Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
1 Samuel 3:9
Learning to recognise God's voice is not a skill that's acquired overnight, because He speaks to us at different times, in different settings and in different ways.
(1) It requires you to mature Spiritually. Jesus said His sheep follow Him because they know His voice (John 10:4 ).
Notice, Jesus said that His "sheep", not His lambs, know His voice. Baby sheep just follow adult sheep until their senses are trained.
Thank God there's grace for the immature. If your Spiritual ears are not yet developed, God will work with you until you learn to recognise His voice.
(2) It requires guidance and confirmation from Godly leadership. "Obey your Spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls" (Hebrews 13:17 ).
Who's your Spiritual up-line?
(3) It must not be limited to your previous experiences. God spoke to Moses on a mountain that shook, and to Elijah through a still small voice. Don't limit God; He will speak to you through the Scriptures, through those qualified to teach you His Word, through a song, through a painful situation, and even your own thoughts and desires when you're submitted to Him. The key is to stay close to God and keep your receiver on.
(4) Above all else, it requires obedience. The Psalmist said, "When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek" (Psalm 27:8). When it comes to hearing from God, how's your response time? "When I get around to it?… I'll see if I can fit you in!… I'll think about it!" Wrong! God speaks, and continues to speak, to those who obey, and continue to obey.
http://www.thevine.co.nz
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
When you lose what you love
When they walk through the Valley of Weeping... They will continue to grow stronger.
Psalm 84:6-7
When you lose what you love you go through five stages:
(1) Denial - "No, it can't be happening."
(2) Anger - "God, why are You permitting this?"
(3) Bargaining - "Please make it go away."
(4) Depression - Silence and withdrawal.
(5) Acceptance - "Not my will but Yours be done."
Whether it's the loss of a child, a marriage, a job, your health, etc. when you turn to God He'll give you the grace to embrace it, grieve it, express it, release it, and go on to become stronger. Sometimes we seek quick relief by releasing it before we've gone through these stages. That's because we fear the process. We've been taught that any show of emotion is a show of weakness, so we stuff it. But we only stuff it into our emotional rubbish bin, then spend all our time and energy sitting on the lid, trying to keep the contents from spilling out. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). It's knowing and embracing the truth, including its painful aspects, that sets you free. You must be willing to forgive. But until you come to grips with the enormity of your loss, including any injustice of what was done to you, you are not ready to forgive. When you rush to forgive, you forgive only in part and you're released only in part.
Are you running from pain today? Are you trading it in prematurely for some other feeling? That's not God's way.
Jesus said, "You will weep and mourn… but [eventually] your grief will turn to joy… and no one will take [it] away" (John 16:20-22 ).
Learn to Benefit from Criticism
Whoever learns from correction is wise.
Proverbs 15:5
There are two kinds of criticism:
(1) Unjustified criticism. One day Henry Ward Beecher went to his church to preach. As the great orator placed his Bible on the pulpit he noticed a blank sheet of paper with the word "fool" written on it. Beecher's keen sense of humour seized the moment. He lifted the paper for all to see, then his booming voice filled the church as he announced, "Generally I receive letters from people who write and forget to sign their name. This letter is different. The person has signed his name but forgotten to write the letter." Jesus said, "Offences will come" (Luke 17:1). So expect them. And remember, attack is a sign of respect. You're getting noticed. You're making a difference. So when you are criticised unjustly, forget it and move on. Jesus did!
(2) Justified criticism. Criticism that's justified has a measure of truth in it. An old Arab proverb states, "If one person calls you a donkey, forget it. But if five people call you a donkey, buy a saddle."
Dr. James G. Kerr, a management psychologist, points out that a major deterrent to gaining information about ourselves lies in our natural reluctance to discover anything about ourselves that isn't flattering. When we erect defences against our own inadequacies and try to hide our faults from ourselves and others, we close the door to a vital source of self-knowledge and therefore deny ourselves the joy of Spiritual growth. Stop hiding from the truth. Every one of us can improve what we're doing and the way in which it's being done.
