Thank you God for renewing our lease on this little blue planet.

Thank you God for renewing our lease on this little blue planet. 

We understand that under the house rules, 
we need to give more love,
fighting is not allowed, 
preying on other people is forbidden,
we need to care for the weak, the elderly, the young, the vulnerable...
we know there were many infringements this year
and we thank you for your grace to let us stay on this Earth for another year.

We will strive to improve and be a worthy tenant of your gift.
Food for thought for the New Year
Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe New Year!

But hope does not disappoint

But hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has come in, overflowing our hearts by The Spirit of Holiness Who has been given to us.-Romans 5:5

In this Christmas time, do not forget the love of God that brought his son Jesus Christ to Earth to give us hope and remind us of God's promise of forgiveness to us. Be glad of the most costly present this Christmas which was not wrapped in fancy wrapping paper but in the most simple swaddling cloth.

This Christmas slow down and take a moment to trust and wait

Luke 2:25-26
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ."

So we survived the so called "End of the World" yet again. In this modern life we seems to be always eager and rushing for things. Even our eventual demise we seem to be eager to embrace quickly and every year we keep announcing our impending doom.

This Christmas we should take time to reflect on what has gone and what is to come.
To clear our minds of thoughts of doom and gloom
To build our trust in God
And to remember the true meaning of Christmas
That God sent his Son Jesus Christ down to Earth
To give us Hope
And show us his Grace
To give us a sign
That God is in control
And we are in his care
Nothing we do will suffice to redeem ourselves
Everything we have is from God

For those in Connecticut and elsewhere who are grieving

This is what the LORD, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says: I am the LORD your God. I teach you what is best for you. I lead you where you should go. -Isaiah 48-7

His Perfect Peace

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things- – but ONE thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the GOOD portion- -which will NOT be taken away from her.” John 10:41-42 “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace, In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, Not as the world gives do I give to you, Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 The Lord knows the heart – He knows the troubled and anxious breast, The Lord knows that His wonderful peace is freely available to calm the anxious one, And so He reaches out with words that only He can utter. Let not your heart be troubled, beloved child, neither be afraid, Here is my peace for you, my precious children, I give My peace to you. John 14:27 You are more precious to Him than the sparkling universe and the riches of the world, He loves you more dearly than human understanding can fathom, And He is the God of comfort when the human heart is faint from exhaustion. He loves to place little lighted candles in our dark chambers of pain and sorrow, He delights to gently kiss away the tears of sadness and replace them with joy. He is able to comfort because He is Incarnate Comfort – the Great Comforter, He gives His own peace to those He delights in, He offers the same peace that kept Him quiet and calm during His own earthly walk. Peace I leave with you, MY peace I give unto you: Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. John 14:27 Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:1

Connecticut School Killings - a sign of the times

Last Friday news broke across the world of the latest in the wave of violence happening in the world and put Newton, Connecticut on the lips of many people who would have never heard of this small town. The killings of so many small children shocked many people and this tragedy during this Christmas season will have many  people shaken in their faith. Maybe that's what was intended by what ever evil forces they were at play with the timing of this tragic event.

Not so well published was the death of 10 Afghan girls killed by a landmine in Afghanistan over the same weekend.
http://www.voanews.com/content/explosion-kills-ten-afghan-girls/1566267.html

Young lives just as valued by their parents and just as tragic that they were killed by another human being while doing their normal daily activities. Both just as tragic and deserving equal attention for your prayers and thoughts.

I can not for the life of me give any meaning or reason to these deaths as they are far beyond my understanding. Suffice to say that we made this world that we live in and we will need to face the consequences of the decisions that we made. For now, all I can offer is a prayer for comfort for the families of those who have been lost and a prayer that we will actually have the courage to make the hard choices so that this does not happen again.We can only pray for this.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 19:14 

Behold, God is my salvation

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation - -Isaiah 12:2

In our darkest moments just remember who you should trust to keep you and be strengthen by it. Let there be no doubt that God will always be at your side.

