By His Stripes

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. - 1 Pet 2 : 24

Sicknesses are scary for a lot of us. As for some diagnosed with so called "terminal disease", what could they hope for? Except for a miracle. But yet, miracles are available for everybody. As long as we believe.

Could we keep our faith when we are down with sicknesses, or are we just simply turning away from God?

The stripes that healed us, sounds impossible? But this is the best miracle that had happen to us, that had been promised to us. By Christ died on the cross, we are being enabled, having the ability to grab those miracles for the price of His blood.

As long as you kept believing and believing, nothing is impossible for God. Not even one disease that can't be healed. Isn't God the Creator of everything in this whole world? Therefore, there are answers for every questions that we can't solved. It is just that we haven't found it yet.

Don't be afraid, face life as it is and believed that God is there for you!

The Last Row

I've noticed that some church, don't encourage their members to come and fill out the front row. Or is it because some people are just too self-willed after being encouraged to come and fill out the front row.

Leaving it empty, doesn't look good at all. Besides, it looks like as if, they are keeping their distance from the presence of God.

It's like watching a concert, where everyone else would of course get as close as possible to their idol. Would there be anyone saying, "I love him/her, but well, I guess just seeing it from here is good enough."?

What makes the difference? L-O-V-E

Let us learn to love the presence of God. Isn't the purpose for going to church is seeking the presence of God, and not just fulfilling a religious duty?

Find The Right Person. Be The Right Person.

(Source: www.lryouth.org)

We are constantly told that we could find that right person, so we keep on choosing on our own. Or we were told that we could wait for that right person to come in our lives. So we just keep waiting and waiting, while doing nothing.

But truth is, it isn't the right thinking. We are just too blinded when it comes to love / like / admire. Aren't we constantly seeking what we desire. Think about it: What defines "right person"? What you like? I don't think so!

Now since it doesn't work out, it's best to start off with what God desires for us. And for that we have to trust God and build on our own character. Instead of being a sitting duck. Start to build your character as the foundation of your love.

What are those characters? We could find them in 1 Corinthians 13 : 4 - 7
1. Patient
2. Kind
3. NOT jealous / boastful / proud / rude
4. DOES NOT demand its own way
5. Keeps no record of being wronged
6. DOES NOT rejoice about injustice, BUT rejoices whenever the truth wins out
7. Never gives up
8. Never loses faith
9. Always hopeful
10. Endures through every circumstances

Build your character right and then find be the right person. Let God do the finding.

My Mouth & My Heart

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. - Psalm 19 : 14

A very meaningful verse from King David. A lot of times, we might be saying all the great things about God, but  in our heart? Are we keeping all the negative stuffs? Or the words that we speak, are they bringing negative impacts on others?

The tongue can bring death or life ... - Proverbs 18 : 21

Yes, you can either build others up or you bring them down with our words. Encouragement often plays a very important role in every successful person out there. Start sending out positive words to others and ourselves  encouragement and praise.

King David was said to be "A man after God's own heart" and now imagine the meditation of his heart. It seemingly impossible for him to sin against God, but it happened. Yet he repented, truly repented. Not as a lot of us, including me myself find it as a struggle, a battle need to be won everyday.

That's why King David said that The Lord is his Rock and Redeemer. We could also say that God is our Rock and Redeemer. The One who would be there for us to hold on to at every battle, every struggles in life. And the easiest way to do it, is to keep praying and reading the Words of God.

It's More Than Enough

The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (John 6 : 1 - 14) is a must told story in a almost every Sunday Schools. Of how a young boy gave up his lunch, knowing that no matter how small it was, it could make a difference. Of how the 5,000 ate and there were 12 basket full of leftovers. It's just amazing hearing this story over and over again.

As we grow older, when we are face with problems; we suddenly forgot that if Jesus can feed the 5,000 and had leftover, what can't He gives us then? Or are we like the 5,000 that wait for Jesus and do nothing but wait?

Remember, there must be an initial offering. Imagine the young boy said the himself: "I only have 5 loaves and 2 fishes, it can't do nothing. I'm not giving it to Jesus." OR "This is just enough for me, how could I share with them. I will starve!". Then the 5,000 would have starved to dead right there. How would the Bible turned out? God is cruel perhaps?

But hang on, that didn't happen! That young boy gave his lunch to Jesus, Jesus performed miracle, 5,000 were feed and there are leftovers. A happy ending!

When we give our best to God, no matter how small it is; we will receive more than enough. God will never shortchanged, He is a giver and when He gives, it is always more than enough.

Breaking The Walls

It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. - Hebrews 11 : 30

(Source: www.juztimage.com)

This story (Joshua 6) of course is of no stranger to many Christians. But still, a lot of us still think, why don't God just bring down the wall with just a wind blow? How hard can it be?

The key is on the verse above; It was by faith. Imagine you are getting whatever you asked for, now God become more like a vending machine. This kind of attitude isn't going to get us far when temptation comes. And God knows it all too well.

When they marched around the walls, it is as if they were being challenged by the walls. Their faith are being challenged: Is God really going to crumble the walls? It was a test of faith, patient and perseverance. And the walls finally crumble, and it was by faith.

A lot of times, we can't seem to reach our target. Let me assure you that God always wanted to help you achieve in life. It is just a matters of timing. God's timing can't never be wrong can He? Have patient, persevere through the end, and most importantly have faith. Because it was by faith that great things achieved.

Legacy: A Tribute to Steve Jobs

Today the world shocked at the news of Steve Jobs passed away. The man behind the success of Apple & Pixar, that's what everybody say and that's so true.

Here are few lessons from this great man, and how he created his legacy:

1. Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower

We are created to be creative. If you have any idea, why don't you pursue it!

2. Be a yard stick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellent is expected.

To make excellent your priority is the same as having success knocking at your front door. It just requires patient and perseverance.

3. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.

When you love what you do, you will do it with passion, and undoubtedly, you will be successful in what you do.

4. You know, we don't grow most of the food we eat. We wear clothes other people make. We speak a language that other people developed. We use a mathematics that other people evolved... I mean, we're constantly taking things. It's a wonderful, ecstatic feeling to create something that puts it back in the pool of human experience and knowledge.

Be someone with contribution, instead of complaining.

5. It's wonderful to have a beginner's mind.

Humility is a trait of every successful person. When you are humble, you learn more!

6. I'm the only person I know that lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year ...  It's very character building.

Successful person do fail, it's their ability to bounce back that makes them successful.

7. We're here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?

Remember, for dent to appear, there must be smaller and continuous impact. Don't expect to become successful overnight. It requires hard work and unyielding sacrifice.

8. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by the dogma - which is living with the result of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinion drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Why live a life that people want us to? Be what we want, go and catch our own dreams!

A tribute to Steve Jobs.

Who Do You Fear?

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. - Proverbs 29 : 25

(Source: www.gospelgadgets.org)

Fear of man is so dangerous, that it is called a trap. When we cares about how people look at us or what people value us, aren't we letting ourselves to be judged? We should live our lives to please God and not man.

But why? What kind of trap is it? Compromise! When we start compromising, what happens next is that we start to lose our own selves. We tend to follow what others want.

Fear leads to obedience. When you fear man more than you fear God, guess who you obey more. We have to set our priority right.

Fear of man often leads us into dishonesty and hypocrisy. Sometimes, it's just not easy being the one that stands with integrity, but that's what matters the most.

Fear of God will leads us into living a life with integrity; because when you fear God, you will obey His Words and hates what He dislikes.

Who do you fear? It's your choice!