What is my true joy?

Recently I read a devotional 'Rejoicing in real things' that really caused me to think. What are the things that I rejoice in? What are the things in life that really make me happy? Don't think for a moment that these questions are not important, because the Lord is very interested in our well-being. 3 John 1:2 says 'Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, even as your soul prospers.' God wants our soul to prosper and the way our soul prospers is when we are joyful. 

The devotional talked about how people are naturally happy when they get a promotion, a new house, a car or even a baby. These are things in the natural to rejoice in but we should learn the things of spiritual maturity and train ourselves in things that really matter. Things that are seen are temporary but things that are unseen are permanent, things like a new job, pay raise, a new house and new additions to the family are very good things that the Lord blessed us with and He expects us to be grateful for them. Yet these are not the things that our Father expects us to place our job primarily. 

The manifestation of fruits in our lives like material blessings, even promotions in ministry are good but they are the parts that can be seen. I am not saying that these manifestations are not important, they are important because they bring glory to God. What I am saying is that the unseen or spiritual side is more important and should be the target of our lives. Romans 14:17 says 'The kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink but instead it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit.'

The will of God is that we rejoice when we have challenges that test our faith. Faith is developed when it is tested and our faith is real. It is the gold of our spirit. It is important because it is our faith that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4). Jesus said 'Blessed are you when men persecute you for My name's sake.' When we look at the things apostle Paul used to rejoice in among the churches, we find that his joy and gratitude to God was always about their increase in faith, increase in knowledge of Christ, love for one another, endurance in the midst of trials and such qualities unseen. They are the invisible things but things that are pure gold. 

I am sure the people in church were doing well in business, getting married, buying houses, having children but Paul seemed to have overlooked to mention these things as the source of his joyful thanksgiving. The reason was that he knew how to rejoice in things that truly mattered. He knew that once they grow in their faith, grow in the knowledge of Christ, grow in the love of Abba Father, then all these material or outward things will follow. Blessings will chase them down the street as they chase after Jesus. 

Thes outward things are not the things God is doing in you. They are just the manifestations of His love and care for you. The real thing He is doing in your life is that He is developing a character in you until Christ is formed in you. God is always interested in our character development, our heart and our faith. Because He knows unless your heart changes, there can be no real enduring transformation of your life. Yes, in His mercy, He may intervene to deliver you out of a situation and you are so grateful to Him...but if that issue has not been totally overcome, it will show up when you hit the next roadblock. Then you ask Him why does such things happen?

Many people think that once their current pressing need is fulfilled, then they can be truly happy. They think the source of their problem is their unmet need. But after God met their need, another need will arise. There would be no end to it. The problem is we never really ask God what is our real need in life. Similarly, what is our real joy in life? I have come to learn that my real need in life is to know Christ more, have a intimate fellowship with my Abba Father and to experience His great love for me. Similarly, my main joy is that Christ be formed in me. Our strength is directed at the things that give us joy. 

So if the joy of the Lord is my strength, then my joy would not be dependent on my outward circumstances or whether the manifestations to my desires are here. Do you know what is the joy of the Lord? It is you! You make Him happy, looking at you, thinking of you makes Him joyful. I came to a point where the Lord taught me to see to value things that are unseen more than material blessings. Things like friendships, love, family and my faith which money cannot buy. I used to think that Paul was crazy. Why would anyone be rejoicing when all kinds of trials come into their lives? How can anyone still find such great joy in the midst of challenges? 

I now understand what Paul meant. Not that we wish for persecutions or challenges to come to our lives but we are able to maintain a correct perspective towards these uncomfortable things in our lives. I learnt that when I see my faith muscles being strengthened and my character built up in Christ, then I can greatly rejoice because these are things that are of great value and are eternal. I can rejoice because I have grown stronger, more resilient and stable. Through Christ, I am able to conquer all the challenges in life. Where things used to bother me so much and cause me much heartache, now I have become more and more oblivious to them. This is truly a watershed lesson for my life. From now on, nothing will ever be the same again. Praise Jesus!

Jesus is the Door!

In mid Nov, Pastor Prince was preaching about the door and the gate. The door is a place of grace and mercy. The door represents Jesus.  Jesus said 'I am the door. Whoever comes through the door will find green pastures.' (John 10:9) The gate, on the other hand, is a place of judgment in the bible. It is a place of the law, where judicial decisions are made. 

Pastor Prince said that the door is a place of rest. In Genesis 18:1-2, Abraham was sitting at the tent door, when the Lord came to visit. The Lord will always come to us at the place of our resting. And when the Lord came to visit, He brought good news to Abraham. God told Abraham that this time next year, Sarah would have a son (Genesis 18:10).

