God doesn't want us to chase after the clock.  Christ is not flattered when we run madly about, trying to accomplish more than we have time for.

Simply put, I believe it is a sin to hassle our hurried schedules in the name of Jesus.  To trade our neuroses for what we supose to be God's neuroses is foolish indeed.

Rest is also one of God's plan. Rest is part of His desire for us.

Bible makes it clear that "rest" is the reward of obedience:

Hebrew 3:18-19: To whom was God speaking when he vowed that they would never enter his place of rest? He was speaking to those who disobeyed him. So we see that they were not allowed to enter his rest because of their unbelief.

Our lives have no point unless they point to Christ. Without him, time has no significance. If Jesus lives, the clock counts. If Jesus does not live, the calendar is also dead. But Jesus does live!

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We usually hoard material things because we believe they are a kind of security.  Hard times seem cruel and threaten to dispossess us. 

The more we cherish our goods in the face of difficulty, the less we own them - and the more they own us.

Letting go is the only way to keep what is truly important.

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"Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise, make the most of every opportunity for doing god in these evil days." - Eph 5:15-16.

Because I was able to accomplish so much through all these human resources, I was in danger of believing that God worked only through human abilities.

God has become too human in my belief. I needed to believe that He could work outside the bounds of human possibilities. I needed to believe, not only in a God who helps those who help themselves, but also in the God who helps those who can't help themselves.

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There are 2 kinds of people: some look at life and complain of what is not there; others look at life and rejoice in what is there. By Francois Fenelon.

Which type of person you want to be? I'll want to be the latter for I know God means good for all things come into our way for those who love Him.

They are a couple who have planned to have their wedding on the fixed date, and yet, they postponed it because they know very clearly that they still have major personal issues with God that they haven't settled but needed to be settled. Thus, they postponed it because they are such wise to realize this will not bring a healthy marriage if they don't settle their problems first. 

Such a bold, wise and BRAVE decision that has been made...

They have searched such ernestly and eagerly for Him in order to tell them what is life all about, what is being a real christian all about.  They have struggled so much til there was a point in their life they really wanted to give up, but God has found favour in their eyes and revealed Himself to them that they found the life, the way and the truth. Truly enough the Word is alive and the TRUTH does set them free.

Such an enduring, persevere search that they have pressed on to...

They have come to a point where they rededicated their lives to Him, and truly want to obey Him and trust in Him in facing their daily lives. May it be a big decision or a little one, they would like to consult Him first and seek His will. Not only to seek His will but to continue to put their faith in Him though it is a scary thing to do in trusting Him for the uncertainty in lives.

Such a simple faith that they have decided to hold on to...

They have a story about their journey discovering Him to tell, to share and to encourage. This is a story testifying Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and it is truly alive and relevant even until this day, this generation.

Such an amazing story that they have decided to share to me....

and I pray that they will continue to share their story to as many as possible, to edify brothers and sisters, to witness for Christ.

This couple, I would like to thank them for their heart-stirring story.

At the end, I thank God that because of Him, they have a story to tell.

Today went out having dinner with a friend that I've known for sometime, but only knowing her by her name. 

After youth activity, so happened that I'm looking for someone for dinner, she was around at the youth as well. I never expect that I'm able to really talk with her and sit down having dinner with her, not because she is not friendly, but simply preassume that we have nothing in common.

Somehow, I just asked her and she could make it.  At the end, we ended up talking and sharing so much over dinner for about one and a half hour. I guess if it wasn't because of the time was getting late, I'm sure we still can continue to talk. May be to talk about the latest fashion, most effective ways of keeping healthy diet, guys who "he's just not that into you" and etc.  Haha... it was fun.

I always believe how wonderful it is to know new friends and discover them. Know their stories of how they come until this far, their experiences about life, or even just to talk "no-brainer" conversation, I guess that is fun and something has made our lives more interesting and enlightened. That's a little something that has made my day. How about yours?

Arghhh.... How to start? What a topic on Spiritual Warfare and Counseling.

I have no idea at all how to write this assignment. Spiritual warfare and counseling don't seem to be able to connect with each other. Sigh!!! God help me.....

Due to "kursus" I have delayed in handling in my assignment. As the date getting further away from the past due date, the stress level is shooting up higher. Oh nooo......

How to start?

As Paul said, we must learn to be contended with what we have.  I really enjoy what I have now, my job, my friends and family.  Not saying that I don't feel bored with job like others, instead I do sometimes.  But as a day towards its end, I feel the satisfaction after work. After work, have dinner with friends, or do some exercise, or even head back home straight, online check mails, or watch TV; before go to bed, spend some time reading God's word, pray to Him, reflect time spent throughout the whole day, count the blessings that God has given for the day. Give thanks at the end of the day. There goes my weekdays, and I think my days have been spent productively from Monday til Friday.

Saturdays and Sundays are the days I'll do whatever I couldn't do during the week.  Just simple outings, events or sleep the whole day can be such a relaxing and refreshing time.

I thank God for what I have now. Sometimes, I may see this cycle as a routine, and people believe that routine is boring, but I choose to see it from different perspective, even routine is a good thing if I'm able to truly give thanks and appreciate for what I have now. Life is just that simple, and happiness is just that simple. I don't need huge excitement or surprises (but if there is of course it's another bonus in life) to feel good enough to thank God, instead different little things in life, if we accumulate up, there are many blessings that we tend to overlook. I'm still a normal human, I'll still complain and grumble at times, but hey, cheer up and smile =) 

I thank God for His promises, that He promises if I trust in Him, and let Him be my Master of my life, He'll grant me peace and joy. His peace is not the peace that the world can offer, but its heavenly peace that make us feel that we are secure in Him and lack nothing.

