Saw this while reading "our daily bread". Interesting, last time only knew the verse in new testament about not yoking to each other etc.
I wonder how God views marriage, must be very different from mine. Ergo, i need to remember to read more of His views (words). ha.
Covenants, gosh, i don't remember all of the covenants He promised me. How am i gonna live like this?! As if i need to push thru on my own, be positive and pray for His grace only.... gotha read more bible.
Malachi 2:10-16
Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?
Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD cut him off from the tents of Jacob —even though he brings offerings to the LORD Almighty.
Another thing you do: You flood the LORD's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty.
So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
<12 bliss
1st time in the last 1.5 forever weeks, I knock off at 8pm, spent less than 12 hours in office today!!!!! woo hoo!!!!!! gonna swim a little more, bath n sleep early!!! =)
Finally Free
- Nicole Nordeman
No chain is strong enough
No choice is wrong enough
No mountain high enough that He
can't climb
No shadow dark enough
No night is black enough
No road is lost enough that He can't find
And if the Son has set us free
Then we must be, free indeed
Let the chains fall away, starting today
Everything has changed
I'm finally free
No pain is deep enough
No heart could bleed enough
Nothing but Jesus' love can make a way
And if the Son has set us free
Then we must be, free indeed
Let the chains fall away, starting today
Everything has changed
I'm finally free
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Ps 42:7-8
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
CDs wanted + vin's tag
somebody let me know if these two CDs are for sale in m'sia/s'pore.. =(
Vin's TAG
1. Vincent is a boy
2. He seems to have prolonging deep thoughts when u don't talk to him
3. Plays the guitar nicely
4. Takes time to get to know him
5. Able to speak his mind with ppl he is comfortable with
6. Can crap a bit, sometimes quite fun
7. Is a nice boy, i think
8. I dunno him that well
..
9. Can eat, like me! =P
10. Knows a lot about music, bible and guitars.
1. I am victor
2. I am half-boy, ha. half-man half-blur in office.
3. Plays the drums nicely
4. Hopes to have more time.
5. Able to speak his mind with ppl I am comfortable with
6. Can crap a bit, sometimes quite fun
7. Has a lot of things in my mind
8. Casual pants all brown colour
9. Loves a bit of poetry, lots of beach and sunsets and instrumental soundtracks
10. Wants to rest.
Monday, February 16, 2009
24th Bday (yr 2009)
Time passed so fast during these times, I am really thankful and touched by all the friends. The wonderful dinner at a japanese noodles restaurant at causeway point on wednesday night - great saba fish, fun games, great chat and perfect polo-T.
Friday's flooding of very meaningful sms-es, emails, friendster & facebook wishes from young ones, friends and uncle-aunties.
the friday night surprise at my house by TnT CG - bringing 3 donuts with candles, hiding behind a car on the street outside my house (lol), emerging in the dark with those candles lighting up my tired soul after a hard day's work, superb mee siam, fun time browsing thru childhood photos, eating on the living room floor.. and my dear sis' cheese cake =)
saturday morning's breakfast by my parents, tips on marinating meat, sis for accompanying me to the wet market to go walk around be blur and wonder what else to buy =P walking the wet wet alleys, looking at fishes, visited the lone pork stall, listened to uncle talked about earning money in US selling pork.
sunday afternoon baking lesson by a good friend, and the rest of the evening with most of my close friends there, about 10 ppl, preparing an all-chinese dinner, cooking together. Made a little mess out of the kitchen, cooked 2 chickens and 1.5 kg of pork, big soup and other veges, just there being together with everybody, passing the sauces, listen to cooking tips & lessons, some frying, some surprise gifts. tons and tons of talking, laughing, tasting food, experimenting, suan-ing each other, crapping, super-super fun. watched them play chua dai di with super big (palm-sized) disney poker cards, haha. Eventually, sitting around the crowded round table having sweet sour pork, ABC soup, black-sauce pork, kai lan, cai xin, herbal chicken, choco brownie with fudge sauce and vanilla ice-cream. Good food =) =)
When i thought nothing can beat what happened on my 23rd Bday, this year, after yesterday, i could die a happy boy. ha =P
My only regret is no photos, i guess i won't be able to visualise exactly how good the food looks, and the bowls of rice with traditional chopsticks & spoon around the table. But i remember the smiles and conversations going around, just like a happy family, cooking together, eating home-cooked food together. Oh ya, and also the unusual way of wrapping of gifts from australia, ha. Everything was beautiful, unforgettable. =)
Thank God, thank you. =)
To be with you all together, is my biggest, best birthday gift.
