was reading hebrews 2 today..and was particularly struck by verse 10.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
i think it’s beautiful how the contrast is that Jesus has to be put through suffering and in this He is made perfect. God is not only a great author of salvation, but a great author of the Word.
I give thanks because i’ve wonderful church mentors. I give thanks because i’ve a wonderful god who has been answering prayers for me to have strength this week to handle it all because i’m gaining strength from the encouragement of these church mentors I have. I’m really glad that they’re so supportive especially during this period of time.and I give thanks because He always speaks to me in ways i can never expect and ways I can never imagine.
From Weiwen laoshi (in 2 separate mails)
thanks for organising and really really appreciate your willingness to just serve and rise up to the situation to lead whenever called upon.
Just to encourage you. It’s never easy to be a leader, but you have our support.
press on.okay?
God Bless,
Whee Boon
From mel laoshi (in 2 separate mails)
hi, u ok? still able to sustain? will cont to pray for u. remember when we are down n out of strength, look up His is always there n His resource is abundant. call me if u need to “de-stressed”.
take each matter one at a time. stay focus when u are doing each matter. will pray for u. must take care.
His love n mine
mel lao shi
From God
Hebrews 11:8-16 (New International Version)
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
feel like God’s really speaking to me and encouraging me in His own special and unique way. That even though I may not know why all this is happening to me right now.. why this sem is so different from any other sem, why so much has happened..I just feel that despite all this, I’m growing. and as laoshi said last sunday..sometimes it may take us 10 yrs or even more than that to realize what God’s doing to our lives at this point in time. Yes I may not understand what’s going on.. why so much is happening. but God tells me to live by faith. to press on to carry on with the knowledge that one day.. some day.. I will understand His will for me in my life.. and why all this had to happen this way. By faith.
For Amanda
1. to be motivated and have good time management to study
2. to stay close to God and have a good balance between reading His word, doing His work, and own work
For Amelia
For mom:
§ For her trip, pray for the preparation work and meetings to be smooth.
§ Pray for all the companies she is working to increase sales.
§ If God is willing, at His time, find her another suitable job.
§ Pray for a house to be prepared for us, need to shift out by end Aug 2009
For mama:
§ Thank God for her medical review on her head injury to be fine
§ Pray that her schedule for a separate visit to TTSH on physio will be done soon (what a lousy hospital, poor arrangement)
§ Pray that she will be watched over and taken care of by God in all her movements
___________________________________________________
For Qimin:
end of sem exams
health
QT
_________________________________________
to myself
do QT! read hebrews chapt 1.
Read this in Joshua Harris’ book quoting an author, Jerry Bridges, and found the phrase very meaningful.
‘Every day of our Christian experience should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.’
Part of Isaiah 45:24:
‘In the LORD alone
are righteousness and strength.’
God is such a faithful God that i can’t help marvel everytime I feel His realness and His presence. Was just feeling rather stressed and I actually blogged on another blog..when i need someone.. i actually feel so alone. and then I opened ODB today.. and there God was.. telling me that He’s There All the Time! what a beautiful reassurance that we will always have our God there for us no matter how lonely we may feel.. and how stressed or helpless or upset.
It’s that way with God. He’s there, patiently waiting for us. He assures us, “I did not say . . . , ‘Seek Me in vain’” (Isa. 45:19) You’ll find Him right where He is supposed to be—in His Word, in prayer, and in the voice of the Holy Spirit who lives within you. The God who says “seek, and you will find” (Matt. 7:7) also promises that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). So, you can rejoice that God is right where He is supposed to be, and He’s waiting for you right now.
Teaches us that we should never rely or be overly-dependent on anything.. but always fall back on GOD.:)
Prayer requests from people
1) Lionel
-> cold/flu
-> seek god’s will in planning for SEP
-> ref prev entry
2) Amanda
-> stop procrastinating
3) zhenchang
-> more efficient mugging
-> better time management
4) for sy
5) myself. for joy to emanate through and be visible, for QT today.
6) Joel
-> for God to be more real to him
->to balance his time well
-> to be a good CGL
7) Lester
-> to be more patient and trust more in god
-> that he can find more close friends and feel loved
-> that he can get comfort
2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built.’ “
3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.
If God didn’t care, He wouldn’t ask us to consider the time and effort we are spending on diminishing returns. If He didn’t love us, He couldn’t remind us of all that He has given us. God sees what has happened to us and knows how much we need to focus on Him today.
When Christ is the center of your interests, life will be in focus.
in today’s QT, this particular line struck me.
The more we serve Christ, the less we will serve self.
I find that somehow i am less concerned about results and working hard as before, though a leopard cannot change its spots (that quickly), and i know i still am worried about not doing well and screwing up and not studying enough (which i know i’ve not)
constantly must remind myself.. that what should be most important? after all, this is just a degree, a paper chase. Spiritual things are eternal!! and people’s lives matter more than grades on a paper. amelia! set ur priorities right!!
maybe this sem is a lesson for me to learn to put aside my pride, put aside my desires and wants to do well.. and accept whatever God has in store for me.
Matthew 6:19-21
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
