Yesterday we had a powerful sermon from Pastor Prince. I just wanted to share the aspect of his sermon that ministered most to me. He said in Numbers 19, God told the Israelites to bring an offering of a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no spot and on which a yoke has not been laid. The priest would take it outside the camp and it shall be slaughtered before him. The heifer shall be burned and its ashes shall be gathered and stored outside the camp. The ashes shall be kept for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin.
Pastor Prince said that Jesus is like the red heifer for He has no spot and no burden has ever been laid on him. He is the perfect sacrifice. After God's judgment has been poured out on the red heifer, the ashes remain. Ashes represents the finished work of Christ because ashes is the final form of any matter. No fire can ever burn again in the area of the ashes. What it simply means is this: when we walk in the finished work of Christ, we stand where the fire of God's judgment has been exacted on Christ and we will be safe from the judgment. When we walk in His finished work, we don't have to suffer what Christ has already suffered. That is precisely why Christ came to earth, suffered and died for us!
My friends, Christ died young so that we could live long; He died poor so that we can be rich; He died in pain so that we will never be sick or in pain; He died a lonely man so that we will always be surrounded by family and friends. That is why we always need to be reminded about the finished work of Christ so that the consciousness of sin will not be on our hearts. We need to stand on the firm foundation that because of Christ's perfect sacrifice, we are forever righteous before God. What a great exchange happened on the Cross!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Faith in the small things
Today I had a breakfast appointment with one of my close friend. I was already late when I left my house but when I reached the bus-stop, I wanted to sms my friend to let her know I would be 10 minutes late, I realised my handphone was on low battery. In fact, I was not even sure how long it would last. I was a bit worried in case I can't even contact her when I reach there.
Besides, I had to let my dad know I would be picking Joshua up because my dad would usually pick my mum, Joshua and my nephew from the childcare centre. Nowadays, it is so inconvenient to move around without a handphone...see how we have become so reliant on technology...
My heart was troubled...I was thinking why didn't I detect the low battery and charge my handphone before I leave my home? Even if I had charged like 10 minutes, it would still be good. Then something within me says 'Stop reproaching yourself. Don't let your heart be troubled. Pray and ask God for help.' That was exactly what I did. I asked God to sustain the battery life of my handphone until the time I picked Joshua up. I told God I am really desperate and I am relying solely on the power of God now. After my prayers, I felt more at peace.
Thank God I had a good time fellowshipping with my friend and I was not bothered by my handphone at all. I could even sms my dad to tell him that I would be picking Joshua up. My dad told me he could come and pick me up at the place of my appointment to go to the childcare centre together. He sms me to tell me to wait at the bus-stop in 10 minutes time.
I was amazed that my handphone could last so long...almost 2.5 hours since the battery was low. I thought it would have gone flat prettty soon and I might need to borrow my friend's phone to call my dad. But guess what, the moment I got into my dad's taxi, my phone went flat! What precise timing! Praise the Lord! This was a precious faith lesson for me that if I could believe, all things are possible! Yes, even in the small things!
Besides, I had to let my dad know I would be picking Joshua up because my dad would usually pick my mum, Joshua and my nephew from the childcare centre. Nowadays, it is so inconvenient to move around without a handphone...see how we have become so reliant on technology...
My heart was troubled...I was thinking why didn't I detect the low battery and charge my handphone before I leave my home? Even if I had charged like 10 minutes, it would still be good. Then something within me says 'Stop reproaching yourself. Don't let your heart be troubled. Pray and ask God for help.' That was exactly what I did. I asked God to sustain the battery life of my handphone until the time I picked Joshua up. I told God I am really desperate and I am relying solely on the power of God now. After my prayers, I felt more at peace.
Thank God I had a good time fellowshipping with my friend and I was not bothered by my handphone at all. I could even sms my dad to tell him that I would be picking Joshua up. My dad told me he could come and pick me up at the place of my appointment to go to the childcare centre together. He sms me to tell me to wait at the bus-stop in 10 minutes time.
I was amazed that my handphone could last so long...almost 2.5 hours since the battery was low. I thought it would have gone flat prettty soon and I might need to borrow my friend's phone to call my dad. But guess what, the moment I got into my dad's taxi, my phone went flat! What precise timing! Praise the Lord! This was a precious faith lesson for me that if I could believe, all things are possible! Yes, even in the small things!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Cooking
Ever since I stayed home for the past two weeks, I have attempted to cook dinner for my family three times. Not many times though but for someone who has not cooked a proper meal for a few years, it is a major feat. My hubby is the one who usually cooks because he has an interest in cooking, not me. But somehow, having more time at home makes me think about making home-cooked food which is healthier. Heng told me to learn from cook books but I was not so keen to follow a cook book.
