today's message in the Spirit: be strong in grace, having this seal

2 Timothy 2 New King James Version (NKJV) (boldness added)

Be Strong in Grace

2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
¹² If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
¹³ If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

Approved and Disapproved Workers

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Living by the Spirit: solid Bible teaching in the Spirit of God

This blogger is led in his spirit to recommend all readers of this blog visit the following links for online Bible teaching or download online audio teachings. The Bible teaching (listened to many times over and over for a number of years) has helped tremendously to provide the necessary tools to sail the Holy Spirit Bible living life of this blogger! Highly recommended navigator in this journey in the Holy Spirit. A lot of Bible (Holy Spirit led application) resources in multimedia. 
http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio http://www.awmi.net/tv/this_week http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/harnessing_emotions
________________________________A sample of an article. Listen to the whole series in audio. They are good and practical. For those who are not used to listen to US English, listen many times with your Bible open. You can overcome your language barrier by the Holy Spirit.  _________________________________
Harnessing Your Emotions
By Andrew Wommack

Related Materials   •  Free MP3 download   •  Online TV broadcast   •  CD album   •  Book

The Bible teaches us that our thoughts are the determining factor which controls our actions. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Notice that carnal mindedness doesn't just tend toward death — it is death!

No one can consistently perform differently than the way they think; therefore, we cannot change our actions without changing our thinking. It's not just what we think about that needs changing, but we must change our thinking process. Our emotions are linked directly to how we think.

All people have a perception, or image, on the inside of them of what they are like. This image is not necessarily based on facts but on feelings. One negative experience can distort a person's perception of themself for a lifetime.

For instance, some people who are beautiful may think of themselves as ugly or undesirable because of unkind words spoken to them as a child. Some who achieve great success still see themselves as failures, which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

To a degree, psychology has correctly diagnosed this problem. Psychologists use terminology such as "self-esteem" or "identity" in relating these truths; however, today's secular wisdom is totally inadequate to help a person change the inner self image.

First, most people shift the blame for bad self-esteem, or self-image, to someone else. It has become popular to blame others for every negative thing in our lives. People often say, "I came from a dysfunctional family," "My problems came because I'm part of a minority group," "It's that woman you gave me" (Gen. 3:12). Other people are not our problem!

All of us have had negative experiences. The choice is ours whether we become bitter or better as a result of them. For every person who can claim some dysfunctional behavior because of a traumatic experience in their life, there are others who have had similar or worse things happen to them, yet they overcame their circumstances. Why? Because problems do not dictate failure; we have a choice.

Deuteronomy 30:19 says, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." God Almighty gave us a choice. God doesn't make the choice for us, and Satan can't make it for us. We have the privilege and responsibility to choose blessing or cursing.

Placing the blame on others is denying the real problem, and it will prevent finding a solution. If other people are my problem, I'm in trouble because God did not give me the ability to control other people. The devil will always send someone across my path who knows how to hit my hot button.

If the problem is within me, then there is hope because through Christ, I can change. This is freedom. Regardless of what others do, I can prosper through Christ.

After psychology tries to place the blame for your problems on someone else, they try to bolster your self-esteem by having you focus on the positive things in your self and minimize the negative attributes. That's not what the Bible teaches. Jesus said, "For without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34). Paul said, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are" (1 Cor. 1:27-28).

The Bible teaches that there must be an end to self-esteem before true service can begin. Christians should not try and store up the feeble positive attributes of their personalities. That is like trying to stop the bleeding from an amputated arm with a Band-Aid; it won't work for long.

Regardless of how successful or talented we are in ourselves, we will eventually fail. If nothing else, we will get older someday and will not be as productive as before. If our self-esteem is rooted in our accomplishments, then it will ultimately fail. All the security we have found in ourselves will then come crashing down around us.

The Christian should have Christ-esteem. Just like the Apostle Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

The secret to victorious Christian living is not found in self-improvement but in self-denial so that Christ can live through us.

This does not mean that God wants us to have a bad self-image. It just depends upon which self we are talking about. You see, every born-again believer has become a new person in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). (Eph. 4:22-24).

The old man is corrupt and, at his best, is incapable of living the Christian life. This is the self that most people try to patch up and feel good about. Give it up! We have to die to this old self life with all its good and bad, and find a new identity in Christ.

The new man is exactly as Jesus is (1 Cor. 6:17)! That's right. We are a totally brand-new person in Christ. We have everything that Jesus has, in our spirits (1 John 4:17). We have a totally new identity in Christ. Why then would we want to fix up our old selves instead of just living in our new selves?

If we let the new man dominate us, we'll walk in power and victory in every area of our lives.

How can you tell if your thoughts and emotions are coming from the new, born-again self or the old carnal self? God's Word is the key. Jesus says in John 6:63, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Any thought or emotion that agrees with what God's Word says about you is from your new man. Any thought or emotion that violates God's Word is from your old man or the devil.

If you are angry at someone, you're in the flesh (old man). Just repent and get back in the spirit (new man) where you have love, joy, and peace (Gal. 5:22). If you are afraid, you're in the flesh, "for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7). Instead of going to God and asking Him to remove the fear, just step out of the flesh and into the spirit where there is no fear (1 John 4:18).

This is so simple you have to have someone help you misunderstand it. The problem is that we have had a lot of help misunderstanding these simple, biblical truths, but we have a solution.

THE MESSAGE TODAY: How to be curse free?

