Dear....
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:7-8
Time
flies. It's been a month plus since our Lord brought me out. The
corporate man in us is inclined to try to do too many things, just like
Martha. But Christ wants us to sit and wait upon Him, just like Mary. (
Luke 10:38-42)
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:8
And
as I rest in our Lord, indeed the story He has penned for me steadily
at His pace and form unfolds. And His Word indeed is the lamp that
lights my path as I seek Him in His will, and honor Him in His work.
'So what shall be your answer?
Oh will you hear the call of Him Who did not spare His Son, but gave Him for all of us?
( from the song "Immanuel" )
Strangely
warm. That is when the Spirit of God is imbued in us to give one that
certain assurance of a God's omnipresence and Sovereignty. That's what
our good Lord gave me last Sunday morning in Church. I needed this. For
like most, I don't like change. And this step out has left me with a
sense of disconnect and a little disorientated.
'So likewise, whosoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.'
Luke 14:33
For
God has truly moved me from a dependency upon my provisions to Him my
Provider. And much as life is just one short breath from death, precious
time that should be spent being made ready to meet God our Provider, is
more often than not used for the cumulation of provisions for a
lifetime that is at best finite.
'What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?'
Psalm 89:48
And
indeed this truth often eludes me as fears and pride often made wobbly
my steadfast faith. And may this 3rd testimony of God's grace in the
midst of many lives being taken home, be a reminder of His faithfulness,
much as we often err.
Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done,the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.
None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.
Psalm 40:5
It's
been almost 13 years since the SARS outbreak. The dread that grip Asia
seems like a distant memory. But for me, what was deeply etched in me
was the series of deaths in my office in the 18 months in the run up to
SARS. To have to lose 3 dear friends to sudden but fatal heart attacks
followed by an equally excruciating average 6 months lost battle with
cancer for another 3 friends, it was just too much to bear. Yet in every
of the obituary that I was privileged to write, one could draw comfort
and strength from witnessing the very presence and grace of God
throughout the difficult period. From angel sightings, to lifting of
deep seated bondages, and the prescience of circumstances, God's love
and Sovereignty was omnipresent.
Sadness
was inevitable at every funeral yet a thankful heart allows one to move
forth knowing that much as God allowed it, He never left us by
ourselves.
For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12
The
issues of our temporal world is both alluring yet burdensome. When
death comes, there is nothing much we can do anymore( Ecclesiastes
9:4-6). Will we be in eternal damnation or live in Heavenly bliss with
God our Father? The physical world we are in. But the spiritual realm is
very much at play in our lives as well. Only in living a life of total
submission to God will we be free from the delusions of the devil.
This
morning I had a strange but vivid dream. Each of us have our bogeyman.
For me, it is alway this fear of going to the toilet, at least in my
dreams. For I always have anticipatory fears of ghosts and demons
lurking in its midst.
This morning I had my usual dream. I found myself alone in a gloomy toilet with many cubicles.
But
the difference was that instead of scooting off in a hurry, I held my
ground and commanded the evil spirits to manifest themselves and be
banished in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ.
Naturally quite a few of the denizens popped up and by God's grace, I stood firm in victory.
That
elation of breaking free from this bondage of fear woke me up. And the
Lord impressed upon me to check on my son in his room. Thankfully, in
obeying, I realized that he was in pain from a bout of food poisoning.
The timing was perfect. At 5am we were at the A&E and there was time
suffice to tuck him back in bed, before I needed to be in Church at
7.30am to lead worship.
This
episode reminds and affirms for me that all of us are under attack from
the evil forces. Yet God is very much with us, and we need to know Him,
then only can we overcome whatever is thrown at us by Satan. Seek and
know God while we still have the opportunity.
Anyone who is among the living has hope —even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
For the living know that they will die,
but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
and even their name is forgotten.
Their love, their hate
and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
in anything that happens under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:4-6
God blesses
Eng Hieang
15 Dec 2015