Here's a question that's driving me bonkers right now.
Jesus is coming back again. It's supposed to make me happy. Rejoiceful. Something that I would look forward to.
But I don't. Do I look forward to Him returning? Do I even know Him?
Thats distardly disturbing. I love Him, do I? Hehe.
Yeah, some people say like Paul and Peter look forward anxiously for Jesus to return. Reason that they are suffering and persecution. I don't think so. I think they had a revelation of who Jesus is, the bride anxiously awaits the coming of her lover the groom. She prepares herself for the day he will take her away.
Do I await with the same anticipation? Do I know the lover of my soul?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Love Suffers Long
Last couple of days, the words "Love people to wholeness" have just been circling and circling in my head. It got me really thinking. Especially of a really friend of mine, due to tragedy who lost someone very dear. "Love her to wholeness". She is really suffering right now, due to the loss.
Suffering is a very unique term. Especially in the life of a Christian. To some extent it is even unavoidable and as Christians, we are asked to take pleasure in it.
Phillipians 3:10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
2 Corinthians 1:5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
1 Peter 3:14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats
Lol, it almost seems that the Christian life is pretty masochistic. That if is that you suffer for Christ.
Suffering for Christ is not Cancer for Jesus Society, or Poverty for Jesus, or suffering from mental illness, depression and emotional distraught.
Why isn't that suffering for Christ? Jesus healed the sick, you should not be sick, cancer for Jesus is a lie, Jesus was never sick, Jesus fed the hungry, you should never go hungry because of poverty, Jesus raised the dead, your child should not die, nor should you lose your love ones early. Jesus cast the demons out of people, he set those who are in bondage free, all those who lose their mind became whole. All were made well.
A lot of Christians tend to suffer from Christian schizophrenia. To non-Christians, we say "Come to Jesus and all your sins will be forgiven". And then when we become Christians, we warn people "Beware of Sin~! After God curses you". That does not honour the blood of Jesus. Jesus blood is so powerful it has wiped out ALL sins. Past, present, future.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.
Knock off the stupid stuff, live a righteous life following after the Spirit, and Live. God has so much more in store for you, more than what the world can offer. Hence, the Word of who you are in Christ, what God has in store for you, and our mission is so important.
Jesus said Matthew 6:10 - "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." There is no sickness, poverty, death or mental psychosis in heaven. Heaven is the model. You are supposed to pull it down to earth. Jesus is the perfect representation of every Christian. We impersonate Christ, it is impossible with our own strength, but we have the Holy Spirit. All things are possible in Christ.
So what is suffering for Christ? Carrying up your cross. Bearing the burden. What did Jesus suffer on earth? Persecution and Loving people.
I like what Kris Vallotton says "You can be in pain and not love, but you cannot love and not be open to pain". The door that opens up to love opens up the opportunity for pain. When you love someone, I'm not talking about BGR, but love, truly love someone, you invest your time, emotion, and even who you are on them. You are not only just being there for them, speaking words, but giving your life, piece by piece to them to build them up. Hence, you open up yourself to hurt, because you are giving yourself to them, and people sometimes do reject that, and it is rejecting you. Or even despising what you give them.
Yeah, even as Christians we hurt each other. But learn to love each other. Because although we are humans and make mistakes that unintentionally hurt each other, 1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins".
Why is loving people suffering?
Life isn't about suffering. It's about Joy. But there are times that things do "happen" in our life, or in the life of those whom we love. Like my friend, who lost her loved one. Or times of trials and tribulation, when things in life just doesn't go right.
The question is not to ask God "Why", but rather "What". The attitude in life that you adopt would set course your destiny. The difference between a David and a Saul. I don't know why things happen. Even Job asked so many questions. It's becoming one of my favorite study books because he asks all the deep crying questions of our heart but he never got any answers to them. Not because God wasn't answering His questions. Actually God was. It's simply this "I see All". Not just our current, but what is coming. He See's All. All possible alternate timeline, all possible futures, all possibilities.
One revelation I felt, is that everytime we hurt. God is hurt with us. Jesus cried when he saw Lazarus. Why do bad things happen? I don't know. But we're not there Yet. We live in a world of conflict, and if Jesus was Here, it wouldn't happen. Hence, Jesus is coming back AGAIN!!!
So why does loving others hurt? It's because not only we open up ourselves to hurt. Be we share their hurts. Phillipians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. Fellowship, being in life with people as we are in life with Jesus.
1 Corinthians 12:26 - And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
We suffer, because we care. To a brother or sister who has suffered loss, we as a body suffers not because the part of the body is now only dysfunctional. But we support the part, nursing it back to health, and drag it along in this world until it has been healed, pushing on for the Kingdom.
The cross is not just heaven to earth, up down, but left right, us to men. Reaching out to others, caring, loving others as Jesus love us. Getting in Fellowship with each other, carrying each others pains and burdens, and giving them up to the Lord, sharing in each others lives. The Pharisee's asked Jesus which is the GREATEST OF ALL COMMANDMENTS. Jesus gave them 1 commandment. Love God, Love men. It's not 2 commandments. It's one. When you love God, you will automatically love men.
