Grass

"God wants us to live like the grass. Even if it's stepped on, crushed, burned & cut; it always persists & grows back even greener & stronger!"  - Franky Aw

Saw this quote post by my brother. It gets around my mind, then I thought I should do a blog on this.

It's kinda funny how in my previous post, I said that we must be like Palm Tree and Cedar of Lebanon. And now, GRASS!

But grass, do have its own uniqueness. It lies in its ability to keep on growing, persistence I must say. As well as its ability to adapts to different places. Wherever we saw grass, we can be sure that there will be sources of water, be it in desert, forest, mountain or even in the river / sea.

Grasses do have a lot of use, but sometimes it can be annoying because of the speed it grows. people tend to cut & burned it. And because it grows under our feet, it get trampled often. Nonetheless, it still grows back.

Let us learn to be like grass; even when we are hurt, let down, ignored, or even trampled

~ Let us get back on our feet, stronger than before ~

Two Wolves

Recently, I heard this short story again. Heard it before, but this time it gets me to think more.

An old Cherokee chief is teaching his grandson about life:

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old chief simply replied, "The one you feed."

The story uses illustration of wolves, and it says the one that we feed will prevail. So, stop feeding our heart with negative thinking. Put more positive attitudes in.

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." - Proverbs 4 : 23

Surely, we all want our lives to be successful. Let me assure you this:

~ Every successful person always keep a positive mind! ~

In Need of Favor

Yes! A lot of us are constantly looking for approval, for favor. Be it our bosses, colleagues, friends and families or even God Himself. But how do we do it anyway?

Take a look at Proverbs 3 : 3 - 4
"Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation."

Very simple isn't it? We just need to have loyalty and kindness, or as other translation would say love and faithfulness.
There is an old saying that goes like this: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Let us learn to treat others with love and kindness.
1. If someone asks for our help, do it with a willing heart
2. Be kind to give a hand when someone need it
3. Show love in our action

Be loyal and faithful:
1. In every task given to us
2. In everything entrusted to us
3. In our relationship (any kind)

As simple as that, and *puff* people will begin to show you favor, which automatically generate a good reputation.

As to God, be faithful in our prayer, giving, ministry and our own life. Love Him with all our heart, soul and strength (As Quoted from Deuteronomy 6 : 5).

~ Show love & kindness, be loyal & faithful ~

Palm Tree & Cedar of Lebanon

"But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”" - Psalm 92 : 12 - 15

After I read these verse, I realize there must be some features from palm trees and cedars of Lebanon that we can learn.

 Let's look at PALM TREE:
1. Flourish at desert
A palm tree can survive in a desert, because its root goes deep into the ground searching for water.
As a Christian, we should also be rooted deep in the Word of God, also in our relationship with God. So that when we are in a "desert-like" / harsh environment, we will still be able to survive. But not just surviving, we must flourish. It means we shine in the darkness.
2. Withstood the storm
In a desert, sandstorms will be inevitable. A palm tree will be bend down, but every time the storm is over, it gets back up again.
A Christian should be strong to withstood any problems. And stand back up every time. Be encouraged!
3. Fruits' sweeter over age
As a palm tree gets older, the fruits its produced gets sweeter and sweeter.
As our walk with God gets longer, we should produce a sweeter fruit. So that through us, people will be rejoiced and recharged.

Let's look at CEDAR OF LEBANON:
1. Tall and Magnificent
Cedar of Lebanon can grows up to 40 Meters, and it grows wider as well.
A Christians should grow, upwards in our spiritual life and sidewards in our mentality. So that we would not fall down when a problem strikes.
2. Long living
A cedar of Lebanon could live up to a 1,000 years.
Of course I'm going to tell you to live up to 1,000 years. But let our legacy be remembered for a thousand years. Let us contribute to the society, and shows that we really care.
3. Useful
A cedar of Lebanon can used differently, in a building, in a furniture.
A Christian should also be multipurposed. Let us do our work with great attitude, and give our best shot everyday of our life.

Both these trees are actually evergreen. Which means their leaves will always be green. We must not lose the fire burning in us, because the Passion that keeps us going never died.

Quiet Life

Yesterday, when I was doing my daily devotion, I saw this verse that attracts me.

"Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others." - 1 Thessalonians 4 : 11 - 12

Let me share a story that also happen on that day. As I walk, I accidentally hit a lady. I apologize, but she scolded me, asking me to look where I am going. In fact I know that she's also looking somewhere else. But, I still apologize twice. Because I remembered this verse, telling me to live a quiet live.

