Monday, May 31, 2010
God Will Make a Way
I just feel like singing this song today. So I looked it up on You Tube. :) I love this song very much. Enjoy!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Whole World is a Garden
dated 27 March 2010
My daughter and I watched the movie, "The Secret Garden" which is based on the children's classic book of the same title. We like it so much that we have both watched it three times now. At the end, Mary, the main character says, "The whole world is like a garden."
Well, some parts of the world is really like a jungle I would say. It needs a lot of overhaul and tending to turn those places into a real garden. But then again, indeed, if you think of the world as a real garden, you would do that.
I opened my prayer book today, which also serves as my notebook for everything - from my shopping list to my prayer list - and I realized that these people I am praying for are literally spread all over the world. I promise to pray for and yet, sometimes, I do neglect praying for them. If I think of each one of them as "shoots" sprouting out of my world-wide garden, one day, if I work diligently enough, my garden would be green and beautiful, a veritable garden. And that brings me also to the most basic form of nurturing and watering my garden - reflection, the word of God, and just conversing with Him. It does help to pray aloud, but sometimes, thought-to-thought communication is just as precious. And then there's the "praying in the spirit" realm which is praying in tongues, which in itself is of great value because we allow the Holy Spirit to pray in our behalf when we are lost for words on how to pray for a situation. Sometimes, I just want to be quiet in the presence of the Lord, during my Quiet Time. And in that time and place of quiet I do believe I am nurturing, watering and caring for my garden. Our communion with God every morning is like partaking of fresh manna from Heaven. It is a daily thing. Whatever manna we ate yesterday won't suffice for today as well. And the real manna that Moses and the Israelites ate in the wilderness for 40 years developed maggots if they kept it overnight. It is the same thing with our daily partaking of God each day. Our communion with Him yesterday would already be stale by today. It is a daily thing. And every day with Him is a new thing, a different plane, an altogether different mood, different outlook. He is indeed our daily sustenance.
Proverbs 24
30 I went past the field of the sluggard,
past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;
My daughter and I watched the movie, "The Secret Garden" which is based on the children's classic book of the same title. We like it so much that we have both watched it three times now. At the end, Mary, the main character says, "The whole world is like a garden."
Well, some parts of the world is really like a jungle I would say. It needs a lot of overhaul and tending to turn those places into a real garden. But then again, indeed, if you think of the world as a real garden, you would do that.
I opened my prayer book today, which also serves as my notebook for everything - from my shopping list to my prayer list - and I realized that these people I am praying for are literally spread all over the world. I promise to pray for and yet, sometimes, I do neglect praying for them. If I think of each one of them as "shoots" sprouting out of my world-wide garden, one day, if I work diligently enough, my garden would be green and beautiful, a veritable garden. And that brings me also to the most basic form of nurturing and watering my garden - reflection, the word of God, and just conversing with Him. It does help to pray aloud, but sometimes, thought-to-thought communication is just as precious. And then there's the "praying in the spirit" realm which is praying in tongues, which in itself is of great value because we allow the Holy Spirit to pray in our behalf when we are lost for words on how to pray for a situation. Sometimes, I just want to be quiet in the presence of the Lord, during my Quiet Time. And in that time and place of quiet I do believe I am nurturing, watering and caring for my garden. Our communion with God every morning is like partaking of fresh manna from Heaven. It is a daily thing. Whatever manna we ate yesterday won't suffice for today as well. And the real manna that Moses and the Israelites ate in the wilderness for 40 years developed maggots if they kept it overnight. It is the same thing with our daily partaking of God each day. Our communion with Him yesterday would already be stale by today. It is a daily thing. And every day with Him is a new thing, a different plane, an altogether different mood, different outlook. He is indeed our daily sustenance.
Proverbs 24
30 I went past the field of the sluggard,
past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-
a little folding of the hands to rest-
34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.
and scarcity like an armed man.
----------------------------
It is no wonder that many times I encounter discouragement, dryness, lack of direction and determination. We can't go slack on our time with God - Word, reflection, prayer. Being a sluggard in my garden brings on the fruit called "spiritual want" and altogether leanness in my life.
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What is God's Will for You and Me?
dated 31 Dec 2009
What is God’s will for you and me?
But a body you prepared for me;
With burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll –
I have come to do your will, O God.’ “
At Gethsemane, before Jesus was arrested with the help of a traitor-friend, Jesus prayed earnestly, three times, the same prayer, so earnestly that he sweated like droplets of blood:
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43An angel from heavenappeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Jesus laid down His will to the Father, even laying down His own life, as the Father willed. That is what it cost us to be saved, made holy and perfect, ready for life forever and ever in Heaven, with God.
And ponder this: A father’s love for his son. God the Father Himself gave us His one and only begotten and beloved Son to be the sacrificial lamb to take our place, that we may be saved from our sin, in this life and from eternal damnation in the fires of Hell. It cost Him His dearest One. He had to send no less than His own Son – not a servant, not an angel, not a prophet, but His own Son. Ponder, ponder…
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Bible passages are in italics; references in chronology:
Hebrews 10:10
Hebrews 10:14
John 3:16
Romans 8:32
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Dated 30 Dec 2009
Behold, the Lamb of God!