Looking at past Bday posts, i am being reminded to be very thankful for my family and the bunch of friends who have stepped into my life and make it absolutely beautiful.
2008
2007
I am truly blessed.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tulips
I’ve decided to keep my poem & night devotion book in office, then I can read a poem a day n do the night devotion during OT, smart.. =P
realized that I spent too much time in office, really need to enjoy while i’m here.
Today’s poem is really beautiful… =)
Tulips
May our failed hopes rise like tulips
Out of the cold ground,
And, when we look around,
There our satin bowls are, chocolates,
And swaying, velvety clarets, aglow
With memories of help we thought would
Appear and beliefs we watered.
And we do have something to show,
goblet-like reminders of our stubborn
labors – or we don’t, and refuse
odorless flowers and choose
to live without consolation.
Mark Halperin
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
God is our protector
It's been a discouraging day, I'm home finally, but i still need to work..
Thank God for songs like this...
Song's title is "God is our protector"
My protector, defender of the weak, my shade,
sun in the day, moon at night,
cover me in my going in and coming out,
..
I shall rest in the shadow of your wings.
Monday, February 09, 2009
This is you
Read fast, real, fast. like the wind,
Like an analyst through a baby book,
Make quick your time through endless fixes of free sentences.
Alright, you've made it, through
to the next paragraph,
the second level of understanding,
to the third level of misgiving.
Look at me,
I worry about the next hour,
the next time, a mindless schedule and a mindful shortage of ___ .
This is it, this is you, this is me, this all.
A stranger always in the deepest brightest valley,
Borrow me a marvel camcorder and we will
record widespread emptiness in limited editions and free spaces.
We cry, we die.
Yearned for completion.
Consumed by hidden hunger, blinded by numbed thirst.
Ignore the sunshine, see through the faces,
walk in streets as a passerby in waiting to arrive.
We never will arrive.
What constitutes happiness, what pursuits we live by,
strength for another day, pat for comfort,
blessings we like.
Sleep and wonder,
Learn and finish the last unending obstacle,
Travel and swell by-and-by.
May our empty-ness
empty us
May our suffering and bingeing pale us
May our losses and achievements cheat us
not.
But help me,
awaken and recognise my innate desire,
To know you
more.
and more.
(teach us how to live)
Like an analyst through a baby book,
Make quick your time through endless fixes of free sentences.
Alright, you've made it, through
to the next paragraph,
the second level of understanding,
to the third level of misgiving.
Look at me,
I worry about the next hour,
the next time, a mindless schedule and a mindful shortage of ___ .
This is it, this is you, this is me, this all.
A stranger always in the deepest brightest valley,
Borrow me a marvel camcorder and we will
record widespread emptiness in limited editions and free spaces.
We cry, we die.
Yearned for completion.
Consumed by hidden hunger, blinded by numbed thirst.
Ignore the sunshine, see through the faces,
walk in streets as a passerby in waiting to arrive.
We never will arrive.
What constitutes happiness, what pursuits we live by,
strength for another day, pat for comfort,
blessings we like.
Sleep and wonder,
Learn and finish the last unending obstacle,
Travel and swell by-and-by.
May our empty-ness
empty us
May our suffering and bingeing pale us
May our losses and achievements cheat us
not.
But help me,
awaken and recognise my innate desire,
To know you
more.
and more.
(teach us how to live)Sunday, February 08, 2009
The walk after wedding (2)
"A swan, or swans, Vicky."
Yes, I know. The moment when I see her stretching out her stubborn head into my world, my world collapsed, disappeared. Nothing else matters anymore, she is perfect. 6 pounds 19 inches and a loud weeping voice - Victoria. Somehow over the years, Vicky became an easier name to call out, holler across the room, demand an explanation, pamper and coo for a surprise in waiting.
--
Without hesitation, she takes off those newly bought shoes and hands it to me (as always). Without words, Vicky sits on the edge, slowly dipping her toes in the cool summer's lake; knowing well that my arms are around her waist to prevent her from falling over, (and from growing up too fast).
I anticipate the lake, as the sun like a well-spent charcoal, setting ashore and shimmering, passing its glory to the waters below.
