Tear bottle

It's our privillege to be able to cry before our Abba God.

When I was in Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olive, the tour guide pointed to us this Church, Can't remember the name, but according to him, here's where Jesus wept for the children of Israel: Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem, how I wish to gather you under my wings, yet you would not..

The church name has got something to do with tears... that's why the church has these bottle-like ornament at the corners of it's roof. The tour guide told us: That's tear bottle. The children of Israel will gather their tears in this bottle. He said: in the story of a great sinner came crying at Jesus' feet, and wash Jesus feet with her hair, she pour out her tear from the tear bottle. Jesus said: She loves me much...

There and then, I felt so touched, isn't it heart-warming to know that, the Lord cares for your tears? The Lord told me, every drop is previous to me. Every drop that caused by the evil one, He will make them pay! and every drop that cause by the joy of the Lord, it's like an offering to God (because you don't cry for the male character who got cancer in the Korean TV show, but you cry because you know and experience God's love for you)

I remember the song written by one of our church's worship leader: I fall at Your feet, declare you are my King, I cast my cares before You, Your peace shall reign in me...

Evertime I hear this song, it reminds me of that woman who throw herself at Jesus' feet, if I were her, i won't even dare to lift my head, but I want to see this saviour! (she might thought), so she might steal a look at Jesus, and man! how would she feel, when she saw Jesus was gazing at her, with all that grace, all that love, her world would have no one else but Jesus then! Oh! and how would she react, when she heard Jesus defends her, and said of her: she loves me much.. oh Lord!

Tears of sorrow become tears of joy, when she emptied her tear bottle, Jesus fill that bottle with tears of joy, heavenly joy of knowing, Jesus love you. He love you with all His might, all His Spirit, all His Soul, all heaven and earth cannot compare to what He has to love you. Just imagine, this God who created heven and earth, using the same power, even more! to love you!

How not to love Him?

Praise Jesus and Jesus alone!

Amen and amen!!!

Twenty-third to twenty seventh

23/6 - Thursday (The Lord anointed my head with oil and my cup runs over)
My work finished supernaturally on time, and i happily packed and off to the church. On the way I received a wonderful prayer from the Lord. I sat in for a tremandous service by the first female preacher from my church, preaching on the armour of God and refuse to believe bad news. After the service i met 2 sisters and we sat down for supper until almost mid-night, sharing revelation, blessing and prayer for each other. Praise Jesus for that night.

24/6 - Friday (He is my very present help in time of needs)
Handling a tideous project and had not gotten client's approval even on the final deadline. I was supposed serve in church but because of the project, client demanded me to stay back for immediate access to do fine-tuning to the so-called 'final artwrk'. After sms-ing my team leader, i started busying with the constant phone calls and changing on artwork and send back to client for checking. By the time i took a break, it was way pass 9pm. Service is over.

I was still stuck in the office, alone. My leader called and check on me, hearing her voice, the warmth of love raises and my tear came out like floodgate open. She reminded me: Jesus is with you, He's there doing overtime with you, it's ok, don't feel guilty for not able to serve, the Lord understand.

I told her it's not the guilt, but the tireness of the body after few days of doing over-time, i thought after Thursday service, i should be able to serve on Friday, enjoying God's rest again.

After she hanged up, another sister called, i asked for prayer. So in few minutes time, many sms came in to encourage and strengthen me. I asked my leader: you told everyone I cried is it? she said: I only told Jesus!

I went home with buckets of blessing.

25/6 - Saturday (be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!)
I woke up at 8.45am. The moment I on my mobile phone, I received client's message, urging me to send the latest file to her by 9am. So I rush to office, do what was asked. This time i do not give chance to devil, I play "you gave" CD and loop it, let the pressence of the Lord fill the whole studio, since i was the only one there. It was great.

After few hours of changing artwork-send to client-waiting for call cycles, i bumped into ann who was working and happen to on-line, we chat and she asked if I am staying for whole day. My immediate thought was: I don't know what time I can finish. However, the Spirit is quicker to catch me, and put down No! In Jesus name!

