Sometimes, the heart can be so weak that we think we may not go on. But many times, the Holy Spirit seems to be more determined than ourselves, ensuring that we won't go into disheartenment, and bringing us through the episodes of tearing down and rebuilding.
Seems like God is always telling us
-- Don't let the world or situation define you.
-- You're whom I made you to be, look to me and see how I lead you, shape you and refine you.
I often complain - i don't have enough time, i don't have enough sleep, i don't have enough etc etc... little did i realize that i'm often "busy" because i have always been doing things that I want to do, not what God wants me to do. As a result, my heart is frustrated, my spirit feels the turbulence and unrest, and i lose the joy in the spirit.
Would like to share with you an article given to me timely by someone:
Frustration is the by-product of attempting to fulfill responsibilities God does not intend for us to carry. Freedom, joy, and fruitfulness come from seeking to determine God’s priorities for each season of life and then setting out to fulfill those priorities, in the power of His Spirit, realizing that He has provided the necessary time and ability to do everything that He has called us to do.
More often than not, I find that women (and Christian women are no exception) feel
overwhelmed by how much they have to do and how little time they have to do it. As a result,
many women are living breathless, frazzled, and discouraged lives.
Years ago, I read that the average woman today has the equivalent of fifty full-time
servants, in the form of modern, timesaving devices and equipment. That figure may or may not
be accurate, but we certainly have many conveniences available to us that were unknown to
women of past generations: dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines, dryers, and much
more.
So why are our lives more harried and hurried than ever? Why are we so stressed out?
There are probably a number of explanations. However, one reason is that we have accepted the
lie that we don’t have time to do everything we are supposed to do.
The Example Set by Jesus
The fact is, we have no more nor less time than any other human being who has ever
lived. No one, regardless of his position or responsibilities, has ever had more than 24 hours in a
day, 168 hours in a week, 52 weeks in a year.
In fact, the Lord Jesus Himself was given only a few short years on earth to accomplish
the entire plan of redemption. Talk about a long “to do” list! Yet at the end of His life, Jesus was
able to lift His eyes to His Father and say, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the
work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4 KJV).
I find that truly amazing. Rarely can I say at the end of the day that I have completed the
work I set out to do that day. To the contrary, I frequently drop into bed at night with a long,
mental list of the un- finished tasks I had hoped to take care of that day.
How was it possible for Jesus to finish His life’s work, especially in such a short period
of time? In Jesus’ words we find a clue—a powerful truth that sets us free from the bondage of
hurry and frustration.
The Secret to Having Enough Time
Notice what work Jesus completed in the thirty-three years He was here on the earth: “I
have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” That is the secret. Jesus didn’t finish
everything His disciples wanted Him to do. (Some of them were hoping He would overthrow the Roman government!) He didn’t finish everything the multitudes wanted Him to do. (There were
still people who were sick and lonely and dying.) But He did finish the work that God gave Him
to do.
There is virtually never time in a twenty-four hour day for me to do everything that is on
everyone else’s “to do” list for me. There is seldom time to accomplish everything that is on my
own “to do” list. What a relief to realize I don’t have to do all those things!
The truth is that all I have to do is the work God assigns to me. What freedom it has been
for me to accept that there is time for me to do everything that is on God’s “to do” list for my
day, for my life!
Freedom from the Tyranny of Busyness Frustration is the by-product of attempting to fulfill responsibilities God does not intend
for us to carry. Freedom, joy, and fruitfulness come from seeking to determine God’s priorities
for each season of life and then setting out to fulfill those priorities, in the power of His Spirit,
realizing that He has provided the necessary time and ability to do everything that He has called
us to do.
Do you feel that you don’t have time to do everything? Seek God for what He wants you to do.
Then prioritize that and let the rest go.
A song that convicts me abundantly. We often look down on ourselves when it is actually our disbelief that hinders us from resting on the sovereign and perfect leading of God. Contrary to what we've been so habitual in thinking and believing, God has never left us - He's there when we're in our ups, and He's there when we're in our downs. But often, we have become so absorbed into the information of the world, the voices and remarks of Satan that we forget that Our Father God is above all these. Therefore, it's indeed the grace of God that never stops lavishing on us that in our ignorance, God chooses to awaken us from our spiritual stupor with His truth. Even when we're in doubts, just as the disciples, Jesus performed the miracle of five loaves and two fishes to feed the five thousands, showing us it is not how great our faith is but His grace that gives us the faith, including the faith to follow Him.
God has never intended us to be children with great faith and great abilities, no matter how small our faith is, even as small as a mustard seed, God wants us to use this faith to follow Him, again and again. God does not heal the sicks through great preachers and pastors, nor great doctors, but God heals the sicks holistically starting from their souls, through the prayers of convicted believers.
If our struggle is on the five loaves and two fishes (physical needs), we will only be satisfied by the five loaves and two fishes (visible and tangible things). If our struggle is on fighting with our disbelief and still desiring to follow God in our weakness and powerlessness, God will satisfy us.
Our day-in day-out miracles begin from our spirits -> when we see the truth of God and live in the convictions of these truth, we will rely on the Holy Spirit in all times. The miracles God wants to give us is more than the mere five loaves and two fishes, He wants us to live in the ever-present and ever-active love and power of God, putting our contentment not on the tangible things the world tempts us but the infinite love and grace that our souls need, yet only Christ can satisfy.