Galatians 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. ² Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by^[a] the flesh? ⁴ Did you suffer^[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ⁶ just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

⁷ Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. ⁸ And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify^[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” ⁹ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

¹⁰ For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” ¹¹ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”^{[d] 12} But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit^[e] through faith.

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵ To give a human example, brothers:^[f] even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[g] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Footnotes:

1. Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with
2. Galatians 3:4 Or experience
3. Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24
4. Galatians 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live
5. Galatians 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit
6. Galatians 3:15 Or brothers and sisters
7. Galatians 3:28 Greek bondservant

May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things

 The watchman was led to read 1 and 2 Thessalonians today. He was drawn to a simple truth about salvation.
1. God made the choice of whom to be called to become His. He loves those He has chosen.
2. God chose us to experience salvation.
3. Our salvation consists of the following essential ingredients:

1. God who called us.
2. Someone who told us the Good News.
3. The Good News. 
4. The Holy Spirit.
5. Our holiness through the Holy Spirit.
6. Our belief in the Truth.
7. The Truth.

4. The result of salvation:

1. Now we can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Our God will enable us to live a life worthy of His call.
3. This is possible because of the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. 
4. God will give us power to accomplish all the good things.
5. Our faith will prompts us to do them.
6. The way we live will honor the name of the Lord Jesus.
7. We will be honored with Him.

 _______________The Bible verses:

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
¹¹ So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. ¹² Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.^[a]

Footnotes: 2 Thessalonians 1:12 Or of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

¹³ As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first^[a] to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Footnotes: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Some manuscripts read chose you from the very beginning. 

End Times Witnessing: Watchman’s testimony on UNDESERVED-FAVOR

On the Lord’s Day, the watchman woke and was led to focus on the heavenly Father’s ‘unfailing love” in his NLT Bible. He was quite surprised as he was ministering the word to an elderly bed-ridden man who had been shouting non-stop on the previous day. The watchman was also interceding for an impossible case.


But the prompting in his spirit was clearly “unfailing love”. It was not warfare weapon or any new way of casting out demons etc. He did not expect that “unfailing love” could be relevant at that point of time. But the watchman obeyed.

The outcome was equally if not more stunning. He received three undeserved-favors/grace of God within the short span of three days! When he looked up the NIV Bible, he discovered that the term “unfailing love” in another version of the Bible is “grace” in the NIV Bible. The Amplified Bible gives a even clearer definition as follows:

John 1:17 Amplified Bible (AMP) 17 For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The three favors are: The old gentleman indeed slept calmly and stopped his angry outbursts. The impossible intercession case witnessed a miraculous breakthrough that definitedly revealed the favorable hand of the Lord moving! The third favor came to him personally as a long waited impossible bonus breakthrough too -moving one gigantic mountain just in time as he has asked the Lord to remove it before end June!

When the watchman burst out with praises and thanksgiving in his heart to the Lord, a person who happened to be tidying up the work desk, picked up a book and reminded him that another intercessor who came in from outstation last Thursday for two days had given it to the watchman and said that the Holy Spirit wanted him to have it and also asked him to give a copy to another person too (who happened to be the one in the ‘impossible case’).

The watchman looked at the title and was speechless and in awe. The book is called, “FAVOR -THE ROAD TO SUCCESS -How to receive Special Favor with God and with People” (by Bob Buess)!

______________Bible Verses on “unfailing love”

Genesis 32:10
I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps!
Genesis 32:9-11 (in Context) Genesis 32 (Whole Chapter)

Exodus 15:13
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
Exodus 15:12-14 (in Context) Exodus 15 (Whole Chapter)

Ezra 7:28
And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:27-28 (in Context) Ezra 7 (Whole Chapter)

Nehemiah 1:5
Then I said,“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,
Nehemiah 1:4-6 (in Context) Nehemiah 1 (Whole Chapter)

Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them,
Nehemiah 9:16-18 (in Context) Nehemiah 9 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 6:4
Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 6:3-5 (in Context) Psalm 6 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 13:4-6 (in Context) Psalm 13 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 18:50
He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.
Psalm 18:49-50 (in Context) Psalm 18 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 21:7
For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Psalm 21:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 21 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 26:3
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
Psalm 26:2-4 (in Context) Psalm 26 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 31:16
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
Psalm 31:15-17 (in Context) Psalm 31 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 32:10
Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Psalm 32:9-11 (in Context) Psalm 32 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 33:5
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:4-6 (in Context) Psalm 33 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 33:18
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
Psalm 33:17-19 (in Context) Psalm 33 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 33:22
May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:21-22 (in Context) Psalm 33 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 36:7
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 36 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 44:26
Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 44:25-26 (in Context) Psalm 44 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 48:9
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
Psalm 48:8-10 (in Context) Psalm 48 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 51:1
[ Psalm 51 ] For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:1-3 (in Context) Psalm 51 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 52:8

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
Psalm 52:7-9 (in Context) Psalm 52 (Whole Chapter)


Psalm 62:12
and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.”
Psalm 62:11-12 (in Context) Psalm 62 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 77:8
Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?
Psalm 77:7-9 (in Context) Psalm 77 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 85:7
Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation.
Psalm 85:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 85 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:13-15 (in Context) Psalm 90 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 94:18
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
Psalm 94:17-19 (in Context) Psalm 94 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 107:8
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
Psalm 107:7-9 (in Context) Psalm 107 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 107:15
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
Psalm 107:14-16 (in Context) Psalm 107 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 107:21
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Psalm 107:20-22 (in Context) Psalm 107 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 107:31
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Psalm 107:30-32 (in Context) Psalm 107 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 109:26
Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your unfailing love.
Psalm 109:25-27 (in Context) Psalm 109 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 119:41
May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise;
Psalm 119:40-42 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 119:76
May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
Psalm 119:75-77 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 119:88
In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.
Psalm 119:87-89 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 130:7
Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
Psalm 130:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 130 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 138:2
I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame.
Psalm 138:1-3 (in Context) Psalm 138 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:7-9 (in Context) Psalm 143 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 143:12
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
Psalm 143:11-12 (in Context) Psalm 143 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 147:11
the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Psalm 147:10-12 (in Context) Psalm 147 (Whole Chapter)

