Prince and Princess

Watching the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is indeed inspirational.

How many of us now crave to be the prince and princess as well? I don't think I can count them all.

But fret not, for we are all princes and princesses in God's kingdom.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to be the children of God, to those who believes in His name." ~ John 1 : 12
Isn't that a good news to everyone who believe in God?

Well, it doesn't just stop there. As a prince and princess, there are regulations they must follow, things they must do. What are those?
1. Royal Regulations
As Chinese Says: "Every house has its own rules." So does the royal family, as well as Christianity. We often says that Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship between us and our Father in Heaven, as in a family. If it is a relationship, don't we need to keep ourselves within the rules that our Father has set. Where do we find these rules? In the Bible. In fact, Jesus has summarized the rules for us.
Simple, yet can we follow it: "³⁷Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" ~ Matthew 22

2. Etiquette
As a part of the royal family, people eyes will be on them. The moment they make mistakes, people will just publish their mistakes, double sized. That's why they are taught about etiquette since they were young; some since they are part of the family. How to behave, what is right and what is wrong.
Often we as Christian are being taught to do what is right and to keep our distance from what is wrong. But yet, a lot of time we kept on doing the wrong things! As a result, we embarrassed God, other Christians and Christianity.

3. Love the People
A prince and princess must know how to win the people over for their king. So that the people will always support the king. The easiest and the most efficient way is through L-O-V-E, truthfully and sincerely.
Christians, start winning people over for God through love. But remember, always do it with a sincere heart.

~ Always Longed To Be The Prince and Princess of God's Kingdom ~

Life's About Learning ...

Learn how to:
 

Be Grateful ~ Even if you don't have enough 

Be Sincere ~ Even if you are unwilling

Be Obedient ~ Even if it is hard 

Be Understanding ~ Even if there is incompatibility

Be Patient ~ Even if you are burdened

Be Loyal ~ Even if you are tempted

Gives ~ Even if it may not mean anything

Loves ~ Even if you are hurt

Be Calm ~ Even if you are nervous

Believes ~ Even though it is difficult

~ That's Right. Keep on Learning & Learning ~

Words

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." ~ Proverbs 18 : 21

It is clearly stated that our tongue holds the power to life, as well as death. What kind of life does it hold? What kind of death?

People are easily encouraged by the words we speak, but the words we speak might also be the downfall of others. That's why whenever we are about to speak, we need to think twice, even as long as we needed. We need to learn to speak more of encouragement words, rather than words that diminish others.

If you keep saying negative statement, you will only end up negative. It happens to us, it will also happen to others. Because that's how strong our tongue is. It affects the mind.

Few things we must learn to say:
1. Encouragement
When someone around us is feeling down / troubled, what they don't need is others to tell them how bad their situation is. Start by listening to them, then encouraged them. Remember though, listen more than you speak.
2. Praise
When someone else do good, we gives praise. A lot of people love to gives "praise" with a "but". Take away the "but", just praise wholeheartedly.
3. Thanks
Always be thankful for every help you can get. Be it small or big.

Master these three, so that through what we spoke, people lives can be rebuild.

~ Don't speak word that diminish others, neither keep it in your heart. Just delete it! ~

A Sailing Ship

Going through life is like traveling on the vast ocean, with many directions to take. Sometimes it is so calm, but some time storm will come.

Ain't that the same with life, when sometimes our life is so smooth, with no problem at all.

But, there will always come a time with all the difficulties to face, all the trouble around us.

But why must we be like a sailing ship, and not any other type of ship? Let us look at it one by one.

What makes a sailing ship?

The most common things can be found in a sailing ship are these:
1. Hull
This is the part where the ship meets the ocean. This part is the most important part of any ship. There is so many consideration in building the hull. The builder will need to consider the balance of cost, the load, the speed.
This is the basic on which we build our life, how we go through life. We need to consider the load / burden we are carrying through life, and how fast we are going in life. In other words, our character and attitude.

2. Rigging
Rigging is the essential part of the ship that determine where the ship move. It includes cordage to manipulate spars and sails position and shape, sails to catch the wind, and spars on which sails attached to. It is such a complicated feature that must be moved by the captain and the sailors of the ship. No one is allowed to even looked away for a second, especially during a storm.
There are 3 type of people in a sailing ship:
a. Captain (Yourself)
b. Sailors (People who helped us)
c. Passengers (People that know us)
In life, we are the captain, we determine where our life must go. And the sailors are the people around us who helped us to go the direction we wanted. These are the people that shape and mold us. Going through life isn't easy, it required hard work and determination. That's what you need to go through difficulties in life. But some people are just passengers. They come and go. We must remember that!