Five loaves and two fishes by Corinne May
A little boy of thirteen was on his way to school He heard a crowd of people laughing and he went to take a look Thousands were listening to the stories of one man He spoke with such wisdom, even the kids could understand The hours passed so quickly, the day turned to night Everyone was hungry but there was no food in sight The boy looked in his lunchbox at the little that he had He wasn't sure what good it'd do, there were thousands to be fed But he saw the twinkling eyes of Jesus The kindness in His smile And the boy cried out With the trust of a child He said: "Take my five loaves and two fishes Do with it as you will I surrender Take my fears and my inhibitions All my burdens, my ambitions You can use it all to feed them all" I often think about that boy when I'm feeling small And I worry that the work I do means nothing at all But every single tear I cry is a diamond in His hands And every door that slams in my face, I will offer up in prayer So I'll give you every breath that I have Oh Lord, you can work miracles All that you need is my "Amen" So take my five loaves and two fishes Do with it as you will I surrender Take my fears and my inhibitions All my burdens, my ambitions You can use it all I hope it's not too small I trust in you I trust in you So take my five loaves and two fishes Do with it as you will I surrender Take my fears and my inhibitions All my burdens, my ambitions You can use it all No gift is too small
Hello, it's my night shift week and i realised the sleep cycle is a little distorted. Thank God for a good first night at work, began in turbulence, but it progressed to a peaceful and wonderful night shift.
Would like to share this song from Casting Crown: Who Am I
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth Would care to know my name, Would care to feel my hurt? Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star Would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am But because of what You've done. Not because of what I've done But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading, Here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean. A vapor in the wind. Still You hear me when I'm calling. Lord, You catch me when I'm falling. And You've told me who I am. I am Yours, I am Yours.
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin Would look on me with love and watch me rise again? Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea Would call out through the rain And calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am But because of what You've done. Not because of what I've done But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading, Here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean. A vapor in the wind. Still You hear me when I'm calling. Lord, You catch me when I'm falling. And You've told me who I am. I am Yours.
Not because of who I am But because of what You've done. Not because of what I've done But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading, Here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean. A vapor in the wind. Still You hear me when I'm calling. Lord, You catch me when I'm falling. And You've told me who I am. I am Yours, I am Yours, I am Yours.
Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear? 'Cause I am Yours, I am Yours.
It's never by works that you're saved, it's by grace we have been saved, through faith - that is not from ourselves, but the gift of God, so that no one can boast. May we truly be made alive in Christ all over again, because of what He had done on the Cross, and also because we're God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to live in His perfect will today so that we will be most satisfied when we are walking in His will.
We often think that we are unworthy of God's love. Sometimes, we even lose the assurance of our salvation because of the works of our hands - we are always doing things for our own benefits and not others; we only care about the fleeting joy and put our joy on others' sufferings; we only want quick fix and as a result we resolve to many solutions our human brain can think of, forgetting who we are - children of God, and thus in problems it's not the solutions that we need to look for but God our Lord, who is sovereign and always having the good and perfect will for His children.
What's the will of God for you today?
It is for you to know Him, realise the need for Him in your life through your setbacks and problems, and surrender the lordship of your life to Him. Only then can you be reconciled with God, restore your original identity as His precious child, carry His purpose in life and be led by the Holy Spirit in all things.
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” - C.S Lewis
What no eye has seen,what no ear has heard,and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
“If I stand, let me stand on the promise of God.
If I fall, let me fall in His grace”
- Brother Wei En
Once i saw wei en posting this on Facebook and i was touched by it. To me, this sums up the reason behind courage I am made able to have in the face of the the trying and relive situations, and also the relentless love God has to me, when I keep falling short of His glory.
Many people like the word “Grace”, me too. The word grace sounds beautiful and full of love. To many, grace from God could mean the pardoning of sins.
Once, someone asks me - on what grounds can we christians claim that God takes away our sins, and thus we are sinless and can enter into the kingdom of God? If the deal is so good, then all the criminals in this world will continue sinning then repent to God thereafter - this world is disastrous!
While many think that grace is the forgiveness of sins, grace also gives birth to a heart that is forgiven of sin. When a person truly understand the grace of Christ, transformation will happen in his heart according to the truth of God.
For example, if I have wronged my father and stolen his money, the forgiveness i receive from him and the contriteness will propel me into hating doing wrong in future, and seek to follow my father closely and his ways of being good.
Similarly, the grace of God does not only wash away your sins so that you can stand before Him as His child, it also gives us a contrite spirit that realises our sins each time we hear the gospel. Instead of dwelling in sadness and eroding in self-pity for failing God, grace helps us to come before God and open ourselves to prayer even in weakness, so that we see our weakness with God’s plan.
Indeed, without grace, genuine transformation will not occur in one's life in Christ. Sharing with you a song from Laura story: Grace
My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused. I see the things You do through me as great things I have done. And now You gently break me, then lovingly You take me and hold me as my father and mold me as my maker.
Chorus: I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down? And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abound?" And you answer: " My child, I love you. And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."
At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged, knowing that someone, somewhere could do a better job. For who am I to serve You?I know I don't deserve You. And that's the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on.
Chorus* I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down? And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abounds?" And you answer: " My child, I love you. And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace." You are so patient with me, Lord.
As I walk with You, I'm learning what Your grace really means. The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary. So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You by giving up my life to you For all that You've given to me.
Chorus: I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down? And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abounds?" And you answer: " My child, I love you. And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."
