Heart to heart #11 Galileo (25th Dec 2011)

> Dear….
>
> ‘The just Lord is in the midst thereof; He will not do iniquity: every morning doth He bring His judgment to light, He faileth not: but the unjust knoweth no shame.’
> Zephaniah 3:5
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> “How does one hear God?” and “how can one be sure that one heard Him correctly?’ These are two questions I have learned to increasingly asked less of but nevertheless, are still very pertinent questions for many who desire to do the will of God.

'When they heard the king, they departed, and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.'
Matthew 2:9

The wise men who seek Christ had the shining star to guide them. The Israelites of Moses' time had the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, for God led them( Exodus 13:21-22)
What do we, today as believers of Christ and His saving grace have to show us the way, to walk in His way? Would a spiritual GPS like system or it's potential alternative, the Galileo be a solution?
>
> With the ongoing European debt crisis, I am not too sure if the planned launch of the “Galileo,” the joint efforts of united Europe to create an alternative to the US controlled Global Positioning System(GPS) will occur as planned? Its namesake, the man Galileo Galilei, an Italian astronomer, was charged for heresy by the Catholic Church back in the seventeenth century, for making claims about science that seemed to contradict the prevalent notion as understood by man’s interpretation of Scripture.
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> I am hopeless at science. And if writing is an art, maybe I can pass off as a decent artist. But in my recent years of sharing the thoughts that the Spirit of God impressed upon my heart, there are times I felt silly to fearful that some of you might genuinely think that I have taken leave of my senses. The good thing is that in modern society, we do not burn “professed heretics” at the stake. But for one who used to take pride in one’s intellectual sensibility, being lumped together with the “wacky and the kookie,’ like the denizens of the Addams Family is not a welcome privilege.
>
> What has a global positioning system to do with hearing and following the will of God? The new Galileo system is supposed to be much better than the present GPS, and at its heart lies an atomic clock that is accurate to the nanosecond. As Christians, we are commanded to not just look to Christ, but to follow his example. Christ showed us a few short but manifold years of living in Christ-likeness and He also left the Holy Spirit Who resides in the hearts of believers to guide us. But why do most of us tend to struggle with following? Is it because the “GPS” system from two millennium back is antiquated and not relevant to the modern man?
>
> “Peace of heart,” “Word of God,” and the “Conviction of the Holy Spirit” residing in our hearts, these are three key guiding lights that God used to help us follow Him better. This is what my mentors, Paul and Bunty shared in one of their video in the series “Heart of the Shepherd.”
> These biblical truths are not new but it is good to be reminded of such gems of truth, for it is easy for our self deceiving mind to lose sight of God’s guiding principles.
>
> As I swam in the closest thing to icy water this morning, and madness it might seem, (but I have always enjoyed the cold but invigorating December waters, our closest to winter in sunny Singapore), for it truly infuse a renewed vigor in one’s being, the words I read in this morning’s Daily Bread(21st Dec 2011) resonated in my heart.( http://odb.org/2011/12/21/rejected-light/). Titled “Rejected Light,” the author brought us to Matthew 6:23, where Jesus described this self-imposed spiritual eclipse of heart and mind when he said, “If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
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> Life is a journey. It starts the day we are born and for most, our protector and guiding light for the first few years will be our parents or loved ones, and after that, could be a confluence of people and learned experiences, under gird by our wits and finite understanding. But somewhere on this meandering road that all of us have to take, till Christ takes us home, we will feel the need for something more.
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> Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, whose death on the cross freed us of our sins, and whose resurrection broke the grip of death upon all humanity. We are now free to reenter the original route that God has set for humanity, that Adam and Eve detoured from.
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> As Christians, we are people who believe in God and His saving grace. The light of His love freed us from the burdens that once overwhelmed us and our grateful response was to accept His salvation, by professing our repentance and committing to follow. But why are many of us professed believers still living life like the disobedient Israelites of Moses time, who walked aimlessly in the scorching desert, much as God had already taken them out of the bondage of Egypt?
>
> “Peace of heart” is not a once done, that's it action. Peace of heart comes from a willing heart that seeks to be in the presence of our Great God always. King Saul was a king anointed by God. The peace of God left him when he chose to continue to disobey the command of God. Many of us call ourselves Christians. Some of us worked hard at serving our Lord. But like Martha, are we doing what our finite understanding tells us, rather than what the Spirit of God wants to show us. Mary, the sister of Martha understood the need to stay in the light of God’s presence always, and move as the light leads, and not run ahead of the light of the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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> “Word of God.” The Word is God, and God is the Word. Most of us know that, but leaving aside those who do not read the Bible, what about the few who does? Many are guilty of using the Bible as a sounding board for the predetermined answers that they desire. And many will either end up disappointed for not receiving the “right answer,’ or simply be deluded by their desired interpretation. Come to the Lord in prayers, in worship and in His Word, with no expectations other than a belief that faith and clarity will be given, at His timing, His way.
>
> “The Holy Spirit.” Soak yourself long enough in the presence of our Lord, in prayers, praise and in His Word, and I have no doubt that your faith will grow, your understanding of the will of God will deepen. It is like the wonderful picture often circulated to many of us, of the chap seemingly fruitlessly pushing against a huge boulder. Nay an inch the boulder moved, but without realizing it, the chap has grown in physique and strength through this diligent pushing. But what if the boulder actually start to rollover, what should one do?
> We will not walk alone, the Holy Spirit Who resides in the hearts of believers, will convict us of our every action. And like Prophet Isaiah, it is in the stillness of our hearts that we will hear in all clarity the leading of the Holy Spirit.
>
> ‘Jesus said, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light…I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.’
> John 12:36,46
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> It is suffice to know that there is hope at the end of our finite life, for death is not the end all. But there is no need for us to ask for a light that will shine all the way to Heaven. For it will be too blinding for us to understand or follow. God knows our limitations. His grace is suffice for the day, much as the day is evil. His light is already with us, enough for us to see the next step. But are we willing to walk the next clear step, much as beyond it the darkness seems overwhelming? Darkness is the absence of light. And darkness past the next step is simply because God knows that till we are all make ready for His return, His light will overwhelm the finite us in His full glory.
>
> God Blesses and blessed Christmas
>
> 25th Dec 2011
>
Eng Hieang

An afterthought
As I pen my closing thoughts, the Spirit of God reminded me of this obvious truth yet many are oblivious to. Christmas is when God brought forth the birth of Christ, the light upon which the bondage of darkness upon us the seed of Adam will be lifted. For darkness is the absence of light. As men, our carnal natural self is always looking for guidance, but we look everywhere without realizing that the light is in us, and not in our surrounds, for the Spirit of God resides within the hearts of us the believers.
We are the lamp of God. Take time with our Lord and you will sense the warmth glow of His Spirit. His Spirit will guide our spirit man, and we will know His will, if we allow Him to transform us from the Adamite sinful natural man into the Christlike spiritual child of our Sovereign God.

