Maxim of the day #11

The extent that we can show God's love to other is as much as the extent we realize God's love to us. ~ Viola Deo

The falls that lead to salvations

After the continuous changes, big and small, huge and tiny, it seemed to me I come to a hiatus.

No, I am not forgetting about this little blog :)

I just run through too many things lately, changing of status and living place seemed taken toll on my time and energy. When I finished all my duty, I have lack of energy to simply sit down, think, and write. Write!

Anyway, there's lots of lesson I got lately. One particular I want to share is the one I got when with my (newlywed) husband, we (finally, after scheduling it for sometime) manage to visit a church friend. Her mother was fell just several weeks before our big day and injured badly.

Actually, I had not much expectation, except to encourage and pray when we plan to go there. My husband pointed out that this is the first visit we ever made to a local family so far. It's a beautiful furnished place. Very homey and very comfy, with the bright white colour as the main theme.

Surprise surprise (yes, God still got lots of surprises these days), instead of encouraging, we're encouraged instead, well, at least for me.

At first glance, my friend's mom didn't look different from other moms that I know. However, after chit chat for a while, I learned a wonderful lesson from the LORD.

She had a bad fall previously. The first time she fell, years ago, she lost her eye sight. Her right eyes remained blind due to the broken retina, and her left eyes, after several surgeries, could only see dimly. I tried to imagine how she figured our face when she shared about her eye sight. I didn't think I can, even though I also had astigmatism myself. One thing is really struck me is that she was a nurse. Imagine a nurse which such eye sight kept on working to feed her family. She shared that not long, due to her illness and her family problem, she became depressed. Really depressed. However, she gave thanks, because out of that dark moments, she came to know Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. Call that miracle number one.

Then, a couple of weeks before our wedding, she fell again. This time, she broke her arm and leg, made her confined to bed in hospital (and then, her house) for some time. This time, she shared, God had another plan. As the worst patient in her ward (0f 6 elders), somehow, she is the source of help and encouragement for other patients. Her joyful attitude attracted other patients, which were amazed that despite her worse condition compared to them, she was far more joyful than them. She shared with them that because she had Jesus, even though she had through such pain, she still had the joy in her heart. Due to her living testimony, several came to know the Lord. Later, when she had to go to physiotherapy hospital for regular exercise, she also became a testimony that helped other elders. Well, there goes miracle number two.

One thing that really encourages me is that she is so enthusiastic sharing about her life events, testifying how God has intention, despite her falls. I was reminded with this verse right away:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.- Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

It is so comforting to know, that the LORD is able to work even through such devastating falls to become a way to salvation for so many people.

Which made me wonder...

When we go through difficulties, either in our body, or in our situation, instead of looking for remedy right away, have we first and foremost, look for God's plan in the first place? God is certainly not planning for our falls or calamities, but He certainly has a good plan even in the midst of such unfortunate events.

Miracle of His faithfulness

Today, I almost shed a tear again...

Of witnessing God's miraculous faithfulness in my life.

It started a week ago, when we attended a spiritual conference, discussing topic of Sermon from Jesus, about generosity and giving. I realized there is a nudge in my heart regarding a particular missionary friend of mine who happened to be in town.

Usually, it is a simple affair, for me just to give, but these days, not so simple anymore...since I am engaged and we are committed to be open to each other about our finances.

So I told my fiance (who happened to sit next to me that night) about the nudge in my heart, and as God works in my heart, God works in his heart too :)) We quickly pray and come with a plan of sum and way to deliver.

Unfortunately, my missionary friend would be in town only for 2 days left, and both of us (me and my fiance) was very busy with our schedule. We have some difficulties regarding how to deliver the money; but thank God, my fiance managed to get up earlier on Friday morning, on his way to deliver our invitation cards, he managed to meet my friend and deliver to her. (I am just way too busy and tired to even meet her).

That was about a week ago, and both of us been grateful for the opportunity to give regardless our situation (we are busy in the midst of moving house and preparing our wedding which now are 2 weeks away by the way).