3. Mast
A mast is the arrangement of spars that held up the sails. A strong mast is required to hold the sails when a strong wind blow.
A mast is like our faith in God, and God is like the wind. Will we be able to hang on to our faith, when God isn't moving, when God moves in His own way, or when God Moves mightily. A sail ship can't fight the wind, because it will only find itself in the same spot, or it will have a hard time trying to get to the destination. Don't that happen us quite often? Trying to fight against God's will, even when it's so obvious. If you want to be success, follow God's will!
Easier said than done? A captain will always know where the wind is blowing because he has experienced it before. Same for us, we need to experience God more.

A sailing ship has a certain character. It went on a voyage bringing just enough supplies to get the other town / destination. Due to the weight that they need to maintain. Of course, the more load it has, the slower it moves. Since it is moved by wind.
In life, we bring far too much burden, so much that it slowed us down. We need to learn to choose our load. Prioritize our needs!

Lastly, if the ship wants to move fast, it will need a strong wind. But expect storm! If it is not strong enough, it will only end up ship-wrecked.
So, if we want to move fast in life, we'll need God's strong push. But are we ready to face the trial in front? That's why we need to have a strong foundation (good character and right attitude), have the right person in our life, and be wise in choosing our path.

~ Now, sail through the ocean of life ~

Facing Goliath!

Lessons to learn from 1 Samuel 17
 As usual, every morning I'll read my Bible according to my Bible reading plan. As I read, there is this chapter that I red, truly challenged my mind. It's the story about David, in his youth defeated the giant Goliath that no one in Israel even dare to face. It's a story that almost everyone of us have heard, but how many of us have really learned the meaning behind this story. How many of us really believe we could slay the giant? How can a young man like David, who never had any experience in war dare to face the giant? The answer is simple. Follow me!

V 1-3 Israel and Philistine are gathering, ready to battle each other out.

V 4-7 Goliath showed himself to Israel, with his armor and weapon, to show how big & tough he is.

V 8-11 Goliath comes out and taunt Israel, to make them scared.

V 16 For forty days, Goliath has been coming out to taunt Israel, yet there's none that dare to step out and fight.

V 24 And whenever he comes out, everyone will fled in great fear and despair.

V 25 Saul even willing to give out such reward to anyone who can kills Goliath, yet still none of them dare.

V 26 So one day, David saw how Goliath taunt Israel, he got angry and asked, 
“What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

V 28 David's own brother discouraged his heart for God.

V 32-34 But David still believes in his heart, even though Saul try to talk him out of it.

³² David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” ³³ Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” ³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”

V 38-40 Saul tried to give David his armor, his sword. But it was all to heavy for him and he took them off. He ends up taking his own staff, a slingshot and 5 smooth stones "from the stream".

V 41-44 Goliath walks closer to David and despised him, looking at his weapon.

V 45-47 But David kept his faith, and stand still. It is not important what weapon that he brings to the battle "... I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel ... , for the battle is the Lord's ..."
V 48 David ran towards the giant! Even I can't believe it.
"As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him."

V 49-51 When David successfully bring down Goliath, he didn't just wait. He ran towards Goliath, used Goliath own sword to kill him.