'For we walk by faith, not by sight.'
2 Corinthians 5:7

And we also see not because we look not for the will of God, but for things of our finite understanding. Attached is a 'fresh off the press' cartoon a dear friend just sent me. How apt it is. I tried to make changes 5 times over to this sharing, as not too sure if too disjointed. But for some strange reason, the the file just self delete whenever I tried to. The only change acceptable to my whimsical computer is this attached cartoon. so do enjoy it for God is Sovereign and His ways are not our ways.

Heart to heart #10 Shifting sands (19th Dec 2011)

Dear....
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> 'For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:...'
> 1 Peter 2:21
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> Peter was looking to walk on water like Christ. He managed a few decent steps, before the swirling waters lapping at his feet, and the howling winds caused him to turn away in fear from the waiting Christ, and unto his finite understanding. Peter literally would have drowned in his own understanding if not for the outstretched hands of Our Lord.
>
> Leaving the watery grave for now, what about the soft sands of the desert? The only desert I have been to was Palm Springs, but a resort in the midst of the desert is only half an experience. But from knowledge culled from watching enough movies set in the desert, one is probably not far off to conclude that imprints of recent travelers who are ahead of us, are often swept clean by the shifting sands, leaving no trace for subsequent journeyman.
>
> 'If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.'
> Colossians 3:1-2
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> "Look beyond one's difficult circumstance to the promise of God," the Spirit of God has reminded me lately. Yet like many, we often find it difficult to ignore, if not continue to struggle haplessly in the suffocating environs we find ourselves in. Would it help if God was not just more visible, but the route to Him was clearly marked out?
>
> 'For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. Therefore my heart fails me.
> Be pleased , O Lord, to deliver me...'
> Psalm 40:12-13
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> Back in year 2008, God showed me His will and I willingly committed to follow. And He affirmed His message for me "to not to go back to Egypt" in a series of 3 dreams. Since then, I have never been more keenly aware of the relentless waves that has buffeted my very being, to shake me from my steadfastness. God is good. Storms He did not take me out of, but He shelters, He provides and without His grace, it would nay be possible for me to remain steadfast, even if I had wanted to. A thankful heart Our Lord blessed me with, and He has allowed me to look back, after every storm, with a grateful heart fully cognizance of how He has laid the next invisible plank for my next step of obedience even as the previous plank is swept off my feet.
>
> 'I delight to do Your will, O my God. And Your law is within my heart.'
> Psalm 40:8
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> A common misconception amongst believers is this concern with 'did they hear God right?' We will know the will of God, if we take time to know Him. God is intentional and relational. These are two statements a dear friend shared with me. The clarity of God's will be revealed to us, leaving no room for doubt.
> If you were to feed diligently on the word of God, to take time to soak in His presence in prayer and praise, you will see the living word of God imbued upon your very being as you seek to honor God in His work. You will know the will of God when His Spirit impresses upon your heart.
>
> 'And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.'
> Genesis 15:6
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> But are we willing to have that righteous faith of Abraham who literally dropped everything and just followed, believing in the promise of God? And never doubting the command of God, even to point of almost killing off his only son , Isaac, the key to the fulfillment of multiple descendants as promised by God to Abraham?
>
> 'You are my help and my deliverer....The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble..'
> Psalm 40:17, 41:1
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> Troubles in greater intensity I am experiencing, but I am not alone. It seems many more are also experiencing troubles of an unprecedented scale in their lives. I term my challenges "refiner's fire" but doubt many will look at it from such positive lens. God is Sovereign. Why not enjoy the time in the sauna, by honoring Him, rather than hounding Him for a conclusion, and God will take us out at His timing, His way. To try to deliver ourselves out of the boiling kettle could see one falling into the raging fire waiting below. And the heat will intensify in year 2012.
>
> 'So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him...'
> Genesis 12:4
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> God is bringing me into the next phase of my blessed life. The next 25 years of serving Him with my all. Like father Abraham, are we prepared to drop everything that defines one's present success and go where God calls? It is daunting. Would it not be nice if the steps ahead are not just clearly marked out before we obey, and the sailing will be smooth and the conclusion our way? And having ample provisions would be an extra comfort. But this is not the way of our Lord. It is the Provider that matters, not the provisions.
>
> "It is time to start the preparation," that is what the Spirit of God has placed upon my heart this week. The near 4 years of staying in the boiling cauldron that I am in is coming to an end. Wait upon the Lord and He will lead and just in these two days, God has connected the first few key dots of the path He has set for me. Is it not wonderful this calling to be a holy and living sacrifice for our Lord? Like Peter, we will 'walk on water" come what may. But unlike Peter, we need not almost drown in the watery grave of our own fears, no matter the devil's delusions, if we stay focused upon Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
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> 'The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you. He will destroy these nations from before you and you shall dispossess them...'
> Deuteronomy 31:3
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> Are you like me, about to enter the promise land, of milk and honey, where giants reside? But matters not, for God is Sovereign.
> What matters though is, are you like the Israelites of Moses time who disobeyed God's command to enter the promised land and ended up dead in the Sinai desert? Or are you the people of faith who followed Joshua boldly in to claim the promises of God?
>
> 'If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread, their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.'
> Numbers 14:8-9

'In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.'
Genesis 22:18
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> God blesses
>
> Eng Hieang
> 17th Dec 2011
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Heart to heart #9 Journey (7th Dec 2011)

Dear...

'Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath, there is no other.'
Deuteronomy 4:39

The tour guide shared the fact that only 4% of the population of the Czech Republic attends church. Understandable given that for more than 4 decades since Soviet forces occupied the land after World War 2, communism was the only known religion.
What about the 'free world?' as the rest of us outside the "Iron curtain" of USSR and it's satellite nations used to term our right to political freedom and worship. The "Bamboo curtain" of the once more repressive China has loosened somewhat and we are witnessing a surge in spirituality as materialism amplifies the sense of emptiness in many thirsting souls.
Sadly attendance in churches in the West are declining, and while it might be better in Asia, truth is how many are believers only in name, and jostling for a place in their hearts are the many idols of the world.

'You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I commanded you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.'
Deuteronomy 4:40

After a week on the road in Europe, I finally have proper access to the internet. How disconnected one can become to our wired world when access is not freely available.
What about our depth of communion with God our Heavenly Father?
It is perhaps apt that I finally have the opportunity to pen my reflections as prayerfully imbued by the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lovely setting of a monastery turned into a lodging for weary travelers.

'And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."
Exodus 20:20

The wonderful thing about traveling in a foreign land across time zones is that one will spent an inordinate amount of time ensconced in the varied forms of transportation. It does provide ample opportunities for some soul searching. And indeed like the Psalmist who ask God to search his heart and make right what has erred, God will if we are willing.

'...for it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.'
Philippians 2:13

Like all, much as we will spent a finite time in the same bowels of Mother Earth, the tapestry of our journey in life will be as varied and personal to us as the wonderful unique pattern of each snowflake. Question is, must each of our journey be full of troubles?