Proverbs 19:22
What a person desires is unfailing love ; better to be poor than a liar.
Proverbs 19:21-23 (in Context) Proverbs 19 (Whole Chapter)

Proverbs 20:6
Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?
Proverbs 20:5-7 (in Context) Proverbs 20 (Whole Chapter)

Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:9-11 (in Context) Isaiah 54 (Whole Chapter)

Lamentations 3:32
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
Lamentations 3:31-33 (in Context) Lamentations 3 (Whole Chapter)

Hosea 10:12
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:11-13 (in Context) Hosea 10 (Whole Chapter)

Days after Quakes and Tsunami: “Never Let me Go”

A sixty year old Japanese man was rescued from a piece of floating roof after two days. He told the rescuers that he had lost his wife.



The watchman once got to know someone through sharing the same interest of reading books written by Kazuo Ishiguro . Here are some quotes from Kazuo Ishiguro. The excerpts are from “Never let me go” (2005) and “The remains of the day” (winner of the Booker Prize, 1989)


Quotes_____________

“I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it’s just too much. The current’s too strong. They’ve got to let go, drift apart. That’s how it is with us. It’s a shame, Kath, because we’ve loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can’t stay together forever.” (Never Let me go)

”Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading.”

“You say you’re sure? Sure that you’re in love? How can you know it? You think love is so simple? “

“The evening’s the best part of the day. You’ve done your day’s work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.”

“Sometimes I get so immersed in my own company, if I unexpectedly run into someone I know, it’s a bit of a shock and takes me a while to adjust.”

“What can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished? The hard reality is, surely, that for the likes of you and I, there is little choice other than to leave our fate, ultimately, in the hands of those great gentlemen at the hub of this world who employ our services. What is the point in worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one’s life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and I at least try to make our small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that is in itself, whatever the outcome, cause for pride and contentment.” (The remains of the day)

“It had never occurred to me that our lives, which had been so closely interwoven, could unravel with such speed.”

“Indeed — why should I not admit it? — in that moment, my heart was breaking.”

“…and I half closed my eyes and imagined this was the spot where everything I’d ever lost since my childhood had washed up, and I was now standing here in front of it, and if I waited long enough, a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across the field and gradually get larger until I’d see it was Tommy, and he’d wave, and maybe even call.” (Never Let me go)

“Your life must now run the course that’s been set for it.”

“Memory is quite central for me. Part of it is that I like the actual texture of writing through memory…”

“When we lost something precious, and we’d looked and looked and still couldn’t find it, then we didn’t have to be completely heartbroken. We still had that last bit of comfort, thinking one day, when we grow up, and we were free to travel around the counry, we would always go and find it in Norfolk…And that’s why years and years later, that day Tommy and I found another copy of that lost tape of mine in a town on the Norfolk coast, we didn’t just think it pretty funny; we both felt deep down some tug, some old wish to believe again in something that was once close to our hearts.”

“The problem, as I see it, is that you’ve been told and not told. You’ve been told, but none of you really understand, and I dare say, some people are quite happy to leave it that way.”


“There was another life that I might have had, but I am having this one.”

“As a writer, I’m more interested in what people tell themselves happened rather than what actually happened”

“You’re always in a rush, or else you’re too exhausted to have a proper conversation. Soon enough, the long hours, the traveling, the broken sleep have all crept into your being and become part of you, so everyone can see it, in your posture, your gaze, the way you move and talk.” (Don’t we all?)

CHAPTER FORTY ONE: FASTING, PRAYER, WARFARE AND BREAKTHROUGHS

Trying to fast seriously has brought spiritual breakthrough. Setting the right goals for fasting is essential. When confronted with a life threatening crisis, people are more willing and sincere in fasting and prayer. On the other hand, when one’s goal is to get close to God and obeying His command (as in the Bible), to be more spiritually discerning (so as to obey His command/will), to breakthrough in applying Biblical living, the fasting is just as effective. These are some of Jack’s recent findings through readings and personal experience.


After fasting partially he felt his body lighter and not as cumbersome. He found that he could concentrate more on spiritual matters (matters pertaining God). He was more focused in worship and prayer. He renewed his enthusiasm for intercession for others, and even the big issues like the salvation of the world. When interceding for smaller things, like for families, he was more discerning and was able to be led by the Holy Spirit.


Unlike what he had feared previously, there was not much bodily discomfort other than the usual mild hunger pang at certain intervals (possibly more induced by psychology and habits). Even the slowing down of life did not bother him much. He felt more relaxed as he no longer needed to worry about what he should eat for the next meal.


He had more quality time on hand and could do more work and more Bible reading (in addition to prayer). He had less strife when dealing with people and situations. Somehow, his world seemed changed for the better. Reading the Bible is another big gain. He had never been able to read so much in the same time frame before. This time he had no agenda and read at ease, as led by the Holy Spirit. Indeed, as he read, he received the messages that God was speaking to him. So he prayed in response as he read.


