Lightness of being #37 The grand bargain (26 Feb 2014)
Dear....
I love the Lord, because he hath heard
my voice and my supplications.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me,
therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
Psalms 116:1-2
The "Grand Bazaar," that famous marketplace in Istanbul. My daughter was in Istanbul last week, but had no opportunity to experience the touristic sights. Our good Lord decided that airport hotels and police holding cells would provide a deeper transforming experience than the usual gawking areas.
The "Grand Bargain,", a deal struck in 1945 by US President Franklin Roosevelt with Saudi King Ibn Saud. It is widely believed that in exchange for American recognition and protection, the House of Saud, the ruling family in Saudi Arabia will ensure a steady supply of the devil's brew to whet the voracious energy appetite of the great Satan( at least that is what the Iranians call America).
But with the natural shale gas boom, an increasing oil independent USA is today, decidedly less enamored with its Saudi bedfellows, as seen by President Obama's dalliance with the Ayatollahs from Iran. This could open the door for a new Middle East war in the near future.
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psalms 127:1
Adam, in disobedience to God's command cut the very first deal for all humanity.
Dr Faustus might be a work of fiction. But he epitomizes the sorry state all humanity continue to find themselves mired in. The pursuit of temporal treasures of this sinful world, in exchange for our soul, which will be vested together with the devil in eternal damnation.
It is no wonder life is troubling for all of us, for we have been dealt a poor card by the devil.
The sorrows of death compassed me,
and the pains of hell gat hold upon me:
I found trouble and sorrow.
Then called I upon the name of the Lord;
O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Psalms 116:3-4
I will take the cup of salvation,
and call upon the name of the Lord.
Psalms 116:13
我一生只听随主声音，你是大牧者
God in all His grace has forgiven us our sins. He wants to restore us back to the relationship of God dependence, for only then will we have the elusive peace and joy.
Every breathing moment, I want to seek God.
Every thought and action I strive to honor Him by being holy, and in loving my neighbor.
(See Matthew 22:37-40)
Where will this lead me to? Heaven on Earth.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;
and what doth the Lord require of thee,
but to do justly, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:8
Dependency upon God does not mean we live a life of a sloth. In fact, as stewards of God's blessings, we are to be even more diligent and wiser than the world.
The difference is we
- no longer let our finite understanding lead us, but we follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit resident in us.
- think not of our own needs, but focus on the needs of others. And in giving, we will be freed from the grip of Satan, who uses man's selfishness to hold sway over us.
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Genesis 3:5
God will and has provided. And your faith will grow as you will experience the power of the gospel at work in your life.
God blesses
Eng Hieang
26 Feb 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Lightness of being #35 Who, not what is in front (16 Feb 2014)
Lightness of being #35 Who, not what is in front of you? ( 16th Feb 2014)
Dear.....
I have set the Lord always before me:
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalms 16:8
"Always put God in front of you, not behind you, then can you move forward."
These were the words of wisdom a brother in Christ gave to me as he felt led by our Lord to do so when we met two weeks back.
It is always a joy when God affirms His will for me. And unlike the fifth Olympic ring at the Sochi Winter Olympics that failed to spring forth as planned, God will always be prescient in His affirmation.
The Book of Psalms, I have make acquaintance of through the years. But just two days after that meeting, Psalms 16:8 which was for me part of the fleeting scenery in my Bible readings all these years, sprang forth like an exuberant puppy that makes one wonder how could I have missed it?
Why do we struggle with life? The Bible says man is born to trouble. And indeed we live in a fallen world, compounded by our reliance on our finite understanding to navigate through its treacherous paths. And worse, it is a world controlled by the master of deceit, the devil, for Adam gave up his birthright granted by God.
It is God that girdeth me with strength,
and maketh my way perfect.
Psalms 18:32
If God was placed between us and the world, things would be very different.
Darkness is the absence of light. If God is placed in front of our all, we will bask in His glory and darkness has no room to creep up upon us.
And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses 'face shone:and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Exodus 34:35
What about our sinful inclination to be self reliant rather than God dependent?
I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
Psalms 116:1-2
The Spirit of God will sanctify, assure and lift us up if we are willing to submit to His glory, and life will never be the same after that.
For we will walk in joy and peace in all circumstances, and the world will indeed see the glory of God upon us, a restoration of the relationship that God had intended, but man made asunder by their disobedience.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
In closing, it is good to remind ourselves that we are but the lamp, not the light.
