The Tool

There once was an item, that was found on the floor, a long metal piece it was. No one knew what it was for, and what purpose it held, no one but the one who created it, engraved on it's side was an address of the creator of the tool. People decided, I'll use this tool to punch some holes, use this tool as a weapon of defence, use this tool to open locks, and use this tool to wedge open some lid.

But the thing was... why bother having this tool if you already have a hole puncher to punch holes, a sword or other things that are more suited to be a weapon, some pins or master keys to open door and a crowbar to wench open things?

One of the days, some one got curious, and noticed it was not so effective in doing all the things it was being used for, in fact, it caused much damage rather than solving issues, required a lot of effort and could not really fit in for any of those purposes. So that person, took this tool to the creator, to the address and knocked at his door, called out for some one who lives in that place, and a man opened the door, looking down on the tool he smiled with glee.

"What brings you here today? is it the curiosity of this tool?" asked the man of the house.

Nodding with curiosity did that one person do, asking, "What use is of this tool?".

The man sat the person down on a stool, and started to explain that there were many tools, some created to split with ease, others to mould and make into shape. Just like the stool you are sitting on now, it could be used for a hammer or ram, but it does not serve it's real purpose if you do not sit on it, for it was created perfectly to be sat on.

Curious did that person grow ever more, agreeing, that everything was made perfectly for something, even though it could be used recklessly for other things, but most certainly did the stool be a better thing to sit on, than to hammer a nail with. So the person prompted a question, "Why oh, Why was this tool created?".

The Creator of the tool smiled at the person, and replied with joy, "Now that is the question you should be asking, why and not what". Continuing he explained,"This my dear friend is called a screw driver, it's purpose is to screw in screws and to take out screws from items with screws. It has a flat head so it should be used for one with a single line, now if you use this to unscrew something, you will find that it serves it's purpose well, much better than a butter knife or metal ruler for that case, for it's reason for being is to screw and unscrew!". 

The persons eyes opened and with a smile of relief, saying"finally I know what this tool is and used for!"

The creator said to him, "But the same is to our lives, each of us is like a tool, one that fits the right purpose, but each of us can do the same, and sometimes do things that don't suite us best"

Curious per say did the person become, asking him" How may I know what my purpose be?"

reply did the creator do, and said, "Perhaps you should find out from the creator of you!"

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Just as the man found the purpose of the tool, by going to the creator, so should we approach our creator in order to find our purpose in life, so we will fit it perfectly, yes we can go on doing many other things, but if it's not going to serve it's purpose, or we serve our purpose to be more exact, then we're just doing things we are not suited for, hating it in the process and just trying to get by in life, when our creator, I am so certain has something we are much more suited to and will enjoy!, might not be the best at, but definitely suited for the task!

"10 As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the [a]extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]." - 1 Peter 4:10(AMP)

"11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." - Eph 1:11-12 (MSG)

So Seek Him :). I can guarantee, He'll get you into something you are well suited with good plans!:

" 11 I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!" - Jeremiah 29:11-13

A life of Christ

"A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but everyone [when he is] completely trained (readjusted, restored, set to rights, and perfected) will be like his teacher." - Luke 6:40(AMP)

Dear Brothers and sisters, beloved saints of Christ. I know I normally do not start of with a verse, but today I will. We are all called to live a life of Christ (that's right not a life of pi). We're called to be greater whilst being the lowest, sounds a little ironic doesn't it?

Well let's see what is mentioned in Romans with regards to living a life of Christ:

"8 Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one’s fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].

9 The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

10 Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.

11 Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).

12 The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

13 Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.

14 But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts)." - Romans 13:8-14(AMP)

We are called to love one another, to love your neighbour, doesn't this sound like something you have heard before? (Mark 12:31(AMP) "The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.")

We are called to be lovers in this world, not lovers as a "mistress" loves or a love to gain, but more of a love without condition, a graceful love. Okay, right now you might be saying, that is absurd and almost impossible! How can I love someone who has hurt me so much, "I am not Jesus". I'd like to throw that phrase out of the window first, simply because it is not a good enough excuse, please read the first verse put up on this post! Another thing is, because if we just do good for those who do good to us, then we haven't changed, there isn't much about us that has changed from before and now, and you know it in your heart. Let's see what's Jesus said:

"27 But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [[a]in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred,

28 Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you].

29 To the one who strikes you on the [b]jaw or cheek, offer the other [c]jaw or cheek also; and from him who takes away your outer garment, do not withhold your undergarment as well.

30 Give away to everyone who begs of you [who is [d]in want of necessities], and of him who takes away from you your goods, do not demand or require them back again.

