Just ONE servant…

Ok.. so this isn’t my usual style of blog posts but I just couldn’t help but share this reflection! However, one question before I proceed… How many of us see an unfair situation and stay put saying, “What can I do about it? I’m only one person”?

I had taken a session on Abigail & Nabal (1 Samuel 25) with the youth. David sends 10 of his men to greet Nabal, a wealthy man. The passage mentions David having around 600 men. So you can just imagine how many servants Nabal would have had. Only ONE servant responded to Nabal’s refusal to give David’s men some food. He approached Abigail and told her all about the dialogue between Nabal and David’s men as well as elaborate how David and his men had protected them in the desert. Imagine this ONE servant telling Abigail that Nabal was a wicked scoundrel that no one can talk to him. He suggested she thinks about it and acts on it warning that disaster may hit them otherwise.

Abigail, beautiful and intelligent acts on it – with wisdom, without waiting to tell Nabal what she was about to do. Her timing was great! David was approaching as she went riding on her donkey. Her wisdom saved all of Nabal’s men in the land as well as saved David from bloodshed. The act of this ONE servant entailed that this took place. Imagine if he didn’t approach her like the rest of the many (countless I would imagine) servants?

This reminds me of David himself – how he a young boy stood up against the mighty giant Goliath… He didn’t have any armour nor weapons but rather a sling and three stones! Hardly anything. Yet he had faith in God.

We often do hesitate to stand up for a situation, against oppression, stand up for justice etc… We are afraid. However, we forget that God calls us to FIRST seek His Kingdom AND His RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33).  Yes, we need to ask God for discernment and wisdom to know when to act and when to keep quiet… Yet we do keep quiet and do nothing about even the small injustices around us more often than not.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

Let not the numbers deter you from what you feel led to do.  Fact of the matter is that we believers are in the minority.  We don’t think as the world thinks.  The ways of God are foolishness to man who isn’t led by the Spirit.  However, we know that the ways of man is foolishness as our wisdom can’t even begin to compare with God’s infinite wisdom.  Our capabilities are nothing compared to that of our Almighty, Supreme, Sovereign God.  We know that God knows the bigger picture, in fact He knows the entire picture.  He looks beyond the appearances, beyond the words and looks into the hearts – He weighs the motives.

A heart that is seeking to serve Him for His glory, and not for selfish motives will be honoured.  If we are truly motivated by God’s love, then we will have a heart that yearns to stand up against oppression and discrimination in our daily lives.  We will realise that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy.  He twists words and twists the truth that we become blinded… At the end of the day we all have our blind spots.  Nabal’s blind spots caused him to act on his own wisdom – and lose out on all that he treasured.  However, Abigail’s seeking God’s guidance facilitated life and promotion.

Blind spots can be overcome if only we desire to do justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.  You don’t need a multitude to succeed…. it took one servant to alert Abigail, and Abigail’s humility before God to act with God’s wisdom!

Celebrating Singleness

Recently I heard a speaker tell single males that they have no outlet and thus temptation would be higher than one who is married. He admitted that marriage doesn’t solve the problem but makes it easier.

I was reflecting on that and looked at my life. I am a mature single who has stumbled along the way but nonetheless God has preserved me. It is only by His grace and His grace alone. In fact the more I think about it, my delayed singleness has been a cause for celebration, to rejoice! Why? Because I have to turn to divine protection to overcome temptation rather than to physical means, that is the ‘logical’ thing to do. This has led me to cling on His feet more and more… as I know without holiness no one can see the Lord… And that – seeing the Lord – is what I want the most out of life here on earth!

Thus, I do get to have deepened intimacy with God… and as long as I am single, I can enjoy this intimacy without interruption – well, not as much as a married person would have. Paul does write that the married care about pleasing the spouse while the “unmarried care about pleasing the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:34).

I think it is a privilege to be single (whether God will bless me with marriage and kids in the near future is another story – but right now at this present moment, that is not my concern) as we are blessed to have a deeper time with the Lord than what a married person can have… Spouse, kids and their needs etc etc…. they have so much more to look out for than us singles. We can often (not always and not in every season but more often than not!) just switch off when and how we want to devote our time to the Lord and to the things of the Lord. Reality is we have the blessing of being able to prioritise our commitments and schedules with God at top!

