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)
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 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)
‘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)
Thursday, October 6, 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)
‘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)
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