Why does my child have special needs?

Well, I do complain at times but... this verse helps me alot!

"My thoughts are completely different from yours, says the Lord.
"And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts

God's reasons are completely different from me.

It's not my responsibility to always understand. But it is my responsiblity to always trust.

It is difficult to see our children suffer because they are different. we suffer with them.
But bible says we are being transformed to become like Jesus when we suffer. Suffering helps us to develop perseverance.

This verse come to my mind:

James 1:4
..perseverance must finish its work so that we may be mature and complete in Christ.

thanks for reading.
veron

I’ve start reading the New Testament since January. Now I'm stuck at revelations. N today I happened to read Karen insights about revelations.

In chapter one.
What weapon do you wield when fighting the world every day? Is it your own wisdom? Do you have a limited arsenal? Are you even fighting? Jesus, THE WORD, literally spoke, and a sword came out! Wow!

This question convicts me. Everyday do I really hold on to the word of Sword to fight the world.?

I have been sick. First is Jason , then verdelle then me. Then verdelle again. When I’m down with bad flu and cough and fever, it can be weak and very depressing. Difficult to pray and focus on the bible. So my Qt is suffering.
Then, my gals have some changes in the school. I was very nervous and worried. And Jason was not around; I had to handle all by myself.
However, this week is better, though I still cough badly. I decided “force “myself to get with Christians to pray with me in the morning. Went to see the nature of the lord and breath in fresh air and reaching out to lost soul in park, help me focus on the lord then to be self focus.

I feel so much better. (Thank God for putting Christians in my life)

Everyday is challenging and full of trials. When we self-focus, trials and challenging situation will be look even more bigger...

But I need to focus on the word of God who will give me power and fighting aid for heart and my soul n mind. I was depending on my own wisdom instead of base on God’s wisdom.
I need to repent and surrender to God for wisdom and strength.

That reminds me of this verse: Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding, in all my way acknowledge him, he will make my path straight.

I watched the 9pm Chinese drama, the housewife tale. I felt so much as I think it is real challenge and struggles for them. I think lot housewives out there are really lost and helpless without God. Their only focus is the family, kids and house chores, but inwardly they struggle with insecurity and helpless which they may have no one to turn to.

God, I pray, being a housewife and part-time tutor, please use me despite my weakness to reach out lost and helpless housewife and also the students. Who needs God in their life as they security and strength. Give me the open harvest field and use me in whatever way u want.

In Jesus name, amen.

Our Need for God-Controlled Emotions

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (1Peter 4:7)

Strong emotions tempt us to sin.

Since God made us to be in his emotional image, we need to seek to be like him, to express his emotions, not to be led into sin by our emotions.

We must seek to have the "mind of CHrist"

The mind of sinful man is death, but the MIND CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE. ( Roman 8:6)

Your attitude ( mind) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:5)

But we have the MIND OF CHRIST. ( 1 Cor 2:16b)

Now the Lord is the SPirit,, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the LOrd, who is the Spirit.

What does it mean to you to "have the mind of Christ"?
IF we take on the mind/thinking/attitude of Christ, we will also respond with his emotions.
To follow Christ, then, is to take on the MIND of Christ.

To take on the MIND of Christ is to take on the emotions of Christ.

God did not give us emotions for them to control us. Instead, he gave us emotions so we could experience and express his nature- that is what following Jesus is all about.

SO we see that we have emotions to

1. experience and express the nature of God
2. experience and realize our need for the power of God( to control those emotions)

IF we don't look to GOd for his power to control our emotions we go one of two ways:

1. we are contolled by emotions
2. we shout down all emotions( which is still a form of being controlled!)

God created us to be like him emotionally.
He reveals himself to us so we know what godly emotions are.
He calls us to follow Jesus and to take on his mind and his emotions.
We are only fulfilled in life if we make this decision.
If we don not follow Jesus, our emotions will control us and lead us into sin.
If we do not follow Jesus, we will miss out on the life God has prepared for us... here and for eternity.

Decide to follow Jesus and look to his Power to bring Godly control to your emotions.

YOu will be Blessed when you Obey

Do not merely listen to the word, and so decieve yourselves. Do what it says.....He will be blessed in what he does. JAMES 1:22-25

There is a promise here. If you obey ( do what the Word says(, you will be blessed.

"OBedience" and "blessed" --- concepts united in a spiritual matrimony by James.

Why do we find so many other important things to do? Why does the study of God's word play second fiddle to other less significant deeds?

We can't minimizing this most important and soul-saving exercise...

A decision that obedience is the only way
Those who walk with him and enjoy his blessings will always be those who honor him and revere him and obey him.

A decision to obey "Even Though"
Our confidence in God's promise must be so great and our conviction about obedience so deep that we will obey" even though" we don't understand and "even though" it does not make sense.

Great examples: Noah, Abraham, etc..

What is my conviction about having daily time in God's word?
What does your consistency or lack of it say about my conviction?
Do I think God can bless me without this?

Let s commit to spending time in God's word every day. Let us make the decision to obey God's word, and to be obedient, even when we do not fully understand God's reasons.