Give thanks in all circumstances. Make hay while the sun shines… The sun is shining on us all – whether single or married… Remember that God has blessed us all in His own way. All have been called according to His purpose. Some have a ‘higher’ calling than others… That doesn’t make anyone less than the other – as the Bible is clear that all parts are EQUAL.. Obviously, as all parts, no matter what their roles are, have been created the same way! ALL have been created by God in His image and in His likeness – with no exceptions. How we choose to respond is our decision, but nonetheless we are created the same way! There is no favouritism in that retrospect.

However, we as singles can get up and not be worried about lunches for anyone else and instead we have the freedom so to speak to fast and pray… to hear His voice without distraction. Martha was worried about many things, good things as serving a meal to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is a privilege… Yet she was busy so busy she couldn’t sit at His feet and listen to His voice. Mary considered the latter to be a better choice than serving Him… So she opted for that and Jesus commends her for choosing the best and that it would not be taken away from her.

Many of us at this point can choose the good things of life – including family, serving Jesus Christ, ministry over relationship with Him. Yet for Him, the best is the latter, not the former. And for those of you who feel condemned by the world, for being single at a mature age and feel pressurised to get married – sing for joy instead. CELEBRATE instead. No, it is not because you and I have ‘sin’ in our life, that we are not blessed with marriage… I think in fact it is quite the opposite. It is because God loves you and me with a love that wants us to be intimate with Him in a deeper fashion, that I think is a blessing which does not allow room for condemnation

So whether single or married, let’s celebrate where we are at this very moment that God has placed us in the place where He wants us to be for His purpose and according to our individual callings. Let’s be content where He has placed us… and have a heart of gratitude and praise!

Dazzling lights

Descending into a city in the early hours of the morning with the skies still yet to be lightened with the presence of the sun… I peered down below through the window. This time I was blessed not to have been allocated a seat where the wings block the view! It was not a ‘unique’ scene so to speak as more or less all cities look the same. However, this time I was inspired by it!

The evenly spaced out lights – probably that of the street lamps, were sparkling in the midst of the darkness. Words can’t describe how that scene caught my eyes and touched my heart. I have been pondering trying to pin point the right adjective but simply unable to! It was appealing to say the least. The lights weren’t powerful enough to diminish the darkness. Yet they did provide a glimpse of the layout. These same lights will definitely be giving light to all those on the road.
It hit me… aren’t we believers meant to be just like that – a little light in the world of darkness that surrounds us?

 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:14-16)

• Are you looking appealing to those around you – as twinkling small yet bright lights in the midst of the darkness?
• Are your works glorifying your Father in heaven?  People may see appearances but God is looking at the motives behind it all!

If you are walking in the Lord, you cannot be a light under a basket! We have to be a light on a lampstand.  Yes, we won’t be able to dispel the darkness away completely – that is the work of Christ!  Yet, if we look to Him, we will indeed be radiant and shine…. and reflect His light…

We cannot be the light of the world if we are not living in the light… How can we know whether we are or not?

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now…. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:9,11)

• Is there anyone you ‘hate’ today?  Is anyone being laid on your heart as you read this verse? What do you need to do? 

Remember to ask God for discernment because loving someone does certainly not being a doormat or a victim to abuse… Hating means not having bitterness or holding grudges against someone – it doesn’t necessarily entail being close to them as sometimes loving someone entails moving away from them as a bottle of alcohol is removed from an alcoholic!)

However if there is hate or bitterness or anger or envy, it will tarnish the vessel that you are and light (from God) cannot reflect smoothly!  Imagine a candle placed in a glass holder and the holder being unclean!

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin“. (1 John 1:7)

• Do you have fellowship with one another? 

If we walk in the light then we will have fellowship with one another (one another does not mean the ‘church’ but rather those who are a part of the family of God, the members of the Body who are led by the Spirit and in truth).

• Have you already invited Jesus Christ into your hearts as your personal Saviour?
• Have you yielded to Him to be led by the Holy Spirit?