Then it happened that 2 days ago, my fiance got an extra amount in his salary transfer. Today, he realized the amount as he read the announcement letter from his boss. He shared with me that the amount is EXACTLY the amount we gave to our missionary friend. And all within 1 week. We committed to give on last week Wednesday, we received the extra salary transfer on this Wednesday. My fiance delivered the money on last Friday, he realized on the exact amount given back to us today. (today is Friday, a week later :D)

God is wonderful, for my fiance has just started to work several months in this company. He was never told in advance there is such thing called quarterly performance bonus. I am not even aware there is such thing called quarterly bonus (the usual practice that I know that an employee at least have to work for a full year to be entitled of any bonus payment, and always paid later). But one thing for sure, God is faithful, beyond our ability to comprehend.

Even when we learn to give an amount which is quite essential for us since we are preparing for our wedding day, He showed us that He is still in control, of our living and our beloved friend's living, and of course, His work on this earth. How am I able to convey my gratefulness, not mainly for the blessings He bestowed on us, but especially, for the chance to witness His faithfulness in our lives and the opportunity to part take in His work through our lives?

HALLELUJAH!

About goal

" My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God:
'Tis His to lead me there, not mine, but His---
"At any cost, dear Lord, by any road."

-- Frances Brook (born 1870), English hymnwriter.

Comfort words

Though the mountains be shaken
And the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,
says the Lord, who has compassion on you. - Isaiah 54: 10 (NIV)

Been high and low recently... trying to figure out all the changes that occured in my life...
...spiritually, physically, emotionally...

After months of thinking and drifting ... praying and pleading...

I realize some simple truth...

I haven't really grasp the love of God...

I mean...I know He loves me, but living a life out of His love for me and His love in me...

Yesterday there was a verse that caught my attention:

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. - Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

I realized I can only live a life of love as He did, when I come to full realization that I am a loved child of my Father in heaven.

He's been good, too good to me, as a Father, while I am often drifting in the sea of doubt due to my circumstances. Questions come and go, but how do I tell that after all these years with HIM.... He is the One who is unwavering, yet I am the one who is so fickle.

Then the popular verse of Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) strucked me:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, " plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I realize there are new comforts as I read this verse. (as usual, some popular verse seemed too familiar to us that we often missed out the best meaning of it.)

First and foremost, I take my comfort in the part : For I know. The best part of this verse is not laying in the fact that the plans are to prosper and not to harm, to give hope and future. I realized today, the best part of the verse is that HE KNOWS. He knows all the details, the good and the bad, the right and the wrong in our lives. Yet He proclaimed: I know. I know. I know. I took comfort in His assuring acknowledgement.

Second, the planS. :D I used to think that God only has 1 plan for each of us. I realized I was wrong. He simply stated, He has plans. Not only ONE plan, but PLANS. I am so glad He has plans, not just plan for my future.

I may have a long way to go to live as His beloved child. Yet I take comfort in His promise. He knows and He has plans. It's enough :)

Thank You Lord, for your comforting word of truth :D

~in the midst of anxiety about the future~

(Waiting for) Sweet Love

I found this old yet refreshing song in one of my friends blog several days ago and have been listening to it over and over again. The lyric really touches my heart, especially in this moment when He teaches me the lessons of His love. Thank God I find the complete lyric today, and here it is:

SWEET LOVE
by First Call

Eyes in the window
Pleading with the sky
Knowing heaven hears my cry
Waiting for your sweet love

Whisper to my spirit
Tellin' me You're near
And Your peace will find me here
Waiting for Your sweet love
Waiting for Your sweet love

If I count the ways
You've carried me this far
Might as well try counting
Each and every star
Once again I find
I've given You my heart
And I'm waiting for Your love
Waiting for Your sweet love

Memories are calling
Like echoes in the wind
Faithful places I have seen
Waiting for your sweet love

The sweetest liberation
Falls on me here
And I abandon all my fear
Waiting for Your sweet love
(I've been waiting)
Waiting for Your sweet love

If I count the ways
You've carried me this far
Might as well try counting
Each and every star
Once again I find
I've given You my heart
And I'm waiting for Your love

Abba, Father
Purest lover of my soul
How I need this
Love that will not let me go

Whisper to my spirit
Just tell me You are near
Oh I just need Your sweet love
To fall upon me here
I need Your sweet, sweet love

(lyrics taken from: http://www.lyricstime.com/first-call-sweet-love-lyrics.html)

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your sweet sweet love. I need Your new revelation of how sweet the Father's love. In Jesus sweet name I pray. Amen.