31 And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them.

32 If you [merely] love those who love you, what [e]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even [f]the [very] sinners love their lovers (those who love them).

33 And if you are kind and good and do favors to and benefit those who are kind and good and do favors to and benefit you, what [g]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even [h]the preeminently sinful do the same.

34 And if you lend money [i]at interest to those from whom you hope to receive, what [j]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? Even notorious sinners lend money [k]at interest to sinners, so as to recover as much again.

35 But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors [l]so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but [m]considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked.

36 So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these]." - Luke 6:27-36(AMP)

I put in bold, what I mentioned above, if we just do good to those who do good to us, what difference are we from those who are sinners? Now you might tell me, well I am not a sinner, but the righteousness of Christ, I'll accept it, and say you can't say you are not Jesus and not able to do it, when you say you are the righteousness of Christ, BE the righteousness of Christ, and not carry it like an accessory! 

Alright, now that we have said this, this does not only apply to people who you might "hate", now when I say hate, it means those you dislike, or causes you irritation, or makes you mad in any way. But also to the church, your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, don't be proud but be humble, if one thinks it wrong to do something, and wishes not to do it, we shouldn't criticize them or say bad to them, in fact if they engrave it so much into their hearts we should just not do it in front of them at all:

"19 So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another.

20 You must not, for the sake of food, undo and break down and destroy the work of God! Everything is indeed [ceremonially] clean and pure, but it is wrong for anyone to hurt the conscience of others or to make them fall by what he eats.

21 The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no wine [at all], or [do anything else] if it makes your brother stumble or hurts his conscience or offends or weakens him." - Romans 14:19-21(AMP)

Let us be sensitive and loving to all good or bad :). In doing so obeying what Christ says to love one another. Let us be continuously prepared for whenever he is coming, always clothing the naked, giving water to those who are thirsty, sheltering those who are unable to. Let us do good whenever we can, we don't need everything, but we can surely use what we have to help others.

Now, a lot of you might say, this sounds a lot like works rather than grace. I'll just keep it short here, doing good and being like Christ is actually showing Him how much you love him:

"15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands." - John 14:15(AMP)

I am not telling you to earn your salvation by doing good, but I am telling you, you are of Christ now, by grace through faith, So walk in Faith and live(knowingly) who you are in Christ, yes you are the righteousness of Christ, so I am fully aware and SURE that you can live the life of righteousness of Christ, and no I am not saying you are now perfect, no one really is, thus continuously being trained , but I know one day you might be, and so might I! So let's live a life of love and care for one another, and always never forgetting God!

"37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).

38 This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.

39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself." - Matthew 22:37-39(AMP)

Blessings and peace to all of you who read this! I know my posts have been becoming longer, and I quote a lot from the bible these days, some of you which will probably find it boring, but for those it encourages, be of good strength and I always always, want you to remember, fight the good fight of faith, never grow tired of doing good!

Love,

-Chris

The Love of Christ

Today is Christmas, So I want to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas! I hope you are all doing well, and pray that the peace of God be upon you this very night, the night which He gave the most precious gift of all into this world, His son, Jesus Christ!

Now I won't go through the whole story of Christ being born into this world and the three wise men, or the shepherds that did celebrate that night. I was going to go into talking about something that has been becoming more.. prominent in the Christian world today, which I classify as sin that has some how been classified as okay above all other sins, though to me sin is still sin. But I will not talk about that either, rather the love of Christ and a few verses that caught my eye in Romans.

"³¹ The people of Israel tried to follow a law to make themselves right with God. But they did not succeed, ³² because they tried to make themselves right by the things they did instead of trusting in God to make them right. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble. ³³ As it is written in the Scripture:

“I will put in Jerusalem a stone that causes people to stumble,
    a rock that makes them fall.
Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed."" - Romans 9:31-33(NCV)

Few things about this verse that caught my eye and made me curious, number one was the ending from Isaiah 8:14;28:16 - which mentioned a rock that stumbles people, but yet if one trusts in the rock, they will never be disappointed. Reading it on it's own will make you wonder, how can you trust something that makes you stumble? Well the answer is in the verses before that. People tried to make themselves right with God by doing as much good and abiding by the Law, yet in complete utter failure, thus it stumbled them. Rather if they just trusted in God to make them right, which is a total shift from following the law(instructions) it would have been a success. This means, rather than trying to do right, you trust in God to make you right, you trust in Him knowing you are totally not capable, there is a scripture that says this:

"Be STILL and KNOW that I AM God. I will be praised in all the nations; I will be praised throughout the earth" - Psalms 46:10 (NCV)

I did a little read up on what it means to be still, it doesn't actually mean sit still and not move, it actually means, STOP TRYING, STOP Being strong, and be WEAK, and know that I am God, to acknowledge that you are not able, and He is God. That is something amazing, when you do that, and trust in Him he'll make you right. A Strength that is through God instead of through your own self. I'll be honest, I am totally weak, when I think I am strong, that's the moment I fall so bad I sometimes wonder why God bothers to still love me. Yet He'll come back time and again saying, as long as you get back up, repent, and truly walk away, back towards me, then you ain't lost it.

