Every difficult task that comes across your path-every one that you would rather not do, that will take the most effort, cause the most pain, and be the greatest struggle-brings a blessing with it. And refusing to do it regardless of the personal cost is to miss the blessing.
Every difficult stretch of road on which you see the Master's footprints and along which He calls you to follow Him leads unquestionably to blessings. And they are blessings you will never receive unless you travel the steep and thorny path.
Every battlefield you encounter, where you are required to draw your sword and fight the enemy, has the possibility of victory that will prove to be a rich blessing to your life. And every heavy burden you are called upon to lift hides within itself a miraculous secret of strength. - J R Miller
Monday, 21 December 2009
Genesis 15:12
I cannot do it alone;
The waves surge fast and high,
And the fogs close all around,
The light goes out in the sky;
But I know that we two
Will win in the end,
Jesus and I.
Cowardly, wayward, and weak,
I change with the changing sky;
Today so eager and bright,
Tomorrow too weak to try;
But He never gives in,
So we two will win,
Jesus and I.
I could not guide it myself,
My boat on life's wild sea;
There's One who sits by my side,
Who pulls and steers with me,
And I know that we two
Will safe enter port,
Jesus and I
The waves surge fast and high,
And the fogs close all around,
The light goes out in the sky;
But I know that we two
Will win in the end,
Jesus and I.
Cowardly, wayward, and weak,
I change with the changing sky;
Today so eager and bright,
Tomorrow too weak to try;
But He never gives in,
So we two will win,
Jesus and I.
I could not guide it myself,
My boat on life's wild sea;
There's One who sits by my side,
Who pulls and steers with me,
And I know that we two
Will safe enter port,
Jesus and I
Give Appropriate Gifts John 3:16
Last Sunday, my church pastor shared this story with us.
His mother bought a dress for the great grand-daughter as a present. After that, the little girl's mummy noticed a change in the girl's character. Little grand daughter used to be an angel - obedient, cheerful, helpful, joyful, loving, good-natured. But now she is very rebellious, full of anger and very disobedient and throws her temper - she is not even 3 !
Her parents and all in the family tried to find out what has happened. I believe the Holy Spirit must have revealed to the mummy that there is something not right with the dress. Upon inspection, they found a label "Barbie" attached to the dress! The parents told the little girl about this dress and asked her permission to discard it. The little girl gave her permission and the granny (pastor's wife) shred it to pieces. And now the little girl is back to her normal self - the little cute and obedient child of God!
When we buy presents for our loved ones, please choose with care.
His mother bought a dress for the great grand-daughter as a present. After that, the little girl's mummy noticed a change in the girl's character. Little grand daughter used to be an angel - obedient, cheerful, helpful, joyful, loving, good-natured. But now she is very rebellious, full of anger and very disobedient and throws her temper - she is not even 3 !
Her parents and all in the family tried to find out what has happened. I believe the Holy Spirit must have revealed to the mummy that there is something not right with the dress. Upon inspection, they found a label "Barbie" attached to the dress! The parents told the little girl about this dress and asked her permission to discard it. The little girl gave her permission and the granny (pastor's wife) shred it to pieces. And now the little girl is back to her normal self - the little cute and obedient child of God!
When we buy presents for our loved ones, please choose with care.
REVELATION 3:16
"Almost" Carries No Weight By Rhonda Lane Phillips
In our house, it is a ritual to watch A Christmas Carol each December. There's a line the first Spirit says to Scrooge that always awakens my heart: "Almost" carries no weight-especially in matters of the heart.
Scrooge "almost" ran after Belle. Yet, he chose not to do so, thereby clinching his life of misery and loneliness.
How many times have we seen the same in others' hearts? They "almost" get the blessings that are in store for them by living a godly life. They "almost" accept Jesus as their personal Saviour. They "almost" serve Him gladly.
But they choose not to to do so and suffer the consequences. "Almost" means nothing. Being sold out fully to God means everything. Commit your life wholly to Him.
In our house, it is a ritual to watch A Christmas Carol each December. There's a line the first Spirit says to Scrooge that always awakens my heart: "Almost" carries no weight-especially in matters of the heart.
Scrooge "almost" ran after Belle. Yet, he chose not to do so, thereby clinching his life of misery and loneliness.
How many times have we seen the same in others' hearts? They "almost" get the blessings that are in store for them by living a godly life. They "almost" accept Jesus as their personal Saviour. They "almost" serve Him gladly.
But they choose not to to do so and suffer the consequences. "Almost" means nothing. Being sold out fully to God means everything. Commit your life wholly to Him.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus the Tax CollectorJesus seems to have a great impact on tax collectors! One of his disciples, Matthew, was also a tax collector. Zacchaeus was a chief collector and very wealthy. I don't think he is sick or what, because he ran and climbed up a sycamore-fig tree just to look at Jesus.
As I read this, I wondered what attracted him to Jesus? He is a rich and busy man - collecting taxes. So, what does he want from Jesus? He wanted it so badly that he climbed up a tree just to catch look at Jesus. And how does he know of Jesus? Who will dare to approach a chief tax collector to tell him of Jesus?