She watches the swans.
They are just swimming, but I imagine their heads touching each other and with slender necks, forming a love-shaped postcard picture.
"Daddy, stop writing. See, look there! Love-shaped swans!!"
"Wow, do you know what it means?"
"That they love each other?"
"You bet", I smiled.
Hugging her tightly from behind, my heart aches deeply, wishing that Kathy was here to hug her, to see our girl in her flowing dress, looking once again at the miracle of our first date.
-end-
Yes, I know. The moment when I see her stretching out her stubborn head into my world, my world collapsed, disappeared. Nothing else matters anymore, she is perfect. 6 pounds 19 inches and a loud weeping voice - Victoria. Somehow over the years, Vicky became an easier name to call out, holler across the room, demand an explanation, pamper and coo for a surprise in waiting.
--
Without hesitation, she takes off those newly bought shoes and hands it to me (as always). Without words, Vicky sits on the edge, slowly dipping her toes in the cool summer's lake; knowing well that my arms are around her waist to prevent her from falling over, (and from growing up too fast).
I anticipate the lake, as the sun like a well-spent charcoal, setting ashore and shimmering, passing its glory to the waters below.
She watches the swans.
They are just swimming, but I imagine their heads touching each other and with slender necks, forming a love-shaped postcard picture.
"Daddy, stop writing. See, look there! Love-shaped swans!!"
"Wow, do you know what it means?"
"That they love each other?"
"You bet", I smiled.
Hugging her tightly from behind, my heart aches deeply, wishing that Kathy was here to hug her, to see our girl in her flowing dress, looking once again at the miracle of our first date.
-end-Wednesday, February 04, 2009
The walk after wedding
(just trying to write something experimental & fast before continuing my usual routine..)The Walk After Wedding
We are walking, she and I, back home just a mile away. She's happily prodding down her feet while it echoes around and above the alley. "Hold my hand, it's a bit slippery after the rain", something I told her time and again. Can't help it, can she, dipping her dainty little white shoes in the puddle again. I sighed a hidden smile. The lights above tingled. Dimming, the sun squeezed in between the alley down behind faraway trees.
"Do you like the wedding?", I quipped while picking out some leftover confetti in her hair. "It's ok", the 4 year-old angel replied, followed by a long pause.. (Gosh, I haven't wipe clean those sticky fingers that poked a dotted love-shaped mess on the wedding cake when the guests left).
"Look papa, a swans!"
I forgot to mention, when we were passed the alley, there's this radiant lake with a swan couple silently gliding across its surface to each other.
(.... okie, braino-deado, no more inspiration, back to studying & sleep)
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Some thoughts abt Melbourne..
lest we forget..
taken from the top of the shrine of remembrance
cheesy..
It is a totally different world ba, to put it shortly. I am very lazy to type, maybe will describe verbally if you ask me, hehe. I know it's only 3 hours difference, but i'm having a bit of jet lag, tired.
The above pic is at federation square, the australian open (tennis) played on big screen while hundreds just sit/lie on the floor watching while the sun sets, at about 8-9pm. Mebourne is a cultural city, see the many old victorian buildings with the modern ones, the ppl there wearing different types of clothings (s'poreans wear only 1 type, JB ppl about 4-5 types, melbourne abt 25 types of clothings, me - 0.1 type, lol).
there are still many photos of the city, the suburbs, the farm and vast acres of land, the great ocean road & 12 apostles, the steam train - puffing billy, the vineyard and wine-tasting sessions, live music performances, pine tree forest. check facebook ba.
pine tree forest
Yea, a happy new me =)
oh, yeah, two movies that i will recommend to those who are female and like art house, deep movies. watched it in the plane and its very nice, very touching, very real =)
The secret life of bees
Rachel getting married
A modern adaption of the prodigal son, abt the addicted celebrity who came back from rehab to attend her sister's wedding.
oh, yeah, two movies that i will recommend to those who are female and like art house, deep movies. watched it in the plane and its very nice, very touching, very real =)
The secret life of bees
Rachel getting marriedA modern adaption of the prodigal son, abt the addicted celebrity who came back from rehab to attend her sister's wedding.
Monday, January 26, 2009
will write when i'm back, i think, happy CNY! =)
See how cheap are the grapes, cherries, strawberries, peaches, nectarines..
picnic at King's Domain Park, hot sun but very very cool weather, no sweat at all.. =)
One of the many stalls in Queen Victoria Market..
