My Everlasting God

It's been a long time since I posted a music video on this blog. Found this song today in my friend's blog and later found a beautiful video:



I thank God that HE reminded me to wait upon HIM and knowing that HE is the everlasting GOD.

Viewing my current situation lately, I sure need to learn and re-learn to wait upon HIM and to fully surrender and trust in HIM, for I have proclaimed that HE is My Everlasting GOD.

Soli Deo Gloria...Be it unto me according to Your perfect will. Thank you so much for leading me all this time, in the midst of uncertainties and fears, and grant me Your peace beyond measure. Lord Jesus, I love You. Please forgive me for all my sin and doubt and fear. Instill in me the only right fear, that is the fear of You Lord, and teach me to live according to Your will. Let me wait upon YOU. Amen.

Unexpected Encouragement

I always amazed of how God is able to speak into my life unexpectedly...especially of encouragement in due season.

Lately I have been reminded (by reading most of the time) of how I am supposed to respond especially when I face difficulties in life. I need to strengthen myself out of my true identity in Christ. Not of what I own, but Who owns me instead.

Strangely, today...as I embarked on a daily journey...I encountered unexpected encouragement.

As I was about to top up my train ticket, a stranger who was ahead of me turned around and asked me how to buy her one way ticket from an automated machine. Facing a beautiful lady who is far older than me (my guess is that she probably as old or maybe even older than my mother), I tried to explain as clear and concise as possible. She finally managed to get her ticket. She left once she got her ticket. I continued to do what I need to do, purchased my own ticket. Though we were not heading the same direction, we all ended on the same train. Then, when we met again in the train, she started to talk to me. I politely asked her where she came from. Same country as I did. As our short conversation continued, she could guess perfectly (the first time for all!) of my work specialization and even my faith. (so all I could do is only nodding in disbelief...this is really strange...is my face that easy to be guessed? :)) To my surprise, she encouraged me to continue on the path I took, with a reminder of who I am in God. She said that there is a light in us, as believers, which eventually would make us stand out from others. Therefore, we need to be confident in facing anything, especially when we take chance and face challenges. A positive attitude. Have faith in God. Pray to HIM. And she kept on repeating this simple short message: "Be confident. Shine differently among others, for in you there is God's light." Since we have to depart in the midst of her journey, I continued to show her the next direction to help her continue her own journey. Before she departed, she repeated her message to me: "Be confident! Don't forget to be confident!" Smiling, she went on her way and along the way I could only nodding, and not even remember to say thanks or ask for name of this wonderful stranger.

Now, as I sit down and ponder...I can't help to wonder...could she be an angel? Or just a simple stranger who God send across my path to encourage me? All I can say is that, on the moment I needed the most, and expected the least, God reminded me of HIS assurance, and reminded me of what I need to do: be confident, for His light is in me. "His light which make us eventually a winner"....quoting encouragement from the stranger I met today.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you very much for the unexpected encouragement I got today. Bless the messenger You sent on my way. Help me to be confident in you, for Your light is in me. Let Your light shine through me so that everyone who sees may glorify my Father in Heaven. In Jesus' mighty name I pray. Amen.

This is how we overcome

"For those of us who know God, pain is a process with a certain purpose. We don't make it through tough times. We are made through tough times -- made into the beauty of Christ Jesus." - Joe Stowell (Anchors in the Storm).

1 Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Take away my unwilling heart, create a bond servant heart within me. A rebellious mind and act You despise, but life of full surrender You desire. May it be the last for me, so that I can start anew with You. Oh Lord, please forgive my sin of disbelief and fear and filth. I long to walk with You, each step with Your Spirit as my ultimate Guide. Withholding nothing, regretting nothing. Giving it all, for the One who is my all in all. Let You be my vision, now and always.

In Jesus' precious name I pray, Amen.

Words in due season

In the midst of my struggle, I come across this wonderful truth:

"Do not try to get some kind of a 'plan' from God for your life, so you can start working on it! If you work on your plan, you will very likely spoil it! Or God may spoil it for you! You need only to know that God has a plan for your life, get to know His voice, do His will today and every day, and commit yourself into the hands of a loving God, and a very capable Predestinator. As you walk in God's will, you cannot miss God's intention for your life. And as you present yourself to Him a 'living sacrifice' -- you will learn to walk in His ways, and come to know His voice more clearly (see Rom 12:1,2)." - George H. Warnock.

Thank You Jesus, for reminding me. Help me to abandon all of me to You, fully trust in Your wonderful grace and faithfulness. In Your mighty name I pray, Amen.

Maxim of the day #10

Love is as precious as our willingness to fight for it. ~ Viola Deo

Waves of doubt

After so long, I finally got a chance to blog again...

With not so good condition though...

I still taste the goodness of the Lord...

Just that today, when I finally found a chance to write several lines...

It's the doubt I found inside me...

Not of God...but of something I have fear about all this time...

I don't know how to deal with it...at first a conversation seemed to settle matters.

But then the same doubt come back, and I don't know how to cope with it...should I run or hide or pretend it is not exist...

I can only hope that the Lord will show me the way and walk me through it.

Lord Jesus, you know what is in my heart. My fear, my doubt, my helplessness. Show me Your way, so I may live wisely to please You. In Jesus loving name I pray. Amen.

Maxim of the day #9

Until we taste a drop of a REAL thing, we never realize how foolish we are drowning in the sea of a fake thing. ~Viola Deo

Voilà

“Whenever there is a problem hearing from the Lord it is because we are holding on to other things that are more dear to us than the Lord.” - Margaret E. Barber.