Hence, Urban Life. It's not just a bible-study. But doing life together, sharing life in health and sickness. Praying for one another, building each other up with the Word of God, and truly being there for one another. The devil comes like a roaring Lion. And how Lions attack and kill, is by singling out their prey, and going for the kill.
To love someone who is suffering is to be really there for them. And it is and can be absolutely draining, especially if it doesn't seem to go anywhere. They can be like a black-hole, sucking, consuming everything in, just going into the "pity-me" state. Like a pauper "feed-me" mentality, hence the children of Israel went round and round in the desert for 40 years, and only 2 people out of that generation made it into the Promise Land.
Hence, repentance is a beautiful thing. And we are called to "Love people into wholeness". Love people, inspire, encourage.. for your dark night of the soul shall only last for a night. But Joy comes in the morning. To love someone into wholeness is not just simply loving people when they are down. But also to rely on the strength, wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit.
I can only impart what I have. If I do not sit at Jesus feet, I am like the dried up old wine-skin, being squeezed for the single last drop to thirsty people and squeezed out like Martha. Or I could sit at Jesus's feet and receive New Wine. You cannot bear other peoples burdens forever. But you can out of love help carry theirs, until they are ready to give it to Jesus and see the restoration flow. Like Job's 3 friends, who sat beside Job after he suffered such loss. Bearing one anothers sufferings, getting down with people, being with them in their life.
Love people into wholeness. That is your call. That is your burden. To Love like Jesus.
Suffering is a very unique term. Especially in the life of a Christian. To some extent it is even unavoidable and as Christians, we are asked to take pleasure in it.
Phillipians 3:10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
2 Corinthians 1:5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
1 Peter 3:14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats
Lol, it almost seems that the Christian life is pretty masochistic. That if is that you suffer for Christ.
Suffering for Christ is not Cancer for Jesus Society, or Poverty for Jesus, or suffering from mental illness, depression and emotional distraught.
Why isn't that suffering for Christ? Jesus healed the sick, you should not be sick, cancer for Jesus is a lie, Jesus was never sick, Jesus fed the hungry, you should never go hungry because of poverty, Jesus raised the dead, your child should not die, nor should you lose your love ones early. Jesus cast the demons out of people, he set those who are in bondage free, all those who lose their mind became whole. All were made well.
A lot of Christians tend to suffer from Christian schizophrenia. To non-Christians, we say "Come to Jesus and all your sins will be forgiven". And then when we become Christians, we warn people "Beware of Sin~! After God curses you". That does not honour the blood of Jesus. Jesus blood is so powerful it has wiped out ALL sins. Past, present, future.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.
Knock off the stupid stuff, live a righteous life following after the Spirit, and Live. God has so much more in store for you, more than what the world can offer. Hence, the Word of who you are in Christ, what God has in store for you, and our mission is so important.
Jesus said Matthew 6:10 - "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." There is no sickness, poverty, death or mental psychosis in heaven. Heaven is the model. You are supposed to pull it down to earth. Jesus is the perfect representation of every Christian. We impersonate Christ, it is impossible with our own strength, but we have the Holy Spirit. All things are possible in Christ.
So what is suffering for Christ? Carrying up your cross. Bearing the burden. What did Jesus suffer on earth? Persecution and Loving people.
I like what Kris Vallotton says "You can be in pain and not love, but you cannot love and not be open to pain". The door that opens up to love opens up the opportunity for pain. When you love someone, I'm not talking about BGR, but love, truly love someone, you invest your time, emotion, and even who you are on them. You are not only just being there for them, speaking words, but giving your life, piece by piece to them to build them up. Hence, you open up yourself to hurt, because you are giving yourself to them, and people sometimes do reject that, and it is rejecting you. Or even despising what you give them.
Yeah, even as Christians we hurt each other. But learn to love each other. Because although we are humans and make mistakes that unintentionally hurt each other, 1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins".
Why is loving people suffering?
Life isn't about suffering. It's about Joy. But there are times that things do "happen" in our life, or in the life of those whom we love. Like my friend, who lost her loved one. Or times of trials and tribulation, when things in life just doesn't go right.
The question is not to ask God "Why", but rather "What". The attitude in life that you adopt would set course your destiny. The difference between a David and a Saul. I don't know why things happen. Even Job asked so many questions. It's becoming one of my favorite study books because he asks all the deep crying questions of our heart but he never got any answers to them. Not because God wasn't answering His questions. Actually God was. It's simply this "I see All". Not just our current, but what is coming. He See's All. All possible alternate timeline, all possible futures, all possibilities.
One revelation I felt, is that everytime we hurt. God is hurt with us. Jesus cried when he saw Lazarus. Why do bad things happen? I don't know. But we're not there Yet. We live in a world of conflict, and if Jesus was Here, it wouldn't happen. Hence, Jesus is coming back AGAIN!!!
So why does loving others hurt? It's because not only we open up ourselves to hurt. Be we share their hurts. Phillipians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. Fellowship, being in life with people as we are in life with Jesus.
1 Corinthians 12:26 - And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
We suffer, because we care. To a brother or sister who has suffered loss, we as a body suffers not because the part of the body is now only dysfunctional. But we support the part, nursing it back to health, and drag it along in this world until it has been healed, pushing on for the Kingdom.