Ann said 'amen' and agreed with me, i believe God put her there to agree with me and to encourage me, to break the bondage of devil to keep me in this over-time mood. 10 minutes after her 'amen'. Client called and release me for the day, for she also had no idea what time the approval would came in. However she demand me to stayby on Sunday in case client has any changes. I said ok.

Hallelujah! Praise Jesus and so i left office, met ann and another 2 sister for shopping, eating and fellowshipping, and we found so much favour upon us that day, whatever we said or desired came to pass very fast, almost immediately! We were so full of God's love. We were so blessed!

26/6 - Sunday (rest in the Lord) (Jesus is my Prince of Peace)
Aware that client will called anytime, after attending service, enjoying Pastor Joshua's sermon, i didn't called anyone to meet, just myself and Jesus, went to Ya Kun for little quiet+kopi time.

After reaching home at 3pm, i was in this shut-down mood and simply refuse to have any idea of going back to office, be it last minute changes or what (so was it called; final draft since friday). I sat in my room, told Abba: I want to rest, Abba, i don't want to go back office...

Hours passed, no call, Praise Jesus! I went to sleep at 11pm.

27/6 - Monday (You shall stand and see your salvation!)
Email from client marked 11pm, Sunday. hahaa! Thank you Abba. I did the changes, a few rounds of coming to and fro, client came down at 6pm to confirm the work. We ended it at 7 something.
I went home and had peaceful sleep, thank you Jesus!

Moral of the story is, evil day won't be able to prolong so long as you stay in the Lord!

Amen and amen!

I will never leave you nor forsake you.. (Jesus)

I was counting God's favour and blessings since last Thursday, and still counting...

I believe it started earlier, on Thursday, I heard God teaching me to pray a new prayer on my jobs. Few months ago my boss was complaining the company sales figure is low, so I prayed for more job (not led by the Spirit) and indeed. There're so many jobs that everyone in studio were busy.

When this almost robbed me of time going for mid-week service, I find it not right, because God said in Psalms 10:21 When He blessed us riches He would add no sorrows to it. So that night, on the way to church, i asked God about the work situation and He said: Because you pray for more job mah! don't pray like that, pray like this: Lord, give me less job, but more profits!" (sounded very singlish, but I thought the Lord is very close to me when He talk in that simple way) I almost jump on the spot; it's so God! such a powerful prayer, and so show off the grace of our Lord, less work, more profit! Isn't it like God, always want us to rest in Him, that He may bless us more and more? So I shared this with many sisters and brother. Lo and behold, few days later we receive news that we won a pitching job, which gives us a great margin of profit, and it's a job which my staffs has no care and put not much effort when they were doing the proposal.

I really believe more is to come. Yesterday night, God give me another prayer: Pray and set a hatch around the company from those job with difficult client, troublesome procedure and little, or almost no profit margin, block them from even coming into the company. Passby us and go to other studios! hahaa!! (ok the last line was from me). So I prayed and set a hatch around my studio from jobs the have low profit, and I amen it in Jesus name.

"To he who work not, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" - Rom 4:5

I thank the Lord for counting me righteuos in Him, and I thank Abba for qualifing me for such blessing, surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my live, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forver!

Amen amen!

Ways to bless your pastor

I received an email from Buddy Bell's Ministry of Helps International (MOHI) on a questionaire about how to bless our pastors.
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Dear Merry Heart Friends,

I need your help in putting together a list of ways you can bless your Pastor and family during Pastor's month in October as a church. This list will be displayed on the MOHI website in the near furture. Please send your suggestions to help@mohi.org.

Thank you for helping in this!

A Pastor's Friend,

Buddy Bell
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I thought this is something very ineteresting to talk about. Instead of gossip about church leader, why not think about how to bless them? Please share your comments or you can post your view to this email: help@mohi.org

Here's what I post:
1) To address him as pastor wherever you see him! That'll remind him of his position as a messenger of God
2) To treat him with respect.
3) find chance to express your appreciation to him, be it his look/sermon.
4) Pay attention to his sermon, don't sleep during sermon!
5) treat him well and free him from hassles in church, so he can concerntrating in receiving god's word and feed to congregation.
6) Do not speak evil against him, even if he is not doing right thing, cause the more you speak evil against him, devil will be more than happy to agree with you and make your evil report come to pass.
7) if you don't like your pastor, instead of complaint about him all the time, leave the church. Find another church where you can receive message form the pulpit.

