Women are from Venus, men are from Mars...

Being in a relationship gives you the slight advantage of actually having a logical reason to read relationship books =P Two that I've read are now "For women only" and "For men only". They are FANTASTIC books, read em both, you'll understand yourself AND your partner better. You realize that some things, some needs, some things are just well, male =P

And yet the deeper part of it, what I am reminded again, is this:

Phil 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

YES, your partner can and DOES have a role in fulfilling some of your emotional needs, but, BUT, God will always be your number one source, and well, God IS enough. Don't look FIRST to your partner, ALWAYS to God. He IS enough. But also remember, God might well be using YOU to meet some of those needs! =)

So...

Yes, I HAVE been reading/listening to alot of Bill Johnson. Something in my spirit just goes: "YES! THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN MY LIFE!"

Something he said:

We either live FOR an identity or FROM an identity.

I AM a Child of God, I don't live to BECOME one.

Something to consider...

While both Law and Grace have commandments, Grace comes with an inbuilt ability to obey what was commanded. Under Grace I don't get a road map... I get a tour guide-the Holy Spirit. He directs, reveals and empowers me to be and do what the Word says.

Bill Johnson

=D

Welcome Nathaniel Song! =) You're such a cutie =)

Waiting...

To see LITTLE SONG! =D Oh, and his mom =P (dun kill me Jie, you did good =) )

I still...

do things too impulsively. >< Learn Joab, LEARN!

3 more days

To CHRISTMAS! =P Well, tt's considering I'm going to bed now =D

Our God

This song has just really been on my spirit/soul/heart:

Our God - Chris Tomlin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_t_87NyHx0)

Verse 1:
Water You turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

Chorus:
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Bridge:
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Rom 8:31 What, then, SHALL we say in response to these things? If God is FOR us, WHO can be against us?

Thoughts

Yeah, yeah, I know, I haven't been blogging that much. I THINK that will change soonish.

So after wheedling (somewhat =P) a "yes" out of Karen as to whether I could go Para para, I popped off to Crown, since, for whatever reason, it's the only arcade which I know off that has a Para para machine. And to my horror, yes, you guessed it, Galactic circus had REMOVED said Para para machine. Which left me with... DDR

So I'm pretty decent at Para para, I LIKE para para, which, Karen says is probably because I'm pretty good at it, which is probably quite true. It also gives you quite a workout if you do it long enough.

DDR on the other hand, I have never tried, or maybe once in the distant recesses of time. And to be honest, I really doubted I could pull it off.

Which brings me to two reminders which I got reminded about after all is said and done:

1) You ain't seen nothin' yet!

So there's this kid who's at the arcade who showed me the reason why DDR machines have this back rest like thingy on the machine. You use em to support you while your feet dance at the speed of light. This kid ROCKS, and I mean rocks, as in REALLY rocks. He was probably dancing at the fastest speed/hardest difficulty, and STILL getting like 30, 40+ combos.

And well, sometimes I STILL think that I've seen it all, I know it all. Sometimes. Sometimes God has to remind me that He will KEEP BLOWING MY MIND. I just need to keep looking out for it!

2) Never try, never know.

I discovered that for a first time DDR player, I'm actually pretty decent. =) I STILL think para para is easier, but then, hand movements are a bit more intuitive I guess. The proof? Said kid from above actually asked me if he could versus me after seeing me play for a while. =D
Now I KNOW that I'm no where near his standard (heck, I probably can't touch that kid even with like, YEARS of practice), but well, you gotta pat your own back sometimes ^^*

And well, it's the same with living for God, never try, never know. So... I gotta keep trying!

John 14:12 - Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

P.S I'm seriously contemplating getting a DDR game and mat =D

Warning, rant, emo post

If one needs to aim for the moon to do their best, does that mean that doing your best is accompanied by constant failure? If one does not fail, does that mean that one is not aiming high enough? If one keeps succeeding, does that mean that one should aim higher? ARRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sometimes, there IS nothing that you can do...

Then you just pray, and hope, and believe!

When all else fails...

Just sit in His presence, and... relax...

He's in control.

=)

I'm going back home, err, other home, err

Yes, this get's confusing when you essentially have 2 homes ><

Something which I've been reading, something to think about and consider.