Life may be easy or become harder, but I pray that I'll continue to believe in Him and thank Him no matter what come may.  I pray that my faith will be strengthened as well.

One day, she was really upset and sad. She came cause she wanted to get away from home for awhile. Her eyes was swollen, and I believed that she has been crying for quite awhile.

Friend, I know that I'm not a good person that know how to console someone else, but I can be a good listener to listen to you.  I'm happy that you trust me enough to tell me your story.  May God watch over you and look after you, even you don't believe in Him yet, I'll still pray for you.

Let go is always not an easy task for everyone. It's none of your fault that you couldn't, but I believe you can, for your own good, not for anyone else. Hope that I can be there for you if you needed me to.

Love you.

I've tried to make myself available to join prayer meeting in church.

Last Wednesday, I've attended church weekly prayer meeting. Coming to pray help me to realize that there are a lot of other things surround us may need our prayers and care as well. Living in my own shell does not help me to grow to be more like Christ, does not help me to be a Godly-woman that God intended me to be. By carrying a kind, gentle and humble heart, reaching out and praying for others may be my goal for this moment. I just hope that God's presence will always be with me and empower me to do His will.

We've prayed for the police force, we've prayed for a coming seminar, prayed for those who have signed up, we prayed for the church leaders who have always been serving the Lord and the people. As I was praying, I realized that I'm not able to pray fluently esp when pray for the police force, then only I come to know that I've never prayed for this group of people, and hence to pray for them cause my tongue tied. By just realizing that causes me to ponder about my prayer life. Perhaps, one of the ways to show that I do really care is through prayers insteads of just talking and discussing among friends.

Thus, the first thing I can do is to

pray more, pray more, and more, and more.....  before I start to commend about anything.

Time passes too fast that sometimes we don't realize many events in life has already become a history in our memory.

In the process of growing up, God has always been the One who guides us through, teaches us, and grant us the strength.  Friends and family are the angels that God sent to walk along with us.

In my process of growing up, I've blessed some people, I've inspired some people, however, I've stumbled some, I've disappointed some as well.  God is always gracious that He allows me to do mistakes and He also allows me to say sorry and ask for forgiveness. 

As I ponder, how precious it is to experience the whole process of being shaped to be a Godly-woman that God has intended me to be; and how wonderful it is that I am not alone throughout the whole process, but with God-sent angels in my life.

"Be still, and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10

This is the verse that I hold so dear to my heart.  This is the promise, the confident and the security that He has given to me.

I truly thank God for who He is.

Sometimes life is not just about getting what do we want, but maybe it is to think about what others want too. 

There are times, I look into myself and always desire only what do I want and what do I want from God; but I failed to realize sometimes, it is only the matter of obedience. Getting or wanting may not be the main issue at all.  In times of difficulties, faith is tested and strengthened.  It is in times of difficulties, our faith is tested. 

I always remember one brother asked me a question, "What come may, do you still believe in God?"  The answer is - I'm not sure.  I don't want to lie to myself and try to be holy, but being honest with myself does help me to see where am I standing.  The journey is always not easy, especially when I think what do I want is good for me, or if it doesn't, at least it doesn't harm others.

As Max Lucado stated in his book "It's not about me", that, the message is about Him, my salvation is about Him, my body is about Him, my strugglesa re about Him, my success is about Him.  Then I asked, "what about me?"

"My father, an oil-field mechanic, never met a car he couldn't fix.  Forget golf clubs or tennis rackets, my dad's toys were sockets and wrenchers.  He relisheda  wrecked engine.  Once, while he was driving us to visit his sister in New Mexico, the car blew a rod.  Most men would have groaned all the way to the mechanic. Not dad. He calleda  tow truck and grinned the rest of the ride to my aunt's house.  To this day I suspect paternal sabotage.  A week of family chitchat repulsed him.  But a weeker the hood? Forget teh coffee and cookies.  Hand me the manifold. da did with a V-8engine what Patton did with a platoon - he made it work.  Oh, that the same could be said fhis youngest son.  It can't.  My problem with mechanics begins with the ends of the car.  I can't remember which one holds the engine.  Anyone who confuses the spare th the fan belt is likely not gifted in car repair.

  My ignorance left my dad ina  precarious position.  What does a skilled mechanic do with a son who is anything but?  As you begin formulating an answer, may I ask this question: What does God do with us? Under his care the universe runs like a Rolex.  But his children? Most of us have trouble balancing a checkbook.  So what does he do?

  I know what my dad did.  Much to his credit, he let me help him.  He gave me jobs to do - holding wrenchers, scrubbing spark plugs. And he know my limits. Never once did he say, "Max, tear apart the transmission, will you?  One of the gears is broken."  Never said it.  For one thing, he liked his transmission. For another, he loved me.  He oved me too much to give me too much.

  So does God. He knows your limitations.  He's well aware of your weaknesses. You can no more die for your own sins than you can solve world hunger.  And, according to him, taht's okay.  The world doesn't rely on you.  God loves you too much to say it's all about y.  He keeps the cosmos humming. You and I sprinkle sawdust on oil spots and thank him for the privilege. We've peeked under the hood. We don't know what it takes to run the world, and wise are we who leave the work to his hands.

  To say "It's not about you" is not to say you aren't loved; quite the contrary. It's because God loves you that it's not about you." - by Max Lucado

  If you keep acting and thinking what you're acting or thinking, you're gonna keep getting what you're getting, (or you'll end up being what you are now).

  This particular phrase struck me and enlightened me to think about what was I doing. Do I want a change? Then I must really start to change from within, so that change will happen from inside to outside. 

And... it's the matter of obedience, and it's the matter of glorifying God.

Change has been decided, but will the One grant the decision made?