I really thank God for those attempts at cooking really turned out very well, as my hubby gave me a distinction. Though the dishes were all very simple, what was amazing was that I did not follow any cook book and having no prior practice before, the dishes all turned out fine.
Ok, this is the secret. Before I start cooking, I told God to bless the work of my hands and make the food turn out delicious. Interestingly as I started cooking, I 'instinctively' know how much seasoning to add and at what precise moment to put in which ingredients to the wok. It is almost like I had cooked before. Of course I know it cannot be me. It has to be the Holy Spirit guiding me; His wisdom in teaching me to cook. Isaiah 54:13 says 'All your sons will be taught by the Lord; and great will be your children's peace.' I think even in the area of cooking, I am taught by the Lord personally (ha ha...no need cook books!)
I told Heng if this is not the work of God, how could all my attempts at cooking turn out so well? Being fully confident that God who began a good work in me (for cooking) will bring it to completion, I am excited about cooking more delicious meals for my family in the future. I am sure I will scale greater heights in the area of cooking. Indeed God causes whatever I put my hands on to prosper. All glory be to God!
I really thank God for those attempts at cooking really turned out very well, as my hubby gave me a distinction. Though the dishes were all very simple, what was amazing was that I did not follow any cook book and having no prior practice before, the dishes all turned out fine.
Ok, this is the secret. Before I start cooking, I told God to bless the work of my hands and make the food turn out delicious. Interestingly as I started cooking, I 'instinctively' know how much seasoning to add and at what precise moment to put in which ingredients to the wok. It is almost like I had cooked before. Of course I know it cannot be me. It has to be the Holy Spirit guiding me; His wisdom in teaching me to cook. Isaiah 54:13 says 'All your sons will be taught by the Lord; and great will be your children's peace.' I think even in the area of cooking, I am taught by the Lord personally (ha ha...no need cook books!)
I told Heng if this is not the work of God, how could all my attempts at cooking turn out so well? Being fully confident that God who began a good work in me (for cooking) will bring it to completion, I am excited about cooking more delicious meals for my family in the future. I am sure I will scale greater heights in the area of cooking. Indeed God causes whatever I put my hands on to prosper. All glory be to God!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Best Christian Blog of the Week Award!
As I was looking at the referring websites to my blog today, I saw this website http://bestchristianblogoftheweek.blogspot.com/. When I clicked the web link, I was surprised to find out that I was given the 'Best Christian Blog of the Week' Award.
I didn't even know this website existed and that there are actually people out there reading blogs. It was then when I looked at the comments to my blog on 14 Feb 2011 then I realised that I had been given this award! Wow, this is such a great encouragement and pleasant surprise to me as I only started blogging a few months ago! Thank God for His goodness!
More than just the award, I thank God for the opportunity of many more open doors that this referring website provides. This just means that more people could have access to my blogs and that my sharing would continue to be a blessing to anyone, all around the world.
Thank You, Lord Jesus for You are the reason for open heavens.
I didn't even know this website existed and that there are actually people out there reading blogs. It was then when I looked at the comments to my blog on 14 Feb 2011 then I realised that I had been given this award! Wow, this is such a great encouragement and pleasant surprise to me as I only started blogging a few months ago! Thank God for His goodness!
More than just the award, I thank God for the opportunity of many more open doors that this referring website provides. This just means that more people could have access to my blogs and that my sharing would continue to be a blessing to anyone, all around the world.
Thank You, Lord Jesus for You are the reason for open heavens.
What Righteousness Truly Means
In the past, I used to have many questions when reading Apostle Paul's letters, especially the book of Romans. That was when I wasn't exposed to the gospel of grace and the finished work of Christ on the cross. And in particular, there was this passage in Galatians 4:21-31 that I was puzzled. Paul talked about Abraham having two sons: one by a bondwoman (Hagar) and the other by a freewoman (Sarah). These things are symbolic of two covenants: the one from Mt Sinai which gives birth to bondage and the other is the Jerusalem above who is free, which is the mother of us all. We are like Isaac who are the children of promise.
Pastor Prince preached in his Sunday sermon about this from Genesis 16:4-9. He explained that Hagar represents the law while Sarah represents grace. When Hagar became pregnant, she despised her mistress Sarah just like how law despised grace. In Galatians 4:29, it says that he who was born of the flesh (those who relied on the law) persecuted the one who was born of the spirit (who is of grace). But when Hagar escaped from the mistreatment by Sarah, the Angel of the Lord told her to return to her mistress and submit herself to Sarah's hand, meaning that law will always be subordinate to grace.