Of people in the church the author wrote this:

What we draw them with, is what we draw them to.

If we're not drawing people with God's presence, love, grace, mercy, abundant provision, justice etc, but we're drawing in people with charisma, programs, human love and (dare I say it?) guilt/fear of consequences, then have we saved them? Or doomed them?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Yup, definitely '> <'

off to Italy in a bit!

Nervous, bit scared, but learning to trust more that God has made the way.
It WILL be good!

=)

Loving, as Christ loved the church...

IS NOT EASY!

And yet, it is probably one of the best things in your life. You learn how to love more, to initiate healing, forgiveness, apology. You learn that there are things in this world which ARE more important than you.

You learn that you DON'T have to always be right, that sometimes, it is better to be 'right' together, than to be right.

But above all, you learn that you CANNOT love in your own strength.

Thank you dear, for letting me love you, for letting me learn how to do so better. And thank YOU Daddy, for giving me all YOUR love.

yes, I'm still alive

Realized I haven't blogged for a while, so here's the first post from the new PC.

=) Err, yes, I'm alive, my poster is done, so I'm happy. Yeah.

=) Glad that God brings people into my life. =)

To follow on...

What do you REALLY lack faith in?

25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

MT 8:26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The disciples didn't lack faith so much in Jesus' ability to save them, they DID call out to Him, rather, their lack of faith was in Jesus' identity as Christ, that before Jesus' mission was complete, that He WOULD not drown. (See vs 27)

Upon thinking, I find myself wondering the same, when I ask for God's protection/provision/healing, what do I REALLY need faith for? His ABILITY? or His WILLINGNESS?

I need to seek more, believe more in Your love, trust more in my position as Your son, KNOW YOU MORE!

Where will you be found?

LK 2:49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

Where would YOU be found?

warning - possible emo post

What does one do when it seems that you are inadequate for the task, especially a task which may well be something that God entrusts you for life? When it seem that it is something entirely out of character and your realm of experience?

When a shepherd boy is thrust with kingship, when a wanderer in the desert is tasked to be a revolutionary leader of a nation, when a farmer is tasked to build a ship when 'rain' is a foreign concept?

You keep trusting, believing, relying, taking it one day at a time, never giving up. And, on looking back, marvelling at the miracles which God has done.

It is possible with God, I CHOOSE to believe so, I CHOOSE to love.

Quick thought

NU 12:3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

Which, if we define humility (or at least part of it) as dependence on God, means that Moses depended on God more than anyone else ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. He was literally the world record holder for dependance on God. And perhaps, that's why he got to see God's glory.

How dependent are we today?

A few things...

First, from the most amazing, wonderful woman in the world to me =)

MT 12:46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."

MT 12:48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

linking with...

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Can you see it? The fact is, Christ DID set the example for all husbands, identifying Himself with the church more than He did His physical family. I'm NOT saying He 'divorced' Himself from His physical family, yet Jesus DID strongly identify with the Church as His bride. How proud are we of our groom? How much do WE identiy with Him.


then...

Howsit two people can sleep the same number of hours, and yet one person feels absolutely rested, while the other still feels drained?

Perhaps, it's quite the same as how some babies cry themselves to sleep. We WORRY ourselves to sleep, and perhaps subconciously, never really DO rest and sleep.

I still need to let go and trust You more... Help me Father.

Possible emo post warning...

Don't lose a moment, some moments will never come again. Yes, don't just live in the present, but look to the future also, but at the same time, make sure you make the most of the present.

Perhaps, in these last 1 and 1/2 months, that's something i've come to learn more and more. Cherish the moments, the times, the words, such things you may never have a chance to again. Each new day, each smile, each moment together. =)

I come that you may have life, and have it ABUNDANTLY!

Intimacy...

Why do you need time alone (and I mean ALONE) with God?

Because nothing conveys intimacy quite as much as being alone in the same closed room as someone. And just... being there.

Life is deliberate...

MK 1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

Jesus had TIMING! He started His ministry at the time which God had appointed. For a Christian, if you are living according to God's timetable, life is NOT a series of accidents, it may well be a series of miraculous, amazing 'coincidences', but NEVER a series of accidents.

We need to live life deliberately, not to be bogged down by asking God for His timing in everything (Daddy? Can I PLEASE go to the toilet?) but at the same time, having an understanding of where we are headed in His plan, and in His timing!