There are more sheep than people here in NZ. Thus, I have made it my
ambition to learn to cook roast leg of lamb, though it's not really
that cheap here, unlike what most of us would think. A roast leg of
lamb is always cooked with rosemary herb. When I smell rosemary, I
think lamb; when I think lamb, I think of Jesus. This one was for our Christmas Eve dinner.
Well, it's not a whole lamb, just a leg of lamb roast. Jesus, our
Passover Lamb, was born 2,000 years ago! At Passover, if a family can't
finish a whole lamb, they are supposed to share it with another family
(Exodus 12:4). And for us, all we need is just a leg! :-) Two thousand
years ago, the Lamb of God was born and made a manger His bed. The King
of kings took the lowly form of a human, was born to a humble traveling
couple who were taking refuge from the cold with the animals in a
stable, in the little town of Bethlehem... Hmmmm, ponder that.
"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
A joyful Christmas Season to those who celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays to those who don't and a Blessed New Year to everyone!
The Rosemary hedge in our yard.
-----
Dated 24 Dec 2009
A few minutes more, according to my clock, and Christmas eve is going to be over. It
would be Christmas day!! The stressful part for me is actually over - shopping,
cooking, setting up the table, lighting up the candles, etc. Thank God, I had a few minutes to reflect more on the Reason for this Season - He is
the Light, He is love, He is the Lord, He is the King, the Messiah, the
Hope. However, though so many good things were said of him, one man named Simeon, actually said you'll either love Him or hate
Him:
This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in
Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. (Luke 2:34,35)
And two thousand years ago the apostle John said of Him,
"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:5)
"He was in the
world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not
recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not
receive him..." (John 1:10,11)
Deep words for us to ponder, indeed. Jesus - who is He?
And as I pondered over these thoughts, hmmmm, I smelled rosemary...
A joyous Christmas Season to you all out there!
As the year 2009 comes to an end, some of us may be thinking of New Year’s resolutions! I have passed on that a long time ago; I never follow it through anyway. I am not about to have a change of mind now, for truly, it is far too late. ;-)
However, I chanced on some passages in my Bible that wouldprobably spell out the ultimate New Year’s resolution for anyone - including myself, as a matter of fact.What is God’s will for you and me?
Jesus said, ‘For my Father’s will is that
everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and
I will raise him up at the last day.’
So there, that’s the Father’s will for us all! Hmmm, God Himself is dangling eternal life and resurrection on the last day for you and me. But that’s only possible if I look to the Son (Jesus) and believe in Him. That’s what it says. I have been a born-again believer for 25 years now, but constantly focusing my gaze on God’s Son and believing in spite of some dauntingly doubt-inducing situations has been a struggle all those years. I know that my faith should be feeding on the “gaze”, which involves copious times of reading and meditating on the Bible, but there had been lapses, really. For others, who have never given a thought to this “carrot” that God dangles to all of us, it probably would cost him / her everything he/she is and he/she has to grab that carrot, as it did cost me, 25 years ago. You’re not about to take on the “nut” cap meditating on the Bible every morning, are you? That’s not going to happen cheap, right? On the other hand, it didn’t come cheap for God to make that "carrot dangling" possible either. The reason we can have eternal life and resurrection on the last day is because Jesus Himself made the most costly resolve at the adult age of 33 to lay down His will to His Father and follow through God’s plan of salvation for us, one dark night in Gethsemane, where He was about to play the role of Sacrificial Lamb.everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and
I will raise him up at the last day.’
Therefore, when Christ
came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offeringyou did not desire,came into the world, he said:
But a body you prepared for me;
With burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll –
I have come to do your will, O God.’ “
At Gethsemane, before Jesus was arrested with the help of a traitor-friend, Jesus prayed earnestly, three times, the same prayer, so earnestly that he sweated like droplets of blood:
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43An angel from heavenappeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Jesus laid down His will to the Father, even laying down His own life, as the Father willed. That is what it cost us to be saved, made holy and perfect, ready for life forever and ever in Heaven, with God.
Mind-boggling? It’s true:
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.And ponder this: A father’s love for his son. God the Father Himself gave us His one and only begotten and beloved Son to be the sacrificial lamb to take our place, that we may be saved from our sin, in this life and from eternal damnation in the fires of Hell. It cost Him His dearest One. He had to send no less than His own Son – not a servant, not an angel, not a prophet, but His own Son. Ponder, ponder…
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
When we have recognized the value of such a Gift, wouldn’t we reciprocate in equal worth - laying down our own will, … every day… for the rest of our lives, to God? God demands no less and He deserves no less. Worship Him with our all? Why not? He gave us His all.He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
So, as we think 2012, ehe, 2010, maybe this is the year we’re going to gaze on Him, constantly, every day, for all time. Maybe it is the year of the greatest resolution ever. And yes, if you think 2012, better be ready for that Last Day. But then that’s another huge topic altogether. (Don’t
get me wrong, I don’t believe in the rumors about 2012, it could be 2011, too, or sooner still.) So, before I go on forever and ever, I wish you, a peaceful and “gaze-ful” year for 2010! Happy New Year! Don’t drink and drive, don’t touch the firecrackers, don’t kiss someone with HIV, etc, etc. !!! :D LOL!
get me wrong, I don’t believe in the rumors about 2012, it could be 2011, too, or sooner still.) So, before I go on forever and ever, I wish you, a peaceful and “gaze-ful” year for 2010! Happy New Year! Don’t drink and drive, don’t touch the firecrackers, don’t kiss someone with HIV, etc, etc. !!! :D LOL!