This is not about who's right or wrong. It's about how we look at things in live. Would you rather blow up a small matter? Or just let it go?

Besides that, the verse continues telling us to mind our own business. Why didn't we have time for our own problems, but have way too much for other people problems? Think about it, and start solving your own problems. Gossip can also be a downfall! Look at how many times it is mentioned in Proverbs. Let us learn to hold back words that hurt others.
"A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret" - Proverbs 11 - 13

Work with your own hands. Surely I don't need to explain much about it. Just remember this verse:
"Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich." - Proverbs 10 : 4

~ Changes Start Today ~

True Giving

1 Chronicles 22 - David Prepares to Build the Temple
A lot of us might have come across this story. But how many of us have been changed by King David's act of giving? Are we giving like him?

If we are to build a Temple like this, how much do we need to give? Let's see how much King David has given.

"Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the LORD one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them" - 1 Chr 22  : 14

If we calculate it, the gold and silver alone would be $56 billion in today world. King David alone gave $10.8 billion worth of gold and silver from his own treasury. WOW

But, do remember that it's not the amount that you give that counts. It's the cost that you bear from giving that amount. King David also said this: "... for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing. ..." - 2 Sam 24 : 24

Now that is what we need to be. That's what I meant by giving like King David. Remember the story of a widow with 2 mites (Mk 12:41-44; Lk 21:1-4). By giving those 2 mites, she might not even be able to eat later, for it is her last. But why? Because she believes that God will provide.

King David isn't the one going to build the Temple of God, but why did he still gives so much? Because of his love for God. He knows that he's also helping his son Solomon in building the Temple of God, by preparing the material for him.

Let us learn to give without thinking "God, bless me bless me bless me."
But give with a thankful heart, thinking that it will bless others.

~ It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20 : 35) ~

Increase Faith ~ by Ps. Stephen E Goh

I came across this short article by Ps. Stephen E Goh in Facebook. Well, I though such a good article should be shared. So, here goes.

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" - Luke 17:5

The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. And, as followers of Christ, this is something we should also be seeking. So let me share a little faith-building acrostic with you.

Just imagine yourself in a giant arena running the great race of life. You're surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses who are cheering for your success! And the way you increase your faith is to T-R-U-S-T!

T — Take away anything in your life that might slow you down or cause you to stumble. You mustn't let distractions get you off track or let sins trip you up. You're running to win!

R—Read and meditate upon Scripture. Scripture is a faith-building book, and the more of God's Word you have in your mind, the more strength you'll have in your heart and soul.

U—Use the faith you have. Faith is like a muscle; it needs to be exercised every day. You can't just show up at church now and then and expect to have great faith. Exercise your faith daily.

S—Strengthen your faith with prayer and fellowship. We weren't created to go it alone, but to have fellowship with other believers.

T—Turn your eyes upon Jesus. If you want to increase your faith, give Jesus your full attention. Jesus knows what it takes to run to win, and he is the author and the finisher of our faith!

THE WAY TO INCREASE YOUR FAITH IS TO T-R-U-S-T!

Moving On

"Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”
Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! ..." ~ 2 Samuel 12 : 1 - 7

This passage tells the story about how David killed Uriah, after he slept with Uriah's wife Bathsheba (2 Sam 11). A lot of time, don't we also behave like David. We've done wrong but we didn't even realize it. What we need to do?
1. Realize & Repent
As soon as David understand what Nathan have told him, he immediately repent before the Lord. The Lord forgave him, but he still need to pay for his sin. So God took away his son.
Every time we sin, God will always be there waiting for us to repent. Even though so, don't keep on sinning because you would be further away from God. And it will take longer for you to come back to God. Remember, that we could repent and come back to God because Jesus has paid the price on that cross. So don't keep on falling into sin, the mercy of God isn't cheap, in fact none of us could ever pay a price like that.
2. Believe & Move On
David's son was struck with illness the moment he was born. David did fast for his son, until his son breathe the last breath. He didn't just sit there and cry all day long. He immediately got up and eat. Then he went and conquer a city of Ammonites, because he still believes God will give him victory.
When we sin there will definitely a downfall in our life, because God would have struck us so that we could realize our mistake. If you are not repented yet, God's divine protection would be taken away from us. This gives the devil a chance to attack us, putting all the blame on God. Let's not fall into the trickery of the devil. Keep on believing God! Learn to realize what we have done wrong, repent and believe God. Only then we can move on.

~ Realize, Repent, Believe & Move On ~