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Was just reading Philippians this morning and an old verse sprang up…
Phil 2:3 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Used this verse in a sketch that I wrote for church ages and ages ago… It’s a really important lesson to relearn… especially as I grow older and work longer… I always see this disease in the corporate world where those with a wealth of experience or specialised skills/knowledge, shut out others who are trying to offer an idea or two…
Sure… these fresh ideas may fall through the cracks due to lack of farsight, but how these ideas are turned down are very crucial to the other person’s growth. When you read Phil 2:3… In humility consider others better than yourselves… WOW! How powerful is that?
That’s humility… Not shutting others out, but being humble is being teachable… “considering” that others may really have something to say. I hear some saying “but I have no time…”… well MAKE TIME… that’s what coaching and mentoring are all about… don’t start a vicious cycle…
Phil 4: 5 says “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
I hope that as I live longer on this earth, I will decrease and Christ will increase in me… anyway, coincidentally, one of my resolutions is more humility! As we embrace life, it’s better to be humble than to be embarassed anyway… hahaha!
Friends, as we usher in the new lunar year,
eat, drink and be merry
spend, spend, spend in order to reap, reap, reap…
I thought it’d be timely to remind myself (and those interested) about the meaning of prosperity in God’s economy.
Are we surrending our prosperity to God?
Matthew 2:9-11
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
Are we actively serving despite our physical lack?
Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Are we focusing on eternity or building our earthly lives only?
Matthew 6:19-20
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Are we sharing with those in need?
Matthew 19:21
“Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Are we pursuing success only, or are we putting God first?
Joshua 1:7
“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.”
Deuteronomy 29:9
“Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.”
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Are the motives of our heart pleasing to God?
Proverbs 17:20
“A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.”
Are we determined to follow God’s will or doing it “my way”?
Jeremiah 29:11
“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.”
Are we mistakenly exchanging the power of God with material things?
Matthew 23:16-22
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.”
Happy Chinese New Year! And may God bless you abundantly this year, but I hope you will make it your personal challenge to bless others this year.
The past 7 days went *poof*… really one of those weeks where my schedule was tighter than ever. Thank God for His grace and strength to help me survive it.
In retrospect, it just dawned on me what child-like faith might mean.. at least to me personally. I remember those days in school where I would commit every itsy bitsy thing to God and really rely on his Almighty power to help me/save me/solve the puzzles in my head.
Nowadays, I subconsciously (probably due to ego n pride) ask less. Sometimes a voice inside me ridicules me for “dragging God” into he picture for every small thing. Whether it’s skeptism (now how do u spell that!) or pride that I can surely DIY “at this age”… I don’t really know. What I do know is that I very reluctantly present all requests to God… Perhaps as life becomes more and more busy for me, I put my perspective of God through my own eyes… thinking that hey, God is probably real busy too…
See that’s when child-like faith disappears…
It’s when you tell yourself it’s impossible to allocate some of that thinking space and personal time, and seek God out for a conversation… To tell Him everything that’s on your mind, in your heart. To rely on Him 100%.
I am challenging myself once again to include God in my life 100%. The Father-heart of God wants to hear from His children, and it’ll be so silly to think otherwise. I’m not just talking about including him in the less important stuff like “please help me get a place to park, or please let all lights be green”… I’m also talking about stuff like “Lord, did I just think this is routine… no way… routine as it is, I need your wisdom to do it!”
I don’t want my child-like faith to disappear… Because if I continue to cling on Jesus for the smallest things, then I know for sure, I will cling on Him for the important things… If I can’t even trust Him for the tiniest stuff, what makes me think when I really need Him, I’d be sensitive to that idea!
I just wanna be where You are… dwelling daily in Your presence… I don’t wanna worship from afar… I just wanna be with You…
“If anyone is thirsty,
let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me,
as the Scripture has said,
streams of living water will flow from within him.”
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.
John 3:37-39
Somehow the verses jump out, though I haven’t figured out why. It’s not the first part but the second… I just have to believe in Jesus and streams of living water will flow from within me… not streams of crystal clear, refreshing water… but streams of LIVING water… bringing life to my surroundings through the Holy Spirit. What does that mean?
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:13-14
How do we bring life? Jesus gave a wonderful example during His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. That’s how He offered her life. By letting her know, that she too, can be part of the family of God… for not only certain elite people.
That’s right… streams of living water to let everyone know that salvation is here, and this God longs for their worship.
Salvation is Here – Hillsongs
God above all the world in motion.
God above all my hopes and fears.
I don’t care what the world throws at me now,
It’s gonna be alright.
Hear the sound of the generations.
Making loud our freedom song.
All in all that the world would know Your name.
It’s gonna be alright.
‘Cause I know my God saved the day,
And I know His word never fails,
And I know my God made a way for me,
Salvation is here.
Salvation is here,
Salvation is here and He lives in me.
Salvation is here,
Salvation that died just to set me free.
Salvation is here,
Salvation is here and He lives in me.
Salvation is here.
‘Cause I know my God saved the day,
And I know His word never fails,
And I know my God made a way for me,
Salvation is here.
This morning, I keep meditating on the words of Chris Tomlin’s song… Your Grace is Enough… what strikes me is that the song isn’t sung in a slow, mournful manner… it’s rather upbeat – a reminder that there is joy in God’s promises.
Great is Your faithfulness oh God
You wrestle with the sinner’s heart
You lead us by still waters and to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart
So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me
Great is Your love and justice God
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along
So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me [x2]
So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me
Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me
God I see your grace is enough
I’m covered in your love
Your grace is enough for me
For me
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