Fast forward to the time after Isaac was born and weaned, in Genesis 21:5-13, Sarah noticed Ishmael scoffing at Isaac and she told Abraham to cast out the bondwoman with her son for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with Isaac, the son of promise. In this picture, there are two issues of significance.
Firstly, those who propagate the law will always persecute those who believe in grace, just like how Ishmael mocked Isaac. Secondly, there was persecution not at the point of Isaac's birth but when he was weaned. This meant that he was no longer a baby and was ready for his inheritance as a mature son. At this point in time, there was no room for the law to even co-exist with grace. God wants the law to be totally cast out or put away just like how Hagar was to be put away.
In Hebrews 5:13, the bible says that everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness for he is a babe. So right now, the church is becoming more skilled in the teaching of righteousness which is a gift from God, just like salvation and we cannot earn it. Righteousness is right believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ and it is not right doing. Hence we cannot be more righteous just as we cannot be 'more saved'. But Pastor Prince always says 'Right believing leads to right doing', so we can be sure when we believe right, we will always do things the way God wanted.
As a result of the church becoming more skilled in the teaching of righteousness, we are increasingly under fire from those who preach the law or a mixture of law and grace. This is truly an exciting time because the church has now grown from a spiritual babe to an adult and this meant that our inheritance is coming! Not only that, there is no room for the church to tolerate teachings of the law because God wants the law to be totally put away. We must not put up with teachings that condemn us or promote self-efforts in realising God's promises. We must preach that there is no condemnation in Christ and because of His finished work on the Cross, we have a right standing with God. That, my friend, is the true definition of righteousness.
Pastor Prince preached in his Sunday sermon about this from Genesis 16:4-9. He explained that Hagar represents the law while Sarah represents grace. When Hagar became pregnant, she despised her mistress Sarah just like how law despised grace. In Galatians 4:29, it says that he who was born of the flesh (those who relied on the law) persecuted the one who was born of the spirit (who is of grace). But when Hagar escaped from the mistreatment by Sarah, the Angel of the Lord told her to return to her mistress and submit herself to Sarah's hand, meaning that law will always be subordinate to grace.
Fast forward to the time after Isaac was born and weaned, in Genesis 21:5-13, Sarah noticed Ishmael scoffing at Isaac and she told Abraham to cast out the bondwoman with her son for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with Isaac, the son of promise. In this picture, there are two issues of significance.
Firstly, those who propagate the law will always persecute those who believe in grace, just like how Ishmael mocked Isaac. Secondly, there was persecution not at the point of Isaac's birth but when he was weaned. This meant that he was no longer a baby and was ready for his inheritance as a mature son. At this point in time, there was no room for the law to even co-exist with grace. God wants the law to be totally cast out or put away just like how Hagar was to be put away.
In Hebrews 5:13, the bible says that everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness for he is a babe. So right now, the church is becoming more skilled in the teaching of righteousness which is a gift from God, just like salvation and we cannot earn it. Righteousness is right believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ and it is not right doing. Hence we cannot be more righteous just as we cannot be 'more saved'. But Pastor Prince always says 'Right believing leads to right doing', so we can be sure when we believe right, we will always do things the way God wanted.
As a result of the church becoming more skilled in the teaching of righteousness, we are increasingly under fire from those who preach the law or a mixture of law and grace. This is truly an exciting time because the church has now grown from a spiritual babe to an adult and this meant that our inheritance is coming! Not only that, there is no room for the church to tolerate teachings of the law because God wants the law to be totally put away. We must not put up with teachings that condemn us or promote self-efforts in realising God's promises. We must preach that there is no condemnation in Christ and because of His finished work on the Cross, we have a right standing with God. That, my friend, is the true definition of righteousness.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Blessings chase us down the street!
Pastor Prince preached about 2011 being the year of the Lord's crowned goodness. Psalm 65:11 says 'You crown the year with Your goodness. And Your paths drip with abundance.' The word 'crown' has to do with protection like how God crowned Adam with glory and honour in the beginning. Abundance (deshen in Hebrew) means abundance in fertility and blessings. Pastor Prince said many of us are going to experience a baby boom in NCC and we are going to have fat babies! God wants us to follow His paths because where we put our foot on these paths, they drip with abundance and fatness!
God's goodness is following us. Like what King David said in Psalm 23:6 'Surely goodness and mercy will follow (hunt) me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.' We are to get ready to meet these blessings of goodness every which way we turn. We are to be conscious of being crowned with God's glory and honour. We are to be conscious of God's goodness.