Credibility

Something to consider:

If you are representing God accurately, you don't need to be worried about whether anot you have credibility, because GOD will validate your ministry! It's not your name on the line, it is HIS!

Just a thought...

John the Baptist didn't do great signs, not sure if he even did one. He introduced a whacky new practice of baptism which didn't exist before. Why was his ministry so successful?

He preached HOPE.

Is this really just the way life is?

Life moves on, and people grow apart, is that really all there is to it?

How do friendships which seemed to be so strong suddenly become so distant?

In the end a friendship dies when someone decides not to work at it.
Relationships actually COST something. It costs time, effort, love, patience, forgiveness, humility etc...

I like how Ian put it, a relationship is worth how much the person in the relationship values it at. How much you put into a relationship show how much you value it, and, ultimately, how much you will get out of it.

Jesus valuated His relationship with us as worth His glory in heaven, life on Earth and death on the Cross, how much do you value Him and the people around you?

Reflections

Perhaps we learn as we live. So even as new things have arisen in my life, GREAT things, I've learnt heaps in the past week and a half or so.

I've learnt where my priorities lie.
I've learnt more what it means to love.
I've learnt to be more available.
I've learnt that NOTHING should matter more than my walk with God.
I've learnt that if you do put God first, He WILL let Himself be found by you.
I've learnt beyond setting priorities to set your first few or so WAY higher than the rest.
I've learnt that God DOES hear my prayer, and DOES work in miraculous ways, often where and when I do not see.
I've learnt that I am extremely blessed, and to appreciate the people in my life more.
I've learnt to commit people to God and trust in Him.

That's just part of it, not all of which I can share. In a sentence: Keep on moving, keep on living, keep on doing what is right. You WILL grow. =D

Psa 121:1-2

PS 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills--
where does my help come from?

PS 121:2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 things to learn

1) Lift -

In the circumstances of life you need to learn to LIFT your eyes. To look past the circumstances, because as Jesus put it, we will ALWAYS have the poor, which means that situations and challenges will ALWAYS be with us. There will ALWAYS be needs! Where will you look at?

2) Choose -

Where DOES your help come from? In Israel, you could look to Mount Zion, where God revealed Himself, or you could look to any other high place where altars were set up to idols. In the circumstances of your life, Who or what, will you look to for help? Will you turn to God, or will you turn to other gods like money or even friends?

What will you choose?

3) Remember -

Do you remember who God is? He ISN'T some mamby pamby God (Louie Giglio), He IS the maker of heaven and Earth. When you look to Him, remember all that He has already done, and NOT just in your life! Remember the testimonies and promises from His Word and in the lives of others before and around you!

PS 121:3 He will not let your foot slip--
he who watches over you will not slumber;

HE WILL WATCH OVER YOU!

Your life is not your own

So i accidentally cut myself this morning, and the comment came unbidden: "Hey, careful lah k? You're not living for yourself only anymore."

And it hit my cold. I'm NOT, and never WAS living for myself since the day I accepted Christ. And yet, I hadn't. I hadn't thought as much as I should if God would be happy with what I was doing. I didn't consider much whether Jesus approved of my actions. I never gave thought to the fact that when I hurt myself, He hurt too.

To no longer live for yourself means to start caring more and more and more what Whoever you are living for thinks and not so much what you yourself think about it. It means to die to self and live for Christ.

Take over Lord, teach me to love You more...

Sooooo...

It's been a crazy as week, with ups and downs, heaps of them, and tomorrow well, tomorrow will be interesting.

And yet through it all, Dad keeps shouting "I'M BIGGER THAN ALL THIS! I AM FAITHFUL!" And so I have a choice:

Believe in an absolutely amazing loving God, or believe the lies of the enemy.

I'll CHOOSE to trust you Father, come what may, no matter what transpires tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that.

YOU ARE FAITHFUL!

NOW who says walking with God is not exciting?

*raises hands* Self admittedly I did, but Dad's just been doing amazing things in the past week or so.