'Do all things without complaining and disputing..... Holding fast the Word of life...'
Philippians 2:14, 16

Beautiful pieces of art often have to undergo a tedious process of refinement by the master craftsman. The inanimate block of very hard jade has to be put through the grinder's stone to be shaped into the desired manner. The lovely lacquer boxes you see in my book had to go through a time consuming multi layering of coats of the poisonous lacquer even before the gold dust is sprinkled on it to create wonderful motifs.

'That Your way may be known on earth. Your salvation among all nations.'
Psalm 67:2

God our Father is doing the same for us. To make perfect the sinful us. All of us who call ourselves Christians ought to know that. Communism not just deprived the masses of the truth of God's love, but systematically seek to indoctrinate man's delusions as truth.
In capitalistic societies, the devil uses more persuasion than direct force. Distractions for the heart buffets us in multi varied directions. It is only in times of enforced solitude be it in the travels that one take between destinations, or often then not, in the abyss of our continued troubles that one will consider taking time to ponder upon Who is truly our Maker? Man or God?

'The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.'
Psalm 145:18

As I complete these thoughts, having just returned home, my journey in foreign lands might have ended for now, but till God takes us home, we are all travelers on the rock strewn road of finite life. It will be good to consider the truths of theses two verses in the light of the intensified delusions that humanity is increasingly subjected to, as the times are fast approaching.

'..certainly every man at his best state is vapor.... Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up riches. And he does not know who will gather them.'
Psalm 39:5-6

'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it...'
Psalm 127:1

The US foreign secretary, Mrs Hilary Clinton recently made a policy announcement, which while new for the States, is already in practice by some of the Western governments. The Obama administration, be it for political expediency or otherwise deem it necessary to place sexual deviancy as a human right worth taking up the cudgels for, even if it means ignoring the right of others to have a different view. This paradox of human deceit is not new, but it does herald the increase in human sinfulness, and year 2012 will be one of contrasting fortunes as the faithful and the faithless will experience in greater clarity the truth of God's promise in Psalm 127:1

God blesses

Eng Hieang
7th Dec 2011
Singapore

Heart to heart #8 A thankful heart (23rd Nov 2011)

Dear…

‘Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!...Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.’
Psalm 107:1-2

I am a “one cart” horse or rather a “one song” repertoire vocalist as some will know, for “Give thanks” is the only song I can sing from memory, from the heart. But I am getting there in terms of doubling my capability, for while still the same song, I am now learning it in Mandarin, as part of my response to the Lord’s leading for ministry to the Mandarin speakers. With man, it is impossible, with God all things are possible.

The Spirit of God has stirred my heart these past few days with a desire to pen something that will truly address and speak to all of you, in a manner that only God knows is appropriate at this juncture of your life. The thought “A thankful heart” was the title inscribed upon my being, even as I struggled to follow the Mandarin characters of the lyrics of the song “Give Thanks,” on Youtube.
And how God indeed always affirms His will for this morning’s Daily Bread reading(Tues, Nov 22nd) was titled “Unexpressed gratitude,” from which the opening verse was the above Psalm 107:1-2

'Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me, yet Thy commandments are my delights.'
Psalm 119:143

The newspapers reported that 1 out of 10 Singaporeans will have depression problems. My sense is that all of us will enter into bouts of unhappiness, for the Bible rightly put it, "man is born to trouble." And indeed we live in a fallen world, compounded by our sinful yet finite understanding, trouble is almost our second skin.
And in staying close to God always, troubles will not go away, in fact, they seem attracted to determined followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. But the wonderful thing about our faith is that the Spirit of God, Who resides in our hearts, not just provides us that deep inner resilience, but imbue us with that almost wax like aura, that the arrows of the frustrated Satan and the deep claws of his demons, find difficult to grip on to our very being.
The experiential knowledge culled from walking closely with our Lord that indeed He is Sovereign, that He provides, much as He allows us to go through the trials of refinement, in answer to our prayers to be like Christ, has not just kept me going through this burdensome life, but to actually enjoy the day, much as the day is evil.

‘In Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, “For we are also His offspring.’
Acts 17:28


A thankful heart is the key that opens the door that will bring us unto the presence of God and His enabling grace. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. That, most of us who care to read the Bible knows. But God always affirmed our step of faith when we willingly take that step. A thankful heart teaches us to learn to submit to the will of God, much as our carnal self find it difficult to fathom His ways.
And like many who have experienced the sanctifying joy of the Holy Spirit’s ministering to our parched soul, peace and joy will lift us above the difficult circumstances enveloping our very being, But if it is just peace and joy, none of us will last the intense flames enveloping us. God will shelter us, like He did with the three faithful men(Daniel 3) who were thrown into the hotter than hot furnace for their steadfastness to God. And if shelter from our burning issues is not God’s will, He will show us His will and like Aseph, our woes will pale in comparison to His purpose.

'A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps.'
Proverbs 16:9

As I prepare to visit the core of Europe's present troubles, the intransigent Germany and the countries on its peripherals, I wonder, if by the time I return back to Singapore, would the world we know be very different from today? I know my present place of employ will be dramatically different after Dec 5th. Does one like most, put our troubling thoughts aside, and enter into the temporal intoxication of a holiday, to return to reality a few weeks later?
The peace God gives us is not in all brevity like such temporary diversions. The peace and joy that God gives us is independent of our circumstances. It is the reassurance that goes past our finite understanding. Yet it is a reminder that He is Sovereign, yet very aware of our finite needs, and like what His Spirit impressed upon my heart a decade back in Bangkok, " to stop questioning and start following." And in looking past our "troubles" and instead be very mindful of the distinct pebbles of grace our Great God has laid to smooth out our uneven walk of faith, we will not just be blessed with peace and joy, but be reinvigorated and imbued with His enabling grace and power to move forth down the preset path He has laid for the faithful.

'And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord, this is that king Ahaz.'
2 Chronicles 27:22

Let us not compound our troubles like what the disobedient and sinful King Ahaz did, in turning further away from the loving hands of God. But instead, it is time to turn even more to God, for only He can lift us out of our present quagmire and what is to come.
Every Word of God is good, and let me close by pointing you to Psalm 119,and may these selected verses not just encourage, but empower you to know that God truly is with us, much as everything else seems to be fluid.

'My soul melteth for heaviness, strengthen thou me according unto Thy Word.'
Psalm 119:28

'Teach me, O lord, the way of Thy statues, and I shall keep it unto the end
Psalm 119:33

'Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.'
Psalm 119:105

'Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments, for therein do I delight
Psalm 119:35

'Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept Thy Word.'
Psalm 119:67

'It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes'
Psalm 119:71

'At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of Thy righteous judgments.'
Psalm 119:62

'Seven times a day do I praise Thee because of Thy righteous judgments.'
Psalm 119:164

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
23rd Nov 2011

Heart to heart #7 Antioch or Laodecia (16th Nov 2011)

Dear….