Our family had a chance to experience this goodness of God recently. I know what it means when Pastor said when you are conscious of God's goodness, His blessings chase us down the street. We celebrated our Valentine Day last Wed at Resorts World Sentosa. Of course we brought Joshua along for the buffet lunch. We had a good time as a family. The lunch was $39.90++ for adults and $19.90++ for kids. With a credit card discount of 10%, Heng worked out the bill to be at least $103. But guess what, when the bill came, it was only $45.90! We didn't know that there is a weekday one-for-one promotion at the cafe as the F&B staff did not inform Heng when he called to make the reservation. Besides, there was no charge for kids! It was indeed a pleasant surprise for us! Praise the Lord for such good deals laid up in His paths!
God's goodness is following us. Like what King David said in Psalm 23:6 'Surely goodness and mercy will follow (hunt) me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.' We are to get ready to meet these blessings of goodness every which way we turn. We are to be conscious of being crowned with God's glory and honour. We are to be conscious of God's goodness.
Our family had a chance to experience this goodness of God recently. I know what it means when Pastor said when you are conscious of God's goodness, His blessings chase us down the street. We celebrated our Valentine Day last Wed at Resorts World Sentosa. Of course we brought Joshua along for the buffet lunch. We had a good time as a family. The lunch was $39.90++ for adults and $19.90++ for kids. With a credit card discount of 10%, Heng worked out the bill to be at least $103. But guess what, when the bill came, it was only $45.90! We didn't know that there is a weekday one-for-one promotion at the cafe as the F&B staff did not inform Heng when he called to make the reservation. Besides, there was no charge for kids! It was indeed a pleasant surprise for us! Praise the Lord for such good deals laid up in His paths!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Meaning of Chinese Characters
Last Sunday, Pastor Mark preached on the meaning of Chinese characters and how they had their origins from God. For example, 義 (righteousness) happens when I put the Lamb (羊) before me (我) or when Christ is in me. Another character 造 (creation) is formed by speaking (告) and moving. When we speak, things move and things get created. When I saw this, it is like the Greek word lego (speak) which means a systematic set discourse. This is like Jesus saying 'I am giving you a set of Lego building blocks that you can frame your world according to the picture I have given you in the Word of God.' Hallelujah! What a powerful revelation!
I also have another revelation regarding my Chinese name. 李 is my surname, formed by 木(wood) and 子(son). Wood represents humanity or mankind. My surname means that I am a son of man. My middle name is 美. It is formed by two words 羊(lamb) and 大(great). I take it to mean that when Christ, the Passover Lamb is in me, I would be great. And that to God, is beautiful (美). My last name 珠 means pearl or precious gem. The word 朱 represents red pigment and the root word is 木(wood). I was taught that red symbolises humanity like how Adam was a red-blooded man. But with my King Jesus (王) by my side, I become a precious gem, a beautiful pearl.
I never knew that when I was born, God was already guiding my parents about my name (李美珠). To think that I actually hated my Chinese name all this while. I never knew it was inspired by God. From now on, I will be proud of my Chinese name because God gave meaning to it. In and of itself, my name speaks of humanity and about me being a son of man. I am merely human and I can do nothing without Christ. Yet when Christ came into my life, my 'destiny' changed. I became so blessed (蒙福) because of what Christ has done on the cross. With Jesus in my life, I became a beautiful gem and I would do great things for God. I am so touched by God's love for me. No words could express my gratitude for Him...
I also have another revelation regarding my Chinese name. 李 is my surname, formed by 木(wood) and 子(son). Wood represents humanity or mankind. My surname means that I am a son of man. My middle name is 美. It is formed by two words 羊(lamb) and 大(great). I take it to mean that when Christ, the Passover Lamb is in me, I would be great. And that to God, is beautiful (美). My last name 珠 means pearl or precious gem. The word 朱 represents red pigment and the root word is 木(wood). I was taught that red symbolises humanity like how Adam was a red-blooded man. But with my King Jesus (王) by my side, I become a precious gem, a beautiful pearl.
I never knew that when I was born, God was already guiding my parents about my name (李美珠). To think that I actually hated my Chinese name all this while. I never knew it was inspired by God. From now on, I will be proud of my Chinese name because God gave meaning to it. In and of itself, my name speaks of humanity and about me being a son of man. I am merely human and I can do nothing without Christ. Yet when Christ came into my life, my 'destiny' changed. I became so blessed (蒙福) because of what Christ has done on the cross. With Jesus in my life, I became a beautiful gem and I would do great things for God. I am so touched by God's love for me. No words could express my gratitude for Him...