Which leads me to this verse:

"³¹ What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] ³² He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]

³⁴ Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? ³⁵ 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? 

³⁶ 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. 

³⁷ Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors ^[a]and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things ^[b]impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ 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." - Romans 8:31-39 (AMP)

I know the verse above is quite a mouthful to take in, but bear with me, I'll try to cut it up into nice bite sizes so it's easier to digest :). Here is an honest confession, I am not perfect, I still struggle with sin, but I will not accept sin as part of my nature, neither will I try to make an excuse for it to be okay to do it because everyone else does it.

Here in this verse, it mentions, if we are still battling, if we still put God first and not rely on ourselves, if God is with us, then who can really be against us? He gave everything for us, so is he going to with hold any thing else that is within his love? There is no one in this world that can judge those whom God has chosen  no one can deem them guilty, basically there ain't nothing that can accuse you of being wrong. Not because of what we have done, but simply because Christ died!(trusting in him rather than by our own strength). 

From this we can see that when Christ died for ya, it's not an easy task, we as humans don't even feel like doing something when someone doesn't appreciate it, more so when Christ did it people were spitting on Him, yet in all that he loved us. Now, with that said, Now there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from His love, because if there was.. Christ would have just threw his cross on the ground and said, this ain't worth the effort. But He didn't, now with or without Christ we will always have trouble, but with Christ, it's clearly mentioned, we are more than conquerors, that in itself is a whole sermon which many preachers have gotten into. I am not a preacher, just a brother who hopes my family will be encouraged, and those who have yet to know Christ can rejoice at such news, because it's readily available for you, simply because Christ died for you and rose again, and with a confession of saying He is your Lord and Saviour, that you turn from your sins and rely on his strength, you will become part of our family :).

I didn't go any deeper into this, but that's about what I wanted to share, I hope you are all encouraged, even those who haven't come to know Christ, You are loved by Him, if you weren't God wouldn't of even bothered with Christ coming down, just flip the table and say, yeap these guys are done for let nature handle them. 

(yes I know many people will have much questions, but why not ask God or even get to know His character more, you know when isreal turned away from God in the past, much happened to them, and how he wished for them back so he could love them more, it's kinda similar nothing has changed much, and no I do not think society has changed, age to age, we are as morally crazed from this to the next)

Stay blessed, and love ya all!

-Chris

Believing when failing

⁶ And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] andperfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. - Philippians 1:6 (AMP)

Thought I may fall a thousand times, I am only defeated if I do not stand up again. Though I may sin a thousand times, I know Christ will work in me a good. As long as I go back to Him and confess, as long as I get back up and repent, there is only defeat in giving up when He has not given up on me. 

¹⁰ When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?¹¹ She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more. - John 8:10 (AMP)

One thing that spoke to me, is how Jesus reacted.. He asked, where are your accusers? It spoke in a way differently from how I always saw it before, it was like.. Is there any one to accuse you? Is there any one who holds enough power to cast any judgement on you? and clearly there was not, and with that the only one who now holds the power to cast that judgement the judge, Our shepherd, pardons her... It is such an amazing characteristic of our Lord, I do not condemn you either, is literally saying, I cover you with my wings, and I will protect you from the harm you deserve. Such is our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross the same way. Does this give us a reason to sin? if it does, then we never got back up and we never told Him to forgive us, and in turn, how can he shade us? Go on your way and from now on sin no more... this is his desire that we do not return to sin. But if we did, and slipped, He will do this again, where are your accusers? Christ is our Shepherd, He is our advocate. The one who covers our sins, who has all right to deem us guilty, and all right to stand aside, but chooses to forgive. That is our Lord! 

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness   - 1 John 1:9(NLT)

The Reality of hell

From time to time, we like to use hell as a comparison to our current situations, or out of frustration. Some times we believe that where we live now is hell, simply because life's pretty messed, to be honest it's been messed since Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit. But I won't be talking about that here today. 

So what is hell like? Can we say it's bloody? or can we say it's hot as hell, cold as hell, or funny as hell? to be honest, hot is probably an understatement, would describe it as... burning hot or scorching, too bad English doesn't have a word for so hot till you burn and thirst and are in pain. However I doubt hell is cold or funny, in fact it's not funny at all, it can in fact be scary, so a few of our terms, well I would cast as invalid. Why would I say that? well let's have a look at what Jesus said about hell in his parable of the rich man and the poor man Lazarus.