Then,
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9)

and

….you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…. (2 Peter 1:19)

It is by His mercy that you are called into His marvellous light… You are His special people that you may proclaim the praises of Him who did so!

May you be a light that shines in a dark place!!!

Earth Plates

Another one of my recent visions…

I saw the ground with many deep holes… the crust of the earth! Then suddenly, the plates began to shuffle around. It was a tad frightening as they were just moving about. Within a few seconds, I felt asleep. Minutes later I woke up to see yet another vision. This time the shuffling had stopped and all in place with the ground being flat… The holes were filled! The lines where the cracks in the earth used to be were visible, but yet not a single hole was to be seen. It was an instant ‘click’.

In our human eyes, we worry about the process and the time. We see the ‘holes’, the voids, the obstacles, the problems, the need for resources etc. In fact we panic, we fear… However we forget that God is in control.  Things can simply ‘click’ into place in the twinkling of an eye…

Almost as to confirm this post that I’m penning (or rather typing at this moment), I was led to check my email and today’s devotion. Titled “Silence is Golden” was the devotional from Crosswalk featuring the following verse:

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes. – Psalm 37:7

(Back again, after a gap of a few days in writing this… and yes, I love how God speaks and encourages me through these inspirations to begin with … I just needed to read these words again!!)

How do we handle what we see?  How much do we panic that things are moving away from what we believe the end results should be – especially if the end result is what God has already shown us? I mean, if we have asked God to reveal His perfect plan to us, and we are waiting for that to be fulfilled, how much do we panic when see all the holes in the earth, and all the shuffling of the earth plates to make the holes appear even larger??  Are we able to not fret while waiting for the plates to simply ‘click’ in place?

Joseph was shown a vision whereby he would rule over his parents and brothers, including his older brothers.  Hmm so much for the vision – he was sold as a slave, thrown into prison… everything and anything but ruling!  Yet eventually it all did simply ‘click’ and he was able to provide for his family without even the slightest of grudge for what they had done to him.  The part that astounds me is that there is no record in the Bible as to him reacting with anger or disbelief or giving up.

Where do you and I stand today?  Are we able to be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him to make things to click?

I know I struggle with it… I hear what He wants me to do, I get confirmation but I panic… I fret when I see wicked men carry out their schemes and succeed in their ways… Yet I’m grateful to the friends that God has blessed me – who are patient with my prayer request / update emails and support me through intercession… as well as an encouraging word or two!

A post that appeared in my FB newsfeed from Crosswalk encouraged me loads.

“FAITH DOESN”T MAKE THINGS EASY, IT MAKES THEM POSSIBLE!”

Amen!

 

 

 

Standing Tall

A vision a few days ago… I saw a giraffe trying to bend down and let its head rest on the ground… keeping in line on its fours… as if it was trying hard to grip the earth, clutching on to the ground to stay secure and firm… However, it’s neck kept growing… and growing.. so it couldn’t maintain its posture by finding security in holding on to something seen… The pressure was too much it suddenly lifted its head.. And there it was standing tall as ever, almost as if it were going to touch the skies and the heavens… It looked regal, and secure despite not clinging on in fear anymore. It found its rooting.

Many of us are like this… We try to clutch onto straws that we can see instead of clutching onto God whom we can’t literally see. Clinging onto God seems as if we are doing something silly – as we are gripping onto thin air that holds no substance. Yet, if only we can learn to trust in God, as we grow more and more in Him, we can stand tall and stand firm… We forget the natural disasters that we see around us – the earth can slip beneath us via a mudslide, it can erupt into an earthquake or volcano…. the list grows… Despite this knowledge we try so hard to find security in what we see!

I don’t know which of you readers needed to hear this… but it is very much valid for you and me today! At this current moment, I’m waiting to fly to India to minister at a youth camp. I have about 60 hours left and I still don’t have the airfare… I’m guilty in trying to turn to people, getting despaired at my empty bank balance and literally clutch onto straws.

However, I decided to write this instead of worrying and turn my fears into trust… Trust that God will burden someone or a few people out there to support this ministry… trust that those whom He burdens will respond immediately like Abraham and Samuel and Mary, mother of Jesus, “Here I am”! And in partnership with the camp organisers and the speakers and the sponsorship, that we will see God’s Kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven.. to see youth being touched with God’s love and His Words will help them grow as believers and equip them on a holistic basis.