I am the light of the world.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”-John 8:12

Maybe in the our darkest hour we will discover our true faith for the light shines brightest in ultimate darkness.

Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God

Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.-Psalm 143:10
  

Let not your heart be troubled

Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.-John 14:27

Peace is not the absence of trouble
But the presence of Christ
- Sheila Walsh

what more can I say...

God marked YOU out before the ages began...

God marked YOU out before the ages began, to be made just like Jesus:-
“to be conformed into the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” Rom.8:29

That is an amazing thought.
Imagine God chooses YOU for such a gift
To be a reflection of him
To be in his family
I feel humbled at the thought of such a gift
And for such an Almighty God to notice me

Create in me a clean heart, O God

Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.-Psalm 51-10

I know that my heart is not pure 

So that's why I need God's help 

To clean my heart

And keep my Spirit refresh

Human spirit cannot endure alone

Without any help 

I could not do this alone

Trust in the Lord

I really need to learn how to trust in the Lord more. Sometimes when things get dark, you will be able to see the light as it cuts through the darkness.

This few weeks has been particularly tough as my domestic helper had to return home as her child was in an accident. Shortly after I came to know that her child has passed on so she was not able to return as soon as I hoped.

This week my work load was also increased as my team mate was on leave so I had to cover more hours. Into this mix was a major deployment in our project which put more strain on me. 

With God's grace all things has worked well in spite of all this as the timing for the deployment was adjusted to give me more time to complete what I needed to do and even mum has been able to take care of several areas and help out.

Miracles don't necessary come as big  amazing things. Sometimes they slip in as small but crucial blessings.

You drew near in the day that I called on you

You drew near in the day that I called on you: you said, Fear not. - Lamentations 3-57 

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Hurricanes, Social Unrest
All the things that are going on around us
Yet one only has to reach out
And God can put your fears to rest...

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today" (Hebrews 3:13).

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today" (Hebrews 3:13).

These days the word encouragement seems scarce where everyone wants to get ahead of each other. Where everyone puts each other down to ensure they get to the top.
One word can either encourage or put some one down.
Thats all it takes.
Make the decision to always choose to encourage in all things.
For surely thats what you would want God to do for you.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.-1 John 4:16

And now abide these three – faith – hope – love 1Cor.13:13

I remember you always for these three things:-
your work of faith,
your labour of love,
your patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the sight of God and our Father – amen 1Thess.1:3

God loved you so much, that He sent His Son into the world,
To be the OBJECT of your faith – for you to believe on Him. 

This was not God’s response to the fall – although it embraces that element,
God was not startled or taken by surprise by the happenings in Eden,
God was not forced to take a ‘quick-fix’ avoidance strategy because of man’s sin,
This was planned – in eternity past;
He chose US in Christ – before the foundation of the world. Eph 1:4

This was God’s purpose, before time began :-
The Lamb of God was slain:- from the foundation of the world. Rev.13:8

God had YOU in His heart and thoughts before the earth and time were created,
You specifically – YOU have been the object of His love from eternity past,
– and you are accepted – spotless and without blemish – IN the Son.
– and you will continue as His blessed beloved through time into eternity future.

  

As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man

As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.-Proverbs 27:19

Be the best reflection of God the Father who created you

  

You are brought with a price

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

-Matthew 27:54

I needed to go out so the postman came early
I needed to go out so God watched over my mum
I needed to get some work done so God kept the queue to  a minimum
I needed to carry some heavy boxes to the car so God kept the rain away
I needed to travel home so God kept the traffic down
I needed to get home so God held the storm until I got home
Its not only the grand things God takes care of...
For a grand price he gave it all
So you would not need to worry of anything large or small

For who makes you different from anyone else?

"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).

All that you are has been given to you by God. Each of us has made different and individual. Each one of us has individual gifts and skills. We need to be grateful for what we are given and we need to recognize the skills we have and do the best with what we have to give due recognition to God.