Prayer-wise there were breakthroughs too. He interceded as led by the Holy Spirit. For example, one morning he thought he had finished praying as he woke early and had almost two hours with the Lord. However, when he returned from an assignment, he was led to intercede further and spent another two hours! He was not even aware of the time.

This morning he wanted to pray for a relative urgently so he woke early and spent time before the Lord. However, when he thought he needed to intercede more, the Holy Spirit led him to pray for one particular big nation/one big religious group) on an urgent matter. So he obeyed. At the end of that prayer, he was shown a vision about the relative whom he had wanted to pray for. The vision was positive and answered his earlier concern.


He learned from this experience that we cannot limit God. When we put ourselves in the flow of the Holy Spirit, life becomes effortless and the spiritual reality becomes clearer and discernable. This is part of Kingdom of God living and living in the Spirit as instructed in the Bible.


It is like heaven come down and life has such a clarity as he has never seen before. It is indeed wonderful!

CHAPTER FORTY: A NOVICE IN FASTING

Jack continued to fast two further days at a stretch, with mainly water and some warm drinks or vegetable soup. He recorded his diet and experience as follows.

Day two: one cup of cocoa in the late morning, one bowl of sweet potato soup in the late afternoon with 2 thin slices of steam carrot mashed in rice paste, a bowl of vegetable soup in the evening, and a small bowl of red bean soup at night.

Day three: one slice of whole meal bread (as he thought he heard the wife say to take it in his dream), one hard-boil egg, and one cup of cocoa for breakfast, one cup of warm drink in the afternoon, one bowl of vegetable soup with a small slice of fish in the evening. For supper he took one cookie and one cup of soymilk.

Difficulties encountered: 1. His mind was on food all the time. He felt tired and sleepy. He slept early and long hours. 2. By the third day morning he dreamed that his wife asked him to take breakfast so he got up and went to take one slice of bread thereby breaking the fast. 3. For the first time of his life he felt cold in normal temperature. So he was tempted to take warm sweet drink. The proper fasting advice is that he should avoid taking sweet drink. 4. He tried to stretch his cocoa drink to last two hours by taking small sips and it became quite horrible to drink after the first half hour.

Lessons learned and benefits gained:

1. He learned to feel how a starving man felt (so he thought) as he wanted to stretch the cup of cocoa.

2. Prayer has improved: instead of praying the usual repeated parochial issues (family, own church, own city etc), he was led by the Holy Spirit to see the whole earth as a tiny globe, and it looked so pitiful heading towards destruction without knowing its true direction and destiny. So he interceded from his new vision, seeing how big and vast God is and acknowledging how insignificant humans are and how ridiculous the things that we spend so much time worrying and bickering about.

3. He also acknowledged more readily his biggest sin, that is, “unbelief” in many areas of his life, not wanting to trust God fully, like the nine disciples who could not handle the epileptic boy with a mute demon.

4. He learned from reading more about fasting prayer. The following are excerpts of his reading of Ezra 8:21-23 from the New Spirit Filled Life Bible on “fasting for spiritual breakthrough”

a. For guidance: they petitioned God to lead them in a right way. b. For assistance: they petitioned God for protecting their little ones. c. For substance: petitioned God to guard their possessions (for God’s temple).


“Fasting is a sacrificial form of prayer warfare that produces results available in no other way.” (especially in demonic deliverance). “It is a sacrificial denial of necessary nourishment which turns one’s attention to seeking God during that denial.”

5. He also learned from a teaching that when he fasts his body will manifest symptoms of sickness and discomfort. He is not to panic. Headaches and other bodily pains may be signs of his being delivered and cleansed.

6. He experienced the assurance that the presence of the Lord (Jesus) actually refreshes the believer. (Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”)

7. During worship service at night, he was more focused and not distracted like before. He spent most of the time praying in the spirit. When he asked the Holy Spirit to show him something to intercede for he suddenly saw in his mind a vast country covered by muddy flood water. People were bobbing up and down in the water. So he interceded fervently for that country.

Overall: He learned that he was not really fasting the way he should be. There was hardly any sacrificial denial of the body. He was not fully seeking God and spending time in God’s presence. So he decided to start again the three days fast in the coming weekend. Meanwhile he continued to fast one-two meals a day and taking light meals or liquid and praying daily.

There was one other breakthrough. Today he was woken at 4am and he got up without hesitation as he felt a terrible feeling inside and knew that he had to intercede as instructed. He obeyed the call (something which he had stopped doing for a long time). After this experience he is again looking forward to such daily encounter in future.
23-9-09

today's hymns for your soul

Blessèd be the fountain of blood,


Words: Eden R. Lat­ta, 1881.

Music: Hen­ry S. Per­kins (MI­DI, score).


Blessèd be the fountain of blood,
To a world of sinners revealed;
Blessèd be the dear Son of God;
Only by His stripes we are healed.
Tho’ I’ve wandered far from His fold,
Bringing to my heart pain and woe,
Wash me in the blood of the Lamb,
And I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Whiter than the snow,
Whiter than the snow,
Wash me in the blood of the Lamb,
And I shall be whiter than snow.