As they say, "The largest room in the world - is room for improvement!"
Proverbs 15:5
You Have To Give It Away
Give, and it will be given to you.
Luke 6:38
Legend has it that a man was lost in the desert, dying for water. He came upon a shack and saw a rusty old water pump. He stumbled over to it, grabbed the handle and began to pump up and down. But nothing came out.
Then he noticed a nearby jug with these words, "My friend, you have to prime the pump with the water in this jug. P.S. Be sure to fill the jug again before you leave."
As he popped the cork, suddenly he was faced with a decision. If he drank the water he could live. But if he poured it into the old rusty pump, maybe it would yield from down deep in the well all the water he wanted later. He studied his options. What should he do, pour it into the pump and take a chance on fresh, cool water, or drink what was in the jug and ignore its message?
Reluctantly he poured all the water into the pump. Then he grabbed the handle and began to pump… squeak, squeak, squeak. Nothing came out! Squeak, squeak, squeak. A little bit began to dribble out, then a small stream, and finally it gushed! To his relief fresh, cool water poured out of the old rusty pump. Eagerly, he filled the jug and drank from it. He filled it another time and once again drank its refreshing contents. Then he filled the jug for the next traveller. He filled it to the top, popped the cork back on, and added this little note: "Believe me, it really works."
Friend, don't ignore the message Jesus left: "Give, and it will be given to you."
http://www.thevine.co.nz
Psalm 84:6-7
When you lose what you love you go through five stages:
(1) Denial - "No, it can't be happening."
(2) Anger - "God, why are You permitting this?"
(3) Bargaining - "Please make it go away."
(4) Depression - Silence and withdrawal.
(5) Acceptance - "Not my will but Yours be done."
Whether it's the loss of a child, a marriage, a job, your health, etc. when you turn to God He'll give you the grace to embrace it, grieve it, express it, release it, and go on to become stronger. Sometimes we seek quick relief by releasing it before we've gone through these stages. That's because we fear the process. We've been taught that any show of emotion is a show of weakness, so we stuff it. But we only stuff it into our emotional rubbish bin, then spend all our time and energy sitting on the lid, trying to keep the contents from spilling out. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). It's knowing and embracing the truth, including its painful aspects, that sets you free. You must be willing to forgive. But until you come to grips with the enormity of your loss, including any injustice of what was done to you, you are not ready to forgive. When you rush to forgive, you forgive only in part and you're released only in part.
Are you running from pain today? Are you trading it in prematurely for some other feeling? That's not God's way.
Jesus said, "You will weep and mourn… but [eventually] your grief will turn to joy… and no one will take [it] away" (John 16:20-22 ).
Learn to Benefit from Criticism
Whoever learns from correction is wise.
Proverbs 15:5
There are two kinds of criticism:
(1) Unjustified criticism. One day Henry Ward Beecher went to his church to preach. As the great orator placed his Bible on the pulpit he noticed a blank sheet of paper with the word "fool" written on it. Beecher's keen sense of humour seized the moment. He lifted the paper for all to see, then his booming voice filled the church as he announced, "Generally I receive letters from people who write and forget to sign their name. This letter is different. The person has signed his name but forgotten to write the letter." Jesus said, "Offences will come" (Luke 17:1). So expect them. And remember, attack is a sign of respect. You're getting noticed. You're making a difference. So when you are criticised unjustly, forget it and move on. Jesus did!
(2) Justified criticism. Criticism that's justified has a measure of truth in it. An old Arab proverb states, "If one person calls you a donkey, forget it. But if five people call you a donkey, buy a saddle."
Dr. James G. Kerr, a management psychologist, points out that a major deterrent to gaining information about ourselves lies in our natural reluctance to discover anything about ourselves that isn't flattering. When we erect defences against our own inadequacies and try to hide our faults from ourselves and others, we close the door to a vital source of self-knowledge and therefore deny ourselves the joy of Spiritual growth. Stop hiding from the truth. Every one of us can improve what we're doing and the way in which it's being done.