Me & my fish
Street performers, nice music!
Borderless, horizontal rainbow while transiting from Perth to Melbourne, 8pm
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wiped away
I managed to test my limit, and fell sick after lunch time today. haha. Pushed myself too hard in work ba, i guess, emailed my director and left office at 3pm to visit the company's clinic - raffles medical.
And as the lift went down 21 floors, step out to the sunlight, a hidden smile popped out of me =)
how nice it is to see the sunshine again in its full volume. I walked about 10mins, enjoying every minute of not being where i supposed to be. Listen closely, and you will find the rustling of trees louder than hidden sighs in passer-bys.
Briefly registered my name and company, sat on a coloured seat and loving the piano solo music playing in the background, i remembered how different it is 6 months ago. From being naive to, err, slightly less naive. Ha. Though i still shudder at the thought of calling overseas clients tomorrow.
Visited the doctor, took the expensive-looking but free meds.
Back to my desk, the whirlwind.
..
went out with my dutch cousin last night, he told me: "victor, you should do something that you will be happy about, happy inside."
well.. i am learning to be happy, i know this is where i am supposed to be in this season, it will not pass on that soon, it will likely get more serious. i will grow.
I am cultivating the habit of saying a longer prayer of thanks to God everytime i finished work, while walking to the mrt with head hanging half-low, whether it is 7, 8 or 9pm. And i am slowly gaining back perspective and surprisingly, joy.
When i can, i'll try to wipe away my yawning eyes. It's a new day tomorrow, and I will close my windows at 9.30pm today =)
oh yeah, check out the boy at min 2:18-2:26. I didn't know Joey could dance so well, and at junior Eurovision!! kudos to my cousin..
*for those ppl who have enough spare time to read this blog, pls read the below article..
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Perfect love casts out fear
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.."
- 1 John 4:18
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
In years past when I read this scripture, I misunderstood its meaning. I thought it was saying that if I could reach the place where I walked in perfect love toward other people, I would no longer experience fear in my own life. I diligently tried to love others, but it seemed like I always failed. I couldn’t even love them imperfectly, let alone perfectly!
I had a lot of fear in my life—fear that manifested as insecurity and mental torment of every kind. A fearful person worries and is anxious about many things, such as the past, the future, finances, what people think, etc. These constant companions literally bring torment. The King James version of 1 John 4:18 certainly describes fear accurately when it says that …fear hath torment….
There are many evil spirits that Satan uses to make people miserable, but I personally believe that fear is the master spirit. Fear seems to be the root of most of the problems that steal our peace. For example, if we find ourselves uncomfortable with a group of people, it is usually because we fear what they think of us. If we’re trying to control a situation, and it’s causing us to get into strife, it’s often because we’re afraid that we’ll be taken advantage of if we don't control everything.
THE CONTROL ISSUE
Trying to control people, circumstances, and even God is a hard task. As a matter of fact, it’s impossible. Out of fear, I spent many years trying to control everything and everyone. I was fearful of being hurt or taken advantage of, as I had been in the past. I had not yet learned about perfect love that casts out fear. I was busy being in charge of everything—being the great “choir director” of my life. The Holy Spirit wants to guide, direct and control us. If we allow Him, He’ll direct us into great blessings for our lives. We’re to operate in self-control and give the Holy Spirit control of our lives, but we should never try to control other people. Satan uses manipulation and control to get his way, but these aren’t the methods that God's children should use to get what they desire.
We are to trust God, pray about what we want, and believe that He’ll do what’s best for us at the right time. This is difficult to learn because all too often our experience with people teaches us not to trust. We must learn that people and God aren’t alike. All people are imperfect, and even those who try not to hurt others occasionally do. How can imperfect people love us with perfect love? If they could, we would have no fear. Our fears concerning people—being hurt and disappointed by them—would end. Because the emotional pain of rejection, judgment, betrayal, criticism, etc. is very real and devastating, we naturally avoid it once we have experienced it. It seems that people fall into one of two categories: they either withdraw in fear and live lonely lives where they avoid close relationships, or they want to have relationships but are never really able to develop proper ones because of all their fears. They end up controlling, manipulating, and being angry a lot. In general, their lives are frustrating because much of the time, they truly don't know what is wrong. They’re reacting from the pain of old wounds rather than acting on the truth of God's Word.