And let us not forget the God who gives even as we enjoy his blessings!

Luv,
Veron

Trusting God

I am on child MC today, as my 3 yr old boy is sick. He has been coughing for nearly 6 months (asthmatic cough). I find his cough so tricky, and sometimes feel like I am at my wit's end about it.

But I thank God for the time I can have at home, spending time with son, and doing my QT, blogging etc.

Like to share some insights as I read the book of Jeremiah. It is really a book about trusting God.

1) Jeremiah prophesied during the reign of the last 5 kings of Judah. That is a long period of time! At that time, Jerusalem is near its end. Jeremiah prophesied about the capture of the city and the exile of the Jews to Babylon. His main purpose was to turn the people back from their sins, so that they would repent and God would change his mind and rescue them. People never like to hear bad news. The kings (most of them) of course were not too pleased - imagine if you are the king, and this prophet keeps telling you that your city will definitely be destroyed, you will definitely be captured and brought to the enemy's land etc etc.. no good news, only bad. Hence, Jeremiah faced challenges and danger as he strove to speak God's words to the people.

The trust he had in God is incredible, he survived various hardship such as being thrown into prison, being thrown into a cistern and he was nearly captured and brought to Babylon when the city fell. However, each time, God saved him from the peril.

The thing I am amazed by is how Jeremiah could stand up to total opposition, resentment and enmity, and continued to speak God's words. I don't think I would have the courage and strength to do that if I were him. John Louis preached about fighting the good fight, and the need to talk to our friends' if their doctrines are incorrect. That is something I need to repent and change in. I must be more like Jeremiah, not always bound by fear in such circumstances. (To do that, I must delve deeper into the bible :) )

2) Ebed-Melech. This character is really a minor character in the bible, or even in the book Jeremiah. When Jeremiah was thrown into the cistern, with the appoval of King Zedekiah, Ebed-Melech had the courage to approach the king, who changed his mind and asked Ebed-Melech to go and get Jeremiah out of the cistern.

When Jerusalem fell, God specifically told Jeremiah to go to Ebed-Melech with a message, that God would save him, he would not fall by the sword "beacause you trust in me." - Jeremiah 39 and 39.

Ebed-Melech was just a normal Joe like us, his deeds were definitely not as "phenomenal" as Jeremiah, but I think the message here that God wants us to know is he rewards us when we trust in him.


So sisters, I hope that the little insight above will help us trust in God especially in the things that worry us the most.

Fruit of the Spririt

LOVE

I dont know about you but i especially need love when i am feeling tired and burdened down.  At times like these, i usually dont feel up to loving other people and I only want to love those who are nice to me.  And you see, i am always feeling tired .......how??

 

I was at Mount Zion yesterday during lunch, thinking of looking for a bible for my litte boy.  While i was there, i stumble upon a book titled growing in the fruit of a spirit...i thought... should i get it or maybe not since i have quite a few books on my mind that i wish to complete reading them this year.  This book is not cheap but I end up getting the book instead of bible.

 

In chapter 1 of this book it says......To recognize that there is someone i do not love is to say to God, "i  do not love You enough to love that person."....we are to serve simply because God lives in us and wants to extend His love to all people through us (Romans 5:5)..Love is the sacrifice of self, it involves effort, not merely emotion.  It demands action, not just feeling,  it is something we do, not something we only feel or say....Being loving the people God puts in your path by first loving those at home.  As the saying goes, "What you are at home is what you are!"  So be a woman who walks in God's love at home.

 

I am not letting the month of January past without putting what i have read into practice.  Amen.

 

Love, Just.

BEYOND HELP

Dear sisters,

 

Like to share with you a story that i have read in my QT and felt very encourage by it...

A 110-year-old Israeli Bedouin shepherd was admitted to a Beersheba hospital while experiencing a heart attack. In spite of his age, doctors worked hard to save him. The man was thought to be the oldest heart patient ever to be treated successfully with anticlotting drugs. A hospital spokesperson reported that the Bedouin returned to his tent in the Negev Desert to tend his goats.

The care given to this 110-year-old man faintly echoes the way Jesus responded to those people we consider beyond help. His ability and willingness to go beyond social barriers to help lepers and social outcasts went far beyond the normal expectations of what a good person would do.

Even in the agony of His own suffering, Jesus reached out to a dying man everyone else regarded as beyond help. The man was a criminal, condemned to die, and only hours from entering a lost eternity. In that moment, Jesus responded to the man’s cry for help and said, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Do you know someone who seems beyond help today? or perhap so weak, so hopeless?

I pray that God's loving kindness has strengthen your faith the way it has strengthen mine today.

Love, Just.

 

 

 

A Brand New Week Ahead

It's been nothing but downhill slide since the beginning of the year. So much for my resolutions, Mr Lucifer sure didn't let me have a chance to carry them out in year 2009. Thank God I did not sit on it, I already started action in late 2008 as soon as my resolutions were made. So at least I did have a headstart.