Thorny was the crown that He wore,
And the cross His body o’ercame;
Grievous were the sorrows He bore,
But He suffered Thus not in vain.
May I to that fountain be led,
Made to cleanse my sins here below;
Wash me in the blood that He shed,
And I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Father, I have wandered from Thee,
Often has my heart gone astray;
Crimson do my sins seem to me—
Water cannot wash them away.
Jesus, to the fountain of Thine,
Leaning on Thy promise, I go;
Cleanse me by Thy washing divine,
And I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/l/blefount.htm

Grace greater than our sin
Words: Julia H. Johnston, in Hymns Tried and True (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: The Bi­ble In­sti­tute Col­port­age As­so­ci­a­tion, 1911), num­ber 2. Music: Daniel B. Towner, 1910 (MI­DI, score).

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/g/ggreater.htm


Be blessed!

The Lord is my refuge, my place of safety

PSALM 91 (NEW LIVING TRANSLATION)
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

DAY 101: SONGS, SIGNS AND WONDERS

We (four generations of us, one of each) continue to have family worship twice a day on most week days, and also attend the twice weekly prayer house worship. The youngest of us is six years and ten months old. She has acquired the habit of worship and has become the self-appointed organizer of worship. Every morning she will get the sitting room ready complete with a cushion for each person to kneel, exercise mats in two rolls, hymn books, Bibles, notebook (for us to write down spirit songs, if any), and ball pens.
The four of us love to sing. We each sing in our own ways. The master of the house used to be the worst singer. The mistress of the house can sing reasonably well. The guest is a spirit-filled intercessor who sings very high pitch songs (mostly spirit songs). The little one sings softly in her own childish way. All cannot read music notes.
Our meeting has four parts: songs, prayer in the Spirit, Bible reading, and more songs.
Initially only the Spirit-filled intercessor visitor could sing spirit song or see visions. The two other grown-ups and the young child had not displayed such gifts. After seeking God for sometime, the master of the house had developed the gift of seeing a bit of visions (in words and in pictures). Lately he developed the gift of singing (followed by interpreting and writing songs) in the spirit.
When the little one joined us for holiday she soon learned to hum songs in the spirit and pray in the spirit. She loves the worship sessions and has participated in and stayed throughout every meeting without fail. Of course she fell asleep (like any normal little child) while prostrating on the floor during late night prayer house meetings. Yesterday morning she participated in the whole Bible reading session in the prayer house. Three of us grown-ups were given the book of Isaiah to read (all sixty-six chapters). The little one helped us to read two chapters. Then she read five chapters in the Gospel of Mark. We finished reading aloud the book of Isaiah in two hours.
The little one is so used to such meetings that yesterday afternoon she voluntarily joined a group of adult ladies’ fellowship and knelt and bowed down with them and prayed in tongue when they were interceding in a home fellowship in this house. The prayer meeting was the first ever since its inception so Spirit-filled and charged up. The usually quiet and subdued ladies were loudly praying in the Spirit and extended the meeting by one hour!
The mistress of the house has been a committed Christian for over twenty years, actively serving God for a long time, recently seeking God in the spirit after attending a course on waiting upon God. She felt disappointed as she saw others heard from God, saw visions, and could sing spirit songs, whereas she could not. She felt she wanted to know God more and was hindered by the lack. She told God her feeling. During the last few days she progressed to seeing visions and yesterday she began to sing in tune as in spirit songs.
All we can say is that we cannot limit God. All we can do is to seek Him with thirst and hunger in our spirits and wait upon Him regardless of our feelings or experiences.
This morning I prayed for my own career and ministry, if any. As I worshipped and prayed in the spirit, I saw myself in two consecutive scenes. First I was playing a guitar to the audience of trees, as in a forest. There seemed to be flowing streams as well. The second scene was I playing a violin, to the open field with green grass, flowers and butterflies. The land could be hilly but I am not sure. In my mind I had words like spread, disburse, and grow.
I do not play both musical instruments. I do not consider myself having any talent to learn either. So far I only managed to sing and write in crude numerical symbols of the music I had created. Rationally I cannot imagine myself pursuing a musical direction in my career or in ministry. This vision is not a result of my wish fulfillment.
The spiritual development has led me and others to know God as a limitless God. Yes, He performs songs, signs and wonders in our lives.
AAA Jack
June 13 2009

DAY 99-100: MANY SONGS BURST FORTH

It is amazing how God reveals Himself. Spirit songs burst forth as I worshipped God. So far I managed to write down a few, some in tunes only, some with lyrics (incomplete and complete). Today I sang the new song “My utmost for His highest” again but in a different tune, much lighter and with full lyrics. I managed to write it down as I sang it a number of times. To clarify, I do not write the proper music scores. I write the tune in numerical symbols (numbers) (as I was taught to read the numbers in primary school).
After I wrote two songs in English I was led to sing a spirit song in a tune which is definitely oriental. So I put in Chinese words and they sounded well-fitted. As I did that in a car, I did not manage to write down that song. The following day, I sang another Chinese spirit song with lyrics as well. Again, I was in the car and did nt manage to record it down.
When I analyze the songs, I find that they are all worship songs about God. As I sang them I felt lifted up, peaceful and happy.
Today I interceded for the churches of this land. I asked the Holy Spirit to show me what to pray for. Then I began to sing. The song was all about asking the God’s glory to fall on this land, His living water to rain down, and the blood of the Lamb to flow and give life, healing and nourishing this land.
Last two nights before I slept I asked the Spirit inside to intercede for me as I slept. The first night the whole night I could sense the singing of two songs, both of which are about the blood Jesus has shed on the cross. The cleansing work has started! The second night I sensed the singing of another two songs, both about the Holy Spirit having come and like fire sweeping over the land.
I could not sing as I wish. Many times I tried to sing but managed to speak in tongue instead. Like wind I did not know its coming or going. But the songs are really nice and many I just cannot write down or interpret. I now realize a bit how David the psalmist had felt. As he sought God, he burst forth with many songs/psalms. What was his secret? One obvious clue is: he seeks God a lot of time.
AAA Jack