‘Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand.’
Revelations 1:3

Is the day of reckoning nearer than we think? Seems to be if recent news bear fruit. The European debt conundrum is starting to take on the form of a huge whirlpool(like the one in the Pirates of the Caribbean?), that is not just sucking in all and sundry in Europe, but possibly the rest of the world. And what about the Middle East, a favorite indulgence of mine. Fantasy it might seem but increasingly, the odds of a Israelite/Arab conflict are looking more plausible if the headlines in the newspapers are to be believed. A bluff many might still consider, this latest threat from the Israelite leadership on a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. But from all accounts, the present Iranian President and his sect truly believe that the 12th Imam( “the Mahdi," Arabic word for a messiah) will only resurface upon the destruction of Israel. Belief often transcends logic, and mere words of threats from the Israelites might not be suffice to take away this very real threat to their existence. The oil pundits believe that if such a conflict ever arise and inflame the entire Middle East, the risks of oil at $200/barrel(from present $115/barrel) is quite high. The huge swath of paper monies that the Western world has printed and will continue to print is like a tinderbox, ready to engulf the world in flames, at least economically. And from the resultant ashes, will not rise the mythical Phoenix, but rather the much dreaded dragon of stagflation and a new world order.

‘So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God…’
Romans 14:12


One should speak only as the Spirit of the Lord leads. For it is not for us to add on or subtract from the Word of our Lord. And may these thoughts shared be truly a reflection of what our good Lord has impressed upon my humbled and contrite heart. “Antioch of the East,” that is a belief that many including myself(and publicly pronounced by Billy Graham in his rally in Singapore back in 1978 at the National Stadium) have held of the calling for our small little red dot of a nation, in a sea of future believers. But “Laodecia,?” This is the thought that our good Lord brought me to, in the Book of Revelations. Of the seven churches that the Apostle John was asked to write to by the Spirit of God, the church of Laodecia was termed the “lukewarm church.”

‘I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth…’
Revelations 3:15-16

God always affirms His thoughts for me, and attached is a link ( http://www.ourdailyjourney.org/2011/11/06/autocorrect/ ) to the Nov 6th “Our Daily Journey – titled autocorrect?’ Do take time to go to the link at ( read and ponder upon the author’s thoughts on “Laodicea” and their preponderance to rest on their own strength). Does it not seem familiar?
Laodicea was a very wealthy nation, being a the center of the trade routes of that ancient period. It was also a renowned medical center as well as famous for its black wool. And when an earthquake( “sub prime crisis?”) hit, it was able to rely on its own resources to rebuild, without help from its overlord, the Roman Empire( “USA??”)

'Because you say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,poor, blind, and naked _'
Revelations 3:17

Are we truly happy in Singapore? Or for that matter, in this world of 7 billion people, those of us who have a disproportionate share of the material wealth, are we truly happy? The mountain kingdom of Bhutan is supposed to be the happiest place in the world, based on the Happiness Index. Not too sure about that, but at least the canines are happy there for the Bhutanese, being devout Buddhist, stray dogs are not culled and left to free range. China is a much wealthier place today, notwithstanding the imbalance of distribution of wealth, however, it seems that rich or poor, there is surge in many who seek spiritual solace, to fill that emptiness that material goods cannot fulfill.

'Remember therefore how you have received and heard, hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.'
Revelations 3:3-4

I was doing a little research on the net. Clearly, being late in our founding in 1819, Singapore was not the first place where Christianity had its beginnings in South East Asia. But we have come a long way from our humble beginnings both materially and spiritually. And with our unique position in the changing geopolitics, the world has truly come to us, and for many who are now making Singapore their abode, it could be their first real experience with vibrant Christianity compared to the West or the dearth of opportunities back home. A modern day Antioch in a different sense our beloved Island can be.
But reality is, iron sharpens iron, but if most of us have since lost our spiritual vitality and is a pale dross of our once Spirit lifted self,when we first believed, of what use are we in the service of the Kingdom of God?

'Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.'
Revelations 3:10

"Fence sitting" is no longer an option. The year 2012 is moving to one of great shaking where the different plates, not just the physical, but the social, political and economics will shift, in ways that will make the brave fainthearted. A "new birth" is coming, of a world that will be vastly different from that borne after the ashes of World War 2. USA will be inward looking, economically incapacitated, an invalid. Europe will be xenophobic, ruled by a body vested with powers greater than individual Sovereign rights. Vassals of China, most of us in Asia will implicitly be, if China's unreasonable claims to the South China Sea is any indication of what is to come. And the old Soviet Union, under an imperialistic Putin, will reclaim many of its breakaway land. And the simmering cauldron in the Middle East will boil over as the war drums of anti-Israel masses beats even louder.

'I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich, and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, Therefore be zealous and repent.'
Revelations 3:18-19

Gold was what our good Lord impressed upon my heart back in year 2008, at the beginnings of the sub prime crisis. Gold as in my spiritual man refined by the fire of the Lord's tender making was what I have been subjected through and still am. God is preparing me and all of you who are willing for what is to come. To be unshakeable so that He can use us to minister to the many that will surely teeter and totter over the next few months. To point them towards Christ the source of all comfort and grace.

‘Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’
John 4:13-14

Prayers must be first and foremost in our preparation for what is already with us and for what is to come. Prayers bring us out of our own understanding and strength, and unto the presence of God and His enabling grace. Having been involved in prayer ministry for the past decade, it is one area that is growing, yet very much neglected in the main by most Christians. Why?? Many come to God with their "shopping lists" and end up often disappointed because their will is not answered.
Prayers is about taking time in with God and time out from the world. Prayers brings us unto the presence of God, for His Spirit to search our very being and to cleanse and uplift our very being. Prayers is about being still and knowing the will of God. And we will know the will of God, and if we are willing to believe and obey, prayers will be answered, because we no longer ask in our will but in His will.

'Jesus answered and said unto them. Verily, I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say to unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.'
Matthew 21:21-22


God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(16th Nov 2011)

Heart to heart #6 Jetisson (7th Nov 2011)