THE CURE FOR THE INSECURE
Insecurity is said to be an epidemic in today's society. There are so many insecure people trying to have relationships with other insecure people. The world calls this kind of relationship dysfunctional, which simply means they aren’t functioning properly.
Most people are raised in dysfunctional homes. They go into society and continue the dysfunction, and each generation adds to the last one's problems until society becomes increasingly more dysfunctional. There is, however, an answer. His name is Jesus Christ.
When Jesus said in John 14:6, ...I am the Way..., He not only meant that He’s the Way to the Father and the Way to heaven, but I believe He also meant that He’s the Way out of every wrong and messed up situation. If we invite Him, Jesus can get into the middle of dysfunctional lives and make them functional again. He restores, renews, redeems, reconciles and refreshes. Jesus is "re" everything. The prefix re means "to go back again, or to return to the starting place." Our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, intends to get us back to the place where Satan messed things up and give us a new beginning. If we repent, He removes the reproach of the past and gives us a full recompense for our past hurts. Yes, Jesus is the only Way.
Why should Jesus help us in this manner? He does it because He is love—because He loves us. He’s God's gift of love to us. Jesus is the manifestation of perfect love. Only perfect love can cast out fear. One thing we need to concentrate on and seek God for is revelation about the love He has extended toward us.
Very few people have a deep and abiding revelation concerning the love of God. I believe God wants me to tell you that He loves you very much. That may sound simple, but it’s the most powerful thing you can believe. When we know without a doubt the perfect, complete love that God has for us, it will cause fear to lose its grip on our lives.
LEARNING TO ABIDE IN HIS LOVE
The word abide means "to dwell in or live." It does not refer to visiting. It refers to staying or remaining. I don't visit my house; I live in it. We should learn to live in the love of God. First John 4:16 in the Amplified translation brings out the point that we should become conscious and aware of the love God has for us. The knowledge of His love should not be some biblical fact to which we mentally assent, but it should be a daily, living reality in our lives. This scripture says we should observe it and experience it: And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him (I John 4:16).
I was so desperate for a revelation concerning the love of God, that several years ago I began to keep a journal of the things He did in my life that I believed displayed His love. No matter how small they were, I recorded them. This process helped me to become more conscious of His love. I needed to dwell in God's love because I needed a lot of healing. I was insecure and fearful, and I’ve found that the love of God is the cure for the insecure.
When people gave me things, I recorded it. When I was shown favor in situations, I recorded it. When God answered prayers and did things for me that I had requested, I recorded it. Many of the things I recorded seemed rather childish, but they were helping me become like the little child Jesus said we should be—a child who is trusting, humble, lowly and loving.
I believe God is showing His love for us daily in many different ways, but because we haven’t trained ourselves to be conscious of His love, we miss what He’s doing. His love is there, but it’s not a reality to us. Therefore, it doesn’t benefit us as it should.
Paul's prayer for the church, as recorded in the book of Ephesians, indicates how very important it is that we have a deep revelation concerning how much God loves us. Paul could have prayed for anything. He could have prayed for them to have power, to do miracles or to exercise authority over the devil, but Paul prayed for the church to be rooted deeply in God's love. Paul knew that was the starting point—the place from which every point starts—the place from which everything else grows. Power, miracles, victory and authority are all based on our being secure in the fact that God loves us.
Ephesians 3:17-19 says, May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [that you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
These scriptures make it clear that we need to experience His love—not just have head knowledge but a deep revelation—and that the roots of our being should be securely planted in His love.
THE FEAR OF LACK
There are endless varieties of fear, but one of the tormenting fears that many people suffer from is the fear of lack. They fear that their needs won’t be met—that God won’t come through in time. Hebrews 13:5,6 gives great comfort to those in this situation: Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?
You may be in a situation right now that you’ve never been in before. You may be facing new responsibility that you don't know how to handle. You may have needs that are beyond your resources and the spirit of fear is attacking you and telling you that you aren’t going to make it. You may feel all alone in your situation, like nobody cares. But God cares about you!
When God says in these scriptures to be satisfied with your present circumstances, He doesn’t mean that you cannot desire change. We should be content in Jesus, knowing that He has heard our prayers and believing that He’ll never fail us. We must learn how to enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going.