Bible passages are in italics; references in chronology:
John 6:40
Hebrews 10: 5-7
Luke 22:42-44Hebrews 10:10
Hebrews 10:14
John 3:16
Romans 8:32
-------
Dated 30 Dec 2009
Behold, the Lamb of God!
There are more sheep than people here in NZ. Thus, I have made it my
ambition to learn to cook roast leg of lamb, though it's not really
that cheap here, unlike what most of us would think. A roast leg of
lamb is always cooked with rosemary herb. When I smell rosemary, I
think lamb; when I think lamb, I think of Jesus. This one was for our Christmas Eve dinner.
Well, it's not a whole lamb, just a leg of lamb roast. Jesus, our
Passover Lamb, was born 2,000 years ago! At Passover, if a family can't
finish a whole lamb, they are supposed to share it with another family
(Exodus 12:4). And for us, all we need is just a leg! :-) Two thousand
years ago, the Lamb of God was born and made a manger His bed. The King
of kings took the lowly form of a human, was born to a humble traveling
couple who were taking refuge from the cold with the animals in a
stable, in the little town of Bethlehem... Hmmmm, ponder that.
"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
A joyful Christmas Season to those who celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays to those who don't and a Blessed New Year to everyone!
The Rosemary hedge in our yard.
-----
Dated 24 Dec 2009
Christmas Eve Thoughts
Rosemary blossoms in my yard.
A few minutes more, according to my clock, and Christmas eve is going to be over. It
would be Christmas day!! The stressful part for me is actually over - shopping,
cooking, setting up the table, lighting up the candles, etc. Thank God, I had a few minutes to reflect more on the Reason for this Season - He is
the Light, He is love, He is the Lord, He is the King, the Messiah, the
Hope. However, though so many good things were said of him, one man named Simeon, actually said you'll either love Him or hate
Him:
This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in
Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. (Luke 2:34,35)
And two thousand years ago the apostle John said of Him,
"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:5)
"He was in the
world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not
recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not
receive him..." (John 1:10,11)
Deep words for us to ponder, indeed. Jesus - who is He?
And as I pondered over these thoughts, hmmmm, I smelled rosemary...
A joyous Christmas Season to you all out there!
----
Dated 22 Dec 2009
Poinsettias on my Window
Oh, how awesome is He, the Person we "do" Christmas for. Here are more
thoughts on Him as we work, drive, shop, rush, clean, cook, wrap, etc.
:-)
Isaiah 11
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
__________________________
A merry Christmas to everyone!
Poinsettias on my window. Hmmmmm, so Christmasy. Reminds me of the profuse poinsettia blooms screaming crimson red at Christmas time, in
one of the house gardens in our neighborhood back home,... once upon a
childhood of mine. Photo taken today, 22Dec09.
thoughts on Him as we work, drive, shop, rush, clean, cook, wrap, etc.
:-)
Isaiah 11
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
__________________________
A merry Christmas to everyone!
Poinsettias on my window. Hmmmmm, so Christmasy. Reminds me of the profuse poinsettia blooms screaming crimson red at Christmas time, in
one of the house gardens in our neighborhood back home,... once upon a
childhood of mine. Photo taken today, 22Dec09.
------
Dated 20 Dec 2009
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end....
(Isaiah 9:6,7)
Contemplating on God's unspeakable gift to us.
A blessed Christmas to one and all!
Breaking bread at home, today, 20th Dec 09. The red and green strawberries make it so Christmasy! Photo taken by my older daughter.
Dated 20 Dec 2009
Run Up to Christmas 2009
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end....
(Isaiah 9:6,7)
Contemplating on God's unspeakable gift to us.
A blessed Christmas to one and all!
Breaking bread at home, today, 20th Dec 09. The red and green strawberries make it so Christmasy! Photo taken by my older daughter.
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About Me
- alovestory
- The Many Versions of Love Stories 1. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, kiss and marry. They live happily ever after. 2. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, kiss and marry. The marriage sours, they part, and live happily ever after. 3. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, kiss and marry. Then boy finds out it's more fun to be girl... or girl finds out it's more fun to be boy, they part, change sexes and live happily ever after. 4.Finally, boy or girl meets God. It's love at first sight... The roads went rough, the tides rose high, the strong winds blew and the quake shook the ground... but they truly live happily ever after, forever and ever. 5. Try God's love... it's always happy forever after, and the story never ends. :-D