> Dear……
>
> ‘Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed….’
> Lamentations 3:40-42
>
> It might be cruel to judgmental to tell someone who is undergoing trials that just maybe they had a part in their predicament. But with oneself, it will be good to start from that premise that we have erred. But the mirror of reflection should not be our flawed understanding, but rather that of the leading of the Holy Spirit residing in the hearts of us who believed in our great and Sovereign God.
>
> ‘To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not…’
> Lamentations 3:36
>
> God does not tempt us for that is the job of the devil, who loves us to sin. But God will test us, to bring forth our imperfections that He will then refine, if we are willing to stay the course in His presence.
>
> ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness.’
> Lamentations 3:22
>
> The Greek Prime Minister might seem quite ungrateful to spring a sudden surprise on his new political masters, the Germans and the French, after having just been forgiven 50% of their outstanding debts. Like the ex Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir, who at the height of the Asian Crisis in the late 1990s, rather go his own way than be subjected to a “life of servitude,” - the price for debt relief, he might eventually be vindicated, but in the meanwhile, passionate anger rather than loving compassion will mark the mood in the European Community leadership with this act of ingratitude.
> But are the Germans and the French truly altruistic or they are just saving their own banks?
>
> ‘It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteh alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him..’
> Lamentations 3:27-28
>
> If to be young again, one has to suffer a little more, maybe it is not that bad or maybe not? At just a whisker past 50, I am still young at heart, but guess the wear and tear are clearly more manifested. But is it fair at clearly past mid life to be bearing a yoke that is decidedly heavier that that experienced in my youth? And worse, unlike the Greeks and in reality most of the Western world, many of us are not a party to their “reckless champagne days of drunken binge,” for which the world continues to suffer from the hangover.
>
> Is it possible for Asians to ring fence themselves and jettison the rest of the world from our still stable ship than be brought deeper into their malaise? And more importantly, is it possible for God fearing men and women, who “have been good” to be spared the storms of life which is getting more frequent and in greater intensity?
>
> But how can one minister to the flock as a distant bystander?
>
> ‘But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.’
> 2 Timothy 4:5
>
> It always bemuse me how God knows our very precise thoughts and affirms it. Or rather, how God places a thought in our hearts and when we are cognizant of it, how He affirms often with a verse as in 2 Timothy 4:5,right after His reminder to me that empathy and credibility can only come in ministry when we are in the same storm as our sheep.
>
> ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.’
> 2 Timothy 3:12
>
> “Perspective,” that was the word God impressed upon my troubled heart this morning. Man are born to trouble, for we live in a fallen world. No doubt, faithful Christians will draw a disproportionate share of the arrows from the livid Lucifer, whose poison coated sweet nothings have failed to delude us. Our good Lord reminded me that to overcome our “troubles,” we must learn to submit to His will, and to look beyond our circumstances to His promises, for He will deliver.

Triglycerides is a term of recent familiarity to me. And too much of this fat in one's blood increases the odds of a heart attack.

Triptych is a term less familiar to most. I formed an acquaintance with this word because of my interest in Ukiyo - Japanese woodblock prints. Triptych refers to a trilogy - a 3 panel art.
A picture might speak a thousand words, but a few more pictures literally makes a book .
Often in the midst of our present burdens, our finite self desires to give it all up and crumble under. Yes like what the Apostle Paul advised his fellow shipmates in the storms, to jettison everything overboard. But he also told them to take food to strengthen themselves for God will save them all. Things of the world we must discard. But the spiritual feeding from our Lord we must cling on to. For the finite man can only see what is in front of them. The Spirit man trust that God's handiwork in our lives will always end well for us. It is in the remaining panels that have been lovingly painted by Him, but not revealed to us as yet. God never forsake us. Should we not do the same.

God blesses

Eng Hieang
6th Nov 2011

Heart to heart #5 Reading the tea leaves (1st Nov 2011)

Dear...

'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.'
John 1:14

"Reading the tea leaves or even the tea cups," that is a phrase that has long escaped my attention till I heard it mentioned recently. A jolt to my memory of one of those fairy tales(probably Enid Blyton) that I used to love reading, where the old gypsy lady or witch read one's fortunes or future by studying the tea leaves, no different from other tools of the trade be it tarot cards or the good old crystal ball.

Are such arcane practices any different from full suited personalities one often see on the financial news spewing their well thought out but often woefully incorrect guesses of where the financial markets are heading?

'This is my comfort in my affliction. For Your Word has given me life...'
Psalm 119:50

After a month of medication, and more disciplined eating(thanks to the love and effort of my dear wife), besides my regular exercise, I paid a visit to my cardiologist yesterday and am greatly encouraged with a good report. My LDL, that is, the bad cholesterol is now at 64.08, compared to 89 a month back, and most gratifyingly near the target level set for my condition.
Does this mean that in looking into my "tea leaves" or rather my blood, I am now home free? Far from it, for this tripartite of medication, disciplined eating and overall lifestyle is here to stay till our good Lord brings me home or if He so decides otherwise to free me from the bondage of medication.

'Princes persecute me without a cause. But my heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your Word. As one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying...'
Psalm 119:161-163

When one is about to fall over the abyss, almost all will be willing to adhere to whatever is asked of them just to be able to stand firmly back on terra firma. Yet it is also a reality that once that near death situation has passed, most would revert back to their old sinful ways(In calling for a referendum, is Greece a living example of this unrepentant nature?).
I am not relying on any tea leaves to tell me as to what is ahead, but I do believe that my being from far perfect, yet with a heart that desires to glorify our Lord, God will not take me out of the fire of refinement just yet, for impurities are still aplenty. But He continues to sustain me with the many blessings that I see placed in my path, much as He allows me to be refined. And I can see His wonderful and loving hands in my daily living. And that clarity of "sight" comes not from studying "tea leaves," but rather in reading, reflecting and living out responsibly His Words.

'Let my cry come before You, O Lord: Give me understanding according to Your Word. Let my supplication come before You. Deliver me according to Your Word....'
Psalm 119:169-170

The world, at least the investing community waited with bated breath for soothing words from the recently concluded European Union summit. They were not too disappointed, for the communique issued provided some reassurance, and that was good enough to justify a stock market rally. But is it realistic for the Italians to continue to live on a budget lifeline thinner than their spaghetti, or what about the French? Full of passion and maybe nothing much more left in their beleaguered banks. Of course Fraulein Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany is being badgered by the rest of her European brethren for a share of the largess packed within their frankfurters. And not forgetting their poorer cousins, the now liberated East Europeans who once cowered under the cold armor of the Soviet Union, but gladly fed on once cheap Swiss franc to fund their long deprived capitalist dreams. And while Switzerland is not just Nutella, many of these poor cousins of the Western Europeans are going nuts over their very expensive Swiss borrowing, given the franc appreciation. The delusions continue and more troubles lies ahead.

'My eyes are awake through the night watches. That I may meditate on Your word...'
Psalm 119:148

A fertile mind can often go wild if one is not careful. Forgive my flawed attempt at painting with words. What matters most is the Word of God, for God is the Word. The Bible is not a history book, it is the living word of God. It is not a legacy from the past, but it is God's guiding light for all who seek Him, as we journey in His presence.
Psalm 119, the focus chapter for today's sharing is full of the richness of God's Word. Every morning at 6am, the Spirit of God wakens me. Not to think about how to achieve the delusions of the world, or for most, worrying about unresolved issues hovering over their being, but rather, to be still and to ponder upon the thoughts and words that God has placed in my heart.

'The entrance of Your Words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple....'
Psalm 119:130

"Simplify your portfolio while you can, in this present rally." Did God tell me that. Not as in words to the ear, but in thoughts upon the heart last week. What if one heard God wrong, and the financial markets rise even further? It is possible that markets might continue to appreciate, but it does not mean that one heard God wrong. For all who truly seek after our Lord, His Spirit will minister to our spirit man, and we will know His will. It is not a question of hearing right, but rather it is about obedience. For God will turn a "wrong" right if our heart is right with Him.

