Over Argument & Hostility

Isaac's servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water. But then the shepherds from Gerar came and up and claimed the spring. "This is our water," they said, and they argued over it with Isaac's herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means "argument"). Isaac's men the dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means "hostility"). - Gen 26 : 19 -21

The story happened as Isaac grew more and more powerful that the Philistines have to send to him away, despite their promises with his father, Abraham. So Isaac takes on a journey, settled in Gerar Valley, thus he asked his servant to dug a well. Twice he was confronted; people living there begin to argue with him over what he had found.

Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means "open space"), for he said, "At last the LORD has created enough space for us to prosper in this land." - Gen 26 : 22

Sometimes, maybe most of the times in our lives, aren't we confronted with argument and hostility? What can we learn from Isaac? Walk away, keep on trying, and keep on believing God for a greater blessing.

As a result, he found true blessings. Next time, someone try to argue with you over something, don't you think it is better to just walk away?

Christmas

"All right then, the Lord Himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us'). - Isaiah 7 : 14

(Source: www.decor-medley.com)

Christmas is around the corner, and everybody is excited. It has become a global event, where people celebrate LOVE.

Christian knew the meaning of Christmas but somehow we are being engrossed with this world's practices. Nothing's wrong with this world's practices of Christmas, as long as we still remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Isaiah told us that Christ will be born, and be called Immanuel, which means God is with us. Yes, on this Christmas especially, we are being told to strengthen our faith.

Take everything that have left us hopeless, despair in this year; let us use this Christmas to remember that God is always with us. Forget all those unpleasant things and start to connect to God, to His blessing. Instead of grumbling about all our misfortunes.

Let us always keep in mind the purpose of Christmas, the birth of Christ and His works. Let us be able to start the new year with Christ in mind, with His purpose in mind, with His blessings in our life and others as well.

The Honorable

It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. - 1 Pet 2 : 15 - 16

(Source: www.tsmu.edu)

We are always given freedom to chase after what we want in live, free to do whatever we wanted to do. But remember what the author said, don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

There are just some people that think, "It's okay, I will do whatever I want, be it sins or not. When the time come, I'll just repent." Imagine one day, you are suddenly gone, never repented. Where would you ended up? Ironic isn't it, while God has given us a freedom to do what we want, there a lot of things better left untouched.

Thus, it is better to live a honorable life, with integrity. Others might tell you, "If you live like that, you can't reach success." Especially in the business world, where everyone only care for their own success. But, God wants us to live a honorable life to silence those ignorant people. Those are the people who don't know what our God is capable of.

When we live a honorable life, God's blessing upon us will be so unimaginable, not even one person alive can understand. And that's when the world goes silence.

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.

Footprints

Miracle in Chinese is called 神蹟 which literally means "Trace of God" / "Footprint of God". 神 = God, 蹟 = Trace.

Now that I think about it, there are bound to be miracles in our lives if we believe. And those miracles are not only signs that we are being blessed. They are also meant for us to trace back everything to God.

(Source: www.adrianakems8.edublogs.org)

Look at a sandy beach. When there are visitors, there are bound to be footprints almost everywhere. Even if there is just this one person walked around there.

Now, when God walked in your life, God's footprints would be everywhere. And believe me, when God does that, there must be miracles happening in your life.

At the very end, it is up to us; whether we are tracing it back and be thankful or we just look at it and turned around the next moment forgetting it was there.


This is a very common mistake everyone would have made. When we are in need of God, we pray and pray. Even went on fasting. The moment God blesses us, we turned away and continue with our lives as if nothing happened, and stop praying. That's definitely NOT how things supposed to work.

 A reminder, never take God as a 'wishing well'. "Hey, let me just toss a coin in and make a wish, it will comes true." Well, there is no such thing. Whenever you're blessed or you experienced miracle in your life, be thankful. Learn to be grateful, for it truly comes from the Mighty One.

~ Always trace back to the Giver, not the gifts ~

In Pain?

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested. - 1 Chronicles 4 : 10

How would you feel if your name means "PAIN"? That must be tough on Jabez ever since he was born. Branded as "the one who brings pain", nobody would ever wanted that. Despised, looked down, and I think he might get bullied by his classmates.

But Jabez was never been brought down by the situation. In verse 9 it says that Jabez was more honorable than any of his brother.

How did he do that? There are two verses that told us about the whole life of Jabez. Yet in the entire verse 10, it only tells us about his prayer.

He is a prayer warrior indeed. Look at his prayer, he asked for 4 things:
1. Bless me
He can't expect blessing from other people. Remember, they hated him. God's blessing will always be his comfort.
2. Enlarge my territory
This doesn't necessarily mean his land, but his heart & his attitude as well.
3. Be with me
 He is asking for God's protection, strength, and sufficiency.
4. Keep me from evil
 He's in a situation where he could have hated everyone, but he didn't. He asked God to help him go through every temptations.

All those prayer only with one purpose, so that he will not cause pain. And God just granted what he asked for.

So, my question is: "Have you prayed like Jabez today? A Prayer that comes from the bottom of your heart."

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) ~

To start off...

Greeting all the way from my home sweet home.
What a great day it has been, packed but fun. Can't ask for more than that.
Today I got my brand new lappy. Even though I saved a lot, but I never have lacked in anything. For God indeed is my provider.
CNY just few weeks ago, but I can't deny how blessed I was. The good thing is the food, it's all about eating eating and eating... The better part is the "angpao"... Spending time with family is still the best part of all. =)

Not forgetting the devotion for today: "Humanizing Human" ~ Mt 22 : 39
When I red it I realize that sometimes, we do look at others only based on what we saw, what others said. But, we don't really know what they are thinking aren't we? Who would have thought that the Samaritan would be the one to help the robbed Jew. But that's how we should be! Helping those around us without having to first look at our differences. Only then we are worthy to be called a human.


Love God, Love People, Love Life