As they say, "The largest room in the world - is room for improvement!"
Proverbs 15:5
You Have To Give It Away
Give, and it will be given to you.
Luke 6:38
Legend has it that a man was lost in the desert, dying for water. He came upon a shack and saw a rusty old water pump. He stumbled over to it, grabbed the handle and began to pump up and down. But nothing came out.
Then he noticed a nearby jug with these words, "My friend, you have to prime the pump with the water in this jug. P.S. Be sure to fill the jug again before you leave."
As he popped the cork, suddenly he was faced with a decision. If he drank the water he could live. But if he poured it into the old rusty pump, maybe it would yield from down deep in the well all the water he wanted later. He studied his options. What should he do, pour it into the pump and take a chance on fresh, cool water, or drink what was in the jug and ignore its message?
Reluctantly he poured all the water into the pump. Then he grabbed the handle and began to pump… squeak, squeak, squeak. Nothing came out! Squeak, squeak, squeak. A little bit began to dribble out, then a small stream, and finally it gushed! To his relief fresh, cool water poured out of the old rusty pump. Eagerly, he filled the jug and drank from it. He filled it another time and once again drank its refreshing contents. Then he filled the jug for the next traveller. He filled it to the top, popped the cork back on, and added this little note: "Believe me, it really works."
Friend, don't ignore the message Jesus left: "Give, and it will be given to you."
http://www.thevine.co.nz
P-R-A-Y
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.
1 Chronicles 16:11
To help you remember the four parts of prayer, think of the acrostic P-R-A-Y:
P - Praise the Lord! Not sure how? Think you'll run out of words? Not if you use the Scriptures. David gives us a beautiful example in 1 Ch 29:11-13. It's one you can use: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour… Yours, O Lord, is the Kingdom… In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious name."
R - Repent of your sins! Just as heat forces impurities to the surface so the metal refiner can remove them, your prayer time will reveal attitudes that must be changed, habits that must be broken, and barriers to blessing that must be removed. It's not enough to tell God about your sins. He already knows them. You must ask Him to help you turn away from them. This is true repentance.
A - Ask for yourself and others! Your prayers invite God into the situation, and your faith activates His power to change it. There's no distance in prayer, no culture or language barrier it can't overcome. It's like throwing on a power switch - things begin to move when we pray. Jesus said, "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven… whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19 ).
Y - Yield yourself to God's will! Declaring the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life is like signing your name to the bottom of a blank cheque, and inviting Him to fill in the amount.
http://www.thevine.co.nz
1 Chronicles 16:11
To help you remember the four parts of prayer, think of the acrostic P-R-A-Y:
P - Praise the Lord! Not sure how? Think you'll run out of words? Not if you use the Scriptures. David gives us a beautiful example in 1 Ch 29:11-13. It's one you can use: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour… Yours, O Lord, is the Kingdom… In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious name."
R - Repent of your sins! Just as heat forces impurities to the surface so the metal refiner can remove them, your prayer time will reveal attitudes that must be changed, habits that must be broken, and barriers to blessing that must be removed. It's not enough to tell God about your sins. He already knows them. You must ask Him to help you turn away from them. This is true repentance.
A - Ask for yourself and others! Your prayers invite God into the situation, and your faith activates His power to change it. There's no distance in prayer, no culture or language barrier it can't overcome. It's like throwing on a power switch - things begin to move when we pray. Jesus said, "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven… whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19 ).
