26.1.10
self reminder :)
train hard!! persevere!! let each waking minute be used for His glory! Be saturated with His Word so that you may have a clear mind as to what it is God wills for you each day! =)
16.1.10
note to self.
its easy not to care if you (un)intentionally distance yourself away from those needing it.
its easy not to notice those who are hurting & breaking if you've never stopped to look & listen but would rather have eyes plastered only to yourself.
its easy not to feel a thing if you've never cracked your hard-shell accumulated from all those years of living in a jaded cynical pessimistic world.
its easy not to love if you've never experienced true untainted selfless grace-filled God-sourced love.
its easy not to believe in the power of the gospel if you always cower in lack of faith, misunderstanding that it is not you but God who transforms hearts by His will - you're just a messenger.
its easy not to be bold if you're always in the shadow of doubt and unbelief.
its easy not to do anything if you're always just sitting here typing & thinking. . . .
its easy not to notice those who are hurting & breaking if you've never stopped to look & listen but would rather have eyes plastered only to yourself.
its easy not to feel a thing if you've never cracked your hard-shell accumulated from all those years of living in a jaded cynical pessimistic world.
its easy not to love if you've never experienced true untainted selfless grace-filled God-sourced love.
its easy not to believe in the power of the gospel if you always cower in lack of faith, misunderstanding that it is not you but God who transforms hearts by His will - you're just a messenger.
its easy not to be bold if you're always in the shadow of doubt and unbelief.
its easy not to do anything if you're always just sitting here typing & thinking. . . .
15.1.10
we looked at the 1st chpt of the sermon on the mount yesterday. its funny how the bible has this way of letting you see your reflection as it truly is. conclusions? I need to spend more time caring, less time procrastinating. More time listening, less time talking. More time being understanding, and less time being impatient with others..
I'm looking at this year stretch out before me, and wow, this is definitely gonna require some better time management and perhaps less sleep on my part. God help me get through it all. More than that, help me find missing sheep here in brisbane..
pearls:
"We love our people whether they turn out well or not and the successes do not vindicate our ministry nor the disappointments nullify it. What is important is whether we have loved in a real way - not preached in an impassioned way from a pulpit." - Jackie Pullinger
"We love much because we have been forgiven much!" - JP
I'm looking at this year stretch out before me, and wow, this is definitely gonna require some better time management and perhaps less sleep on my part. God help me get through it all. More than that, help me find missing sheep here in brisbane..
pearls:
"We love our people whether they turn out well or not and the successes do not vindicate our ministry nor the disappointments nullify it. What is important is whether we have loved in a real way - not preached in an impassioned way from a pulpit." - Jackie Pullinger
"We love much because we have been forgiven much!" - JP
12.1.10
ny resolution.
i got into brisbane yesterday. on the plane ride here, i was a bit apprehensive about starting another year. there's just so much clutter in my head right now that adding school & the crazy workload that comes with it is the last thing i need. but the moment i landed and the moment i breathed in the hot humid brisbane air, i felt peace. its a good feeling. but its more than a feeling. its a knowledge that everything will work out :) this morning during devos i was staring outside, i could hear the birds chirping, see the sun peaking through the trees and the crystal blue sky, and wow it never ceases to amaze me that God is creator. God is creator of ALL things :) He's placed the moon the sun and the stars in the universe, stretched out the sky before me and filled up the oceans deep, rose the mountains and carved the rivers. He is in control of all things. How comforting to know my life too is in His hands :) and so goodbye apprehension and hello 2010! i'm excited for the new year and look forward to the next decade to come no matter where i end up or what i end up doing.. i pray it all may be used for the expanse of His kingdom!
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You return man to dust
and say, 'Return, O children of man!'
For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!"
-psalm90 (esv)
My resolve is to:
"Keep vigilant watch over my heart;
that's where life starts.
Don't talk out of both sides of my mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep my eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch my step,
and the road will stretch out
smooth before me.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust." -prov4:20-27 (msg)
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You return man to dust
and say, 'Return, O children of man!'
For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!"
-psalm90 (esv)
My resolve is to:
"Keep vigilant watch over my heart;
that's where life starts.
Don't talk out of both sides of my mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep my eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch my step,
and the road will stretch out
smooth before me.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust." -prov4:20-27 (msg)
7.1.10
a.k.a. "LOST"
so i've been sick this past week, although i was better 2 sundays ago, after that day it came back with a vengeance. hopefully i'll have kicked it outta my system before i head for brissy. in the meantime, i finished reading a book "a.k.a. 'LOST'" by Jim Henderson.
It talks about being ordinary and doing small things when connecting with others. There were heaps he said that were really thought-provoking. so i'll jot them down lest i forget :)
"preach to serve & serve to preach.
We preach as if we're serving when we use words that carry people's hearts to Jesus rather than just correcting their mistaken beliefs. We preach as if we're serving when we refuse to steer the conversation in a direction that satisfies our own agenda. We preach as if we're serving when we ask more questions that we give answers. We preach as if we're serving when, after someone asks us what we're about, we talk about Jesus in a way that is real and matches their level of receptivity. We preach as if we're serving when our hearts' intention is for the other person to experience Jesus's love and reality, not just hear our beliefs.
And here's the other approach. We serve as if we're preaching when we do things for others, putting their needs ahead of our own. We serve as if we're preaching when we restrain ourselves from verbally clarifying that our real motive is to demonstrate God's love. We serve as if we're preaching by anticipating our missing friends' level of interest and praying behind their backs, asking Jesus to nudge them towards a heartfelt relationship with him."
"When Jesus approached people, he wasn't being evangelistic, he was being Jesus!"
"Finding the people Jesus misses most isn't about boldness, it's about love."
"Most pastors have learned to count the seated rather than the served - we call it church growth"
"Restraint (in conversation) is the highest form of discipline"
"The mission matters more than the method"
It talks about being ordinary and doing small things when connecting with others. There were heaps he said that were really thought-provoking. so i'll jot them down lest i forget :)
"preach to serve & serve to preach.
We preach as if we're serving when we use words that carry people's hearts to Jesus rather than just correcting their mistaken beliefs. We preach as if we're serving when we refuse to steer the conversation in a direction that satisfies our own agenda. We preach as if we're serving when we ask more questions that we give answers. We preach as if we're serving when, after someone asks us what we're about, we talk about Jesus in a way that is real and matches their level of receptivity. We preach as if we're serving when our hearts' intention is for the other person to experience Jesus's love and reality, not just hear our beliefs.
And here's the other approach. We serve as if we're preaching when we do things for others, putting their needs ahead of our own. We serve as if we're preaching when we restrain ourselves from verbally clarifying that our real motive is to demonstrate God's love. We serve as if we're preaching by anticipating our missing friends' level of interest and praying behind their backs, asking Jesus to nudge them towards a heartfelt relationship with him."
"When Jesus approached people, he wasn't being evangelistic, he was being Jesus!"
"Finding the people Jesus misses most isn't about boldness, it's about love."
"Most pastors have learned to count the seated rather than the served - we call it church growth"
"Restraint (in conversation) is the highest form of discipline"
"The mission matters more than the method"
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