The cross is not just heaven to earth, up down, but left right, us to men. Reaching out to others, caring, loving others as Jesus love us. Getting in Fellowship with each other, carrying each others pains and burdens, and giving them up to the Lord, sharing in each others lives. The Pharisee's asked Jesus which is the GREATEST OF ALL COMMANDMENTS. Jesus gave them 1 commandment. Love God, Love men. It's not 2 commandments. It's one. When you love God, you will automatically love men.
Hence, Urban Life. It's not just a bible-study. But doing life together, sharing life in health and sickness. Praying for one another, building each other up with the Word of God, and truly being there for one another. The devil comes like a roaring Lion. And how Lions attack and kill, is by singling out their prey, and going for the kill.
To love someone who is suffering is to be really there for them. And it is and can be absolutely draining, especially if it doesn't seem to go anywhere. They can be like a black-hole, sucking, consuming everything in, just going into the "pity-me" state. Like a pauper "feed-me" mentality, hence the children of Israel went round and round in the desert for 40 years, and only 2 people out of that generation made it into the Promise Land.
Hence, repentance is a beautiful thing. And we are called to "Love people into wholeness". Love people, inspire, encourage.. for your dark night of the soul shall only last for a night. But Joy comes in the morning. To love someone into wholeness is not just simply loving people when they are down. But also to rely on the strength, wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit.
I can only impart what I have. If I do not sit at Jesus feet, I am like the dried up old wine-skin, being squeezed for the single last drop to thirsty people and squeezed out like Martha. Or I could sit at Jesus's feet and receive New Wine. You cannot bear other peoples burdens forever. But you can out of love help carry theirs, until they are ready to give it to Jesus and see the restoration flow. Like Job's 3 friends, who sat beside Job after he suffered such loss. Bearing one anothers sufferings, getting down with people, being with them in their life.
Love people into wholeness. That is your call. That is your burden. To Love like Jesus.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Dreaming with God
This isn't so much a devotional unlike some of my previous post, rather more of some of my thoughts over the last month or so. To some extent I feel like finding back my Bill Johnson books, I've been giving so many of them away I've lost track, I only now have one on my shelf. Lol.
But yeah. Dreaming with God. I like what Pastor David Cho says, that dreaming is and can be one of the languages of the Holy Spirit. The imagination isn't bad. But it must be sanctified. But even Larry Randolph says that sometimes lots of nonsense stuff do come out, which I have to admit I'm no different. Hence its important what we fill our minds and hearts with.
But yeah, being a dreamer again. A child tends to lose his ability to dream by the time he reaches 10. Give him a pen and a paper when they are younger and progressively see as time passes. I like this funny story from Bob Mumford, a little kid was drawing huge big circles and big stuff on a paper. And the mom asked "What are you drawing?", the kid says "I'm drawing God", the mom replies "You can't draw God, no one knows how he looks like", and the little kid, so cute, he comments "They'll know when I'm done".
There were many dreamers in the bible. And I believe it is even related to faith. I believe Joseph had a dream, and like so many people who did not succeed, I believe Joseph out of faith in his dream in the pits, being a slave in Pothiphar's house, and even in the dungeons, held on to his dream. I'm not too sure where in the bible, I think there was a verse, where it says, God tests the word, until it comes to pass. And from his faith in the dream and determination to push on with the Lord at his side strengthening him, his life story is our glorious history of saving his family from starvation and establishing a nation.
Even David, prophecied to be King, he definitely dreamed of what it will become. Took him many years, being chased around by the King, further and further away from the throne, with so many times David could have taken the throne and put himself there, but he didn't promote himself. God tested the word in his life, tested his heart, until it came to pass. God finally promoted David.
Dreaming with God. I don't know if I'm dreaming with Him, or simply dreaming by myself. But these last week or so, I've just been sitting down and just dreaming. What goals, dreams, what do I want to see happen in my life in the next 5, 10, 20 and 40 years of my life. I am 23 right now, so that means I would be 28, 33, 43, and 63 respectively.
Proverbs 13:12 - Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
A dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Sometimes when we don't dream, we don't really know what we want in life. What goals do we aim for, what desires do we want. I've heard from someone that you shouldn't dream, because you are limiting God. I don't think so, I believe it's good to dream, good to plan, but if God takes you on to another path, just follow him, that's Ok.
God knows the innermost desires of our hearts. Sometimes we might be dreaming wrong, taking on the dreams of someone famous or someone else, but if we put our trust in Him, submit to His plans and purpose for us in our lives, He will always bring us to our destiny.
The thing is that we sometimes see the goal, the shining castle in front of us. When Jesus wants to bring us down the windy road, we in our pragmatic thinking would prefer to take the straightest route, going up and down the mountain, when Jesus is taking us through to the sidepath which is the tunnel through the mountain. I guess the issue is always to be submissive to His voice and inner promptings of the Holy Spirit.
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.
---
Another thing that has been going tingly in my heart concerning dreaming. Is also living by principles. Principles isn't a law. But it's living out of a thoughtful approach on living life, and it's also living out of the Words which Jesus spoke. Living out of the living word of God.
