Being reminded about the existence of our beloved Judah 5 blog I decided to pop over and looked through the "Sharing" tab... which I then began to read through the articles I've posted a very long time ago... it brought back great memories.
I can say I''ll never regret writing any articles that conveyed the Lord's goodness in my life, and the baby steps I took in this new life freely given to me. The Lord is faithful and great, and His mercy flows and extends to all!
And with that, I would like to share how great God has been in my life of late.
I believe many of you would have known how God was taking me through a time of testing in the past month... facing persecution from my family, getting spiritual attacks, problems finding a job and house, getting depressed @ the visa application... etc.
But it is great what the Lord has taught me through this time, and during that time God even gave me a dream a few weeks ago, telling me about the future. I woke up knowing surely it was a dream from God... for the peace and joy that came with it was the taste of God.
That dream really took all these burdens off my sack and I truly began to commit to the Lord His calling for me to remain in Brisbane.
God doesn't contradict himself... so if He has called me to stay in Brisbane, He will surely provide a place for me to stay, and a job.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
- Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)
I learnt once again, that when God does not give us the things we ask for directly, it is not because he doesn't care, but because He wants to teach us something. And this day, I strongly believe God was teaching me to trust Him even more during these events. Teaching me to trust in the promises He had given to me. Things may not be flowing and progressing the way I WANT it, but as long as it is the way GOD WANTS it... let them be done. Cuz our Father loves us, and never will he give us something that is bad for us.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
- Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Yes!! God works for the GOOD of those who love Him.
Seek the Lord heart, and love the Lord. And seek Him for His purposes for you, and not your purposes for Him. When you see God truly, He will tell you His secrets and His will for you. Pray in His will, walk in His will... and glory lies in the days ahead.
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
- Matthew 22:36-38
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Matthew 6:31-33
And yes.. those were what the Lord that taught me during the last few weeks. And when I finally comprehended that, not just in the mind, but in the heart, the Lord began to set His plans before me. And that was what I learnt!
It's not just about us KNOWING what He wants us to know. But us, truly comprehending it, setting it upon our hearts, and taking that step of Faith to really put that conviction within our hearts, to say YES, I will do this. And not.. Yes, I know this.
There is a difference between knowing and doing!
It was many months of praying and fasting... times of struggling and spiritual warfare. Extra daily QT devotional with God made it better though... to truly have God's presence and commune with Him is a great thing. A personal relationship with God..
God is our friend! And friends tell us their secrets. So if God isn't telling you any secrets lately... check your walk with Him. Have you been listening? Or have you been spending enough time with Him, so that He would tell you His secrets? Because the gentle voice speaks of many words of encouragements or things of the future that are to come.. the Lord can tell you wonders, only if you would listen.
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
- Psalm 25:14 (KJV)
The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
- Psalm 25:14 (NIV)
The Lord confides in us His secrets when we put Him first in our lives. The joy of hearing His secret is always overwhelming. I'm sure many of us have heard a secret or two from the Lord in our walk with Him... a gentle voice, a dream or vision. Isn't that feeling awesome? I would strongly encourage all of us to dig deeper and commune in greater fellowship with God. Because God desires it! He wants it!
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
- 1 Chronicles 16:10-11
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9
God called King David a man after His own heart. And David, when charging Solomon with the Land of Israel, reminded him the virtue of seeking the Lord. Let us seek the Lord daily and deeply! Amen!
The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever!
- Psalm 22:26
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
- Psalm 34:10
So last week I was rejected for the house at Durham street, which was quite a disappointment for me as that house was great and awesome. Then I began to have doubts as to whether God truly wanted me to stay. I was feeling so discouraged for things were not working out, not for my job application, not for my visa application.. and also not for my accommodation.
Especially I felt like I was on a stranded island where I was handling these all alone... and on the other hand my family kept wanting me to go back home to find a job. I even came to the point telling them that I would if I could.. why go through all these trouble and stress? I still remember truly submitting all of these upon the feet of Jesus and handing these to Him.
But when God promises He will let things come to pass. And if God has called me to stay, He has a good plan for me. If I chose to run away and go back home, things won't be good for me, because then I won't be in God's perfect will! Always choose and do what God has called you to do, even if it takes a toll upon your life. Because God is training and testing us, to see if we are perservering and overcoming osbtacles.
That night I was so devastated I cried out to the Lord. Lord, if you want me to stay, PLEASE open doors for me.
This week God answered my prayers.. so many of them.
But I want to highlight these:
1. God gave me a unit at Brisbane Street! And it's $10 cheaper than the Durham street house! It has a garrage... and the house is in a good condition and really comfy.. and it's just above Elysaa's house. YAY!