God is a God of progress. He’s never standing still. Even when it seems that absolutely nothing is happening in our lives, God is working behind the scene on things that He’ll manifest at exactly the right time. God is life, and life must flow otherwise it is no longer life. Dead things stagnate and no longer move, but life is always moving, stirring and making progress.
Beloved, God has a good plan for you, and He’ll manifest it right on time. Fear not! God is with you, and He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. He’ll not leave you without support! If you need financial support, He’ll provide. If it’s physical support you need, He’ll sustain you while you’re waiting for your full manifestation of healing. If you need emotional support, He’ll comfort you with the kind of comfort that only the Holy Spirit can give. He’ll nourish you and bring you back to a place of strength in every area of your life. God is for you. He is not against you. Satan is against you, but God is for you. The greater One lives in you! (See 1 John 4:4.)
LET NOTHING SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD'S LOVE
Romans 8:35-39 speaks to us about difficult times and how important it is not to allow them to separate us from God's love. I’ve discovered over the years that His love sustains me in times of great trial and stress. During hard times Satan works overtime trying to convince us that God doesn’t love us—that if He did, either we wouldn’t be in this situation, or He would’ve delivered us by now. I confess with my own mouth the truth that God does love me during these attacks of fear. I encourage you to say several times a day with confidence, "God loves me!" Don't allow the devil to steal this truth from you.
Ephesians 6:11-17 speaks of wearing spiritual armor during demonic attacks. One piece of that armor is the belt of truth. The Amplified Bible states that we are to tighten the belt of truth during attack. That means the truths we’ve learned from God's Word must be held onto tightly during trials.
Let me close with these scriptures from Romans 8:35-39, which I pray will comfort you right now: Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As long as you refuse to let anything separate you from God's love, you will have the victory!
=)
*vic: wow.......
- 1 John 4:18
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
by Joyce Meyer
There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]. —1 John 4:18In years past when I read this scripture, I misunderstood its meaning. I thought it was saying that if I could reach the place where I walked in perfect love toward other people, I would no longer experience fear in my own life. I diligently tried to love others, but it seemed like I always failed. I couldn’t even love them imperfectly, let alone perfectly!
I had a lot of fear in my life—fear that manifested as insecurity and mental torment of every kind. A fearful person worries and is anxious about many things, such as the past, the future, finances, what people think, etc. These constant companions literally bring torment. The King James version of 1 John 4:18 certainly describes fear accurately when it says that …fear hath torment….
There are many evil spirits that Satan uses to make people miserable, but I personally believe that fear is the master spirit. Fear seems to be the root of most of the problems that steal our peace. For example, if we find ourselves uncomfortable with a group of people, it is usually because we fear what they think of us. If we’re trying to control a situation, and it’s causing us to get into strife, it’s often because we’re afraid that we’ll be taken advantage of if we don't control everything.
THE CONTROL ISSUE
Trying to control people, circumstances, and even God is a hard task. As a matter of fact, it’s impossible. Out of fear, I spent many years trying to control everything and everyone. I was fearful of being hurt or taken advantage of, as I had been in the past. I had not yet learned about perfect love that casts out fear. I was busy being in charge of everything—being the great “choir director” of my life. The Holy Spirit wants to guide, direct and control us. If we allow Him, He’ll direct us into great blessings for our lives. We’re to operate in self-control and give the Holy Spirit control of our lives, but we should never try to control other people. Satan uses manipulation and control to get his way, but these aren’t the methods that God's children should use to get what they desire.
We are to trust God, pray about what we want, and believe that He’ll do what’s best for us at the right time. This is difficult to learn because all too often our experience with people teaches us not to trust. We must learn that people and God aren’t alike. All people are imperfect, and even those who try not to hurt others occasionally do. How can imperfect people love us with perfect love? If they could, we would have no fear. Our fears concerning people—being hurt and disappointed by them—would end. Because the emotional pain of rejection, judgment, betrayal, criticism, etc. is very real and devastating, we naturally avoid it once we have experienced it. It seems that people fall into one of two categories: they either withdraw in fear and live lonely lives where they avoid close relationships, or they want to have relationships but are never really able to develop proper ones because of all their fears. They end up controlling, manipulating, and being angry a lot. In general, their lives are frustrating because much of the time, they truly don't know what is wrong. They’re reacting from the pain of old wounds rather than acting on the truth of God's Word.
THE CURE FOR THE INSECURE
Insecurity is said to be an epidemic in today's society. There are so many insecure people trying to have relationships with other insecure people. The world calls this kind of relationship dysfunctional, which simply means they aren’t functioning properly.