Reflections: What is that need? I believe deep inside all of us, we need to know God. We are all 'wired' to want to know God for God is the Truth and only He alone can satisfy that deep longing. Until we are reconciled with God, then we find a meaning in life.
THE RICH RULER
LUKE 18:18-24
This is the much loved story of a young man who wants to inherit eternal life and comes to ask Jesus what he must do. I have read this story many times and yesterday when I read it again, another question comes to mind. Notice that Jesus told the young man in v.22 to sell everything he has. I was rather surprised that Jesus asked him to sell everything. I was thinking that it must be very hard for this young man to give up everything all at once to follow Jesus. Would it not be better if Jesus gave him time to do things one at a time? Would it not be easier for the young man to give up his possessions slowly? As I reflect this, I think what Jesus wants is our total (100%) obedience and commitment. We cannot serve 2 masters for we would love one more than the other.
This is a story that has stumbled many too! Many unbelievers find it difficult to give up all that they have for Jesus - already many unbelievers are finding it 'strange' that we give 10% of our earnings for God's kingdom, lest alone ALL. Remember Abraham? He 'gave' his beloved son, Jacob to God too! It's that act of obedience that pleases God. It will always be a struggle to surrender all - but when we are in this situation, think of what God has sacrifice for us. Then all things will pale in comparison to what God has 'surrendered' to us - His only Begotten Son,Jesus.
This is the much loved story of a young man who wants to inherit eternal life and comes to ask Jesus what he must do. I have read this story many times and yesterday when I read it again, another question comes to mind. Notice that Jesus told the young man in v.22 to sell everything he has. I was rather surprised that Jesus asked him to sell everything. I was thinking that it must be very hard for this young man to give up everything all at once to follow Jesus. Would it not be better if Jesus gave him time to do things one at a time? Would it not be easier for the young man to give up his possessions slowly? As I reflect this, I think what Jesus wants is our total (100%) obedience and commitment. We cannot serve 2 masters for we would love one more than the other.
This is a story that has stumbled many too! Many unbelievers find it difficult to give up all that they have for Jesus - already many unbelievers are finding it 'strange' that we give 10% of our earnings for God's kingdom, lest alone ALL. Remember Abraham? He 'gave' his beloved son, Jacob to God too! It's that act of obedience that pleases God. It will always be a struggle to surrender all - but when we are in this situation, think of what God has sacrifice for us. Then all things will pale in comparison to what God has 'surrendered' to us - His only Begotten Son,Jesus.
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Hebrews 4:9
A prominent believer once told of his mother, who was a very anxious and troubled Christian. He would often talk with her for hours, trying to convince her of the sinfulness of worrying but to no avail.
Then one morning his mother came to breakfast with a smile adorning her face. He asked her what had happened, and she began describing a dream she had in the night . In her dream, she was walking along a highway with a large crowd of people, all of whom seemed very tired and burdened. The people were all carrying little black bundles, and she noticed that more bundles were being dropped along the way by numerous repulsive-looking creatures that seemed quite demonic in nature. As the bundles were dropped, the people stooped down to pick them up and carry them.
Like everyone else in her dream, she also carried her needless load, being weighted down with the Devil's bundles. After a while, she looked up and saw a Man whose face was loving and bright as He moved through the crowd, comforting the people. Finally He came to her, and she realised it was her Saviour. She looked at Him, telling Him how tired she was, and He smiled sadly and said, "My dear child, these bundles you carrying are not from me, and you have no need of them. They are the Devil's burdens, and they are wearing out your life. You need to drop them and simply refuse to touch them. Then you will find your path easy, and you will feel as if'I carried you on eagles' wings.
The Saviour touched her hand, and peace and joy quickly filled her soul. As she saw herself in her dream casting her burdens to the ground and ready to throw herself at His feet in joyful thanksgiving, she awoke, finding that all her worries were gone.
From that day forward to the end of her life, she was the most cheerful and happy member of her family.
Then one morning his mother came to breakfast with a smile adorning her face. He asked her what had happened, and she began describing a dream she had in the night . In her dream, she was walking along a highway with a large crowd of people, all of whom seemed very tired and burdened. The people were all carrying little black bundles, and she noticed that more bundles were being dropped along the way by numerous repulsive-looking creatures that seemed quite demonic in nature. As the bundles were dropped, the people stooped down to pick them up and carry them.
Like everyone else in her dream, she also carried her needless load, being weighted down with the Devil's bundles. After a while, she looked up and saw a Man whose face was loving and bright as He moved through the crowd, comforting the people. Finally He came to her, and she realised it was her Saviour. She looked at Him, telling Him how tired she was, and He smiled sadly and said, "My dear child, these bundles you carrying are not from me, and you have no need of them. They are the Devil's burdens, and they are wearing out your life. You need to drop them and simply refuse to touch them. Then you will find your path easy, and you will feel as if'I carried you on eagles' wings.
The Saviour touched her hand, and peace and joy quickly filled her soul. As she saw herself in her dream casting her burdens to the ground and ready to throw herself at His feet in joyful thanksgiving, she awoke, finding that all her worries were gone.
From that day forward to the end of her life, she was the most cheerful and happy member of her family.
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