"19 Jesus said, “There was a rich man who always dressed in the finest clothes and lived in luxury every day. 20 And a very poor man named Lazarus, whose body was covered with sores, was laid at the rich man’s gate. 21 He wanted to eat only the small pieces of food that fell from the rich man’s table. And the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 Later, Lazarus died, and the angels carried him to the arms of Abraham. The rich man died, too, and was buried. 23 In the place of the dead, he was in much pain. The rich man saw Abraham far away with Lazarus at his side. 24 He called, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire!’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember when you were alive you had the good things in life, but bad things happened to Lazarus. Now he is comforted here, and you are suffering. 26 Besides, there is a big pit between you and us, so no one can cross over to you, and no one can leave there and come here.’ 27 The rich man said, ‘Father, then please send Lazarus to my father’s house. 28 I have five brothers, and Lazarus could warn them so that they will not come to this place of pain.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets; let them learn from them.’ 30 The rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham! If someone goes to them from the dead, they would believe and change their hearts and lives.’ 31 But Abraham said to him, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not listen to someone who comes back from the dead.’” - Luke 16:19-31

Hell my friend is by far funny, in fact, some beliefs of ruling in hell with the devil can be discarded, as hell was initially created for the devil's punishment in the final days. So suffering with the devil would be a more accurate term. But that's not what I want to dive into today. I wanted to highlight a more important part of this story about the rich man, you see this rich man had all he wanted when he was alive, and dressed lavishly, not caring about the poor man that sat at his door everyday, eating food that dropped from the table like a dog. So you can imagine his attitude in life, all is well, and I don't give a  rat about others... Now something happened when he was in the 'place of the dead'. Through his suffering he did not say, I wish my family would come here with me, then they will suffer with me together and I would be comforted... NO! he begged that his family would be saved from this suffering, that's the fact of it, that's HOW BAD it is, but not even a man raised from the dead can convince us who are here today to believe. It's true don't you think? if a man who came out from the dead today, told you and showed you his death certificate from the doctors, that  hell ain't a fun place, and that it wasn't meant for any of us, but only to return to God, and his loving arms, how many of us would believe it? 

Thing is there is an urgency, because the moment Christ returns, we don't have a graceful way to enter heaven no more, it'll be harder and difficult, almost impossible. Not because God is not loving, if he was not loving He would not of sent Christ down. But because He is Holy, and goes according to the laws and cannot twist it and turn it. I'll show you a scripture to prove he does not wish for people to perish:

"23 I do not really want the wicked to die, says the Lord God. I want them to stop their bad ways and live." - Ezekiel 18:23

The fact of the matter is, He would wish that we turn from our wicked ways and live instead of having to perish, imagine being a judge of your own child. He murdered a person , but because you are a judge as well as a father, you would wish he would turn his ways and live, but the fact he killed someone, you could not let him off the hook, so you send him to jail, hoping he will turn his ways, but if he comes back out and murders another and the cycle goes on and on, he'll need to have a greater punishment. Same way with God... Difference is God sent His son Jesus Christ to die for us, as a way to erase the crimes we have committed form our plate, no matter how much good we do, if we still commit a crime, it's a crime. But in our place, He took the ultimate punishment on the cross to death, with no sin(crimes) he died for us:

"8 But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners." - Romans 5:8

What significance does that bring, that if we believe in Him we would be saved, we can return to where we are meant to be instead of joining the devil in where he is meant to go:

"6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. " - John 14:6

and there isn't such thing as balancing out good with bad, getting away with good behaviour. There is only one way and that is through Christ, His exchange on the cross, His righteousness clothed on us, while he took our sins on him. He said:

"28 “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. 30 The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.”" - Matthew 11:28-30

So don't think that it's a boring life and hard one, but if you truly accept what He gives you, it's a lot lighter than what the world is giving you. Many are the promises of God, but only one way to Him now.. So I beg and ask that you would make the decision to come back to where we all belong. Just asking Christ to be our Lord and saviour and thanking him that he took our sins away. amen.

Trouble will always come, just what would you choose to do?

Storms of life will always brew, troubles will always come, in fact not one of us can live through what we call life and never face a mountain or a storm. We can't say we had a perfect ride in our lives for everyday, either one day it'll come or some have already passed. Even Jesus, Being the very nature of God, still encountered temptations that were so great, most of us probably would have gave in. Especially at the first one, turning stone into bread. 