I oft struggle because I tried to be the light. If indeed this is so, it is no wonder I struggle for I am of finite power!
God and only God is the Light. Recognize that and our focus is to
- allow His light to be in our presence always through immersing in His Words, communion with God in prayers and in thanksgiving for all He has done and will continue to do,
- and seek to be a holy vessel as His spirit mould us and work through us
Only when we are holy, will the light of God emanate forth in all His glory.
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31( read also Psalms 25)
And much as carnal man desires conclusions quickly, God wants us to wait upon Him. For
- His Spirit to convict and cleanse us of our inequities.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Psalms 26:2
- For the renewed us to know His will
- then only can we move forth fully empowered when His Spirit lifts us up
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;
for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Psalms 143:8
除你以外，在天上我还能有谁
除你以外，在地上我别无眷恋
God blesses
Eng Hieang
16 Feb 2014
An after thought - The joy of self surrender
( do watch this half hour video and be blessed by it)
http://youtu.be/G-8-gHjq0rQ
If we learn to put God's will and the needs of others before ours, we will experience the joy of self surrender.
God knows our needs. He will meet our needs. But will we be willing to entrust that to Him and instead focus our all on obeying the two greatest commands of Christ
- to love God our God with our all and acknowledge Him in all our ways
- to love our neighbors as much as ourselves.
Be willing to do this and witness the power and grace of God at work in your life and your surrounds.
Dear.....
I have set the Lord always before me:
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalms 16:8
"Always put God in front of you, not behind you, then can you move forward."
These were the words of wisdom a brother in Christ gave to me as he felt led by our Lord to do so when we met two weeks back.
It is always a joy when God affirms His will for me. And unlike the fifth Olympic ring at the Sochi Winter Olympics that failed to spring forth as planned, God will always be prescient in His affirmation.
The Book of Psalms, I have make acquaintance of through the years. But just two days after that meeting, Psalms 16:8 which was for me part of the fleeting scenery in my Bible readings all these years, sprang forth like an exuberant puppy that makes one wonder how could I have missed it?
Why do we struggle with life? The Bible says man is born to trouble. And indeed we live in a fallen world, compounded by our reliance on our finite understanding to navigate through its treacherous paths. And worse, it is a world controlled by the master of deceit, the devil, for Adam gave up his birthright granted by God.
It is God that girdeth me with strength,
and maketh my way perfect.
Psalms 18:32
If God was placed between us and the world, things would be very different.
Darkness is the absence of light. If God is placed in front of our all, we will bask in His glory and darkness has no room to creep up upon us.
And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses 'face shone:and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Exodus 34:35
What about our sinful inclination to be self reliant rather than God dependent?
I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
Psalms 116:1-2
The Spirit of God will sanctify, assure and lift us up if we are willing to submit to His glory, and life will never be the same after that.
For we will walk in joy and peace in all circumstances, and the world will indeed see the glory of God upon us, a restoration of the relationship that God had intended, but man made asunder by their disobedience.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
In closing, it is good to remind ourselves that we are but the lamp, not the light.
I oft struggle because I tried to be the light. If indeed this is so, it is no wonder I struggle for I am of finite power!
God and only God is the Light. Recognize that and our focus is to
- allow His light to be in our presence always through immersing in His Words, communion with God in prayers and in thanksgiving for all He has done and will continue to do,
- and seek to be a holy vessel as His spirit mould us and work through us
Only when we are holy, will the light of God emanate forth in all His glory.
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31( read also Psalms 25)
And much as carnal man desires conclusions quickly, God wants us to wait upon Him. For
- His Spirit to convict and cleanse us of our inequities.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Psalms 26:2
- For the renewed us to know His will
- then only can we move forth fully empowered when His Spirit lifts us up
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;
for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Psalms 143:8
除你以外，在天上我还能有谁
除你以外，在地上我别无眷恋
God blesses
Eng Hieang
16 Feb 2014
An after thought - The joy of self surrender
( do watch this half hour video and be blessed by it)
http://youtu.be/G-8-gHjq0rQ
If we learn to put God's will and the needs of others before ours, we will experience the joy of self surrender.
God knows our needs. He will meet our needs. But will we be willing to entrust that to Him and instead focus our all on obeying the two greatest commands of Christ
- to love God our God with our all and acknowledge Him in all our ways
- to love our neighbors as much as ourselves.
Be willing to do this and witness the power and grace of God at work in your life and your surrounds.
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