Most people are raised in dysfunctional homes. They go into society and continue the dysfunction, and each generation adds to the last one's problems until society becomes increasingly more dysfunctional. There is, however, an answer. His name is Jesus Christ.
When Jesus said in John 14:6, ...I am the Way..., He not only meant that He’s the Way to the Father and the Way to heaven, but I believe He also meant that He’s the Way out of every wrong and messed up situation. If we invite Him, Jesus can get into the middle of dysfunctional lives and make them functional again. He restores, renews, redeems, reconciles and refreshes. Jesus is "re" everything. The prefix re means "to go back again, or to return to the starting place." Our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, intends to get us back to the place where Satan messed things up and give us a new beginning. If we repent, He removes the reproach of the past and gives us a full recompense for our past hurts. Yes, Jesus is the only Way.
Why should Jesus help us in this manner? He does it because He is love—because He loves us. He’s God's gift of love to us. Jesus is the manifestation of perfect love. Only perfect love can cast out fear. One thing we need to concentrate on and seek God for is revelation about the love He has extended toward us.
Very few people have a deep and abiding revelation concerning the love of God. I believe God wants me to tell you that He loves you very much. That may sound simple, but it’s the most powerful thing you can believe. When we know without a doubt the perfect, complete love that God has for us, it will cause fear to lose its grip on our lives.
LEARNING TO ABIDE IN HIS LOVE
The word abide means "to dwell in or live." It does not refer to visiting. It refers to staying or remaining. I don't visit my house; I live in it. We should learn to live in the love of God. First John 4:16 in the Amplified translation brings out the point that we should become conscious and aware of the love God has for us. The knowledge of His love should not be some biblical fact to which we mentally assent, but it should be a daily, living reality in our lives. This scripture says we should observe it and experience it: And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him (I John 4:16).
I was so desperate for a revelation concerning the love of God, that several years ago I began to keep a journal of the things He did in my life that I believed displayed His love. No matter how small they were, I recorded them. This process helped me to become more conscious of His love. I needed to dwell in God's love because I needed a lot of healing. I was insecure and fearful, and I’ve found that the love of God is the cure for the insecure.
When people gave me things, I recorded it. When I was shown favor in situations, I recorded it. When God answered prayers and did things for me that I had requested, I recorded it. Many of the things I recorded seemed rather childish, but they were helping me become like the little child Jesus said we should be—a child who is trusting, humble, lowly and loving.
I believe God is showing His love for us daily in many different ways, but because we haven’t trained ourselves to be conscious of His love, we miss what He’s doing. His love is there, but it’s not a reality to us. Therefore, it doesn’t benefit us as it should.
Paul's prayer for the church, as recorded in the book of Ephesians, indicates how very important it is that we have a deep revelation concerning how much God loves us. Paul could have prayed for anything. He could have prayed for them to have power, to do miracles or to exercise authority over the devil, but Paul prayed for the church to be rooted deeply in God's love. Paul knew that was the starting point—the place from which every point starts—the place from which everything else grows. Power, miracles, victory and authority are all based on our being secure in the fact that God loves us.
Ephesians 3:17-19 says, May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [that you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
These scriptures make it clear that we need to experience His love—not just have head knowledge but a deep revelation—and that the roots of our being should be securely planted in His love.
THE FEAR OF LACK
There are endless varieties of fear, but one of the tormenting fears that many people suffer from is the fear of lack. They fear that their needs won’t be met—that God won’t come through in time. Hebrews 13:5,6 gives great comfort to those in this situation: Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?
You may be in a situation right now that you’ve never been in before. You may be facing new responsibility that you don't know how to handle. You may have needs that are beyond your resources and the spirit of fear is attacking you and telling you that you aren’t going to make it. You may feel all alone in your situation, like nobody cares. But God cares about you!
When God says in these scriptures to be satisfied with your present circumstances, He doesn’t mean that you cannot desire change. We should be content in Jesus, knowing that He has heard our prayers and believing that He’ll never fail us. We must learn how to enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going.
God is a God of progress. He’s never standing still. Even when it seems that absolutely nothing is happening in our lives, God is working behind the scene on things that He’ll manifest at exactly the right time. God is life, and life must flow otherwise it is no longer life. Dead things stagnate and no longer move, but life is always moving, stirring and making progress.