Clinging onto God with all our might is our only solution… He alone knows what is best for us… He alone knows what His plan and will is… He alone can move the mountains and fill the valleys… He alone can turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh..

Whether you are waiting for God to provide for your pressing financial need, for your desire to see Mr (or Ms) Right-who-is-a-godly-man-or-woman to come along your path or even waiting for his / her scales to fall off, for your need for a job or a place to live… whatever your need is at this moment give THANKS to God for the PERFECT breakthrough to take place without settling for the PERMISSIBLE… Let’s start praising God in faith that His will will be done no matter what.. That His body will come together and step in! Let’s praise God and see the enemy fleeing away as we put on His armour..

Let’s stand tall in God and reach out to the heavens, receiving His blessings through the trials…

Arise Soldier of Christ.. Arise… Stand firm… Stand Tall… Stand regal…

All things are made BEAUTIFUL in His time… Let’s start dancing as the mourning that lasts for a night turns into joy in the morning!

God bless you, keep you and protect you…

Different….

So there was I trying to open the side door to let me out. Umm… here I was pushing it down, but it still didn’t seem to budge. My friend’s teenage son came by and I asked him whether there were any special techniques. He grinned and opened the door with what seemed an effortless push and told me that it needs a firmer push. How embarrassed I was – he must have thought this ‘petite’ lady had no energy or strength! On the bus the light dawned! The handle was designed for right handers and here I was using my left hand to push it down.

Only left handers understand what it means to be living in this right handed norm of a world…. from scissors, to door knobs and handles, to vegetable peelers to cutlery to what not… all designed for a right hander. But hey, aren’t we believers living in a similar fashion? We live in the world but not in a way that is the norm for the average person! Believers are unique individuals as they walk along the narrow path…

Ummm I can’t resist throwing this – and left handed believers are even more unique as they have more differences from the ‘world’! Well, there is mention of a left hander in the Bible too! We aren’t completely left out! The King was caught unaware, off guard as he wouldn’t have expected someone to pull out a sword with his left hand from his right thigh. Ehud was used to make Moab subject to Israel (Judges 3:12-30).

Yup we are different. God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are well above our thoughts… The way He decides to show up and intervene would be the least expected – throwing off the schemes of the enemy in the process and thus always resulting in His Name being glorified!

It may appear that we are ‘weaker’ but in Him we are made strong – and I think that’s the beauty of it all. Jesus died on that cross – a sacrificial selfless choice He made for our sakes, both yours and mine – so that we may live forever with our sins cleansed and thus renewing our relationship with our Heavenly Father. At that point many scorned at Him as they had no idea what was going on. They were ignorant. Little did they know that He was humbling Himself and forgoing His rights and His supreme power to give the opportunity to save the very ones who were ridiculing Him. Yet those who ridiculed Him, did not have the last laugh… The very Jesus they crucified, died and rose again in 3 days… after which He appeared to the disciples before ascending into Heaven, where He resumed His rightful place.

Yes… you and I may be different… People don’t understand those who are ‘different’ from themselves… So they will reject you. Never mind, we know what’s in store for us… and we know why we are here on earth in the first place! We are here to see His Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.

It doesn’t matter what people say or do, whether they accept you or scorn at you. Jesus cautioned us that the world will hate us if we are His believers…. And trust me, I know God included the religious who profess to be Christians in the group “world”. In His eyes, those who believe are those who follow Him and are led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn’t hesitate to rebuke or condemn the self righteous who exerted law and lorded it over others. Even God doesn’t lord it over us! What right does mere man have to do so??? Having a self assumed title doesn’t justify it as every one of us who believe in the one and only true and living God are His royal priesthood.

If believe Jesus is indeed the way, the truth and the life, and haven’t embraced Him to follow Him whole-heartedly what is holding you back? Is it because of the ridicule of others? Who is going to have the last laugh?