Recently I've been reading through the beautitudes again and again. Its because I don't understand it, but I do know that my heart is learning. The Beautitudes (Matthew 5-7) carries more understanding and life principles for a person to live a grace given harmonious life.
Matthew 7:26 - But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
To have the right foundation to build my dream house upon. Lol. I find so much to think about, so many things to just trying to understand, I am always marvelled when I read stuff from great patriarchs of the world, which I love reading about, both spiritual and financial giants, then I go back and think how small I am in thinking compared to them. Ha Ha.
But I am not alone. I got my best friend Mr. Holy Spirit, my senior partner in all of these, Who has been around longer than the creation of this world.
But yeah. Dreaming with God. I like what Pastor David Cho says, that dreaming is and can be one of the languages of the Holy Spirit. The imagination isn't bad. But it must be sanctified. But even Larry Randolph says that sometimes lots of nonsense stuff do come out, which I have to admit I'm no different. Hence its important what we fill our minds and hearts with.
But yeah, being a dreamer again. A child tends to lose his ability to dream by the time he reaches 10. Give him a pen and a paper when they are younger and progressively see as time passes. I like this funny story from Bob Mumford, a little kid was drawing huge big circles and big stuff on a paper. And the mom asked "What are you drawing?", the kid says "I'm drawing God", the mom replies "You can't draw God, no one knows how he looks like", and the little kid, so cute, he comments "They'll know when I'm done".
There were many dreamers in the bible. And I believe it is even related to faith. I believe Joseph had a dream, and like so many people who did not succeed, I believe Joseph out of faith in his dream in the pits, being a slave in Pothiphar's house, and even in the dungeons, held on to his dream. I'm not too sure where in the bible, I think there was a verse, where it says, God tests the word, until it comes to pass. And from his faith in the dream and determination to push on with the Lord at his side strengthening him, his life story is our glorious history of saving his family from starvation and establishing a nation.
Even David, prophecied to be King, he definitely dreamed of what it will become. Took him many years, being chased around by the King, further and further away from the throne, with so many times David could have taken the throne and put himself there, but he didn't promote himself. God tested the word in his life, tested his heart, until it came to pass. God finally promoted David.
Dreaming with God. I don't know if I'm dreaming with Him, or simply dreaming by myself. But these last week or so, I've just been sitting down and just dreaming. What goals, dreams, what do I want to see happen in my life in the next 5, 10, 20 and 40 years of my life. I am 23 right now, so that means I would be 28, 33, 43, and 63 respectively.
Proverbs 13:12 - Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
A dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Sometimes when we don't dream, we don't really know what we want in life. What goals do we aim for, what desires do we want. I've heard from someone that you shouldn't dream, because you are limiting God. I don't think so, I believe it's good to dream, good to plan, but if God takes you on to another path, just follow him, that's Ok.
God knows the innermost desires of our hearts. Sometimes we might be dreaming wrong, taking on the dreams of someone famous or someone else, but if we put our trust in Him, submit to His plans and purpose for us in our lives, He will always bring us to our destiny.
The thing is that we sometimes see the goal, the shining castle in front of us. When Jesus wants to bring us down the windy road, we in our pragmatic thinking would prefer to take the straightest route, going up and down the mountain, when Jesus is taking us through to the sidepath which is the tunnel through the mountain. I guess the issue is always to be submissive to His voice and inner promptings of the Holy Spirit.
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.
---
Another thing that has been going tingly in my heart concerning dreaming. Is also living by principles. Principles isn't a law. But it's living out of a thoughtful approach on living life, and it's also living out of the Words which Jesus spoke. Living out of the living word of God.
Recently I've been reading through the beautitudes again and again. Its because I don't understand it, but I do know that my heart is learning. The Beautitudes (Matthew 5-7) carries more understanding and life principles for a person to live a grace given harmonious life.
Matthew 7:26 - But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
To have the right foundation to build my dream house upon. Lol. I find so much to think about, so many things to just trying to understand, I am always marvelled when I read stuff from great patriarchs of the world, which I love reading about, both spiritual and financial giants, then I go back and think how small I am in thinking compared to them. Ha Ha.
But I am not alone. I got my best friend Mr. Holy Spirit, my senior partner in all of these, Who has been around longer than the creation of this world.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Why bleed?
I woke up this morning, especially after having such an amazing time at church yesterday with a word from God. Haha, Got me excited the entire morning, I was like worshipping, and almost break out into Dangdut, man. I should have, but held back the urges~! Haha! *Dangduts in the law library*
So, why do we bleed?
Bleeding is a counter-measure of our body responding to wounds. Haha, Don't kena me, especially you doctors, but in our blood is white blood cells, red blood cells and platelet's.
*The red blood cells carry oxygen that keeps our entire body functioning.
*The White blood cells protect our body by fighting against invaders
*The Platelets, it comes together, like a sticky adhesion, and it heals the gaping wound, covering it up.
A severe hurt is called a wound. Wound is a type of injury in which in the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound). (wiki)
A wound that has healed up, is called a "Scar". Scars (also called cicatrices) are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin (or other tissue) after injury. A scar results from the biologic process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. (wiki)
A wound that doesn't heal is because it has dirt or gunk that is preventing the would from healing in which the body would produce pus. Pus is a white-yellowish substance made out of liquor puris, and dead cells. It is the bodies response to fight against deadly bacteria caused by dirt or bacteria in the wound. A wound that has pus needs to be cleaned using anti-septic to kill off the bacteria before it can slowly heal.