2. God gave me a job as an RA @ IMB! Just as I prayed for.. as I prayed for God to give me a job @ IMB only if it is in His will. I even had a thought all the time for God to allow me for a job interview where I can share my faith with the interviewers.. and guess what? My employer asked me about my social life and I say I go to Church, and we talked a little about Church and stuff during the interview! ---- the best thing God blessed me with was they were gonna sponsor my visa application which means I don't have to pay a single cent!!! PRAISE GOD!!!
PRAISE GOD!!!
God is faithful... my entry can never fully express how real and great God has worked in my life. But I know He is real and His promises all came to pass.
Our God is a God who provides. He is Jehovah-Jireh. (Meaning: Jehovah's provision shall be seen." (see Genesis 22:8,14)
To add upon this blessing.. the employer (I would call Group leader) wanted me to work in early August. But I told him I can only work mid August the earliest cuz I was going back home. He said, "This might be a problem."
And I thought about it... and told God, "If it is your will to let me have the job... this won't matter.. if they don't employ me, and it's your will I will go with it. But Lord, allow me to petition, allow me to pray for this job. But eventually, let it be your will."
God answered my prayers... the job was given to me.. and the dates weren't a problem... and I was even given the choice to start work in early September if it was better for me.. which means I can stay home for my brother's birthday!!!
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
God is real... God is... so real in my life.
People may ask why I could change from being such a devoted Buddhist to a Christian... I will tell you, because I was a seeker of the truth. (I will post my salvation testimony someday.)
But seek the Truth and ask questions, because God is not afraid of questions, and He will answer you, if you let Him. No matter amount of good deeds on does will never cover up the fact that they we are sinners, and the good deeds of sinners are like that of dirty water.
Dirty water can never be used to wash dirty clothes.
Sinners can never save themselves, they need a sinless man to save them. And the only sinless man is God, who is Holy and Righteous.
"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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
- John 3:16-17
So God came as a man to redeem sinful man... dying for our sins as He carried them upon the cross. He died and rose again 3 days later, and so will all man who believe in Him rise again and be saved from eternal death.
I was just talking to Joy today about the motivation point about one doing good in Buddhism.. and that is gain merits for the 'so called next life' they believe in - so that they can be reincarnated in a higher realm, or escape the lower realms.. to transfer merits etc. (I won't go into that... lol.. ask me personally if you wanna know more.)
The motivational point is for self purposes... to save oneself from condemnation as they believe in. However, Christians love because God first loved us.
We love because he first loved us.
- 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
What is Love... someone might next ask.
... ... ... ... ... ...
Agapao (verb) and agape (noun). This is the "Christian love" of the Bible. It means affection, benevolence, good-will, high esteem and concern for the welfare of the one loved. It is deliberate, purposeful love rather than emotional or impulsive love. Almost all of the New Testament references to love are agapao or agape in the original Greek. The King James Version of the Bible sometimes translates agape as "charity," but charity has now taken on the meaning of assistance to the poor rather than benevolent love.
Phileo (verb). This means to love in an impulsive and emotional way. It is seldom used in the Bible, but there is a play on words (lost in English) in
John 21:15-17. Jesus says to Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love (
agapao) me?" Peter answers, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (
phileo) you."
Philadelphia is a related word meaning the love of brothers or sisters (e.g.,
Romans 12:10). It is often translated "brotherly love."
... ... ... ... ... ...
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
- 1 Cor 13:1-3
Then it goes on to say:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
- 1 Cor 13:4-8
And then one of my favourite verses:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
-1 Cor 13:13
Other verses for your spirit:
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
- Romans 13:10
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
- Romans 12:9-10
There are so many more verses in the Bible that talks about the love of God for all His people. Let us look beyond our own lives and to our neighbour's lives. Take a second look and you may realise a struggling soul beside. Still yourselves a little and hear from God's gentle voice as you live His will and pray His will.
Be faithful in prayer and commit to the Lord your plans, and you will succeed.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
- Proverbs 16:3
Well, I hope it's not too long an entry... since I haven't written in such a long while. But yeah, to my brothers and sisters-in-Christ out there if you are reading this, may this entry encourage you on your walk with God.
And in any case, should any lucky soul chance upon this blog and is still not a believer of Christ, I hope God has touched you using my little humble entry... and remember, don't afraid to ask God questions, cuz God loves to answer them!
God bless you this day and may we all walk in the perfect will of God, for He has the best plans for all of us if we claim His promises!
Amen.
My prayer has always been to arm myself more efficiently with His Sword anointed by His Spirit.