day 93-96: Be clean and be blessed

DAY 93-94: FIRST CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH
I was off to spiritual adventure (training) these two days! On Friday we took off after work. By the time we reached the seaside it was around 10.40pm at night.
We started our worship at 11pm, had a small supper, and continued to listen to message until 1.40am. The next morning we continued to have worship around 8am, followed by breakfast, and continued with message. We left before midday to a small town for lunch. After that I continued my journey to visit the parent in-laws at another small town. By the time we reached there it was late afternoon.
During the seaside retreat, I learned about spiritual warfare and self-deliverance from unclean spirits. It was a practical lesson, which I am required to practice if I want spiritual growth. I summarize below what I learned.
In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus told off the religious leaders, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of extorting and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
The trainer explained Bible verses to us and showed that we all have a number of personality and behavioral traits that hinder us from spiritual growth and living like Jesus. There are people who appear to be good moral and behavior Christians who fall when faced with temptations. Why? How not to stumble like them? The preacher had the following solution for us:
1. Find out what evil is in us. What is your regular recurring weakness? For example, anger? Bitterness? Gluttony? Alcohol? Gambling? Lust? Pride? Jealousy?
2. Find out the root of the evil. Where does your anger come from? For example, were you involved in occult practice or idol worship before? The Chinese ‘goddess of mercy’ (originated from an Indian god) was an idol of anger. A Chinese man suffered from burst of violent anger which got uncontrollable. He subsequently realized that in the past he was a devout follower of this idol. So he knew the root of his evil. The evil spirit controlled him from within. The war is within. (Ephesians 6:12)
3. Believe that Jesus has given you the spiritual authority to cast out demons in Jesus name. (Mark 16:17)
4. After finding out, you need to practice binding this evil and casting it out of your system and put it under Jesus’ feet (to crush it).
The advice is ‘just do it’. Keep practicing until you are clean. Your anger does not recur. Your lust dies. Your filthy habit stops. Your obsession ceases. Your bondage broken and you are set free!
AAA Jack
June 5-6 2009
DAY 95-96: IF YOU KNOW THESE THINGS, BLESSED ARE YOU IF YOU DO THEM
In John 13, Jesus demonstrated to the disciples one practical way to receiving blessing. He washed their feet. He being the master washed the followers’ feet. They were shocked. But He told them, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17)
Again, Jesus has shown us the way to God’s blessing is not what the world tends to think. Blessed are not those who ask others to wash their feet. Blessed are those who voluntarily wash others’ feet! Note that there are two steps required:
1. Know these things.
2. Do them.
Seek to know God. Know God through knowing Jesus. Then do what Jesus has asked us to do. We shall be blessed. It sounds simple. However, not easy to do. How many of us are willing to do something that the world considers lowly and not commensurate with our social status? For that matter, how many are willing to seek God just to know Him more?
It is not easy to practice what Jesus has said. But it is dangerous not to try. Jesus warned, the thief (enemy of God) will come and steal, kill and destroy. There is danger lurking out there in the spiritual realm. When we read the Bible seriously and let the Holy Spirit guide us, we will realize that what we are involved in is spiritual and we need to know God in the spirit to receive all that He has promised. The body and the mind cannot receive His communication. Your spirit is a switch. Switch on.
AAA Jack
June 7-8 2009

DAY 92C: “ALIVE! ALIVE! THE WORDS ARE ALIVE!”

I have heard the best testimony today. A close relative’s landlady, a middle aged housewife who has been depressed and suicidal for sometime, has uttered these amazing words one day recently, “Alive! Alive! These words are alive!”
When the lodger moved into her new lodging in February this year, the landlady was a severely depressed Chinese housewife who sat whole day by herself and hardly spoke a word. The two ladies could not communicate with each other much because they could hardly speak the other’s language. The lodger is a Spirit-filled Christian and often sings in tongue. Sometimes she and her visitor would sit in the room and prayed in tongues. When the landlady heard the tongue she recalled the time when she was converted from an idol worshipper to a Christian, about two years ago. She could speak in tongue then but only for a short period. After that she could not utter a sound. She sank into depression regularly and became suicidal. The lodger shared with her some Biblical truth and encouraged her to read the Bible.
At first the landlady said she could not read or understand the Bible and she hardly read any books for that matter. The lodger brought her to her prayer group meeting where a few elderly people attended regularly to pray in tongues quietly. They have no other agenda. After the landlady attended the prayer meeting for three times, she started to pray in tongue. She spent whole day and days coughing. She coughed out a lot of stuff. Then one day she regained her ability to pray in tongue. She started to read the Chinese Bible fervently and one day she ran to the lodger with the Chinese Bible in her hands,and exclaimed, “Alive! Alive! These words are alive! They speak to me!”
She was overjoyed and her whole countenance changed from gloom to peace and joy. Then she developed the gift to sing spiritual song as well. She went to cell group meetings and shared her wonderful recovery and supernatural healing. Although she could not understand English she asked her son to buy her a New King James Version Bible and has started to read Genesis in English with the help of her son every night. As her husband has lost their fortune (including their home), her dream was to have another house of their own.
One day she asked the lodger to join her in prayer for the nation. She told the lodger that she heard the Spirit told her that “without a nation, how can you ever think of having your home?” So she fasted and prayed for the nation regularly.
This is an amazing testimony. I can share her joy about the Bible being alive and real.
AAA Jack

DAY 92: HE WILL FEED HIS FLOCK LIKE A SHEPHERD

In this era of lean and hungry years, what an average man worries most is whether there will be a next meal when the savings run out in the budgeted time frame (assuming inflation remains unchanged). Will there be food or not? Reading “The Road”, a 2006 novel by American writer Cormac McCarthy, a post-apocalyptic tale of a journey taken by a father and his young son over a period of several months, across a landscape blasted by an unnamed cataclysm that destroyed all civilization and, apparently, most life on earth, makes one realize how important food is.