Wake up call: True Life

This morning, I was awaken by the answer of a question that has long ago been occurred in my heart.

Sometimes, this happened, when I have a good sleep at night, and wake up by thoughts about God. But of course, it's not something that happened to me everyday so far. And this morning, not only I am awaken by this wonderful thought, but also it awakened the "sleep from blogging" in me all this time :P

It's funny how the train of thoughts can really bring you to. But if this is how the Holy Spirit is teaching me, surely I have no complaint but thanksgiving for His wonderful teaching.

I was awaken by the thoughts about Mary and Martha in the first place. For you who want to know their stories which I was reminded about, kindly refer to Luke 10: 38-42. There, our Lord Jesus made a comment about Mary, who had chosen one thing that is needed, in comparison to Martha who was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. This very choice, which was demonstrated by Mary's sitting at the Lord's feet listening to what He said, was commented by Jesus as something that is better and will not be taken away from her.

Then it occurred to me that what Jesus meant is about life. True life that comes from Jesus alone. I was amazed to find out that Apostle John made it so clear in the gospel he wrote. Oh, I wake up and read the Book of John to search for all the passages that mention life, and there are so many that he wrote, with such understanding that comes from a man that has known the life himself. He started in the beginning of his book with:

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of men."- John 1:4 (NIV)

and it continues...

"...that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life." - John 3:15 (NIV)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. " - John 3:16 (NIV)

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." - John 3:36 (NIV)

"...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:14 (NIV)

and so much more. I realized that I can't paste it all here. I invite you to go and seek for yourself in the book of John. It doesn't matter which version of translation you are using. I am using NIV here, but you can search other version (KJV, NASB, ESV, etc.).

The verse that I think describe Mary's choice best is:
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." - John 5:24 (NIV)

The verse that explained the source of life is:
"For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself." - John 5:26 (NIV)

And this is the very rebuke, which Jesus said to the Jews of His days, but may apply to us as well:
"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." - John 5:39-40 (NIV)

Jesus even describe Himself as the Bread of Life in John 6, to explain this further.There are passages over passages which describe about Jesus as life Himself, more than the verses that I paste in this posting.

And for this particular verse, which was my initial question in the beginning, which becomes clearer and clearer for me.

"...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10b (NIV)

I realized that maybe this verse is one of the verses that is most often quoted yet most often misunderstood regarding the meaning. I have heard some of the interpretation of this verse, but my heart keep on questioning, what is it that You mean, Lord?

Some described the life here as life after death, which equates the salvation of mankind, as the result of Christ's death and resurrection. Others described it as life that has been redeemed, that once we are in Christ, we are new creations, continually renew in holiness and service to God. Some others even describe it as all the good things God give to His children, the blessings of life that fulfill the needs of the men, such as healing, wealth, etc. All of these interpretation are to some point explain what we got in Him; yes, we have assurance of salvation, and yes, our life is redeemed and therefore we grow in holiness, and yes, we have a Father in heaven who is care for us and supply all our needs. However, these are not what this verse mean.

Life that is mentioned here is refer to Jesus Himself. He IS our life. And only in HIM we can truly have life to the full. Referring back to all that John has written about life in previous passages, we know that Jesus' message is that He Himself is the life for humankind.The everlasting life Himself. And this particular message is carried out until the end of Book of John.

This is the most clear verse regarding the eternal life that Jesus has promised:
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." - John 17:3 (NIV)

And even Apostle John himself testified the reason of his writing the Gospel of John, that is:
"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." - John 20:31 (NIV)

As a closing, I want to quote another popular verse, which I hope, through all of the explanation above, may give a deeper understanding to you, when you read:
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 (NIV)

Indeed, Jesus Himself is the life. Do you have this life?

Father God, thank You for showing me the meaning of the truth in Your word. Indeed, You are good and Your mercies endures forever. You give understanding to those who seek You. Let this truth inscribed in my heart so that Your truth become flesh in my life. Thank You for giving us life Himself. In the name of life Himself, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.