Praising my Savior all the day long...

Heavenly Daddy gives me my story, and my song... and think the hymn below just say it so beautifully... "Blessed Assurance" by Frances J. Crosby; and I particularly love the third verse... so beautiful to be filled with His Goodness, lost in His Love.. watching and waiting; looking above... I think I could do that for the rest of my life.......

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels, descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

I feel torn apart..

It is strange.. Why am I feeling so torn apart?
and it is really a strong feeling.. being torn apart.

Lord, what are You saying here?
What does it mean?
What am I to do?

The only thing I could do is to pray through and into..

And, I guess, having this feeling means that
I have truly enjoyed what I have been doing..
and yet, it is time to go.. or is it?
I think it is as I felt really right to go back.

And, I know the Lord has mercy and
He will lead and guide me..
I need to trust Him with all that He has given me.

Lead us Lord...

The Lord spoke through this song today... :)

Here we stand
At a crossroads again

Like you said

In time the seasons change

Looking back

We recall the blessing and the pain

But now we turn our hearts toward

What is still to come

We want to dream again

Lead us Lord

Into a life of fruitfulness

Prepare our hearts to risk again

As we trust

Taking simple steps of obedience we know

That you will lead us Lord

by Brian Doerksen

A Miracle please..

Just felt today that I need a miracle from God.. The sense of it is so strong that is beyond me..

"Dear God, could I have a Miracle from You, please? :)"

This devotion reading just hit home for me.. home-run, in fact as I think about the timing of when to say things and when not to say things.. especially things that would rock the boat, as it were.. things that people may not like to hear.. in fact, things that I would not like to hear myself and yet they are needful.. I am thankful that God has placed people in my life; to be able to speak truth honestly and constructively with lots of love and care into my life.

And, it is a skill to be learnt and honed all the days of my life.. As it is said in the reading, we should always wait for God and not run ahead of God.. This applies in all the things that I do.. the words that I will speak and the actions that I will take.. especially in desperate times.. Think this is where I am reminded of what King Solomon asked of the Lord.. for Wisdom of God instead of anything else.. Wisdom of the Lord. 

Saturday, March 2nd

Here's Today's Devotional from The Vine...

The Lord's Time

Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come." - John 2:4

He meant that His time for beginning to work miracles had not yet come. With all divine power slumbering in His hands, He would do nothing at any bidding but His Father's. Even His human mother's request He could not in this matter regard.

One thought here is our Lord's perfect devotion to His Father's will. We find the same all through His life. He did nothing of Himself. He took His work moment by moment from His Father's hand. He waited always for His “hour.” He had no plans of His own, but followed the Divine purpose in all His acts. All those early years at Nazareth, with omnipotence in His arm, He wrought no miracle. Even now, though appealed to by His mother whom He so deeply loved, He would not do anything even one minute before His hour came.

The practical lesson for us here is devotion to God's will. We should always wait for God. Too many of us run before we are sent. In our zeal for God's cause and kingdom we do not wait for Divine direction. We speak words out of season which, despite their earnestness and sincerity, do harm rather than good. We try to feed others with unripe fruits. We address men before they are prepared to hear, and ofttimes in words that drive them beyond our reach. We hurry out to preach when we ought ourselves to be sitting quietly at our Master's feet as learners.

The most common fault among Christians is that they are too slow in doing Christ's work and in heeding His calls; but it is a fault also to go too fast for God, to go before He sends us. With all warm love for Christ we must learn to wait for Him, to wait till our hour is come. He must prepare us for the work before we are ready to do it, and then He must prepare the work for our hand. In Christian work we need patience and self-restraint as well as zeal and earnestness.

Deep Things...

I am so blessed and encouraged as I read today's daily manna.. Father God always knows exactly what would speak to my heart at the exact time.. :D He loves me very much!.. And, I want to share it with everyone too!.. :)

February 4, 2013
Deep Things
          By OS Hillman
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.Job 12:22

One of the great mysteries of the Kingdom is how God uses the darkest times in our lives to reveal greater depths of understanding of His ways. The only way we can receive these deeper things is to be driven to the depths of darkness. It is here that we discover important truths that He plans to use in our lives and the lives of others.

There is a process God uses to draw us into greater levels of intimacy. The first phase involves a depth of soul experience that causes great pain in our lives. We seek God for deliverance from the incredible emotional pain this causes. Our primary motivation for seeking God is to get out of our pain.

During this time, God meets us in the depths of darkness. We discover that He never left us but is in the midst of the darkness. We develop a new relationship with God. Gradually our motivation turns from removal of pain to love and intimacy with God. This is the place our Heavenly Father desires us to be.

During this season God will make spiritual deposits into your life. Others will be making withdrawals in the future from your life as well. You see, God reveals deep things in darkness that will be revealed in the light.