Y - Yield yourself to God's will! Declaring the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life is like signing your name to the bottom of a blank cheque, and inviting Him to fill in the amount.
http://www.thevine.co.nz
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
My Papa 16
This picture was taken around chinese new year at Grace's house.Papa has to go on liquid diet... the tumor at the lung is growing and blocking the esophagus , he has difficulty to swallow food, doctor recommend to insert a stent about 12 cm long to open up the esophagus ( The esophagus is the tube that carries food, liquids and saliva from your mouth to the stomach.) The prodedure was done on 25/3/08 it took less then 30 min to fix it.
At least he can take food from his mouth and he can taste the food, but all foods have to be in paste or liquid form.
Seen oncology yesterday, and papa agreed to do another round of chemo, doctor warn us about the side effect, this chemo may caused numbness to his finger .....
I brought him to see the TCM today, TCM doctor prescribe some herbs to boil and drink to help reduce the side effect of chemo.
Lord, we need you to be with us. Amen!
At least he can take food from his mouth and he can taste the food, but all foods have to be in paste or liquid form.
Seen oncology yesterday, and papa agreed to do another round of chemo, doctor warn us about the side effect, this chemo may caused numbness to his finger .....
I brought him to see the TCM today, TCM doctor prescribe some herbs to boil and drink to help reduce the side effect of chemo.
Lord, we need you to be with us. Amen!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
The Six-Letter Word
I was taught a lesson that just six simple letters could make adifference.
Those six letters made the word - SILENT.
Those letters when rearranged also spell the word - LISTEN.
I never truly understood that until the day I stood silent andlearned there was more to life than everyday living.
When you don't take the time to listen and be silent then everything is easily taken for granted.
The things I wasn't silent for and listened for, I now miss the most.
A simple I love you from my children.
The request of a loved one that I was too busy for at the time.
Little did I know, that if I stayed quiet and savored things, I could have imprinted their voices in my mind and made memories that would have lasted.
The one thing I always will be thankful for is that I learned my lesson and heeded the call. But also that God truly is silent and listened for my every need, but in return if I'm silent,I can also hear from Him.
http://www.MountainWings.com
Those six letters made the word - SILENT.
Those letters when rearranged also spell the word - LISTEN.
I never truly understood that until the day I stood silent andlearned there was more to life than everyday living.
When you don't take the time to listen and be silent then everything is easily taken for granted.
The things I wasn't silent for and listened for, I now miss the most.
A simple I love you from my children.
The request of a loved one that I was too busy for at the time.
Little did I know, that if I stayed quiet and savored things, I could have imprinted their voices in my mind and made memories that would have lasted.
The one thing I always will be thankful for is that I learned my lesson and heeded the call. But also that God truly is silent and listened for my every need, but in return if I'm silent,I can also hear from Him.
http://www.MountainWings.com
Monday, March 17, 2008
Learn To Relax
Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated... disturbed... and unsettled.
John 14:27
A well known Bible teacher says: "We can only walk in peace if we're willing to be adaptable and adjust to people and circumstances. When I lived in 'explode mode' it never failed that one of my children would spill something at the dinner table every night… and every night I had a fit. One night I was under the table because the milk had made it to the crack in the middle and was running down… The children were upset and somebody kicked me in the head, which made me even madder. I knew it was an accident… but somehow that didn't seem to matter… [Then] the Holy Spirit spoke to me - right under that table - and said: 'Once the milk's spilled, no matter how big a fit you throw you're not going to get it to run back up the table into the glass. You need to learn to go with the flow.'"
Jesus said, "[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated… disturbed… and unsettled]." In other words, work on controlling your reactions. Stop losing your peace over every little thing that goes wrong in your life. When there's nothing you can do about the situation, learn to let it go and keep your joy. Ask God to help you get over life's little offences and irritations quickly, whether it's a glass of spilled milk or somebody who's hurt your feelings.