Today we have choices in our lives too. If something that comes your way, like a consuming fire, that you see no escape to, all you can do is run and run, but eventually fall and burn. You need to know your choices:

1. Run and run as long as you can, being stuck in a motion of fear and anger, disappointment and strive.

2. Let it consume you, with hopelessness, giving into depression, and giving up on the world and all humans alike. (if you grow tired of running you'd probably hit this step)

3.Try to stay positive whilst running, trying to be happy, trying to convince yourself that you're happy, and base it all on positive thinking.

But why not... Just believe in the Lord for your salvation? To let those flames come, but believe God for so much more, to be your shield, to do the impossible? To provide a door when things get heated, to fend off storms and to flatten mountains. To admit that actually you are weak, and He is God, to rely on His strength and lean on Him. You do not need to convince a train to move fast to get to your destination, you just need to sit in it and admit you cannot run as fast, to strip your pride that says 'I can do it', when you know you can't. In the same way you don't need to fight the fire, to quench the flames, to be the saviour of the world, rest in Him and go as He leads, then when he asks you to "shift gear" or "add coal" that's all you have to do, nothing more nothing less and He'll move the rest for you.

"So don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you" - Isaiah 41:10

"With God all things are possible" - Matthew 19:26

So do not fear, my brothers and sisters in Christ, For our loving Father will surely deliver us from every pestilence, every evil and every harm, surely he will make us strong, that when waves and storms come crashing, we can rest assured that on Christ the solid rock we stand. Surely I say to you, don't let troubles steal Christ away, let troubles know on who you stand. For surely even though you might feel the heat, you won't be burned and consumed as much.

Finally to all those who are reading this, and wondering who is this Christ, He is Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Lord of my life. He can be yours too, if you would just say, "Lord Jesus, I admit I am weak, I have done many wrong things, and sinned. I confess that you are my Lord and Saviour, teach me how to walk in your ways all the days of my life, and that you for coming into my life. amen."

There are many many blessings, many many promises, many things that I probably won't come to or couldn't blog about. But I can say this, when trouble comes, remind him on who you stand, and believe, even if trouble seems so strong, I can guarantee He is stronger than any of the storms you face!

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If you might want to learn more about who He is and what you have in Him, you might want to visit: http://ourlifeingod.blogspot.com 

The water of life - three bottles

There was once a man, who tried to look for life, he was wandering from the east to the west, finding ways to quench his desires, to fill the hole within himself. Before him stood 3 bottles of water, wine and spirits. He thought to himself, all my life I have been drinking things to sustain myself, isotonic drinks, teas, alchohol and fizzy pop. 

He had three choices and each choice would either satisfy or destroy, the man decided he'd take his time and think this through, so he went on with his life, when things got tough, he returned to the bottles of three. There before him he sought for a relief to make him forget about the worries of life, to forget and live a moment of extacy.  Without a second thought he grabbed the bottle of spirits and drunk it down with out a second to breath, the air became hot, and his skin began to perspire, every breath became deeper, and things became stranger, an ability to dance so he thought, an ability to express all his emotions and anger, a moment to live his life the way he wanted to rid the frustration that was brought upon him. He ran from left to right or was it right to left so he thought, in circles he ran and visions of two were in his eyes. Smiling without reason and bliss with courage. But like all those who drank of this bottle, he fell and collapsed, trying to bring himself up things go messy, smiling and laughing like a crazy old man, stumbling left and right, not knowing which direction to head, only that he wanted to find a place to expel the torrent within his stomach, his mission failed and he spewed all over the place, the heat left him, and the sweat that kept him all so cool, became a cold icy sweat, emotions forgotten for the moment came tumbling back like a lion pouncing on it's prey. "I cannot withstand this no longer" He thought he shouted, but his shouts of hurts became tears.. tears that streamed down his face, wishing that people will hear his hurts, to understand the pressure that life is taking on him, making him take a toll in life. 

"Oh why don't people understand" he gargled in his tears, "all I want is to rest, to forget the pains and hurts that have come and gone, but still haunt me like a blizzards night, who can give me strength I say? who can help me from this place?" As the comfort of the alcohol left him, emptiness was more apparent than before, perhaps more spirits will help he thought? but alas spirits were gone, and wine was not something he wanted to drown in, something so weak he thought. could not comfort the pains he has carried through the days he walked.