'Direct my steps by Your Word. And let no iniquity have dominion over me.....'
Psalm 119:133

"Simplify your life while you can, in your present finite life." I spent the past week attending two wakes. It is always a sobering experience when the reality of death is brought home in such settings. Obedience is not about mouthing a yes but rather it is about a heart that is kept solely for our Lord, and a heart that will stay open to our Lord, regardless of all circumstances that compels us to do otherwise. Purity of heart is not a literal blank piece but a heart deeply embedded with the living words of God, where the world will see the living truths of God lived out in us.

'Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live. And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe. And I shall observe your statutes continually...'
Psalm 119:116-117

God knows our limits. Much as my mind has been renewed by the transforming power of His Words, my heart still has to be made resolute. And while faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen, God always affirms once we take that step of faith by acknowledging His Sovereignty. I "see God's hands at work in my life," whenever I choose to submit to His will. And the more I willing walked into the next "blank page" of my life, I see His hands filling up another wonderful chapter of the story of my walk with Him. Indeed great is our God, for Christ is the author and finisher of our faith.

'Before I was afflicted I went astray. But now I keep Your Word......Their heart is as fat as grease. But I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted. That I may learn Your statutes....'
Psalm 119:67, 70,71

You might by now have observed a difference in my writing today. It is in snippets, instead of a continuous flow. More like an afterthought as the Spirit of God enlightens me with new discoveries of God's love, after every little adventure. And you will also notice that I am walking backwards, in terms of the order of the verses from Psalm 119.
My heart still has the grease, from my till recently less disciplined eating habits. But as shared, it is not about God "punishing" me for my follies in not taking better care of His temple, ie my body, but rather, it is about God forgiving me for my waywardness and turning it into good for myself and for His glory. For indeed afflictions are often a necessary panacea for giving us the sinful seed of Adam, that needed resolve to let go and let God, to let Him transform us in His likeness.

'You are my portion, O Lord. I have said that I would keep Your Words. I entreated Your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to Your Word....'
Psalm 119:57-58

The End of times have intensified. Many of us know this, but even more give short shrift to what it means. We might be less than faithful but God is faithful. The world will be shaken even more intensely, if that is necessary for us to turn to God and be saved from eternal damnation. The forces of evil manifests itself in greater clarity and the Western world, once bastions of the Christian faith, is now pushing for greater rights globally for those who engaged in sexuality perverse to the command of our Lord(see the latest news from the Commonwealth summit). The new Babylon is nearer fruition with Iraq likely to fall under the sphere of influence of the Iranians, now that Obama has set the timetable for American troop withdrawals. And with the House of Saad run by octogenarians, it is a matter of time that the ruling elite will be challenged either from within or without, and the devil's brew will boil over into much higher prices. Look around you and you will see the Biblical prophecies looking more plausible than at any one time before.

Tea leaves I am not looking at. What is clear is the continued fulfillment of events around us that God has prepared us for. But of utmost importance is, will you and your loved ones be prepared when Christ returns, as He surely would?

'Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. . . . I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word” (Ps. 119:11-12,16).' (from Daily Bread 1st Nov 2011)

And as I prepare to send this out, what greater joy then to be affirmed once again by God's words in today's Daily Bread reading. In God's Kingdom, we need no tea leaves, for He is Sovereign, and every step He will show us, if only we just pay attention.

God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(1st Nov 2011)

Heart to heart #4 Awash (23rd Oct 2011)

Dear...
'For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You. In a time when You may be found. Surely in a flood of great waters. They shall not come near him. You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance...'
Psalm 32:6-7

As I pen this inspired words from our Lord, I had not had the chance to get an update of the situation in Bangkok from my dear friend there. Inundated, the key parts of Bangkok has not, but it could be a matter of time, for the water flow from the North is relentless. I am a little more mired because of my business there, but it is nothing compared to what many in Thailand are now going through in this unprecedented flood.

'Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all....'
Psalm 34:19

"Adversity is a plus," this was the video lesson I watched again in the training series for men of faith who desire to be shepherds to the Lord's flock. Looking beyond the difficulties of our present circumstances to the promise of God, and recognizing the grace of God even as He allows us to go through the storms, will ensure that we remain steadfast in His presence. And in doing so, His Spirit will minister to us, assure and uplift us, and bring us forth as eagles soaring on the wings of the Lord.

'Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy.'
1 Peter 4:12-13

But have we heard God right?? Many of us who do seek the Lord with our all, in His Words, in communion with Him in prayers, in thanksgiving with praise and in doing His work faithfully, will know His will. And in responding to the leading of the Spirit, should not matters turn out the way we perceive it should be? Reality is, events that follow our enlightenment often move contrary to what we thought would be. We have not heard God wrong, but rather, as shared from the experiences of many, including my mentors, Paul and Bunty, God will allow us to go through the trial of fire, and will be be willing to stay steadfast to the command of God that He has showed us?

The world will be destroyed by fire, but not by flood, for that is the promise of God, post Noah's Ark. All of us who read the Bible knows that, but to continue to be buffeted wave after wave, in a "flood of trouble," does stretched one's limits. In the early days of year 2008, when the sub prime was still bubbling at its early stage, I was very certain that our good Lord wanted me to remain in my present employ. And in responding in faith, my heart did not waver despite the many attractive offers of alternative employment that popped along. And God was good, He affirmed my decision through a series of 3 dreams in a week, all of which had a different scenario, but were common in its confirmation of my decision. And our good Lord gave me a word to top off His message for me "Do not go back to Egypt."

'Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly. nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock...'
1 Peter 5:2-3

The days since early 2008 have been eventful. The global financial system almost went over the brink. The place of my employ had not one, but two resurrections and God is good, and my faith grew tremendously, bring privileged to be in the eye of the storm, yet witnessing the power of His Sovereignty as He upholds my faithfulness. Respite there might have been since the worst of the sub prime crisis, but it has been in all brevity and one continues to feel the relentless pressure of a world gone the way of the Pharisees, at least in my line of business. Is it time to move on? "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going," is not this the famous line oft spouted in one of those long forgotten Western spaghetti movie?

'Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world..'
1 Peter 5:6-9

'The spot marked X," this was the original planned sharing. But as always, as God leads, one responds. All of us lived in a fallen world, and worst, we are the seeds of the fallen Adam, with our self deceiving mind moving in tandem with the deceitful devil, the present rule of our fallen world. Only in coming unto the presence of God , only in remaining firmly within His presence, can we overcome principalities and powers of the air. But how does one know where the proverbial "spot X,' is and how does one stay firmly rooted upon it?

'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'
Matthew 6:20-21

I had a dream a few nights back. It was so vivid and in technicolor. I saw a fluffy and bright yellow spider in a corner of the cupboard where I display my Japanese lacquer boxes. And my instinctive reaction was to gingerly but surely snuff out this little intruder of depository of my earthly treasures. As my hand recoiled swiftly back from my act of self preservation!! Only then did I realize the presence of a much larger but equally bright yellow luminous flurry scorpion like insect a hair's breath from my exposed hand. And fear not just overtook me on my almost danger, but pain set in because it dawned upon me that the lovely but inanimate lacquer boxes have been transformed into these beautiful but very animate and dangerous venomous insects.

