Whatever will be will be?

S:
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. (proverbs 7-9)

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[f] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."[g] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. (romans 9)

O:
Life vs death. God calls us to a place to choose. He states it in black and white of the 2 sides of the fence. I don't fully get how God hardens hearts of whom he chooses to. But through all choices that we make in life with our struggles with the flesh and the spirit, God ultimately displays his power in all these life choices through his mercy.

A:
I question why God does what He does in my life sometimes, especially when things don't all quite make sense at the time. I'm reminded today that as i read His Word and gain wisdom and understanding that as i build my 'house' on His ways, His truths, gaining a picture of His Life through the disciples and His Son, i will find life.

P:
Life Giver, choices await us. You stand at the door and knock, waiting for us to open it for You to enter. I open my mind to gain understanding. I hold out my heart to receive your mercy. I sometimes stuff up in choices i make but with what i know how, may your power be displayed in my life. Holy Spirit guide me, lead me, fill me.

Tough Love

S:
You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.

O:
All throughout the New Testament we see God's 'kind' side. As we read through from the beginning of the Old Testament stories, we see God's judgement, not-so-soft side of Him.

A:
There's a certain sense of urgency from God in His Word. A tough kinda love. He who Is Love is just and righteous. Many a time i see the niceities of God, but do not expose myself to the understanding the Judge God side of his character. In a society where we are so complacent, avoiding much discipline in any shape or form, He is calling me to think through what it is to be His Disciple.

P:
Righteous God, Loving God, Kind God but Not-Soft God. For your Word is sharper than a double-edged sword and i can't escape from Your Truth. Honestly, i much rather be disciplined now because i know, as My Father you want the best for me, just as my daddy would want the best for his daughter. The smack-on-the-bums moments, the scolding and the cane hurt but if its for a radical life-change in my life, so let it be.

what about me? syndrome

His wife sees him one day, gaunt and emacitated. Eyes sunken, body frail, abdomen distended from starvation. He obviously has not been eating. When his wife sees him in this condition, she exclaims, 'What in the world is happening to you?'
He answers: 'I'm not getting fed around here!' Then continuing his lament: 'No one is feeding me!'
What do you think his wife's response would be?

Feed yourself!

Am at a listening point where i realise that i cannot blame anyone, not my pastor's preaching, not my family's spirituality, nor my mentors for my lack of growth or spiritual feeding. As i grow up, i must learn to take responsibility for my own spiritual growth. So next time i go into self-pity mode of being dry, i know who to point the finger. Hard to confess but true.

'I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; i will counsel you with My eye upon you..'Psalm 32:8

It Takes 2

S: Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth & teach me for you are God my Saviour..the Lord confides in those who fear Him; he makes his covenant known to them..Psalm 25

O: David calls himself to God again. Not only is David desiring to draw himself close to God but that God actually wanted to confide in him. There's an exchange of trust from both parties.

A: The sense of confiding is so intimate! I think i only ever confide my deepest secrets and hearts desires with a handful of dear friends. With this exchange of confiding from God to man, it reminds me that He is not some airy fairy god high above in the sky waving a magic wand but that He is an intimate God who desires to tell us His deepest secrets, His hearts desire. Am i listening?

P: Holy Father i come before You today listening, present to You. Eyes open. Ears attentive.

thankful

for life

As i watched Belinda Emmett's life on Australian Story last night, i felt like i knew her personally! Watching her home videos gave us a glimpse into her journey as she went through her illness. She reflected the character of Jesus, selfless. Her last words (as her dad shared in the video) to her mum who was sitting beside her bed was 'are you all right?' I wonder what my last words would be before i take my final breath..

Up Close & Personal

Scripture:
1 Kings 19:4
He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die..'I have had enough Lord'..
1 Kings 19:7
The angel of the Lord touched him a 2nd time and said 'Get up and eat, for the jounrey is too much for you..'
1 Kings 19:10
' I am the only one left..'
1 Kings 19:12
After the fire came a gentle whisper..

Observation:
-Elijah was tired after 2 of his great spiritual victories; the defeat of the prophets of Baal & the answered prayer of rain
-God provided Elijah with sustenance to travel for the next part of his mission
- Elijah felt like he was the only one left who was following God at that time
- The Lord revealed himself to Elijah through a gentle whisper

Application:
Kinda feel like Elijah, tired after what seems like much accomplished events and programs. Its kind of left me in this pity party mode. Argh! Hmm, i wonder why God didn't reveal Himself in the powerful and great winds and only spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper. Maybe God chose to do so to show Elijah that as much as God is all powerful and mighty, that He is intimate and personal.

Prayer:
Holy Father, i feel like i've had enough! Thanks for reminding me tonight that i am not alone on this spiritual journey, that there ARE other like-minded ones who are desiring You and Your truth. As i discipline myself to take time out from the noisy-ness of my everyday, i want to still my heart in Your Living Word. I know i may not be able to do it everyday, but help me Lord want to help myself. May my spiritual ears hear You, may my spiritual eyes want to to see You! Forgive father for fixing my eyes on wordly things that don't bring life. May you be gracious to teach me your way. The path may be narrow but may the joy of your salvation be my strength in all that i am.

30th April 2008