I was listening to one of his sermons called 'Praise opens the door to grace' preached in Mar this year. The message was a little similar to this recent one. Jesus is the door to God and when one steps through this door, he steps into a whole new world, a place of pasture. When we find ourselves in a valley of trouble, God opens up to us a door of hope. Praise in Hebrews means Yadah. Every Hebrew letter has a picture and is also used as a number. It is made up of three Hebrew letters that has a picture of a hand, a door and grace. Simply put, it says praise is the hand that opens the door to grace. 

One of Joshua's thanksgivings for 2011 was 'thank God for the good door that we open and close'. Initially we thought he was talking about our main door in our home, which was quite funny. Whoever thank God for the wooden door in our homes? Later someone pointed out that Joshua was referring to Jesus. Jesus was opening the door to good things and blessings in our family life and closing the door to diseases, bad breaks, poverty etc. 

Recently I had a question in my mind. It is regarding Joshua's class in primary school. He is in 1D. I could not figure out why the letter 'D'...it is not the fifth letter in the alphabet because five is the number of grace. I also cannot think about what 'D' can stand for. Diligence? Not really. I asked God to show me the significance of this letter. I found my answer in the sermon 'Praise opens the door to grace'. The fourth letter in the Hebrew alphabet is Dalet which is represented by the door. 

The Holy Spirit spoke to me there and then saying that the significance of this letter is the door and this door is Jesus! God assured me that He is the One who put Joshua in the primary school and He will open the door to grace and unmerited favor in all of Joshua's life in that school. Joshua will go through that door and find green pastures. I do not need to worry about him because he is well taken care of by the Lord. Praise Jesus! 

The Goodness of God

Last Friday was Joshua's primary one orientation. Both Heng and I were a bit nervous about this event, because there were more than 600 parents. Besides we had to buy his uniforms and textbooks if not we need to come back another day. The only thing we didn't think about was Joshua. We thought since he had come for preparatory Chinese lessons, he should be very familiar with his primary school. He did not even cry when he first came for the lessons. He was such a brave boy.

We really did not expect him to be so sticky to us. Initially he was quite ok, but when I walked over to tell him 'Jesus will be with you. Mummy and daddy will be here for you later.' Then he started to get sticky to us and cried. He could not stop crying and I had to spend some time to cajole him. However, he still did not stop crying. I was so angry that I scolded him and told him to stop crying. I thought that my efforts of putting him in the preparatory lessons would help. Well the Lord proved me wrong. I was trusting in flesh. Then the talk begun and we had to sit behind.

Heng was still feeling worried about Joshua and wanted to go over and check on him. I was very firm and I told him not to go. I asked the Lord to take over the situation because I really did not know what to do with him. Besides I was disappointed that he was still crying after nine sessions of lessons in this school. Then we heard an announcement calling for the parents of a boy named Josh to come in front. I told Heng it was not Joshua for he does not call himself Josh. So we ignored it.

Later when the kids were leaving for the classroom, Heng walked over to take a look at him. He realized that he was standing with a teacher and told me that he was that boy, Josh! I could not believe it and I quickly walked over. I saw him with a teacher and I asked if he was ok. He still had tears in his eyes but the teacher said he would be ok because she would continue to hold his hands. So sweet of her. A few teachers came and touched his head. Then one guy came and gave him a fan to cheer him up. Guess what...the guy turned out to be the principal! Wow! Such favor from God!

When we saw him settled down, we were more at peace. If not we were so stressed and uptight. But when we saw the favor of God on him, we were so full of gratitude and I had tears in my eyes. I was assured  that God would take good care of him. Then we were at rest. Later when we saw him again, he was ok. His teacher said he is a good boy. He did not cry. We really thank God for that!

My reflection on the day's event was this: going to primary school is a major transition for our family, a major milestone in Joshua's life. Our boy has grown up...I cannot believe he is going primary one next year. I am going to miss him because he will spend so much of his time in school - at least 7 hours. There will be some adjustment for him and for me. 

Actually I was thinking that God's timing is perfect. God gave me ample time with Joshua before he goes to primary school. God also provided me to be there for Joshua's transition to primary one. I was thinking it would be really stretched for me to be doing all these preparations and attending the first few days of school with him if I had already given birth to another child and I had to take care of another small baby.

God is really doing so many new things: Joshua going to primary one and our church moving to our new home: The Star. I really thank God for putting me in position in ministry first, at least God has settled me into that role.  Because there are changes in church life (ministry work) and our family, I already foresee that I will be busier next year. It will not be like the past two years. It would be busy yet I would enjoy restful increase. Besides God has gone ahead before me to prepare the way so I just enjoy the journey. 

I thank God that things around me are changing...new things are happening yet the Lord changes not. I can have faith in an unchangeable God. Although today is an eventful and tiring day, I am choosing not to think too far to his first day in school. I believe there is enough grace for me to face it when the day comes..praise the Lord!