With a brand new week ahead and having gotten accustomed to my new schedule, I expect my life to go back in shape more or less. God, You prevail, You are the Almighty One, You are the alpha and Omega, and I know You'll be there to see me through. Lord, help me take one step at a time, such that I don't overtax nor fall into the trap of complacency. Help me to get through this week first, for I know that You won't let Mr L tempt me beyond what I could take. I'm sure gradually I'll be able to get back on my feet and serve You wholeheartedly again. But make it quick ok? Can't wait to get into some action!

In Your son's most precious name I pray, Amen.

The Line Between Life and Death

I marvel at the thin line between life and death. One moment you're breathing and your brain is functioning and your heart is pumping, the next second you're proclaimed dead. Dead, just as life is starting for all other friends of yours, dead, because some punks decided that you stared at them and decided to give chase and beat you to death. And on an auspicious day when everyone is out celebrating light-up for the Chinese New Year at Chinatown. God, why did You take him away in such a violent manner? He may be with You now, but still that was a violent and unworthy death. Well, not when compared to Jesus I suppose.

I do not know the deceased personally, but being a close buddy of Nathanial's Taekwondo instructor who is a very well-behaved boy, I don't see how bad he could have been. And the truth is, if the instructor had not have a class that evening to teach, he would probably be with them. He might be one of those injured, or he might be the one dead. Or what if 10 years later it's my son in that situation? Am I supposed to surrender to God and be happy that my son is finally in the kingdom, and I will one day met him in the kingdom, indefinitely? How is it possible not to be bitter about the whole event especially if you are someonepersonally involved in the incident?

I guess this is where out true surrender and submission to God is ultimately tested. Remembering the dragon boat competitor who died at Myanmar? His Christian father just fully submitted to God and surrendered his one and only son to God's care in the kingdom. No easy feat. I just pray that this will not happen to me, and if it unfortunately does, I will be spiritually strong enough to take it in my step.

Jesus, You're my strength. Carry me through all trials and tribulations please. Amen.

Is God Truly With Me?

Just read a verse I find so scary...
See below:

Samuel 23:7 (New International Version)
7 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, "God has handed him over to me, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars."

Over here we see Saul running after David to kill him. But notice even at this point in time, he thought he was doing the right thing. He thought God was with him. Goodness, how many times have we sinned deliberately or knowingly and still think God is with us.

Think many times we need to be more sober.

love
Soon Keow

God's Goodness to Us

Psalm 142:7 (New International Version)

"Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me."

David prob wrote this in a cave (1 Sam22). At this time he was running away from Saul who wanted to kill him. The sweet thing here is that, for the first time, we see his family showing support to him. Just as in the story of Joseph back in Genesis, and Jesus in his day, David's brothers grew to appreciate him and were ready to sign up with him. Also,in this cave that, not only his father's household gathers, but also 400 other good men. 1 Chronicles 12:8-18 describes the men from the tribes of Gad, Benjamin and Judah who began to follow him about this time, and stresses their bravery and boldness. These would become known as David's Mighty Men, who really turned Israel upside down and back to God.

How true isn't it?

If we have frens around us who are righteous, it is God's goodness to us.

Love,sk

The Power of Negative Thinking

As humans, we are so prone to assume the worst and believe the worst.

We focus on what is wrong or on what we are afraid will go wrong.

Negative thinking is a pervasive tendency.

It must be seen as what it is- an unloving, unfaithful response to God's promises.


I'm convicted. If I think the worst of everything, then I'm not loving God and I'm humble toward God!

Jesus was completely realistic about man's sinful condition, but he was full of faith and confident that men could be changed be God's power.

If in our conversation always end with the negative "but", it will lodge in our hearts and the hearts of others( especially our children!)

Being realistic with the facts is good, but ending with fatih is better-- it's ESSENTIAL.

Abraham faced the facts of his situation, but then he "faithed" them.
The facts are the facts , but God is greater than any reality that blocks what he wants done in our lives.

FAITH LOOKS BEYOUND HUMANISTIC REALITITES TO DIVINE POSSIBILITIES.

We must be Christ followers who must have a will to be persuaded, to be open to changeing our minds of negativity ( Hebrews 13:17, discipling)

Unless we really determine to open our hearts to new truths, we simply cannot and will not see it.

Unless we change our will to believe, we will remain locked in our negativity and may ultimately LOSE OUR SALVATION!

Negativism is tragic in its results. ( Number 13 &14 the whole community didn't make it)
This passsage is a chilling reminder of the tragedy that follows unfaithful thinking and acting.

We must see the power of negativity and avoid it like the plague it is.

When you begin to lack faith about anything, rest assured that SATAN IS NEAR!

Entertaining negative thoughts with no plan to change the situation is dangerous to our spiritual health.

The power of spiritual thinking lies in part with our consisitent REFUSAL to think negatively.

Let's learn these lessons well and avoid being used by Satan.

Let us confront the most difficult and challenging circumstances and say, " God is still at work and he still has a plan."

The power of negative thinking or the power of spiritual thinking- ?
THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!

So what is your choice?

Luv,
Veron