A man reaps what he sows

Galatians 6:7-9 "A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Everyday we see or hear about people who out of the goodness of their heart try to help someone but instead get conned or tricked into doing something evil or have their possessions stolen. This may be a deterrent to some of us from trying to help someone. We should always view it as our intention to help. If it comes to it that the other person has bad intentions then it would be something that that person will reap later on for themselves. It should not deter us from doing what we feel is right and what we should be doing.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark

James 3:5-6
"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body."

The tongue is one of man's most powerful tool. It can bring people up and it will tear someone down just as effectively. How many times we have said something in the heat of the moment or in a moment of indiscretion that has caused some one pain or grief which we wish we could have taken back.

Our tongue is a double edged sword. We can choose to use it to light a fire that can burn other people's hopes and dreams, and bring them down or give people encouragement and help to grow their hopes and dreams.

Beware of starting fires...especially in the heat of the moment. That one spark may cause fire storm that causes irreparable damage which you may come to regret. Choose to grow instead of destroy

For we walk by faith, not by sight

For we walk by faith, not by sight -2 Corinthians 5:7

I had been planning to send my maid back home for a holiday over the Christmas holidays as per our agreement that she gets a trip back at the end of her 2 year contract. Suddenly this morning we get a call that her son had got into a car accident so that plan went out the window as we had to find a flight out as soon as possible so that she can be with her family.

Sometimes we make plans and schedules which suddenly need to be changed.
We have to have faith that God has a greater plan for us and although there may be great inconvenience and hardship due to the change.

  

He will sustain you to the end

He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. -1 Corinthians 1:8

Keep close to God and he will sustain you on your journey as there are many temptations on the way.

He hath filled the hungry with good things

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.- Luke 1:53 

Just like if you were hungry and sought food to nourish your body, if you are spiritually hungry and seek God, you will always be fulfilled in spirit.

If you feel you are rich and have all that you need then you will not find any fulfillment and he will turn you away.

Be an empty cup to be filled,
Be a empty soul to be nourished
Then God will provide what you need
To be fulfilled.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

Romans 11:33-36
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay Him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen."

God knows what's best. Give thanks for all the blessings you have received even though you might not realise they are blessings at this time.

To be good or to be wicked

"For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:3). He felt he may have even wasted his time in maintaining Godly values; "Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence" (Psalm 73:13).


Some days you do wonder, the path you have chosen to be moral, to be good, to be a Christian. Is it worth it? Especially when you look around and see people who belief in other things or who are not moral or upright, who are just leading the life they want to live without restrictions and are being rewarded bountifully in terms of wealth, cars, material possessions and so on.

Is our success measured by all these ?

Thats the question you need to ask yourself.. Is the road worth the destination ?
The blessing that God gives is always in his time and he knows when you are ready for it. You just need to trust him and and his timing, and that he always will have your best interest at hand.

We love him, because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19

We love him, because he first loved us.  - 1 John 4:19

This is one of the most powerful promises. God loves us in spite of our imperfections and flaws. He first loves us because he made us. He knows us for what we are and gives us the choice for what we do. He sacrificed his only Son for you and me. That's how much he loves us. Can anyone else show you that much love?

The eyes of the Sparrow

His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches you! Not one sparrow is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God.
Luke 12:6 

Every time you are worried or feel un-cared for just remember the sparrows, who never ask for anything but never the less God still takes care of all their needs. They never worry about finding food to eat, shelter to sleep or finding their life partners.

The peace of God which transcends all understanding-Philippians 4:7

He has promised a glorious future - not necessarily a future free of trouble, but a future filled with "the peace of God which transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7)

What we need to note is that we are not promised there will not be any troubles in our life but we will have a glorious future.A future that we can have the peace in our lives, even though we may not comprehend what that is. It is not  a smooth road but a road less traveled is a road well worth travelling.