Sometimes I think of how I should best prepare myself for contingency. When a global food shortage occurs, those who are used to fasting and praying will come out as winners. I know of a Bible school requires the students to fast three days before they are awarded the certificate of graduation. Students often think of all sorts of excuses but the alternative is to quit the Bible school. The amazing thing is no one quits and all go through with flying colors! All the sicknesses and weaknesses they had earlier feared did not occur. A more amazing thing is that after they personally experience the benefits of fasting, they volunteer to do more of it and in their own time. Some have acquired this as a life long habit.

I have not yet acquired this wonderful habit. My dream is that one day I could overcome the psychological and spiritual hindrance and make my faith leap.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them to His bosom,, and gently lead those who are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11)
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

Jesus knows our fear. He gave the above assurance. Prior to deliberate living Biblically, I had lived a simple life. During my quest to live Biblically, I have learned even simpler living. Yet I live without any lack. I live on the lifestyle equivalent to that of an ordinary office clerk and I live comfortably.

When my fortune is restored fully (i.e. all my larger debtors pay up), I shall continue to live the same simple life. I have no desire for a wasteful and abusive life, binging on food and drink and luxury stuff. What do I want my original fortune restored for? I believe when the Lord restores, He will show me His purpose as well.

The Bible is full of clues left behind by those who really knew the Lord as their shepherd. The rich and famous King David is one who has left a lot of such clues. As a king he needed not worry about where his next meal would come from, yet he continued to look to God as his provider and focus on God day and night as his ultimate source of security. Read psalms and know what I mean.

I pray you too find you need not want or lack by making the Lord (Jesus) as your Shepherd. Be secure as His sheep.

AAA Jack (a sheep of Jesus Christ)
June 4, 2009

Day two: humility, mourning, meek, righteous

Day two: not as easy as it seems to be: humility, mourning, meek, righteousness

On this day number two, I continued to read further chapters in the Gospel of Matthew. Yesterday I thought the task was difficult as I would need to really ponder on what Jesus meant when He spoke those words. On the other hand, as what He spoke were not that many sentences, I thought it easy to summarize and perhaps even grouped some together as one action point. However, today’s readings were more difficult. In Matthew Chapter Four, I plunged into the Sermon on the Mount (which is considered an ideal as opposed to practicality in some Christian circle)!
I list below the eight crucial statements made by Jesus on the Mount of Olive.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
7. Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)
Application today
HUMILITY (POOR IN SPIRIT)
In my younger days I thought blessing requirement number one referred to those who were poor materially. I was relatively poor as a young student with rather tight budget, and I thought it was easy to fulfill this blessing requirement. However, I later realized that it referred to a person who was humble enough to acknowledge that one was not qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven by one’s own efforts.
Without humility it is impossible to become God’s family members. Humility is difficult to learn and practice as by past training I tend to consider highly of myself. My wife said I still have a long way to go in un-learning my past arrogant self-talk. The good news is I accept my inability to save myself. I need God’s grace and undeserved favor. Whilst I can be assured of a place in the kingdom of heaven by faith in Jesus Christ, I need to work on being more humble so I can enjoy heaven on earth too.
MOURNING (FOR NATIONS)
There was nothing to mourn over personally today so I have to skip statement number two. However when my mother passed away last April, we were comforted as we knew that she merely left for her favorite place, heaven, after ninety long years on earth. When I carried out chores for others’ parents I still thought of my mother and felt sadness and regret as I thought I had not paid more attention to my mother as I would have wanted to do in retrospect. Recently when my wife’s uncle passed away we mourned and were comforted too as he had also chosen to believe in Jesus whom we believe had come and led him home.
On the other hand, the original Biblical context was referred to Israel mourning over their captivity by foreign nations. Is there anything to mourn over for our nations? Plenty, I was told. I have recently joined a group (formed on the basis of Isaiah 62:6-7) of watchmen and watchwomen from various churches who decided to pray for our nations every Friday morning 6am to Saturday 6am. I participate in the Friday 6-7am watch and pray. We pray for nations’ deliverance from being held captive by all the vices (blasphemers, idolaters, violence, greed, corruptions, hatred, strives, pride, abuses of power by people in authority, immorality, children rebelling against parents, love of selves and money, waste of resources, unthankful and unholy etc) that had increased as the world progressed. I pray for my city. The more I pray the more I sense a commitment to this city and its total (physical, mental and spiritual) health and well being for the present and future generations.
In the Book of Prophet Isaiah (Chapter 61: 1-3), God has promised healing for the broken-hearted, liberty for the captives, comfort for all who mourn. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus confirmed what He had come to accomplish. Yes, those who mourn shall be comforted.
THE MEEK (MILD, PATIENT, LONG-SUFFERING)
This is a very desirable blessing requirement. Who does not want to inherit the earth/land and property? The meek shall inherit the earth. Two scenes come to mind, both present and future. In the present the meek shall not worry about having no share in a property. If that is what it means, it is good news to the landless and homeless. Al they need to do is to learn from Jesus as He urged in Matthew 11:29: “take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” In Psalm 37: 9, 11, it clearly stated that those who wait on the Lord, the meek shall inherit the earth and they shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Regardless of the present circumstances, as long as you wait on the Lord and follow Jesus, you are assured of your share and peaceful ownership of the earth at a future date.
How do I apply this requirement? Being truly meek is tough. Jesus said it is meekness in the heart, not outward show. Who sees the heart? Only God can see. Was I meek in heart today? To be honest, I do not think I was. I was in fact just the opposite when I read of positive comments about some of my blogs. (Repent!)
RIGHTEOUSNESS (BEING MADE RIGHT WITH GOD)
Was I hungry and thirsty today for righteousness? As I have mentioned earlier, I believe by believing in Jesus and accepting Him as my Savior and Lord, I have received His righteousness in my standing with God.
Today as I discussed with someone about the downright unfriendly (even to the point of being wicked) behavior and attitude of some non-believers, I felt indignant that they do not seek righteousness and are determined to oppose righteousness. How could anyone oppose such a wonderful gift? I thought. They probably considered me as a self-righteous person. How could I ever explain to them that the righteousness that we thirst for is that of Jesus, given by Jesus, not earned by anyone’s own effort? No-one can boast, indeed, not me. Come, be filled with all good things!
END OF DAY REVIEW
I continued to provide company to my wife’s relatives: parents-in-law, two maids and an aunt, spending the whole morning in the hospital. I had to tolerate one and half hour driving in heavy traffic. The pluses came from my reading the Bible regardless the circumstances, being friendly and civil and thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with the aunt (in her mid-sixties but still fit and healthy), and the “worship” in the car listening to old worship and praise songs and saying amen to them. The minuses came from my grumbling and saying negative words or harboring negative thoughts against relatives who ill treated Christians. On the whole I scored rather badly as I was not meek or humble like Jesus was even when He was subjected to great humiliations and persecutions for being the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah! On the other hand, the roof leaked badly and water poured down into the master room. I was not mad at the contractor who tried to fix the spot recently. I did not ask for refund and even agreed to pay him again to do a better job this time. So it appeared I could learn to be meek after all.
AAA Jack
2009-02-26