So stumbling away he walked on a path, of destruction and crave, not being able to fill the hole that was left from the place of three bottles. Days became months and months became years, losing his mind, but keeping his state, putting a mask, and having a wishful thought. One day, I will find a peace he said, I will... But as it was, life was not kind, it brought another storm of pains and hurts, whispering in his ear, 'be free, break free, why must you conform to society?' it lingered and became louder, like a speaker that was put to full volume. Crazy thoughts came to his mind, and off to clubs and any place that could make him feel some sort of mix, to lose yourself in the music he thought was good, but when all was over he walked back to the place, where he found the bottle of three... two more drinks stood before him, water and wine. In desperation he reached out and took the wine, a thought came through his mind, perhaps it might not be as strong as spirits, but it will surely help me feel good for a while. He sipped it and as the warm liquid went down his throat caressing it with a nice hot feeling as if a cup of cocoa on a winters night, he took time to enjoy it, staring into the sparkle of the wine, he lost himself, thinking of pleasures and lust, falling into depression, into the deepest darkest areas, where a false sense of comfort laid, waiting for him like a prostitute waiting for her prospect, luring him in she gave him words of comfort, assuring him everything he was doing was good, the surge of pleasure went from his head to toe, in and orgasmic way, he could not explain how good it felt, but the good was mixed with pain, he could not understand, if it was happiness or sadness, she whispered "I am with you", holding him close, depressions breasts pressed against him, oh how good did it feel, this wine I must have more he thought, tears and pains depression teased him, with comfort she held him, but with happiness she stole, a feeling of goodness in bad, he thought what was this? the lights around him were slowly dimming, and the mountains seem as if they were growing, walls were closing and soon he was on a spiral, desperatly trying to climb up but failing miserably, content spoke to him, you deserve to be down here, depression held him closer, saying "it's okay, I am here with you".  But this oxymoron feeling could not make him feel at peace, one moment he was happy, but he was sad in reality, and the comforts of depression consumed him..

Waking up with a hang over, throbbing head and pain in his back, he stood, only to find that he was held down, looking up as if from a distance, he could see a small almost as small as a glitter of a star, a light, a long way to climb, depression begged him to stay, but the wine could only last as long as that, he decided, it's time I climbed out, climbing out depression pulled hard, reminding him of how she was there when no one was, how she slept with him and cradled him in her arms. he would climb a little and fall a lot more, it was like an endless battle. "Oh how will I escape" he said to himself, 

"Am I destined to be caught in the arms of depression?", in the spur of all the confusion, a rope appeared to him , a light followed him up the spiral, and a flame stopped the hands of depression from clasping on to him, "What is this?" he pondered. Climbing higher and higher, the light was getting brighter and brighter, as if not seeing light for a long time, it pierced his eyes and brought much pain, the temptation of letting go and falling back grew the strongest, as he clasped the last step to arrive back at the top. But the thought of being stuck with no place to go, he pushed to the end and escaped.

Thirst came down on him like a flood crashing into his body, clasping on the rope he saw no one, the flame disappeared and the light blended into the light that surrounded him. One more bottle he thought, I will drink it, I am too thirsty, and my throat is sore, my lips are cracking and my mouth is on fire, walking towards the last bottle, he drank.. and drank.. and drank, No strange thoughts came pass his mind, nor did he feel the sudden urge to dance like a king, nor did the light leave, or the pains grow deep. But as if a comforter, quenching his thirst, and re-energizing him, Strength returned where it disappeared for so long, and life became so much clearer, there was no losing of himself no more, but a clear path, as if a cloud had been lifted from his eyes, and a path laid before him. "Why did I try so hard" he mumbled, "when all I had to do was really drink some water? " Hope came upon him like a dove and the arms of a loving wife. No more did he find the need to run away or hide, no more pains or confusions that was bringing him nothing but lies, no, all he had to do now was walk, and walk he did, with life!

----

I suppose like this man, when we are thirsty, we drink all the wrong things, depression, slumber, pain, and hurt, when all we had to do was drink some life, some encouragement, to accept that we are not alone, to have that hurt filled with hope, to have the confusion filled with life and direction, to have peace without strive, to remember good instead of the lies of life.

Jesus said, I am the truth the way and the life, I am the good shepherd that lays down his life for his sheep, I am the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, I am the bread of life and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty again! 

Luke 11:11-13

Amplified Bible (AMP)

11 What father among you, if his son asks for [a]a loaf of bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

13 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts [b]that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and [c]continue to ask Him!

A Song - Believing for the impossible

Lyrics

Take our hearts and make it yours,

Take our lives and place it in your plans,

You are the way, the truth and the life.

When lifes goes wrong, I know you make it right.

Troubles may come and bug me,

But I know that life is good,

Not cause I made it well,

But because you're here with me.

Though impossible may come our way,

I will believe,

I will believe,

Even if the storms of life they brew so strong,

I will believe,

Holding to your truth,

Holding to your love.

