I can get away from all these...
All the conflicts, the disagreements, the unhappiness...
These walls built up over the years are too thick
Nothing, or no one, will penetrate them
Neither will they bother
If only there's just one who will try
That might have made all the difference
Friday, April 12, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A list
The speaker at last Wed's conference reminded me of how people have a list of characteristics/qualities that they want their future (or even current) spouses to have. Many years ago, I had mine too. But now, thinking back, I supposed that while I had made my list then, I had neglected to consider the list of characteristics/qualities that I myself should have.
So I imagine, what characteristics/ qualities would a godly man want his wife to have? To the best of my knowledge, I would think it would be these:
1. Purity.
No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
2. A gentle spirit.
You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. (1 Peter 3:4)
3. Compassion for the lost
4. Patience
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7)
Love is patient, love is kind (1 Cor 13:4)
5. Exudes joy
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22)
6. Submissive heart/ humility
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Eph 5:22-23)
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
7. Takes care of appearance but will not cause other men to stumble in their faith
7. Takes care of appearance but will not cause other men to stumble in their faith
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)
Sunday, February 24, 2013
After what had happened, I felt it is now time to write about this. The past 6 months had been difficult. I believed those close to me would know what happened, but what they did not know was the magnitude of which it had affected me.
It started when my grandfather had a hip fracture and had to undergo an operation. To cut a long story short, I prayed for healing so that he didn't have to go through the operation. God didn't heal his hip fracture, so he went for the operation in the end. To make matters worse, my mother and my auntie and uncle had disagreements over which hospital to admit him, and subsequently, the splitting of the hospital bills as well. Though I wasn't directly involved, I was upset with the way things had turned out. It was so tiring to go to the hospital after work, only to hear them arguing over the same issues. And in the midst of it all, I stopped seeking God. Maybe I was angry and disappointed that God didn't heal my grandfather. I couldn't understand why God wouldn't just heal him miraculously so that my auntie and uncle and believe once and for all. I know He can do it if He wants to.
As the problems mounted, I went further away from God. I didn't do my quiet time and there are some times when I didn't pray for a few days at a stretch. Deep inside, I knew that my relationship with God had suffered and that I had to go back to Him, but I didn't know how. I became consumed with thoughts of self-doubts and unworthiness. I felt like a mess and that I had failed at everything. Nothing I did seemed right. There were nights when I cried myself to sleep because I was so depressed. Yet, through it all, NO ONE HAD A CLUE what I was going through. On the surface, I appeared alright. I still went to work and church as always. In fact, it was only once that I had sms a fellow sister in Christ in the middle of the night to ask her to pray for me. Looking back, I supposed I could have killed myself then and no one would know the reason.
But God is gracious, and through other happenings (which I shall write about at another time), He led me back to Him. In any case, the reason why I'm writing this now is because I realised that even though we belonged to the same body of Christ, there are times when we are clueless regarding the problems that our fellow brothers and sisters are going through. Sometimes, just a simple word of concern can mean so much. Of course, it would be unfair to expect others to know our problems and struggles when we don't share with them. Yet, there will always be tell-tale signs, and if we care enough to probe deeper, we can find out.
It started when my grandfather had a hip fracture and had to undergo an operation. To cut a long story short, I prayed for healing so that he didn't have to go through the operation. God didn't heal his hip fracture, so he went for the operation in the end. To make matters worse, my mother and my auntie and uncle had disagreements over which hospital to admit him, and subsequently, the splitting of the hospital bills as well. Though I wasn't directly involved, I was upset with the way things had turned out. It was so tiring to go to the hospital after work, only to hear them arguing over the same issues. And in the midst of it all, I stopped seeking God. Maybe I was angry and disappointed that God didn't heal my grandfather. I couldn't understand why God wouldn't just heal him miraculously so that my auntie and uncle and believe once and for all. I know He can do it if He wants to.
As the problems mounted, I went further away from God. I didn't do my quiet time and there are some times when I didn't pray for a few days at a stretch. Deep inside, I knew that my relationship with God had suffered and that I had to go back to Him, but I didn't know how. I became consumed with thoughts of self-doubts and unworthiness. I felt like a mess and that I had failed at everything. Nothing I did seemed right. There were nights when I cried myself to sleep because I was so depressed. Yet, through it all, NO ONE HAD A CLUE what I was going through. On the surface, I appeared alright. I still went to work and church as always. In fact, it was only once that I had sms a fellow sister in Christ in the middle of the night to ask her to pray for me. Looking back, I supposed I could have killed myself then and no one would know the reason.
But God is gracious, and through other happenings (which I shall write about at another time), He led me back to Him. In any case, the reason why I'm writing this now is because I realised that even though we belonged to the same body of Christ, there are times when we are clueless regarding the problems that our fellow brothers and sisters are going through. Sometimes, just a simple word of concern can mean so much. Of course, it would be unfair to expect others to know our problems and struggles when we don't share with them. Yet, there will always be tell-tale signs, and if we care enough to probe deeper, we can find out.