I am very blessed to have very anointed pastors/leaders in my church, may the Lord continue to bless them, favour them and feed them in all ways. More and more revelation about out Lord Jesus Christ be reveal to them, that they may be shielded in all ways, that no poison darts can come against them.

Amen.

Compare OT and NT-2

Another interesting comparison of the Old T and New T:

In the book of Ezekiel 2-3
1) An mighty angel appeared before Ezekiel
2) A hand stretched out to him, a scroll of a book is in it
3) Ezekiel was asked to eat the scroll
4) the scroll is sweet like honey in his mouth
5) after Ezekiel ate of the scroll, the Lord asked him to judge the house of Israel

In the book of Revelation 10
1) An mighty Angel appeared before John
2) He had a little book open in His hand
3) John was asked to eat the little book
4) the book is sweet as honey in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach
5) after John ate of the little book, he was asked to prophesy again about many people, nations, tougues, and kings

I have yet to discover the interesting secret of the scroll, but notice the word 'again' Revelation 10:11, it means the prophesy happened before.

Pastor mentioned that 'little book' is refering to the New Testament, so is the scroll of book eaten by Ezekiel, refering to the Old?

Anyone has anything to share?

Praise the Lord for His wonderful revelation! (Compare OT and NT-1)

Last week's sermon is so powerful! and thank God for our new preacher! She started the service about the armor of God and teach about each items. Then she went to book of Isaiah and show the Old Testament context for God's armor.

Interestingly, few year back my senior pastor preached about; what happen during evil time, where people who believe God and stand firm in their faith, become victim of evil and are devoured. I read more on the book of Isaiah, I came across chapter 59 and see verse 17, that God Himself put on the righteousness as breatplate, and helmet of salvation, and go out for vengeance of His people.

(When God is angry, who can stand? Oh yeah~ )

Then i remember what pastor preached during church camp, that God's armor has 7 items (cause God will not stop at 6, He is always perfect - represented by number 7). I remember I compared the old and the new, like what pastor always taught (and man he taught well!) To see the armors in old.T and the new.T., and I realised there're obviously 7 pieces in book of Ephesians, but only 2 obvious pieces in book of Isaiah. Where'e the rest?

The question stay quietly in my heart for years, until last week.

"When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him!"

I was excited and reading through book of Isaiah again after I reached home. Man was I excited! and one by one the Spirit unveiled the rest of the armors among the verses! They were there all the while! and I finally see them!! Because the Spirit eyes are opened!

Here's the comparison:

Book of Ephesians 6:14-18
1) Belt of the truth
2) Breastplate of righteousness
3) Helmet of salvation
4) Shod your feet with the preperation of Gospel of peace
5) Shield of faith
6) Sword of the Spirit
7) Praying always in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication
Seven pieces of armor of God, God asked His people to put on in the day of evil (notice day-singular)

Book of Isaiah 59
1) The truth is fallen at the street (v.15)
2) God Himself put on the breastplate of righteousness
3) and helmet of salvation
4) He put on garments of vengeance
5) and was clad with zeal as cloak (v.17)
6) ..the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against the enemy (v.19)
7) ..says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth! (v.21)

Praise the Lord! Is God good or is God really good! The same pieces of armor God wore, and His own arm (that's Jesus!) brought salvation for Him - When we got saved and pray the sinners' prayer, it's when Jesus bring us to God! And as we are saved, God put us in His armor, Jesus.

Jesus is our armor! We get to put Him on because God had qualified us and put us in Him!

God Himself restore the truth, and because He has judged our enemies (the one who don't deserve to be mention: the snake), now garment of vengeance become shield of faith. He is faithful to protect us and we are faithful that He will! His cloak of zeal become the Gospel of peace, His Spirit rest in us and His words shall not depart from our mouth! as we always pray!

I believe that're still more treasures hiding and I expect more and more secret of the bible to be revealed to me for God is always not slow to teach His children!

Praise Jesus for His goodness and that He'll not stop revealing His goodness to His beloved!

For God so love...

