01
Mar '15
4 Ways To Turn Life’s Bad Spot Into Blessings
01
Mar '15
So King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom set out. After marching seven days, they ran out of water, and there was none left for the men or the pack animals…King Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there a prophet here through whom we can consult the LORD?” An officer of King Joram’s forces answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He was Elijah’s assistant.” …Elisha said to the king of Israel. “Go… get me a musician.” As the musician played his harp, the power of the LORD came on Elisha, and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig ditches all over this dry stream bed. Even though you will not see any rain or wind, this stream bed will be filled with water, and you, your livestock, and your pack animals will have plenty to drink.’ …The next morning, at the time of the regular morning sacrifice, water came flowing from the direction of Edom and covered the ground – 2Ki 3:9-20
We all have bad spots. I have often wondered how it is that we are either in a bad spot, getting out of a bad spot or about to enter a bad spot. Bad spot just seem to be a part of being alive; as if someone says “here is life, and oh, by the way, here are all the bad times that come along with it!” But in church today, Pastor Emmanuel Moses preached a word that encouraged me so much about handling bad spots in life. Here are the four things I learned from that message about how to turn my season of bad spots to a season of blessing:
1. I can turn bad spots into a blessing if I would allow them to drive me to God: like these 3 kings in the passage, but for the fact that they ran out of water, they may never have ever enquired about God! So I learnt today that my bad spots could actually be a good thing if I spend more time with God as a result. Perhaps, if I spent more time with God anyway, I would be even better prepared for bad spot.
Read more...
27
Feb '15
Three Great Invitations From Jesus
27
Feb '15
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. (19) And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. – Mat 4:18-19
I love to be invited. I am sure you do too. An invitation makes us feel special, thats why we take invitations seriously. An invitation – to go out on a date or attend a friends-only event or even to simply just come over for coffee or dinner – makes one feel recognized, loved and accepted.
And yet, as special as all invitations are, they are even more special depending on who is extended the invitation. Imagine then receiving an invitation from none other than the Lord Jesus himself. In Matthew 4, I see three great invitations Jesus – the King of all kings – is extending to us:
1. Jesus invites us to follow Him: he is inviting you and I to let him be the our master, the boss over our lives! Why? Because truly no one else deserves to lead us – not even ourselves. I know how bad a leader I can be at work, in my family and even in my church. I feel like Jesus is saying to me: I know you could be such a bad leader; I know you are a potential basket case, and a complete mess. But I can lead you; I want to you lead; will you let me lead you? And you do remember how Jesus leads, right? He is the leader – perhaps the only one I know of – who would pick a bucket of water and a towel to wash the feet of those whom he is leading! That is who is asking me to follow Him? The one who will, and has, laid his neck to take the blow from the ax-man that I deserved. Have you accepted that invitation? What is keeping you from making this decision – to follow Jesus? Right now, you are following something or someone? Is it Jesus? Or are you following your emotions, what makes sense to you, what your culture says or what your friends say? Jesus is inviting you to follow him – will you say yes? How do you know if you have accepted his invitation? If you constantly ask this question: “Lord Jesus, what do you want me to do about (fill in the blank)?
Read more...
27
Feb '15
Three Things You Can Do Now To Live On Earth As If In Heaven
27
Feb '15
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1 – 2)
This year, I believe God wants you to contend for something more than normal. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6, he said “ask the Father for His Kingdom to come; ask that the Father’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Ever wondered why Jesus asked us to make this our daily request to the Father? I believe that it is because He knew that NOTHING here on earth can actually satisfy the deep longings our hearts desire.
The pleasures your heart is craving for cannot be found in any of the treasures found here on earth. It is futile to seek for satisfaction in the things that men pursue here on earth: sex, money, fun, wealth, fame, power etc. They may seem to satisfy for a while, but sooner than later, we discover that that they are all fools gold. Like Shakespeare said, these things are like the “tale told by a fool – full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” Sadly, many sacrifice their lives, their family, their health on the altar of the pursuit of these things only to discover too late that there pleasures their heart craved for cannot be found in them.
Read more...