God is looking for you

We all want to consider ourselves as perfect and meeting the ideal described in the Bible: being complete, sanctified, having the mind of Christ, with the resurrection power in us, having the authority given by God to overcome ourselves, overcome the world, and overcome the Devil, receiving healing for all diseases, being set free from all oppressions, making the right decision at the right time, being given and making use of all right opportunities, prospering in all aspects of life, bearing good fruits, and generally living a super-abundant victorious life!

Wow, what a positive list! Believe me - they are all in the Bible. Jesus has promised all who believe in Him eternal life (which include all these blessings), through knowing God and Jesus. Yet not many of us can honestly say that we are anyway near such goals. Knowing God and Jesus seems to be the most difficult thing to do. Yes, many of us attend church on Sunday, follow the worship service program and listen to sermons and not falling asleep, read 15 minutes Bible and pray 5 minutes everyday. Sometimes we even attend more than one service a week if there are special programs. Some of us join a weekly cell group meeting too. Is that not enough? What more can one do?

Sad to say, when we live such a regular religious life, we still find it lacking in fulfilling a lot of the above needs. Is God not willing to give us what He has promised? Does He have mood? Does He sometimes heal and sometimes not heal? Sometimes listen to our prayers and sometimes not? Sometimes save and sometimes not? Sometimes loves and sometimes seems indifferent? The list is endless. Lack of knowledge can only lead to destruction. How to know God and Jesus more?

The answer is in the Bible.

Let us find clues in the following verses:

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John 4 (New Living Translation)

About worship in spirit and in truth

21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, … 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

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Worship is an essential way to get to know God. The Bible tells us that God is looking for those who can worship Him in spirit and in truth to worship Him.

We may think that going to church, bow down or even kneel down towards the altar is good enough. We may think that thinking of God and Jesus is good enough. We may think that singing with all our strength and ability is good enough. We may think that giving a generous offering is good enough. We may think that telling God we love Him and we want to follow Jesus with all our heart is good enough. Yet, after doing all these chores we still know deep down that we do not really know God and Jesus much.

How shall we know God and Jesus to the point of really know them? Become worshippers in spirit and in truth.

We have all received the Holy Spirit when we believed and received Jesus as our Savior and Lord and were born again. The Spirit of Christ lives in us now. We all have easy access to God’s Words. Jesus Himself declared that He is the Truth, the Way and the Life and through Him we can get to the Father God. We have both the Spirit and the Truth. We can come to God and worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Reading the Words of God is essential and the more the better to know God. Focusing more on the spirit means spending less time preoccupied with the world and worldly matters. The latter is hard to do. We are conditioned to spend our lifetime on worldly matters which seem to be part and parcel of lives. Change from such lifetime obsessions takes time and effort. However, as we spend time on God’s Words, appreciating His presence, other matters will become un-important.

Jesus told us: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6: 63) The Words of God will transform our mind and personality to align with the spirit, which God has given us at our re-birth. When this happens, we can see dramatic positive changes in our physical realm too. Imagine, when our mind agrees with our spirit, the reality in the spiritual realm comes alive! That truly is the Kingdom of God –eternal life on earth as it is in heaven.