Cause youuuuuuuuoooooo~ Made a way for us,

Cause yoouuuuuuuooooo~ Are the life we have,

In obedience we walk

in your love we are saved,

You are.... are Our life...

We may have our own ways,

And tried so many times,

But at your word... my Lord,

Impossible comes true.

Seeing all you've done,

knowing your truth,

even at the bleakest moment Lord,

we will believe...

Though impossible may come our way,

I will believe,

I will believe,

Even if the storms of life they brew so strong,

I will believe,

Holding to your truth,

Holding to your love.

Cause youuuuuuooooo! Made a way for us,

Cause youuuuuuooooo! Are the life, the truth, the way,

In your love we are set free,

and you are our Lord God,

Our saviour ever more

Believing God for the impossible

Today I am believing God for the impossible, even though my mind goes through to this phase of saying I prayed and I have tried this many times and it has failed, every time it has failed Lord. Yet you called me to go forth and pray, to lay my hand so that healing can take place. So out of Obedience Lord I will do it.

Luke 5:4-7
4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will.” 6 When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. 7 They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking.

I will believe you will do what you said and that I will hold on to what is true, that you said when we lay our hands on the sick they will recover, even though every situation and speech seems like it's over. I will believe you are the God of more than impossible, even when people laughed at Jairus's daughter being dead, you shushed them and took hold of the girls hand and asked her to stand.

Mark 11:23
I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you.

I am holding on to your words, that you said that if we ask anything in your name you will do it so the Father's glory will be shown through the son!

John 14:12-13
Amplified Bible (AMP)
12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.
13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as [a]presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.

And even through the bleakest moment of time, and it looks like nothing is going right, when it cannot possibily be possible that by any logic one would think in their right mind that something good will come out of all this, I will believe, simply because you said it.

 Matthew 19:26
Amplified Bible (AMP)
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.

 Creator of heaven and earth, Lord my saviour, Jesus Christ, I ask you in your name, by faith that cancer holds no power over your daughter. You Lord do it, because you are you!

It's you

I'm not that good at singing so forgive me on that part, but I hope you enjoy the praise and the words sink deep :). Praise God forever! :D

A Psalm of Praise

When there is nothing possibly going right in our way,

There is no need to fear,

Our Hope is on God,

Our Father and Shepherd,

Whom in the most magnificient way,

and most sacrificial way, the only way,

to show how much he cared,

Gave His only begotten son,

to die for us.

Your love Father, was the most amazing love,

Your grace and mercy surpassed all that man would do,

You are the one who saved our souls,

Redeemed us from the pits of coals.

If there were any other way,

I am sure it would have been done,

But in no other way, This had to be done.

I praise your name for you are worthy,

Let only your glory show through us.

For you are great and greatly to be praised,

Amazing beyond all things,

Our Abba Father,

Our Shepherd God.

Our El shaddai.

Amen.

A battle, A loss, A death, and A Leading

So far life has been like a roller-coaster or a battle for the past few months. 

I would say that God has been making me experience an incredible journey. Recently I fell in a continuous battle that I have been trying to fight against for a long time. Later, I came into realisation that God has put equipment out for me to fight with. I'll be honest here I am not perfect... I struggle with sin and a lot of times, fall into it..  

There was a time God told me that He does not force me to stray away from temptations that might lead to sin, but instead l equipped me to stand against it I was full of joy. In Ephesians 6:13-18 it mentions the entire amour of Christ and how we are now equipped. I was full of joy, everyday a battle always resulted in victory, it seemed like it was becoming more and more easy to fight the temptations, with the knowing I was equipped and able to do it.  

A week or two later, He prepared me for a week of mission. Everyday single day, I would tell Him to lead and guide me through the trip, I had total dependency on Him. Each day I was filled and emptied to minister to souls in Sarawak, an experience unparalleled to any I have ever had. I will always be thankful to God that his glory was shown through us and that none that I did, could really say I was strong, its always God and not me.  

Upon departing back to KL, I was saddened that I had to leave the kids and could not minister to them longer, God placed into my heart something a while back, that was confirmed through this trips experience.  

Never the less, back to KL there was no time to rest, it was time to prepare for youth, again I left it all to God again, but like a loving Father, He  got me very excited, giving me a knowing that something amazing would happen in youth. As the days passed, I continued to pray until youth on Saturday.  

Alas Saturday arrived, with much anticipation, many things happened in the morning to afternoon just before youth. I got agitated and somewhat sad, it could have ruined my whole day if I let it linger over me, it was like a dark cloud of thunder hovering over me and making my life a very shaky one, in my head I was asking my self, why now? and how can this be so, I am not gonna have a good youth like this. During all the discomfort of thoughts, I turned to God, my Father in heaven, I spoke and said, I can't believe this, I cannot coordinate if I stay like this, youth was meant to be a good thing God! 