Medical science can discover the physical aspect of the human body. But the human is made of out 3 things. The Body, the Soul (emotions,mind) and Spirit. And we get hurt in all 3.
Life is such, that we go through with all kinds of hurts, both spiritual, emotional and physical. Some small, just a minor beat on the arm, feels pain. Some deep, with a big gaping wound. I have gone through hurts in my life, most are just small smack on the head. I had a horrible physical wound on my right leg. It took me years to recover. Emotional? Haha.
But the question is, is that whether are you still carrying a wound? I mean a emotional wound, are you hurting inside when things around you are normal? A wound still hurts when you touch it, because its OPEN WOUND. A scar, has a fibrous covering. It has extra skin over the place it was once injured. It is harder than normal skin. It hurts no more when you touch it. But is cool to the touch.
There are many hurting people out there in the world. I know of girls, hurt so badly, they do not trust guys anymore, one even turned lesbian because of hurt. Many people think they can cover up their wound, by putting on a band-aid. But if it becomes pus, no matter how much you cover it, it still is bubbling up sickness inside.
There is a phrase mentioned "Hurting people hurt others". And that is very true. Why do they do that? Is it because they are intentional? Yes. But the reason for that, "a wound that is unhealed for so long, bacteria gets in, and it becomes pus infested".
Pus infestation is poisonous, it spreads not only to the body, but in can spread to others as well when you share your lives with them. And it kills. Hence, "hurting people hurt others". The problem always lies when a wound goes through a hurt, with so much junk, gunk and dirt, that its own white blood cells can't fight off the bacteria. Not only do they slowly kill themselves, but their love ones. :(
________________
But there is A Blood, that cleanses all wounds, that cleans all junk, all dirt, all bacteria. This Blood is so strong, that it not on heals physical wounds, it heals all emotional wounds, it heals all spiritual wounds.
What blood is it? It's the Blood of the one and true living Son of God, Jesus Christ. And He was "Wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
When the blood heals, it heals completely. But there is question. Does God heals you fully, in that there is no scars? or does he still leave scars? I personally have no answer to this. I think he heals you completely, but he does leave scars.
_______
There once was a girl. She was beautiful. Her mom called her beautiful. She was very loved. But life circumstance and mixing with the wrong crowd brought her to wrong places. And she fell in love with a man she thought loved her very much. One day, the man brought her to this place, and wanted to have sex with her. And because she wanted his love so much, she agreed to it. And she gave him her purity and innocence.
Next thing she knew, people came through the door. They took her by the hair, and dragged her outside. She wasn't even clothed. She was still naked. She was dragged outside, not even allowed to stand up, with her body scratching against the hard sandy floor, with cuts and bruises as they dragged her outside the house, into the streets, and into this building.
In this building, sat hundreds. Hundreds of men, sitting from above, looking down at the centre of the court, where she was dragged to. And she was thrown right in front of a man. She felt shamed, she felt embarressed, she felt hurt, she was confused. She thought she was loved, and the next thing she knows, she is now being accused, with chants thrown at her, and people wanting to kill her, wanting to stone her for the act of adultery according to the laws.
But the man who stood in front of her. This man, handsome, beautiful, robed in white, stood up before her. She was scared of the crowd, but felt peace. A gentle peace in the eyes of this man. His eyes burned with passion. This man stood up and said.
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7)
And the crowd, convicted of their own sins, left the synagogue. And only Jesus and the girl remained.
Jesus picked her up, and said "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?", "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Jesus says. "I don't condemn you, go and sin no more".
__________
Do you still carry your weight of sin? The hurt? The mistakes of the past? There will always be regret, but does it still haunt you? I tell you now that if you would let him, Jesus will pour out his blood, and clean your wounds, removing all guilt, all hatred, all the disgusting things of your past. You don't have to pretend it didn't happen, but you get to believe it is already under the blood. Jesus is saying to you right now "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more".
Stop believing the lies of the devil. Stop letting him steal from you anymore, the devil has stolen a lot from me, but not today, no more. "the devil came to steal kill and destroy, but I came that you may have life, and life more abundantly" (John 10:10). Close the door to the past, and let the cleansing blood of Christ be your panacea that cleans your wounds, open the door to Jesus. Let His blood heal your wounds. Jesus is saying to you right now if you can close your eyes and imagine his eyes, looking into yours, the passion and love as he wants to touch you and make you whole.
And all that is left from your wound will be a scar. It is not a disgusting looking scar. Scars to me are a symbol of honour. It is not ugly. Neither it is beautiful. But it is a sign of an overcomer. You are an overcomer, you are a conquerer.
I once asked God, why do we hurt? Why do we hurt others? Why do we need to go through hurt? Is it necessary?
I never really got my answer. By like Bob Mumford says, "So that you will have a Word from the Throne, a Word from God that will help your fellow hurting brothers and sisters in Christ".
Revelations 12:11 - "And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony"
If it is not healed fully yet, Let Jesus be your healer today. Let him bleed over your wounds, and your testimony shall be the power that defeats the work of the devil.