What are the lessons? What is the secret?
1. Problems / Obstacles will always be there waiting for us. Unless we  make a move and go through it, we are stuck! Problem will always seems tough, but we must always stand firm and be tougher. Don't we all believe that God is bigger than anything in the world.
2. When nobody is willing, doesn't mean we should also be unwilling. Every obstacles are chances for us to grow, for promotion.
3. When we are doing thing for God's cause, God will see us through. That's Yes and Amen! And that's why David is called a man after God's own heart. This story show us how true that is. He can't stand Goliath humiliation on Israel, as it would be the same as  humiliating God.
4. We need to choose what other tells us wisely. Every once in a while, we will face discouragement from people around us. And it doesn't matter how close they are, how senior they are. That's why we need to always keep a clear and positive mind.
5. Remind ourselves of the past, when God saves us. Always remember how God saves us, not how we become successful because of our own power. Don't let it become a stumbling blocks for us, don't let it make us prideful. Remember this: Our past experiences are training for the next obstacles!
6. Prepare well, prepare the best. Notice that David choose five smooth stones from the stream. Why must he go all the way down to the stream to collect the 5 smooth stones, while at that area, stones are said to be everywhere. David choose the smooth stones because it flies faster. Those are the best to use with a sling. But why 5, when with God even 1 is enough? Because we will never know God's plan. That's why we need to prepare only the best!
7. Give our best shot. See how David run towards Goliath. When we have prepared well, all we need to do is go forward and face the obstacle.
8. Don't leave room for complacency. When David bring down Goliath, he didn't just stand there. He run forward, take Goliath sword and kill him. Don't be too smug because we have conquered half of the problems. Keep on pushing forward!
9. Trusts in God fully. None of this would happen if David didn't trusts in God. If we trusts God, do it with all our heart, our soul and our mind. Even though sometimes God's way can be uncomprehending, but remember that it always bring the best result.

~ Problems Defy, People Discourage, but God Saves ~

What Is Life?

They say it's from B to D.

From Birth to Death,

But what's between B and D?

It's a "C" So what is a "C"?

It is a Choice.

Our Life is a matter of choices,

Live well and it will never GO WRONG.

Especially if we maintain the other "C" in its center

Christ

Quoted from: Anonymous

3 Things ...

There are 3 important things in our life ...

Those that cannot be turned back

1. Time

2. Words

3. Chances

          Those that can destroy somebody lives

          1. Anger

        2. Pride

        3. Revenge

Those that must not be lost

1. Hope

2. Sincerity

3. Honesty

          Those that are most precious

          1. Affection

        2. Love

        3. Kindness

Those that we will never be sure of

1. Wealth

2. Success

3. Dream

          Those that shapes ones characters

          1. Commitment

        2. Sincerity

        3. Hard Work

Those that makes us success

1. Dreams

2. Will power

3. Focus

          Those that we will never know

          1. Fortune

        2. Age / Death

        3. Mate / Spouse

Keeping A Positive Mindset

I've gotten this short story from my friend, and it goes like this:

So one day, a guy was walking down the street looking sad and desperate. His family is currently facing a financial distress.

As he walks into a small alley, he steps on something. He picks it up, grumbling, he says, "Argh, just a dented old coin." Even though that's what he says, he still bring that coin to the bank, so that he could exchange it for a new one. But the teller told him, "You'd better get it to a collector."

So he took it the collector and it was priced $30. He was happy and took the $30.

Walking down  the street, he saw some tool shop having a clearance sales on wood pieces. So he buy it with everything he has, so that he could make some shelf for his wife.

On his way back, a furniture shop owner saw those pieces of wood, and he offered a cupboard worth $100 to exchange for it. He agreed to it, and borrow a cart to bring it home.

Half-way down the road, a lady just moved in around there. As she saw that cupboard, she offered $200 for it. He doubted it for few seconds, then she offered $250 and he accepts it, returned the cart.

He arrived in front of his house, but to make sure, he took out the money and counted them. At this moment, a robber jumps out from the bushes, pushed him down and took the money away.

His wife saw it, ran outside and asked him a series of question, "Are you alright? What happened? What did the robber took?" He gets up and say, "Oh, it's nothing. Just a dented old coin I found this morning."

How many of us can be like that guy in the story? I figured out, normally people reaction would be, "Why? Why? Why?" But really, why must we be sad for something that we didn't owned originally? Instead, be thankful for what we have now. That's our family, our loved one, our friends.

Remember that every blessings come from God. And every problems are chances for you to keep your hope and faith in God, to challenge and shape your mindset.

Keeping a positive mindset is very important. As our mind is a very powerful weapon, but it's also the most vulnerable part. The devil attacks us by pouring out all the negative thoughts into our mind.

How to keep it out? It's easy:

1. Read the Bible, this is where God keeps his answer to our problems. Because God always has a positive answer

2. Associate with the right people. People with a positive attitude and thinking

3. Read more motivational book

4. Stop complaining. "If you can't say anything positive, don't say anything." (Monica Bradley)

~ Your Thinking Directs Your Life. Set You Thinking Right ~