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
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 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)
‘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)
Monday, November 7, 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
>
> ‘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
Tuesday, November 1, 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)
'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)
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