A leader from my usher team once asked a interesting question. He asked us to think of a picture based on the 2 greatest commandments of God, according to what Jesus said in Matt 22:36 (He received that revelation after last year's KCM):

You shall love your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deu 6:5)
You shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Lev 19:18)

The leader told us we can ask God for hint. When I see the 2 verses, almost the same time, the picture Jesus on the cross come before my eyes, and immediately the verses appear before it.

Yes! that's so right! Jesus on the cross, is His obedience to His father, He love God with ALL HIS HEART, ALL HIS SOUL and ALL HIS STRENGTH! He did this for us! because He LOVE HIS NEIGHBOUR AS HIMSELF!

Jesus Himself said: On this 2 commandments HANG all the Law and prophets. (Matt 22:40)

All Laws are fulfilled in Him

All prophecy came to pass in Him

Oh Praise Jesus!

God opened my eyes to His love even from the 10 commanments; (Deutronomy 6:5) You shall love your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.

I asked the Lord; since You were actually giving them law to obey, then wasn't it easier to said: "You shall OBEY your God with..." rather then "You shall LOVE...". Then the Lord told me; "because I LOVE you(man) with all MY heart, all MY soul and All MY strength!"

Amen!

No condemnation!

If God is for you, who can be against you?

You!

Jesus asked the woman caught in adultry: woman, where are those who condemn you?

The woman said: No one Lord.

Yes, no one. Not a single one. Not even herself!

That's how Jesus's managed to say: Therefore I also do not condemn you, go and sin no more.

See how loving our Lord is? He get the answer He wants all Christian to speak: No one condemn me, Lord!

There's therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

If other people condemn you, Jesus can stand up for you. But if you condemn yourself, the words of guilt come out of your own mouth, How can Jesus says: I also do not condemn you?

I think He'll rather keep quiet, let you pour everything out, then pick yourself up slowly. I can feel His pain when we condemn ourself; remember He said in bible: The reproaches fell on you also fell on Me?

The reproaches do not neccessary come from other people, it can be from ourselves!

I was listening to pastor's sermon, on "God has cleansed you, pronounced yourself clean!"

Jesus cleansed me with HIS OWN BLOOD! How great is this cleansing! How holy! how perfect! Who am I to condemn what Jesus had sanctified.

I am cleansed, I am holy, I am righteous, by the Blood of Jesus, and Lord! because of what You have done, no one can condemn me, not even myself!

Amen.

Not the first blessing! (but definately the most memorable one!)

ticket
Originally uploaded by ft021.

Who would have understand the joy of receiving blessing from a Holy God, that passes human understanding, especially when you are totally out of control of the situation. When devine power take over, i just rest and totally forgot about the whole incident, the prayer, and the excitement while inserting the payment into the envelope.

Few months later, finally the day has come. My friend and I were in this foreign country, waiting for concert to start. After we collected the tickets (foreigners don't get the ticket like locals, they have to bring along confirmation letter for identification). I happended to check the floor plan of the seats, and to my awe, our seats are at the first row, right in front of the stage.

My friend lost her cool, we were screaming and walked towards our throne :-) While other locals around us seeing these 2 foreigner taking their prime seats.

Throughout the whole concert, I don't see the singers anymore, my head is full of Him, the big "H", who gave me this wonderful memory. I thank Him, and when I sang, I sang to Him. I rejoice because of this answered prayer. When one of the guitarist play 'Mary had a little Lamb' during the guitar jam of one of their song about the clone sheep, my mind were filled with the tune and suddenly realise that song is talking about Jesus! Isn't He, the Lamb of God, become son of Mary?! This just double confirmed His presence and ended my concert tour with a big exclaimation mark. When people ask me: how did you get those ticket? I simply answered: I prayed, and God gave me.

Because of Jesus, Abba God will continue to answer my prayers, for it's written: It's your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom! As His children, we continue to believe and enjoy His goodness, to testify that HE IS A LIVING GOD!

Amen

I have a blog!

This is not the first time i post on a blog, but it's the first time I create my own blog, oh yeah.. some place to let my thought run a bit wild. Praise Jesus, cause no matter how far I run, He is there and i'll never lost my way. Because He is the WAY!