Beloved, God has a good plan for you, and He’ll manifest it right on time. Fear not! God is with you, and He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. He’ll not leave you without support! If you need financial support, He’ll provide. If it’s physical support you need, He’ll sustain you while you’re waiting for your full manifestation of healing. If you need emotional support, He’ll comfort you with the kind of comfort that only the Holy Spirit can give. He’ll nourish you and bring you back to a place of strength in every area of your life. God is for you. He is not against you. Satan is against you, but God is for you. The greater One lives in you! (See 1 John 4:4.)
LET NOTHING SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD'S LOVE
Romans 8:35-39 speaks to us about difficult times and how important it is not to allow them to separate us from God's love. I’ve discovered over the years that His love sustains me in times of great trial and stress. During hard times Satan works overtime trying to convince us that God doesn’t love us—that if He did, either we wouldn’t be in this situation, or He would’ve delivered us by now. I confess with my own mouth the truth that God does love me during these attacks of fear. I encourage you to say several times a day with confidence, "God loves me!" Don't allow the devil to steal this truth from you.
Ephesians 6:11-17 speaks of wearing spiritual armor during demonic attacks. One piece of that armor is the belt of truth. The Amplified Bible states that we are to tighten the belt of truth during attack. That means the truths we’ve learned from God's Word must be held onto tightly during trials.
Let me close with these scriptures from Romans 8:35-39, which I pray will comfort you right now: Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As long as you refuse to let anything separate you from God's love, you will have the victory!
=)
*vic: wow.......
Monday, January 12, 2009
Favourite scenes
Yay, finished work early enough, home at 8.30pm!! yay yay!!!!! haha. I don't have much to say, besides last week's busyness, working, studying, reading, writing, meeting friends. Finally i have a few minutes to write something. Just wanna go YouTube a while and publish a few unforgettable movie soundtracks/scenes.
so here it goes..
The Parent Trap handshake
When you're fetching E.T.
The daughter scene
My Gene Kelly fav =)
I Am Sam
edelweiss
The Ultimate Gift
Lastly, Moon river =) =) =)
so here it goes..
The Parent Trap handshake
When you're fetching E.T.
The daughter scene
My Gene Kelly fav =)
I Am Sam
edelweiss
The Ultimate Gift
Lastly, Moon river =) =) =)
Sunday, January 04, 2009
now i know why i have work stress
I counted, and find that I am involved in 106 companies’ taxation matters.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Every Season
I was playing the intro of this song in conference room before the start of a meeting on 1 Jan, the only thing i know how to play on the piano, trying to remember the lyrics, telling titus how sad that i've lost this song. He searched his laptop for what i've sent him yrs ago, found it, and emailed it to me =)
Every season by Nicole Nordeman, one of my utmost favourite christian poetic song.
and so, for 2009, i've decided that this will be a year that i will focus on investing in people and my own studies. It's gonna be very difficult if i don't depend on Him, which will be good. hehe.
Let's find Him in every season..
Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children's games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer
And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and what's to come
You are autumn
And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter
And everything that's new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season's change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring
Every season by Nicole Nordeman, one of my utmost favourite christian poetic song.
and so, for 2009, i've decided that this will be a year that i will focus on investing in people and my own studies. It's gonna be very difficult if i don't depend on Him, which will be good. hehe.
Let's find Him in every season..
Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children's games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer
And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and what's to come
You are autumn
And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter
And everything that's new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season's change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Told Boon Fei & Angela that it was a year 1950 movie, wrong fact, it's 1961, hehe. Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of those movies that you should watch before you die, lol. You can check out the wiki link for the plot & Audrey Hepburn. There's something about this movie that leaves me reeling for more, the light twist at the end of the movie makes a happy ending, though not entirely satisfying, as if the movie doesn't really end. A socialite, her fashion / lifestyle and choice of men, and the lonely nights with a love-struck stranger waiting at the door.
and the famous song that won an Oscar for itself..
"Moon River"music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer | |
Moon River, wider than a mile, © 1961 Paramount Music Corporation, ASCAP | |
I would love to write something like this one day, the shortest simplest lyrics yet with the deepest meaning... .. ...
sigh.. sigh...
..
ok, it's 5am now, gotha go to work. bye everybody, have a nice friday. =)
Moon River - Andrea Ross
Moon River - Joey McIntyre
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