Jesus showed Thomas his scars. One on the left hand, and one on the right hand, and Thomas called out to Jesus, (John 21:28) Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!". He had scars, his scars won him the victory over all authority, over all sin and death, over every power dominion in heaven, earth or under the earth.
Your scars? Let Jesus heal your wounds, and your scars will be victory banners to the hurting, the lost and dying out there in the world. And they will say "Jesus is Lord and My God!"
So, why do we bleed?
Bleeding is a counter-measure of our body responding to wounds. Haha, Don't kena me, especially you doctors, but in our blood is white blood cells, red blood cells and platelet's.
*The red blood cells carry oxygen that keeps our entire body functioning.
*The White blood cells protect our body by fighting against invaders
*The Platelets, it comes together, like a sticky adhesion, and it heals the gaping wound, covering it up.
A severe hurt is called a wound. Wound is a type of injury in which in the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound). (wiki)
A wound that has healed up, is called a "Scar". Scars (also called cicatrices) are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin (or other tissue) after injury. A scar results from the biologic process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. (wiki)
A wound that doesn't heal is because it has dirt or gunk that is preventing the would from healing in which the body would produce pus. Pus is a white-yellowish substance made out of liquor puris, and dead cells. It is the bodies response to fight against deadly bacteria caused by dirt or bacteria in the wound. A wound that has pus needs to be cleaned using anti-septic to kill off the bacteria before it can slowly heal.
Medical science can discover the physical aspect of the human body. But the human is made of out 3 things. The Body, the Soul (emotions,mind) and Spirit. And we get hurt in all 3.
Life is such, that we go through with all kinds of hurts, both spiritual, emotional and physical. Some small, just a minor beat on the arm, feels pain. Some deep, with a big gaping wound. I have gone through hurts in my life, most are just small smack on the head. I had a horrible physical wound on my right leg. It took me years to recover. Emotional? Haha.
But the question is, is that whether are you still carrying a wound? I mean a emotional wound, are you hurting inside when things around you are normal? A wound still hurts when you touch it, because its OPEN WOUND. A scar, has a fibrous covering. It has extra skin over the place it was once injured. It is harder than normal skin. It hurts no more when you touch it. But is cool to the touch.
There are many hurting people out there in the world. I know of girls, hurt so badly, they do not trust guys anymore, one even turned lesbian because of hurt. Many people think they can cover up their wound, by putting on a band-aid. But if it becomes pus, no matter how much you cover it, it still is bubbling up sickness inside.
There is a phrase mentioned "Hurting people hurt others". And that is very true. Why do they do that? Is it because they are intentional? Yes. But the reason for that, "a wound that is unhealed for so long, bacteria gets in, and it becomes pus infested".
Pus infestation is poisonous, it spreads not only to the body, but in can spread to others as well when you share your lives with them. And it kills. Hence, "hurting people hurt others". The problem always lies when a wound goes through a hurt, with so much junk, gunk and dirt, that its own white blood cells can't fight off the bacteria. Not only do they slowly kill themselves, but their love ones. :(
________________
But there is A Blood, that cleanses all wounds, that cleans all junk, all dirt, all bacteria. This Blood is so strong, that it not on heals physical wounds, it heals all emotional wounds, it heals all spiritual wounds.
What blood is it? It's the Blood of the one and true living Son of God, Jesus Christ. And He was "Wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
When the blood heals, it heals completely. But there is question. Does God heals you fully, in that there is no scars? or does he still leave scars? I personally have no answer to this. I think he heals you completely, but he does leave scars.
_______
There once was a girl. She was beautiful. Her mom called her beautiful. She was very loved. But life circumstance and mixing with the wrong crowd brought her to wrong places. And she fell in love with a man she thought loved her very much. One day, the man brought her to this place, and wanted to have sex with her. And because she wanted his love so much, she agreed to it. And she gave him her purity and innocence.
Next thing she knew, people came through the door. They took her by the hair, and dragged her outside. She wasn't even clothed. She was still naked. She was dragged outside, not even allowed to stand up, with her body scratching against the hard sandy floor, with cuts and bruises as they dragged her outside the house, into the streets, and into this building.
In this building, sat hundreds. Hundreds of men, sitting from above, looking down at the centre of the court, where she was dragged to. And she was thrown right in front of a man. She felt shamed, she felt embarressed, she felt hurt, she was confused. She thought she was loved, and the next thing she knows, she is now being accused, with chants thrown at her, and people wanting to kill her, wanting to stone her for the act of adultery according to the laws.
But the man who stood in front of her. This man, handsome, beautiful, robed in white, stood up before her. She was scared of the crowd, but felt peace. A gentle peace in the eyes of this man. His eyes burned with passion. This man stood up and said.
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7)
And the crowd, convicted of their own sins, left the synagogue. And only Jesus and the girl remained.
Jesus picked her up, and said "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?", "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Jesus says. "I don't condemn you, go and sin no more".
__________
Do you still carry your weight of sin? The hurt? The mistakes of the past? There will always be regret, but does it still haunt you? I tell you now that if you would let him, Jesus will pour out his blood, and clean your wounds, removing all guilt, all hatred, all the disgusting things of your past. You don't have to pretend it didn't happen, but you get to believe it is already under the blood. Jesus is saying to you right now "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more".