'And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou are careful and troubled about many things . But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'
Luke 10:41-42

The troubles of the world will intensify, much as the European Union seek to overcome its trouble by flooding the world with even more Eurodollars. The Russian rouble used to hold the dubious honor of an unwanted currency during the days of the cold war. Awash with all types of challenges all of us will be, and it will only get worse, for in the midst of this flood of paper money, is an accident waiting to happen, where a spark of trouble might be suffice to light up this bonfire of created by our past and present greed, in the pursuit of the delusions promised by the devil.

'When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto Thee, into Thine holy temple.'
Jonah 2:7

God is faithful. He is Sovereign. We must be determined to be rooted in His presence. Only in submitting to Him, will we overcome. Are we all like Jonah, who knows God, yet chose to turn away from Him? And only when God allowed him to be brought to the deepest reaches of the ocean did Jonah acknowledge the love and power of our Sovereign Lord. And should we not be like Asaph, whose feet almost stumbled in his woes, yet he stayed close to God?

'Thus my heart was grieved. and I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant. I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You. You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel. And afterward receive me to glory.'
Psalm 73: 21-24

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(23rd Oct 2011)

Heart to heart#3 Job less (16th Oct 2011)

Dear..

‘We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.’
1 John 3:14

“Steve Jobs, in his trademark uniform of black mock-turtleneck and blue jeans, was deemed the heart and soul of a company that rivals Exxon Mobil as the most valuable in American(as quoted in Bloomberg news).” The world lost an iconic figure and it is natural that one witness an outpouring of grief, concern or curiosity. “He is unforgettable,” the headlines claim, but truth is time will make vague once distinct memories.

‘No man hath seen God at anytime. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.’
1 John 4:12

“Steve Jobs, in pain and too weak to climb stairs a few weeks before his death, wanted his children to understand why he wasn’t always there for them, according to the author of his highly anticipated biography.”(quoted from Bloomberg news)”
Many of us are like Steve Jobs, in our pursuit of the treasures of the world, the family that God blesses us with, we tend to give short shrift to, much as there seem compelling reasons to do so. And the lie that we hold that we will have time for them eventually either does not play out due to an early demise, or more likely that we have become strangers with our loves ones, so time not spent together is a natural consequence. And what about time with God, our Maker?

‘Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? Or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?’
Job 38:1

Job(not Steve) was a man whose heart seems right with God. Yet, he was put through extreme circumstances. When I first renewed my faith not as a believer but as a determined follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, one constant fear that popped up in my thoughts was “will God put me through what Job went through?”
God is good. Through the years of journeying in His presence, He has allowed me to go through the storms of refinement, but He knows my shallow limits and He provides and affirms. And despite all my imperfections, brought me to new heights in my spiritual maturity His way.
And the lesson I learnt about Job was that God is faithful, much as I often struggle in my faith.

‘But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die….’
Genesis 3:3

“A bite of the forbidden fruit,” that was the thought that struck me over the weekend when I pondered upon the iconic logo of Apple computer.
Adam and Eve forsook God for wisdom of good and evil that the Tree of Knowledge provides to all who eats from its fruit. Popular culture depicts that fruit as an apple, not too sure if that is the right fruit? Steve Jobs did not invent the internet, and not too sure if he got his inspiration from visiting an ashram in India, but his brilliance in providing the breezy and alluring platforms( the Ipod, Iphone and Ipad) has empowered, enabled and enticed many to tune into the broad reaches of the internet. “A new religion for the increasingly secular world,” that was the article that appeared in the following Monday’s newspaper. If I had not known better, I would have thought that “big brother” as per Orson Welles’ fictional tome was keyed into my inner thoughts.

Steve Job might have left us, but it was reported that he has left behind four years worth of wonderful and potentially groundbreaking products including tools to access the “cloud.” It is not out of norm for “once finite man,’ to be granted deity status for imaginations do grow asunder when one no longer has the living imperfect to give us that sense of reality.

‘Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die and not live.’
Isaiah 38:1

Our good Lord has not told me my run out date, though I did get a sense that it will be at least 25 years more to go at the minimal. Yet in reminding me that health is not to be taken for granted, He has not just increased the resoluteness of my faith, but spurred me to be even more conscious about “making proper order” my state of affairs. And this is not just about secular matters, but more importantly, the command from God to be made right spiritually as in Romans 12:1 below.

‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service..’
Romans 12:1

The “noose” has just tightened markedly in my present employ. And some of you on this mail will understand for we are in the same straitjacket. It is a reality of the world that is moving to the other extreme of the pendulum, where regulation now takes precedence over business sense. But much as it might seem more pronounced in the financial sector, reality is life is getting more difficult for everyone in all industries and life in general. Does one cave in to the overwhelming burdens laid upon us? Not if one truly understand that God is Sovereign and He is our “sole employer,” and that He is Whom we look to and draw our resilience from.

‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength……’
Isaiah 40:31

'And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness...'
2 Corinthians 12:9

What is truly our job or calling in this finite life? On a personal level, Romans 12:1 applies to all. And on a relational level to our environs, it is good to ponder upon Isaiah 40:3

‘The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’
Isaiah 40:3

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(15th Oct 2011)

Heart to heart #2 Matter of the heart (6th Oct 2011)

Dear…

‘And not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’
Romans 12:2

This morning, our good Lord woke me from my restful slumber, to clarify for me His plans, for this next leg of my journey with Him. This week, I am decidedly closer to my normal physical self, quite unlike the previous week, when the body felt disorientated in adjusting to the introduction of foreign elements, that is, the medicine(the beta blocker). The recalibration, through the beta blocker, of the pace of pumping of my heart to a decidedly lower beat, in my layman understanding, has ensured that my mind and my body seem to be in disconnect, as the lower flow of oxygen literally half starved a body that is still responding to a mind that is used to running at a much quicker pace. And from the information that I culled from the internet, the natural consequence of slowing down my engine room( that is, the heart rate) is lethargy, anxiety and depression.

‘How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery;(as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).
Ephesians 3:3-4

As shared, lethargy I did experience, but by the grace of God, much as it is a strange experience for me, from vigor to sedentary, God is never a stranger for me this past decade and in looking to Him, He assures. And our good Lord reminded me that my mind is indeed renewed(as in Romans 12:2) and is now more aligned with His will, rather than the ways of man.

‘That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.’
2 Chronicles 30:19

But what about the heart? It is interesting. Now that I am more aware of my heart, I have also been more cognizance that the Bible and songs of worship have a strong emphasis on the heart. Why?? Our Lord impressed upon my heart this morning that much as my mind increasingly understands His will,my heart is not fully at one with Him, even though His Spirit resides within me, the believer.