If you find yourself in great distress, know that God will bring your deep shadows into the light. The key to your deliverance is becoming satisfied in God. He becomes your all. He is your life. You will know your deliverance is near when your circumstances simply don't matter to you anymore.

Love the Lord your God with all your soul and see what things He will show you in the deep things of darkness.

Psalm 59:16

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Remember...

I was reminded in my CWR weekend to remember.. How timely that was. To remember..

His Goodness..

His Provision...

His Timing..

His Love...

 

It is rather easy to forget yet He always calls us to remember.. And, even as I think about the impossibilities of things that are swimming in my head, I remember about His possibilities and how He turns things around.. He had done them and He will do them again in His Time. *grin*

 

Exciting times!.. :)

Boink!

Just reflecting back about the weekend.. and felt really pleased with the progress.. and surprised by confidence that He has given me without me realising it till there and then. And, that is so lovely.. To be surprised by Him once and again..

 

I just wonder.. even as I think about what is to come.. I really do not know what would entails but yet, again.. that word "trust".. :)

Who am I?

As I am thinking about the essay assignment on me.. I am asking the question of "who am I" Do I really know who am I? or just partially? Who does know me? I know God does, through and through.. and my parents, a little bit more than myself..

 

Do I know myself? Do I understand the things that I do or decide to do? Do I need to justify myself? As I ask these questions, it can be rather confusing! or is it not? Hmm..

 

I guess, since 2008, I have kinda think my life is really not mine anymore.. I felt I was dead and He resurrected me spiritually.. as it was He who have turned my life around.. from that traumatic experience..

 

Well.. 2013 will be an interest one as I head back to Malaysia for good.. I don't quite know for sure what to think or feel.. I don't know what I would be doing.. where I would be living.. and what does it mean to be living back home? It just isn't clear in my brain at the moment.. All I know is that it is time to leave and be back.. The details of the move back just isn't as clear as I would like it to be.. Hmm.. more to pray into.. trusting Him that He will show me.. in His right time..

 

The Lord reminded me this morning to be me.. just be myself and trust Him.. It is comforting and assuring to be reminded as such. He does loves me lots!.. Yippee..

Really? Truly?

Just been thinking and reflecting.. What is truly.. and what is really? in life.. Thinking of people that I have met.. People that I have gotten to know a little.. and a little more.. and vice versa.. Thinking of all these individuals that God has put into my life.. Each one is special and uniquely amazing to me in my life.. Basically, it is like cooking a nice yummy dish.. the salt, sugar, etc.. and God is the cook and chef.

What truly matters? That is the question in my head.. hmm...

You appear when I am weary..

The Lord knows... He knows me so well.. and he gave me the right words and assurance that I need most at the right time too!.. when I am feeling BLUE.. when I am feeling weary... He reminds me that He does remember me.. I was never forgotten..

Father, You know my hopes and dreams.. I talk about them so much.... yet, I am skeptical.. Help me in my skeptism and doubts.. please.. so that I could overcome and rejoice in You!.. and hope in You for what is to come.. and that I am not afraid to expect You to keep Your promise.. Thank You God.. :)


December 18, 2012
Being an Overcomer
By Os Hillman

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Ps 13:1-2

Have you ever heard someone jokingly say, "It's not easy being me?" This expression is poking fun at their unique personality or challenges they face in life. Well, it wasn't easy being King David.

 

His life was a life of extreme highs and extreme lows. He was a shepherd, a political leader, a builder, a prophet, a businessman, a warrior, a lover, a giver, a murderer and a worshiper. He must have been criticized by others as being hypocritical in his early career. In each of these roles he achieved things for God but he also failed God on many occasions. He had a creative-type personality, which is often very passionate with many mood swings. We see this side of him when he unabashedly danced before the Lord in front of his subjects almost naked (2 Sam 6:14).

 

When David wrote his psalms he was honest about what he was feeling. When he feared his enemies he expressed it. When he could not understand why God was silent, he expressed it as in the psalm above.

 

However, David never stayed in the place of despair. He often ended his psalms like this one. "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me" (Ps 13:5-6).

 

David chooses to focus on what God has done for him, not what He has not done. If you are waiting for a breakthrough with God, be honest with Him about your hopes and dreams. However, also affirm your faith and trust in Him to accomplish His purposes through your life. Be an overcomer.

Watch and Pray..