Stop believing the lies of the devil. Stop letting him steal from you anymore, the devil has stolen a lot from me, but not today, no more. "the devil came to steal kill and destroy, but I came that you may have life, and life more abundantly" (John 10:10). Close the door to the past, and let the cleansing blood of Christ be your panacea that cleans your wounds, open the door to Jesus. Let His blood heal your wounds. Jesus is saying to you right now if you can close your eyes and imagine his eyes, looking into yours, the passion and love as he wants to touch you and make you whole.
And all that is left from your wound will be a scar. It is not a disgusting looking scar. Scars to me are a symbol of honour. It is not ugly. Neither it is beautiful. But it is a sign of an overcomer. You are an overcomer, you are a conquerer.
I once asked God, why do we hurt? Why do we hurt others? Why do we need to go through hurt? Is it necessary?
I never really got my answer. By like Bob Mumford says, "So that you will have a Word from the Throne, a Word from God that will help your fellow hurting brothers and sisters in Christ".
Revelations 12:11 - "And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony"
If it is not healed fully yet, Let Jesus be your healer today. Let him bleed over your wounds, and your testimony shall be the power that defeats the work of the devil.
Jesus showed Thomas his scars. One on the left hand, and one on the right hand, and Thomas called out to Jesus, (John 21:28) Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!". He had scars, his scars won him the victory over all authority, over all sin and death, over every power dominion in heaven, earth or under the earth.
Your scars? Let Jesus heal your wounds, and your scars will be victory banners to the hurting, the lost and dying out there in the world. And they will say "Jesus is Lord and My God!"
Going to start Blogging Again
Yup, Bern Bern has convinced me. I will start blogging again. Haha. Thanks Bern Bern. I was thinking of blogging again after my exams. But I think I'll start now~!
Haha, I just realised I have so much to write about. Maybe part of the reason is that I haven't been sending my reflections to Daniel for quite a bit.
Just to remind myself, 3-4 things I'll need to write about
1) Fathers love
2) Generational Thinking
3) The Spirit of Excellence
4) Why we bleed?
Haha, I just realised I have so much to write about. Maybe part of the reason is that I haven't been sending my reflections to Daniel for quite a bit.
Just to remind myself, 3-4 things I'll need to write about
1) Fathers love
2) Generational Thinking
3) The Spirit of Excellence
4) Why we bleed?
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas 2007
It's 10am in the morning 25th of December 2007. And I'm sitting in my jammies (well, not really jammies, but makeshift jammies of clothes) just thinking what a great Christmas it is, with "My Hope" blasting on my headphones (not to wake my sister up).
It's strange, but I don't think I've ever had a better Christmas. And I'm not really joking or being sarcastic. For some strange reason, this year feels like the best Christmas ever.
Just thinking about it, I have about umm, 5 bucks in my wallet. 76.60 in my bank. Eh, more money than I expected! I thought I got 15 bucks. Hahaha! Got paid from Fry's yesterday, Thanks Wes!
My parents got me clothes from Malaysia when they dropped by 2 weeks ago (Super Thanks!), I'm going to wear my superbright orange-red shirt today! Haha. My sister got me something but I forgot what it is. Hahah! Planetshakers City Church got me the "Free" Album (which I had to pay 25 bucks, but for them to release it early for me, hahah thats a gift in itself!), my uncle and aunty have prepared me a super nice warm meal last night in Melton.
My Father in heaven? An awesome year in 2007. And a hope, a future, and a destiny veiled in mystery that lies before me, that is beyond what I could imagine, dream and ask for. That cost Him not an arm and leg, but Himself entirely. It cost Him Jesus.
Is it the best Christmas? Yes it is. I don't know why. I didn't get the most impressive, or beautiful presents. We didn't even put up a tree.
Maybe this is the best Christmas ever for me, because it's less about everything else the world can offer, but more about Him.
It's strange, but I don't think I've ever had a better Christmas. And I'm not really joking or being sarcastic. For some strange reason, this year feels like the best Christmas ever.
Just thinking about it, I have about umm, 5 bucks in my wallet. 76.60 in my bank. Eh, more money than I expected! I thought I got 15 bucks. Hahaha! Got paid from Fry's yesterday, Thanks Wes!
My parents got me clothes from Malaysia when they dropped by 2 weeks ago (Super Thanks!), I'm going to wear my superbright orange-red shirt today! Haha. My sister got me something but I forgot what it is. Hahah! Planetshakers City Church got me the "Free" Album (which I had to pay 25 bucks, but for them to release it early for me, hahah thats a gift in itself!), my uncle and aunty have prepared me a super nice warm meal last night in Melton.
My Father in heaven? An awesome year in 2007. And a hope, a future, and a destiny veiled in mystery that lies before me, that is beyond what I could imagine, dream and ask for. That cost Him not an arm and leg, but Himself entirely. It cost Him Jesus.
Is it the best Christmas? Yes it is. I don't know why. I didn't get the most impressive, or beautiful presents. We didn't even put up a tree.
