. Amen
To be disciplined needs self-control and most of all, practise it on an everyday basis until it becomes part of our lives - until we just do it automatically. For example, we brush out teeth everyday, make our bed, bathe everyday. One may be surprised that there are people who find these simple disciplines too difficult to do!
If one looks or thinks of the rewards of a certain discipline in the near future, one will press on. Because the smoker does not see the harm of smoking 1-2 cigarette today or tomorrow, he says to himself:""I don't see the harm, so why should I quit smoking?" If only he can see the harm done in the near future, he will press on to quit.
I have made a list of some simple disciplines that I desire to keep everyday:
1. Prayer and praise
2. Bible reading and study
3. Exercise (20-30 minutes)
4. Eat right
5. Do a few mental exercises (like Hangman, Sudoku)
6. Bedtime (in bed before 11pm)
7. Read a book, article etc
8. Write on my Journal or Blogging
9. Save the coins
10 Laugh heartily at least once per day
Prayer:Dear Papa God, in the name of Your Dear Son, Jesus Christ, I ask that You empower and enable me through Thy Holy Spirit to be disciplined in these simple acts for Thy glory. Amen
Wednesday 1 September 2010
THE MOTHER AND THE MOUNTAIN
Read an interesting story and find I must record it so as edify and encourage one another.
There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the lowlands and the other high in the mountains.
One day, the mountain people invaded the lowlanders and kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains.
The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountain. They didn't know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn't know how to track them in the steep terrain.
The men tried first one method and then another, and one trail and then another. After several days of effort, they had climbed only several hundred feet.
Feeling hopeless and helpless, they decided that the cause was lost and prepared to return to their village below. As they were packing up to leave, they saw the baby's mother walking towards them.
They realised that she was coming down the mountain and they hadn't even figured how to climb. They also saw that she had the baby strapped to her back.
One man greeted her and asked, "How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village couldn't do it?
She shrugged her shoulders and said, ''Ít wasn't your baby."
There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the lowlands and the other high in the mountains.
One day, the mountain people invaded the lowlanders and kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains.
The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountain. They didn't know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn't know how to track them in the steep terrain.
The men tried first one method and then another, and one trail and then another. After several days of effort, they had climbed only several hundred feet.
Feeling hopeless and helpless, they decided that the cause was lost and prepared to return to their village below. As they were packing up to leave, they saw the baby's mother walking towards them.
They realised that she was coming down the mountain and they hadn't even figured how to climb. They also saw that she had the baby strapped to her back.
One man greeted her and asked, "How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village couldn't do it?
She shrugged her shoulders and said, ''Ít wasn't your baby."
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