Monday, February 7, 2011
Truly the Most Blessed CNY
I have so many thanksgiving for this Chinese New Year (CNY). Actually I don't really enjoy the previous CNYs. It was usually a very busy period for everyone and I felt the visitations were rather meaningless. Relatives whom you don't usually meet will gather during this time and ask questions which are quite weird. Like if you are not married, they will ask when you are going to have a boyfriend or when to get married. And when you are married, they will ask when you are going to have kids. When you have one kid, they will ask when is baby no. 2 coming. The cycle seems endless.
So I was praying that God will make this CNY so blessed that I will enjoy it. I have so many thanksgiving. Firstly, God answered my prayers - no one asked me when is baby no. 2 coming even when my brother-in-law has another baby girl. Usually they will ask when is our turn but this time round, no one asked anything. Thiis to my great relief. We know for sure that our 2nd baby would be born this year but how to explain to them that we know for sure. Well, the solution is just let God handle the situation (which He did this year).
Secondly, one of Heng's aunties (3rd uncle's wife) has just received Christ and is also attending New Creation Church, Chinese service! She is the most unlikely candidate to receive Christ because she used to be the most superstitious one but when the Lord touched her, she is transformed. Even when she spoke of the Lord's love for her, her tears rolled uncontrollably. She also encouraged us to bring my mother-in-law to NCC. I told her my mother-in-law has received Christ and the auntie said that she noticed something different about her this year. Something like she is happier and more at peace. Wow, really thank God for that!
Thirdly, it is about my grandma. Initially my aunties and uncles were saying to send her back to the nursing home after CNY because they really cannot take care of her anymore. My grandma was quite sad and she told me she has no home now and would have to sleep by the roadside. I told her that she always has a home and that Jesus will take care of her. My grandma surprised me by saying that Jesus follows her wherever she goes! Wow! This showed that Jesus is real in her life! What happened next was no less of a miracle. I learnt that my mum actually relented and was willing to take in my grandma. I think she is very noble to allow grandma to stay with them because she was not the favourite daughter-in-law. In fact, she had suffered a great deal under my grandma. If this is not the love of Christ in her, what could it be?
Lastly, I thank God we were able to host Heng's relatives during CNY. This beautiful home is a testimony of God's blessings in our life. We had a chance to 'brag' about the Lord's goodness to his relatives. Indeed living amidst such a beautiful surrounding caused me to want to fellowship more with God. Until today, I still cannot believe that we are living in such a nice condo. This is truly a manifestation of the Lord's goodness. He cares so much that even the place we live in is so important to Him. God is truly pure goodness.
So I was praying that God will make this CNY so blessed that I will enjoy it. I have so many thanksgiving. Firstly, God answered my prayers - no one asked me when is baby no. 2 coming even when my brother-in-law has another baby girl. Usually they will ask when is our turn but this time round, no one asked anything. Thiis to my great relief. We know for sure that our 2nd baby would be born this year but how to explain to them that we know for sure. Well, the solution is just let God handle the situation (which He did this year).
Secondly, one of Heng's aunties (3rd uncle's wife) has just received Christ and is also attending New Creation Church, Chinese service! She is the most unlikely candidate to receive Christ because she used to be the most superstitious one but when the Lord touched her, she is transformed. Even when she spoke of the Lord's love for her, her tears rolled uncontrollably. She also encouraged us to bring my mother-in-law to NCC. I told her my mother-in-law has received Christ and the auntie said that she noticed something different about her this year. Something like she is happier and more at peace. Wow, really thank God for that!
Thirdly, it is about my grandma. Initially my aunties and uncles were saying to send her back to the nursing home after CNY because they really cannot take care of her anymore. My grandma was quite sad and she told me she has no home now and would have to sleep by the roadside. I told her that she always has a home and that Jesus will take care of her. My grandma surprised me by saying that Jesus follows her wherever she goes! Wow! This showed that Jesus is real in her life! What happened next was no less of a miracle. I learnt that my mum actually relented and was willing to take in my grandma. I think she is very noble to allow grandma to stay with them because she was not the favourite daughter-in-law. In fact, she had suffered a great deal under my grandma. If this is not the love of Christ in her, what could it be?
Lastly, I thank God we were able to host Heng's relatives during CNY. This beautiful home is a testimony of God's blessings in our life. We had a chance to 'brag' about the Lord's goodness to his relatives. Indeed living amidst such a beautiful surrounding caused me to want to fellowship more with God. Until today, I still cannot believe that we are living in such a nice condo. This is truly a manifestation of the Lord's goodness. He cares so much that even the place we live in is so important to Him. God is truly pure goodness.
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