Maybe this is the best Christmas ever for me, because it's less about everything else the world can offer, but more about Him.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Overnight Prayer
Yup, It was amazing! We had our overnight prayer last night, which was on the 30th of November, from 10pm till 6am. Wow, it was awesome. I can only give praise to such a crowd of people, who will stand the night and pray for the church.
The biggest crew was the 10pm till midnight. I think somewhat close to 300+ people came. Which was amazing. By midnight, the crowd started dwindling a bit. And by about 6am, there was a little over a 100 people. But it's still a awesome turnout.
There had been 4 watches, and 3 breaks in between. Each watch is 2 hours long. So it's from 10pm-12am, 12am-2am and so on so forth. The breaks lasts 20 minutes. So technically out of the 8 hours, we praised, worshiped and prayed for about 7 hours, and then had 1 hour in total rest.
The encouraging part is always to see your best friends pray alongside with you and pray throughout the night. I wonder if it wasn't after exam period, how many other people from PlanetUni would have hold the night as well. To stand the night, sacrificing sleep for the cause of Christ. Thats the really encouraging part. To see young men and women of Christ, crying out for more for God to make a difference in their life. "No matter the sacrifice, Lord we need more". The mood and the atmosphere was just mind-blowing. Although everyone is aching of tiredness, some of the girls are just really hilarious, because their kneeling down, look like their praying, but I think they've fallen asleep. Hehehe. People all worshiping God and walking around the hall praying in tongues continuously, as the prayer leader in front is praying without ceasing.
I believe tonight would be a night to be remembered. It's the first of many more to come. And tonight we have planted seeds of revival in our church. 2008 would be a year of great harvest. Very very great harvest. And it is continually important on our side to continue planting, praying, and pressing in for the increase, that the Holy Spirit would pour out his spirit with a measure that there is no end upon Planetshakers.
An interesting statistic, we grow by 1000 people a year. Pastor Russell wants us to conquer Telstra Dome. Thats a 100,000 people stadium. It's going to take us 97 years to do that. Melbourne has nearly 4 million people. We don't need all 4 million people to be in our church, but Melbourne needs Jesus. And we are one of the fore-frontiers of leading Melbourne into a revival. We need a multiplication to reach the lost! I need a blood-washed Melbourne!
I to go out into all new territories, invading new realms for God. We need new anointings, powerful fresh anointings that were once lost, we need them now and now again. I want anointings like Smith-Wigglesworth, raising people from the dead, John G Lakes, killing diseases by touch, John Wesley, Preaching so powerful that people get convicted of sin miles and miles away, Semple Amy McPherson, that even down the road, the presence and power of God can be felt, people just in awesome fear knowing that the power of God is present, Kris Volloton & Larry Landolph, calling out peoples destiny and deepest dreams without even knowing them, Cho Yonggi, a million people church!
The biggest crew was the 10pm till midnight. I think somewhat close to 300+ people came. Which was amazing. By midnight, the crowd started dwindling a bit. And by about 6am, there was a little over a 100 people. But it's still a awesome turnout.
There had been 4 watches, and 3 breaks in between. Each watch is 2 hours long. So it's from 10pm-12am, 12am-2am and so on so forth. The breaks lasts 20 minutes. So technically out of the 8 hours, we praised, worshiped and prayed for about 7 hours, and then had 1 hour in total rest.
The encouraging part is always to see your best friends pray alongside with you and pray throughout the night. I wonder if it wasn't after exam period, how many other people from PlanetUni would have hold the night as well. To stand the night, sacrificing sleep for the cause of Christ. Thats the really encouraging part. To see young men and women of Christ, crying out for more for God to make a difference in their life. "No matter the sacrifice, Lord we need more". The mood and the atmosphere was just mind-blowing. Although everyone is aching of tiredness, some of the girls are just really hilarious, because their kneeling down, look like their praying, but I think they've fallen asleep. Hehehe. People all worshiping God and walking around the hall praying in tongues continuously, as the prayer leader in front is praying without ceasing.
I believe tonight would be a night to be remembered. It's the first of many more to come. And tonight we have planted seeds of revival in our church. 2008 would be a year of great harvest. Very very great harvest. And it is continually important on our side to continue planting, praying, and pressing in for the increase, that the Holy Spirit would pour out his spirit with a measure that there is no end upon Planetshakers.
An interesting statistic, we grow by 1000 people a year. Pastor Russell wants us to conquer Telstra Dome. Thats a 100,000 people stadium. It's going to take us 97 years to do that. Melbourne has nearly 4 million people. We don't need all 4 million people to be in our church, but Melbourne needs Jesus. And we are one of the fore-frontiers of leading Melbourne into a revival. We need a multiplication to reach the lost! I need a blood-washed Melbourne!
I to go out into all new territories, invading new realms for God. We need new anointings, powerful fresh anointings that were once lost, we need them now and now again. I want anointings like Smith-Wigglesworth, raising people from the dead, John G Lakes, killing diseases by touch, John Wesley, Preaching so powerful that people get convicted of sin miles and miles away, Semple Amy McPherson, that even down the road, the presence and power of God can be felt, people just in awesome fear knowing that the power of God is present, Kris Volloton & Larry Landolph, calling out peoples destiny and deepest dreams without even knowing them, Cho Yonggi, a million people church!
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