Things I have learnt/understood more:

God IS powerful, and we DO have authority in Christ

There IS a spiritual battle going on, and it DOES have real effect in life on Earth

I can and DO hear from God, and that IS a blessing to others =D

You CAN forgive the "unforgivable", in fact you HAVE to, even if that person has caused grievous hurt to someone whom you love deeply. You hate the sin not the sinner, and regardless, God/Jesus forgave YOU even though you didn't deserve it. YES, you don't do this by your own strength, but through Christ you can! Why let the enemy steal your joy?

Lift incident...

So the lights are out in one of the lifts in the building, which means that the lift is pitch black once the door closes except for the buttions.

It's kinda scary, and reminded me how much we take light for granted. That we have a sun which gives us about 12 hours of free light everyday is a great gift from God.

Spiritually, that we have a Son which enables us to live in the light is priceless. Yet how often do we, who are able to live in spiritual light, choose to walk in darkness instead...?

John 3:19-21 - This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

When your world crashes down...

Mat 14:11- 14

His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.




Not sure how I missed this before, but I guess that's why we say the Word is ALIVE. Jesus' cousin has just been murdered. No other word for it, murdered! They probably played together as kids. John made the way for Jesus' ministry. John SENT HIS DISCIPLES after Jesus. John baptized Jesus.

And now John's been killed. And Jesus wants some time alone, probably to mourn. BUt the crowds don't let Him. What would YOU do?

Jesus doesn't turn them away, Jesus has COMPASSION on them and heals them, heck, He's with them THE WHOLE DAY. Even while dealing with the shock of John's death.


I need more love, I really do.

Where are we headed...?

a) Not Hell
b) Happy place with no worries, love and joy
c) where God is

It's something to think about, because God defines Heaven, not vice versa. It strikes me sometimes we can be headed for the Promised Land without God with us, only in this case, we WON'T get to the Promised Land if our focus is milk and honey.

So what is Heaven to you...?

Why is life so hard...

...as a Christian? And don't all you peeps go pretending it's not!

As I was walking in to Uni today a couple a guys in front of me kicked a styrofoam container on the ground out of the way. I just walked by, when Dad said: "Pick it up and throw it away."

So I did. And then I realized, THAT'S part of why life is so hard, because you do things which no one else is willing or cares to do. And that, in the end is how we become "the light of the world."

Hmmm

So I'm having lunch, zoo world is chugging money for me, I'm in the postgrad room so i can't talk on the phone, and I don't want to do work, so I'm erm... blogging. Queer.

Also random, but then, that's very me. So I don't know, what's been happening? too much is what I would say. to some extent I can't wait for "normal" LG to start back again. Oh well, we shall see...

All right, fine... ==

Yes, so I haven't blogged in months. Fine, since SOMEONE is asking. Bleah to u =P

Life has been hmmm... Busy... and yet at the same time it has been a period of waiting.

Curious how that works out, but like Sue Carpenter said, just because the world comes crashing down around you, doesn't mean that life doesn't keep happening. There is still a PhD to complete, sheep to shepherd, CCM events to help with, family to talk to etc.

The fact is (something which Father told me yonks ago) He never says you'll ALWAYS fly over the storms, but He WILL be with you.

So even as a time of waiting comes to a close soon, even as the result may not (insert God saying: "Son do you trust me?" "Yes Dad, I do"), I've learnt to trust Him more, love Him more and rely on Him more, and THAT if nothing else works out, is well worth the wait. =)

I wonder...

How many of us actually say what we feel...?

Expectation VS Hope

I once thought that having expectations was bad, but really, in some ways, you SHOULD expect.

Expect God to move in your life.
Expect that you WILL bear fruit.
Expect that you have a place in heaven.
Expect that you WILL make a difference.
Expect that you can grow in love.

The difference between hope and expectation? FAITH

PS 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation

What do I expect?

What does it mean to know God...?

From Casting Crown's latest CD:

Verse 1
To know you is never worry for my life, and
To know you is to never to give in or compromise
To know you is to want to tell the world about you
Cause I can't live without you

Verse 2
To know you is to hear your voice when you are calling
To know you is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know you is to feel the pain of the broken hearted
Cause they can't live with out you.

Chorus
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more

Verse 3
To know you is to ache for more than ordinary
To know you is to look beyond the temporary
To know you is believing that you will be enough
Cause there is no life without you

Bridge
All this life could offer me, could not compare to you
Compare to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you

Hmm... Want to sing this sometime when WL =P