Maxim of the day #8

We live for the audience of One, we die for the audience of One, why bother for others? ~ Viola Deo

Nukuu ya leo *)

But the Lord’s "call" is never to geography or to a ministry, but "to be with Him," and to be sent out wherever and however He chooses–His agenda, not ours. ~ Ruth E.Siemens, tentmaker & Founder of Global Opportunities.

taken from http://globalopps.org/ruths_story.htm

*) Quote of the day, in Tanzanian

Just like Jesus, at all cost

Following Jesus, at all cost
What would I’ve possibly lost?
All the earthly treasures
Have given me no pleasures
Following Jesus, at all cost

Believing Jesus, at all cost
For all things are possible for Lord of Hosts
Believing wholly, though against my thoughts
Believing Jesus, at all cost

Growing like Jesus, at all cost
Giving up all that I love the most
Just like He gave His all on the cross
Growing like Jesus, at all cost

~ 30 November 2005 ~

Lord, I need You to enable me to walk this poem as a living example, not only as a heart desire ...
In Jesus' name I fervently pray, Amen.

BELIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE

You gave me a dream in my early age
Not knowing what's ahead, I received with faith
And as my faith grows, the dream glows
In my heart that my life will follow

Circumstances come and go
And each time, it makes me feel low
As far as the thousand year light
So is my hope fading out of sight

Yet, I have chosen Your way for me
Believing the impossible will turn out to be
For I know in Whom I put my trust
The One who made human out of dust

One day at a time I realize
It is You who gives me strength and hope
To carry on everything in Your time
Till the day I reach my home

~11 August 2005~

In response to Your truth:

But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 (NKJV)

...thrust into my heart...

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. - John 12:24 (NKJV)

Calling Requirement

"Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God..." - Romans 1:1 (NKJV)

This first sentence in the book of Romans has showed me one truth about God's calling. There are many aspects about God's calling in one's life which we can learn throughout His Word, but the opening greeting from Paul, the Apostle of God, contained a deep understanding about the requirement to fulfill God's calling.

Paul declared himself as a bondservant of Jesus Christ before he stated his calling as an apostle. Many of us, when we think of calling, we easily think of a title, such as pastor, deacon, missionary, teacher, evangelist, worship leader, etc. Thus, when we think of the preparation to fulfill one's calling, we easily caught up in doing things which will lead us to such title. For example: if you think that you're called to be pastor, you may considering going to bible college, etc. Not that I'm against such preparation. It's certainly necessary for someone who is serious to fulfill his or her calling for considering and taking necessary actions. But still, the Word of God shows something which is far more important--first priority--before any other important things take place.

To fulfill our calling from God--whatever it is, the first requirement is to be a bondservant. Bondservant is noun, a state, a being, not a doing. The definition of bondservant is:

"a slave, bondman, man of servile condition, one who gives himself up to another's will,
devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests, a servant, attendant."

Interestingly, the Greek word of bondservant, Doulos, comes from the origin word called deo, which means:

"to bind tie, fasten;
to bind, fasten with chains;
to be bound to one, a wife, a husband."

In order to be a bondservant, we have to be willing to bind to God, the Author of Our calling. When we're bind to Him, we're fastened to His interest, abandoning our own interest. Bind with chains, means we are confined to His boundaries. To be bound as it is with a marriage partner. We no longer act out of our own will, but whatever we do, we do out of our state as one with Him. For whatever we do, and whoever we are, we bore His name. We bring His identity within us.

This is not something which we stressed when we're pondering calling requirement. But it is what God wants when He calls His children. Often we hear the popular saying regarding ministry: it's not your ability, but your availability which matters. But being a bondservant means deeper than just simply being available. Being available is a state of freedom, so when the necessary action is needed, then we're free to do it. But being a bondservant is much more demanding. We are not free. The necessary action is part of our daily action as a bondservant. We are chained to do it.

This may sound scary if we don't know the characters of Our Master. Thank God we have a Master who has been a Bondservant to all for God's will to be fulfilled. Our Master Himself has set an example of what does it mean to be true bondservant of God, as His prayer:

"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done." --Luke 22:42 (NKJV)

The difficult part is not doing the actions of a bondservant. The most difficult part is having a heart of a bondservant, the essence of being a bondservant. It's one thing to do the work of ministry. It's another thing to have a surrender heart to live for Christ. A true bondservant doesn't care about anything but to obey his or her Master and please the Master.

To be able to be such bondservant, we have to allow the grace of God to work within our hearts. Surrender to His will constantly, is the process of being bind to Him. Then, when our hearts is at the right position with Him, any work of ministry we are called to do, can flow out freely for His glory.

As God showed me this truth, I have to admit it is more than once that I shed my tears. Not that I don't understand with my mind, but I was lack of comprehension in my heart. For to understand with mind need only to 'sacrifice' time and thoughts, but to understand with heart, one's life sacrifice is the price. My Beloved Master, Lord Jesus Christ, had paid the price. How about us?

Father God, please forgive us, for lack of understanding when we come to serve You. Please remind us that whatever we are called to do, You want a bondservant at service. Willingly surrender our heart's desire, laying down our lives, for the sake to be bound with You, so that we may serve You ultimately. Please forgive us when we come to serve You, we come with our own terms, fulfilling our own desires, and using our own ways of thinking. Holy Spirit, lead us, so that we may yield to God, freely, fully, and thoroughly. In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, our True example of a Bondservant, we pray. Amen.

Maxim of the day # 7

The more you walk with Jesus, the more you are empowered to be like Jesus. ~Viola Deo