As the storms brewed I recalled that He was stronger than the storms, this is what we have been speaking about throughout the entire Mission trip, Jesus is stronger than any storm, so I said Be Still, and proceeded to calm down, and be lead to follow some instructions :) which need not be mentioned here. Youth came about, and instead of anger and hurt, I was full of joy and peace so much so that people were wondering if I had won some super prize, but alas, it was just the joy of the Lord! which  to say, is actually better than winning anything!  everything went according to God's plan and I believe amazing things happened there, I will always thank God for allowing me to go to youth no matter the situation that day. 

So there we have it, I felt great going higher an higher, feeling like an eagle soaring in the sky, effortlessly flowing with God, need not worry about what was to come because everything seemed perfect, Sunday came, a day of wedding and Monday arrived and went by, nothing really bugged me and frankly I was still high up in the sky soaring... When suddenly I felt like the wind stopped keeping me up in the sky and I nose dived into the ground. You can imagine how broken one can get when they come to that point. 

Strangely enough it was during prayer, I felt something amiss, something not of God.. like emptiness, it must have been me, because people were still ministering in tongues, praying hard, not to say God never put anything in my heart to pray, but something was missing at the end of it. The feeling bugged my heart and I left prayer with a heavy heart. Now don't get me wrong, prayer wasn't the problem, the problem was something was attacking me and I was not guarded for it. I got home with a heavy heart, thinking perhaps we missed something in prayer, which I didn't hear get prayed out. Texted a friend who said nothing was amiss.  

This is when Wednesday arrived... my heart was not in good shape, and naturally thinking I am equipped with all I need to fight, I fought, I fought vigorously. The day went on and I was knackered, fighting a battle blocking with my shield, slashing with my sword... hoping and fighting... I fell asleep and woke on Thursday. The day seemed okay, and I thought was in the clear, going through the day and returning home after work, I was struck by a temptation I knew so well, perhaps it was pride, or something that rung and said, I am equipped! I thought I could fight it... my confidence soared.. But I took a blow to the left, then to the right... in the stomach and on the back, I tried to lift my shield but it was heavy, my sword could not swing, I was losing strength... and eventually with enough beating, I dropped my amour and fell at the feet of temptation.  The battle was over, triumphant temptation took me as a trophy and threw me full force at sin. I sinned! I could not believe it, I fell and I was so disappointed. I feared to tell anyone, and looked to God in shame, I said I am useless, even with your equipment I fail... I have brought shame to this house and deserve death! I don't deserve to be blessed or saved, I deserver to be punished!  

Amongst the pain and remorse, the anger and regret.. I came to realisation that I had to die! that was the key, but not a death of a physical one, and not a spiritual suicide either, but a death to die to sin! I struggled to find out how to die, I was so persistent to die to sin, but I did not know how! I searched and goggled, I even thought to somehow commit spiritual suicide in order to die to sin. Little by little it was getting clearer, it had to do with something that Christ had done, to die with Him somehow, but HOW?! I always hear people say we died with Christ and rose again ect, but I didn't know how to die!  

Then, I stumbled upon this scripture: 

"1 Peter 2:24 

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed." NLT 

I came to realization it's not something I can do! instead, It's something Christ DID and I have now DIED. I accepted it I said, You died on the cross so now I am dead too to sin. I was happy to have found this scripture, but still it was not enough. God spoke to me, He said BE STILL and KNOW THAT I AM GOD a scripture in Psalms 36:10. I wondered, "What is it to BE STILL?" I said yes God I will be still I won't move. Rejecting much things that required me to move and be busy, letting go of serving for this week and just resting on Him. I got most of it right, but I did not get the true meaning of be still. I was lead to research on it more, and came to find out that it means to BE WEAK! to LET GO literally LET GO.  So it came to the point when I let go of my equipment, and became weak, I said to God, I am weak I am useless and you are God, I really just leave it to you, in my mind an image appeared, instead of me fighting restlessly with the equipment received, as one would, with the skills he knows and how he sees it to fight and how he would do things, it became, God holding on to the arms of mine and TRAINING me how to fight, LEADING me where to strike and where to block, it was less of I CAN TO DO IT and more of YOU LEAD I FOLLOW. I has come to me, to be weak is to really just let go of every pride, everything. Trust God and let Him lead. That's the best way. 

It's still an on going process, I should not doubt, but neither will I say I WONT DO IT again, but as long as HE IS LEADING, HE will help me out of it, of this I am sure, I should just be still and know He is God!