Watch Unto Prayer

Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." - Matthew 26:41

We must learn both to watch and pray. It is good to watch. There is danger everywhere. An army in an enemy's country never rests a moment without its encircling line of pickets, keeping watch against danger at every point, and reporting instantly any hostile movement. We are living in the enemy's country, and cannot safely pass an hour without watching. But watching is not enough; for we are not able to keep ourselves when the danger comes. Hence we need also to pray asking God to keep us. But as watching without praying is not enough, neither is praying without watching. God means us to use our eyes and to keep our wits about us, as well as to cry to Him for help

We must not say that every one who makes a good profession, and then fails, is insincere or a hypocrite. Peter was neither when he made his bold avowal that he would never deny Christ, and that he could die with Him. He loved Christ, and meant to be true to Him. Peter's spirit was eager and earnest, but he was weak in himself; and because he relied only on himself, he was not able to hold out against the sore temptations which came upon him.

We are all just like Peter. If we are true Christians we mean to be faithful to our Lord. But sincerity is not enough. “The flesh is weak,” and we need to rest continually upon God for help to be true and faithful. If young Christians would learn this lesson they would not fall so easily. If the drunkard who resolves to reform learned it, he would be safer and stronger. No matter how good his intentions are, he is not able of himself to fulfil them. None of us are as good as we want to be and strive to be; and only through the mighty help of Christ can any of us live a true and noble life amid all the world's temptations and dangers.

Volitional..

We are volitional being.. we have the freedom to choose.. and because we are given the freedom to choose, there is also that sense of releasing others into that freedom.. 

One thing I am still learning very much is that no matter what choices we made or going to make, we are responsible for our choices. I need to remember this and not be terribly saddened by the "bad" choices that people make in their lives.. they are responsible for their choices. I guess, sometimes, the only way to learn is to experience the "bad" choices and learn from it. Maybe that is required in order to be understood.. 

Here, this is a timely reminder that I am not anyone's saviour or protector.. but I am a child of God who is learning to love the people my Big God loves.. even if it means so heart-aching to love.. His grace is sufficient for me.. 

Well.. one or/and more "not so good" experiences will not stop me from continue to press on in Him.. Be smart next time to trust God in trusting His people.. then He is my shield.. *wink*

Clock ticking..

It is just so easy to be entangled with the future of what is to come and forget to live the now.. And the clock is ticking.. 

I wonder about so many things and I wonder about the wonders that God has put in my life too.. His Love that wraps around me.. protects me.. comforts me.. assures me.. even when there are shattered dreams.. even when everything stand still.. His Love rises above all else and He loves me!

Letters being handed in today.. which makes it official now.. How did I feel? I felt torn of what I am going to leave.. I felt excited too of what is to come.. I guess, it is a decision that I have made; like with many other decisions.. there are always the other side of the coin.. It is hard.. It is mind blowing to my little brainy..

Will I regret it? I wonder.. and I think of the untraveled road.. I guess I will never know what it will be like if I stay on.. Yet, it feels really right to go home.. and I want to be there, be home.. be with my closest ones.. even if it means just for few months.. And, trusting God for what He has installed for me in the days to come. Trusting Him for the impossible.. 

Yes, that settles it.. in my heart. To live the now to the fullest with such bursting hope of the future in Him! *smile* 

A glimpse..

It was kinda nice to catch a glimpse.. of what is to come and it isn't really about where I would be in the coming days.. It is about where the Lord wants me to be..

I am excited to be part of Agape at this season of my life..
whether it is for a longer term or not,
I know He will tell me in due time.. :)
I am praying and waiting..
but I am very encouraged by this little card
that I received in the staff retreat..
The BIG dream of a day when everyone
knows someone who truly follows Jesus.

It is a BIG dream and only the Great Lord knows
and sees what it will be like..
I am just playing a little part in this big PICTURE of God's plan..
Thank You Father for giving me this opportunity
to be part of this at this time and this season..
The Heartbeat crucial position, I might say.

what a risky business..

I know I shouldn't be but I am amazed. Life is a risky business.. and that includes everything, really. And sometimes, it hits you before you actually recognize it. Guess that is what Risk is all about.

But, the beauty for me is that it is worth taking any sort of risk if these risks are taken in God and in accordance to His guidance and love. As risks are taken in Him, He will give me the Grace to face all things. Father God knows and He will bless! :)

A Smurfy 5th year, perhaps!

perhaps, indeed! :)

5th year in the UK..

I just can't believe it.. but it is my 5th year in the UK..

and I think this 5th year is a special one in the Lord! :)

Philippians 4:6

the dear Lord knows and He gives.. He is so wonderful! :)

and indeed.. 

I am learning doubly more this season to not worry about anything;

instead pray about everything.

Tell God what I need and give thanks for all that He has done.. 

and indeed I have experienced His Peace

which exceeds anything I can understand this very morning! (5th Sept)

and continue to experience His Peace in the days to come!.. *grin*

Looking forward to the staff retreat to meet everyone.. 

Fresh Start?

January 2013 for a Fresh Start? Exciting!

I am looking forward to that.. :)