When you put as much energy into 'letting go' as you do into 'stewing and steaming' and trying to control every possible outcome, you'll find that God's peace "which is so great we cannot understand it" (Philippians 4:7 ) will start to fill your heart and your home
http://www.thevine.co.nz
John 14:27
A well known Bible teacher says: "We can only walk in peace if we're willing to be adaptable and adjust to people and circumstances. When I lived in 'explode mode' it never failed that one of my children would spill something at the dinner table every night… and every night I had a fit. One night I was under the table because the milk had made it to the crack in the middle and was running down… The children were upset and somebody kicked me in the head, which made me even madder. I knew it was an accident… but somehow that didn't seem to matter… [Then] the Holy Spirit spoke to me - right under that table - and said: 'Once the milk's spilled, no matter how big a fit you throw you're not going to get it to run back up the table into the glass. You need to learn to go with the flow.'"
Jesus said, "[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated… disturbed… and unsettled]." In other words, work on controlling your reactions. Stop losing your peace over every little thing that goes wrong in your life. When there's nothing you can do about the situation, learn to let it go and keep your joy. Ask God to help you get over life's little offences and irritations quickly, whether it's a glass of spilled milk or somebody who's hurt your feelings.
When you put as much energy into 'letting go' as you do into 'stewing and steaming' and trying to control every possible outcome, you'll find that God's peace "which is so great we cannot understand it" (Philippians 4:7 ) will start to fill your heart and your home
http://www.thevine.co.nz
Monday, March 10, 2008
Make Your Money - His Servant!
Whoever loves money never has money enough.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
If your goal is to prosper in order to fulfil God's purposes, God will bless you. If it's just to be rich, you're on your own!
Notice:
(1) Money will buy people, but not true friends. Christina Onassis, one of the richest women in the world, had to hire someone to play tennis with her and go to supper with her. She had so much money she couldn't spend it all, yet she lived an empty, lonely life. Yes, money will buy people, but not true friends. They'll be takers but not givers, and as soon as your money is gone they will be too.
(2) Money will buy books, but not brains. In his book The Seven Secrets, John Hagee writes: "A beautiful prayer tower was erected in the centre of Trinity University. Every day the chimes echoed across the campus. But that prayer tower had to be locked with an iron gate. Why? Because some students who could not achieve the academic dreams of their wealthy fathers climbed the stairs of the prayer tower to leap to their deaths." Yes, money will buy books, but not brains.
(3) Money will buy food, but not a healthy appetite. Ever thought of an empty plate as beautiful? An empty plate becomes beautiful when you have a sick loved one with a deadly disease. You prepare the finest foods only to watch them push it away, nauseated by the sight. Next time you see a dirty plate on your table, thank God for the food He has given you and the appetite to want it. Money can't buy that.
Bottom line: make Jesus Lord of your life, and make your money - His servant!
http://www.thevine.co.nz
Ecclesiastes 5:10
If your goal is to prosper in order to fulfil God's purposes, God will bless you. If it's just to be rich, you're on your own!
Notice:
(1) Money will buy people, but not true friends. Christina Onassis, one of the richest women in the world, had to hire someone to play tennis with her and go to supper with her. She had so much money she couldn't spend it all, yet she lived an empty, lonely life. Yes, money will buy people, but not true friends. They'll be takers but not givers, and as soon as your money is gone they will be too.
(2) Money will buy books, but not brains. In his book The Seven Secrets, John Hagee writes: "A beautiful prayer tower was erected in the centre of Trinity University. Every day the chimes echoed across the campus. But that prayer tower had to be locked with an iron gate. Why? Because some students who could not achieve the academic dreams of their wealthy fathers climbed the stairs of the prayer tower to leap to their deaths." Yes, money will buy books, but not brains.
(3) Money will buy food, but not a healthy appetite. Ever thought of an empty plate as beautiful? An empty plate becomes beautiful when you have a sick loved one with a deadly disease. You prepare the finest foods only to watch them push it away, nauseated by the sight. Next time you see a dirty plate on your table, thank God for the food He has given you and the appetite to want it. Money can't buy that.
Bottom line: make Jesus Lord of your life, and make your money - His servant!
http://www.thevine.co.nz
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