‘My son, attend to My words; incline thine ear unto My sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart…….Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.’
Proverbs 4:20-23

I have experienced and continue to seek to live out the truth of the Word of God every moment of my life. Yet, truth is in my imperfections, my heart often leads me to do what I do not do and do not do what the Lord wants me to do. But thanks be to God, He is forgiving, and His enabling grace ensures that I am realigned back to His will, much as I often err.

'....that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him...'
Colossians 1:9-10

As I ask our Lord for greater clarity as to the meaning of the above thoughts that whirls in not just my head but also my my heart? He brought me to today’s “Our Daily Journey,” a daily email short snippet from the producers of our Daily Bread. The title “the right heart,” and the author shared the lyrics of this song “It’s in the heart, not in the voice. It’s out of love, not out of choice.”

'....that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness , and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'
Romans 10:9-10

My sense is that the heart as the word implies, is indeed the core of our physical, emotional and spiritual well being. Many of us profess to be believers, but only God knows the intentions of our hearts.

‘But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God Which raiseth the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.’
2 Corinthians 1:9-10

It is indeed great that my mind is now aligned with the will of our Lord. But it is even more imperative that my heart must be at one with the Spirit of our Lord. For from our mind flows our thoughts. But it is the heart that moves in communion with the Spirit of God.

My heart is not just a little strewn with the dreaded plaque, but I must confess that spiritually, it is far from the purified abode that our Lord seeks.
It is my belief that healing must start with the Spiritual, before the physical and that is what the Lord is doing for me now.

To be made aware of the brevity of life is a privilege. For to have this sentence of death made known is a reminder from God that indeed much as I have seek Him more than many, I must not trust in myself, but in Him only. And that means an uncluttered heart and do join me as our good Lord purify mine and your hearts, to be made ready, for it is OUR HEARTS THAT MATTER when Christ returns.

‘Blessed be God…….Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.’
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(6th Oct 2011)

Heart to heart #1 Lifeline (29th Sep 2011)

Dear…

‘And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.’
John 5:40

I have in these few days eaten so much “healthy” looking food both at home and at work that my heart must be wondering what took me so long to be so disciplined. And a cardiologist might no longer be what I need, but a psychiatrist to help me get over the withdrawal symptoms from my abstinence from the usual sinful fare.

‘That thou mightiest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.’
Deuteronomy 6:2

A lifeline, our good Lord has given me in shaking me up from my continuing on my nonchalant route to self destruction. Yet, ensuring the positioning of the plaque at a critical enough junction to keep me from wavering.
I did feel a sense of self pity as I trudged to the clinic to collect my month’s supply of drugs that will help to ensure that no more plaque will built up to dam my blood flow. I am not sick as in actual manifestation of a diseased body, yet I have this little bomb strapped upon me that must be gingerly managed. Quite a paradox that like the Apostle Paul I wish God will take “this thorn in my flesh’ away.

‘But he saith unto them, It is I, be not afraid.’
John 6:20

The fear of death is what the devil use to hold on to us. The fear of the Lord our God is the beginning of wisdom. Till God takes me home, the responsibility I have to my family and to the many people that God has placed in my life, is to stay healthy both spiritually and physically, for our body is the temple of God. And that requires the need to use modern medicine, much as like many, I dread the side effects of such medications and rue the need to go into a literal bondage to the pharmaceutical companies. Are drugs a lifeline for a neglected body or are they the parasitic tubes attached to millions of people, who can never be weaned off from dependency on its efficacy to keep our health?

‘Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.’ And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’
Philippians 4:6-7

As I resumed writing this sharing, the one week plus of introducing foreign bodies(that is, medicine) into my till recently relatively drug free ecosystem is making me(as what Winnie the Pooh will describe it), a little ‘woozy.’ The daily “beta blocker” tablet that I now take, helps to slow down the blood flow and relieve pressure on the heart, but has the undesired side effects of causing fatigue, anxiety to depression. Thankfully, by the grace of God, the emotional distress has no room in my countenance, but I do feel physically spaced out.

‘Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise , go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.’
Joshua 1:2

The Lord impressed upon my heart at the onset of my knowing about this imperfect physical heart, as to my willingness to enter the prison that many are already confined to? One would have thought that as one’s faith grew, as God Who has brought me out of the bondage of Egypt, trained and mold me in the desert, that in keeping to His promise that it is now time to bring me into the Promise Land(as shared previously), that one will enter it from a position of strength. And not in this less than ideal condition that I now find myself in and dressed in the literal garb of a prisoner, even as one steps into the Promise land.

‘Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.’
Hebrews 2:1

Steadfastness and resoluteness in faith, is that what God needs to ingrain in our very being before we enter the Promise Land, for there are still giants to be faced? Our journey with God is one of continuous spiritual growth and maturity, and ends only when the Perfect God returns or He decides to take us home. None of us are perfect, but God will continue to perfect us in His likeness. As the furnace heats up, for only then can purification be even finer, without His Divine intervention and grace, can one be willing to take the next step of faith and not succumb to the intensified heat? It is often in weakness that we will be willing to seek our Lord and follow His leading.

‘Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee, turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersover thou goest.’
Joshua 1:7

As the European debt conundrum comes to a climax in the next few weeks, a “literal seizure” globally will occur, that will entail a determined solution, which till now is not forthcoming. This ‘solution’ that will be put forward will be more of a deferment of a future problem, just like what the Americans did in “resolving” the subprime crisis. This continued delusion(of printing even more monies, and lowering already lower than low interest rates) will eventually have to see a day of reckoning, which will if history is a good indicator, lead to great social unrests, political uncertainty, wars, protectionism and stagflation. All of us will be shaken, and only those who “bought gold” as in our Godly character as refined by the Lord will be able to not just remain steadfast, but blessed. God put this “proposal” on buying gold as refined by Him, in my heart four years back, and I said yes. Prayers are indeed answered, but never in our way but His way. The ride might be wild and daunting, but God not just ride with us, but He shelters and carries us forth.

‘For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth.’
Exodus 9:14

As I ponder upon the closing thoughts for this sharing, our Lord brought me to the prayer of St Francis of Assisi. The last two lines “It is in dying That we are born to eternal life.” How true it is, for all many of us, the specter of death is what most try not to think about by concentrating head-on on the lures of the world. And most only take time to seriously reflect upon the meaning of life and thereafter, when circumstances especially near death, bring their relentless delusion to a screeching halt.

God is graceful. He allows plaque in my heart, but not the dreaded plagues. He knows I seek Him, and yet, He knows in answering my prayer to serve Him even more deeply, He has to let me go through an even more intense fire of purification. And it is only in recognizing that death is not a matter to be afraid of, but rather it is eternity that we must grasp and work on with our all, that will we truly, in my and your case, be willing to go beyond our finite understanding to follow Him, and for many who have never seek the Lord, to truly take time to reach out to the outstretched hand of our Lord. Do take this lifeline while it is still available.

'The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.'
Proverbs 16:1

May the thoughts today and going forward in the new series “Heart to heart,” be truly used by our Lord to move your very being, to be aligned with the Spirit of God Who resides in all the hearts of those who believe.

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(29th Sep 2011)