Yes, we are different… we are the minority… we the followers of Jesus… and we are proud of it while we feel sorry for those who don’t understand what it means to be believers, to be different…

Solitary or Gregarious

I was flipping through the pages of a National Geographic magazine. The feature article was on Bald Eagles… Given the fact that eagles are referred to a number of times in the Bible, I have wanted to learn a bit more about them. Enthusiastically I turned to the article. To my surprise, there was a two page spread photo with a large group of Bald Eagles. The scene reminded me of penguins huddled together in the midst of snow. Apparently, according to the photographer, there were about 120 of them spotted together – yes I’m talking about eagles now and not penguins. (Ok ok, let me admit that I did take a second look wondering whether I was seeing correctly!) The photographer had also commented, “Often solitary, the birds can become gregarious – especially when seeking shelter or food”.

And not surprisingly, I suppose, I began to think about the above mentioned characteristic of the (bald) eagle. Solitary but gregarious when it comes to seeking shelter or food. How should those of us who believe in the Almighty God be?

When I was young, I was a bookworm… I simply loved being buried in my books. In fact I got the first place in our good readers club at our local library in Barking, Essex, UK. Of course, reading and studying were done at the times I wasn’t being my brother’s tail. Yes, he was my hero without a doubt. For many years, I would come straight home and start reading or studying without even changing from my school uniform. (What a nerd, eh?!)

As years progressed, I became a person who needed to be around people all the time or I needed to be doing things and hence cultivated skills in the arts and crafts – from Eastern classical music to cake decorating, cross stitching and what not! Although basically an introvert, I became quite the extrovert. When working in an I.T. role in Canada, my team leader actually referred to me as the ‘glue of the team’. (Well, what do you expect when I was the only female in the department – the maternal instincts can’t disappear can they?!)

However, now I see myself having a weird balance of being solitary and being gregarious. I love being around people, being silly, have fun and cheering up those who are downhearted. On the other hand, I can’t have too much of time of people either. I need my solitary time – but that with God. When I get continually disturbed I become rather irritated and fidgety – like I did today. I sought forgiveness from my friend (at whose place I’m roughing out at this moment of transition – a short transition hopefully as I await on the finances for my airfare to travel to India next week) and asked how we can adjust the situation so that I get my quality time with God. Miraculously I had been granted a visa for 6 months and that with triple entry. I was in a daze but I have been impatient that I still haven’t got the required funds even though I have less than a week ahead of me. In fact I have no idea where it is going to come from!

I made it clear that I longed to sit at God’s feet and hear from Him, to still my fears at His feet and to wait upon Him for His provision for the ministry ahead, revelation of His will for the next steps as well as develop faith that He knows every detail of my situation and the needs. The anxiety was there as I hadn’t been able to be comforted by my Heavenly Father.

So…. I decided I just had to retort to my solitary side… and spend time in His presence. I long to be more and more like Mary who according to Jesus, chose what is better – to sit at His Feet and lap up His revelation. Mind you, the Bible mentions Jesus loved Martha and her sister (John 11:5)… It wasn’t the other way around as in Jesus loved Mary and her sister! Martha was the one who opened the door for Him (Luke 10:38). Yet Jesus rebuked Martha saying she was worried about many things – even though the many things were about serving Him… He made it clear that Mary had chosen what was BETTER and would not be taken away from her.

On another occasion, Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus, Martha was serving while Mary poured the expensive perfumed oil that she had onto His Feet and wiped them with her hair! In offering all she had – her heart and her possessions, she ended up anointing Him for His burial. She was chosen. How would you be if Jesus were to arrive as a guest at your place? Would you scurry around like Martha getting the place beautiful and clean and laying out the table with a wide spread of food? Or would you sit with Him, eagerly waiting to hear what He has to say?

As believers, I believe we are called to be solitary and yet at the same time gregarious. We can’t help be gregarious at times, if we are truly solitary by being still before Him and waiting for Him. When we soak in His love, His love overflows through us… We become His vessels and thus reach out to one another in love. Like the bald eagles we too become gregarious especially when it comes to shelter and food – if we are solitary to start with!

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31).

We need to be still to renew our strength… and also to see His will prevail and receive His blessings…. !

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes….

Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

(Psalm 37:7, 34)