I pray that God will open my eyes to the hurts of my fellow brothers and sisters, and use me as a comforter in their times of needs.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Stop Test-Driving
An interesting article for the male readers (and perhaps the females too if you wished to know more)
Read more here:
http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001306.cfm
| Stop Test-Driving Your Girlfriend |
 |
| by Michael Lawrence |
|
"How do I know if she's the one?"
I can't think of a question I encounter more often among single Christian men. The point of the question is clear enough. But a rich irony dwells beneath the question. In a culture that allows us to choose the person we're going to marry, no one wants to make the wrong choice. Especially if, as Christians, we understand that the choice we make is a choice for life.
The question is not merely ironic. If what you're after is a marriage that will glorify God and produce real joy for you and your bride, it's also the wrong question. That's because the unstated goal of the question is "
How do I know if she's the one ... for me."
|
Read more here:
http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001306.cfm
Saturday, February 09, 2013
God's Best
I'm currently reading this book, "Choosing God's Best". I wished I've read it earlier. Perhaps I could have avoided the pain and hurt experienced.
As quoted from the book:
"You don't have to do anything but concentrate on being the right person - the person God wants you to be - instead of finding the right person."
No more searching...
As quoted from the book:
"You don't have to do anything but concentrate on being the right person - the person God wants you to be - instead of finding the right person."
No more searching...
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Second chances...
Someone once said that experience is the best teacher. Perhaps that's true after all, though that someone should also add that the lesson is not always pleasant. And sometimes it hurts too. I guessed some words, once spoken, cannot be taken back. So silly to still harp on this after so many years. Looking back, I know there were some things that I should not have done, questions that I should not have asked. Maybe there are certain questions which are best left unanswered. But that's too late now.
Will there ever be second chances...
Will there ever be second chances...
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Not enough?
Merry Christmas everyone!!
Indeed, Christmas is a joyous occasion, with all the merry-making, feasting and gifts giving. But I guess Ps Kai Ming's sermon last Sun was also appropriate in the light of all these festivities. The very first Christmas wasn't all that happy for the people involved i.e. Mary, Joseph and all the parents whose little boys were killed on Herod's orders.
The birth of Christ was a miracle since He was born of a virgin, but it wasn't easy for Mary and Joseph, and perhaps their families too. And he was born as a baby, just like any other baby. He didn't look extraordinary or anything. And it made me think. If the Son of God could be subjected to all these (born in a manger, doubts surrounding his birth, rejection by his own people, and finally the crucifixion), who am I to ask for more? God Himself came down as an ordinary man, born the same way as any one of us, and went through the same pain and suffering. How could I forget? How could I ever doubt His love for me? How could I question His plans for my life?
No matter where I look, true satisfaction can only be found in Him alone. Not in material possessions. We live in a world obsessed with external beauty, and I guess christians are no exception either. Many a times, I wished I was prettier, slimmer, more attractive etc. Does this mean I'm insecure? Perhaps, but I also know that many women feel this way too, even the pretty ones. Why do we feel this way? When will it ever be enough? Why do we rather believe in the lies of the devil rather than the word of God?
Indeed, Christmas is a joyous occasion, with all the merry-making, feasting and gifts giving. But I guess Ps Kai Ming's sermon last Sun was also appropriate in the light of all these festivities. The very first Christmas wasn't all that happy for the people involved i.e. Mary, Joseph and all the parents whose little boys were killed on Herod's orders.
The birth of Christ was a miracle since He was born of a virgin, but it wasn't easy for Mary and Joseph, and perhaps their families too. And he was born as a baby, just like any other baby. He didn't look extraordinary or anything. And it made me think. If the Son of God could be subjected to all these (born in a manger, doubts surrounding his birth, rejection by his own people, and finally the crucifixion), who am I to ask for more? God Himself came down as an ordinary man, born the same way as any one of us, and went through the same pain and suffering. How could I forget? How could I ever doubt His love for me? How could I question His plans for my life?
No matter where I look, true satisfaction can only be found in Him alone. Not in material possessions. We live in a world obsessed with external beauty, and I guess christians are no exception either. Many a times, I wished I was prettier, slimmer, more attractive etc. Does this mean I'm insecure? Perhaps, but I also know that many women feel this way too, even the pretty ones. Why do we feel this way? When will it ever be enough? Why do we rather believe in the lies of the devil rather than the word of God?
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
To all my female readers, whatever we are struck with doubts on our own beauty, remember that we are all beautiful because we are made in the image of God.
To the male readers, may God help you to look beyond the surface.
Monday, December 03, 2012
Previously, I didn't understand these verses by Paul....
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
1 Corinthians 7: 8-9
Hits the nail on the head doesn't it? No wonder there are fewer single men than women...
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)