#231. To Inspire And To Uplift Your Soul

What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.
J. Sidlow Baxter

Though I see not nor feel not, still by faith if I but reach out in faith there is the Spirit to guide me along my way, Amen
George F Woolley (UK)

Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.
Elisabeth Elliot

Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace, God is awake.
Victor Hugo

If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.
Vance Havner

Never lose an opportunity for seeing anything that is beautiful; For beauty is God's handwriting--a wayside sacrament.

Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, And thank God for it as a cup of His blessing.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The greatest of all miracles is that we need not be tomorrow what we are today, but we can improve if we make use of the potential implanted in us by God.
Rabbi Samuel M. Silver

I believe that life is given us so we may grow in love, and I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower - the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.
Helen Adams Keller

What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
Louis Nizer

The day is done, The sun has set, Yet light still tints the sky; My heart stands still In reverence, For God is passing by.
Ruth Alla Wager

Jesus came to pay a debt he didnt owe,
He came to pay our debts we couldnt pay.
Unknown

God is looking for ordinary people empowered by Him to do extraordinary things!
Unknown

#230. All Is Well

What could you not accept, if you but knew that everything that happens, all events, past, present, and to come, are gently planned by One Whose only purpose is your good?

#229. C. S. Lewis Quote from Mere Christianity

Your real, new self (which is Christ's and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him. Does that sound strange? The same principle holds, you know, for more everyday matters. Even in social life, you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making. Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. The principle runs through all life from top to bottom, Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.

#228. God's Will

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:20-21

It did not matter to Paul whether he was locked up or free. Whatever God wanted to do with the apostle Paul was all right, for his heart and mind were set on one thing: God's will for him. Paul knew that God, not man, held the keys to his prison doors.

#227. Complete Joy

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Philippians 2:1-2

They key to having 'joy no matter what' is found in the person of Jesus Christ and in an attitude that is submissive to His will. The apostle Paul's joy did not center on freedom from prison (and prisons take many forms, don't they?) Rather, his joy was wrapped up in the person and promises of Christ.

#226. You Are Loved

Even when you feel physically alone, know that you are surrounded by divine love. Like God, love is not visible, but that does not mean it is not there. You are loved.

#225. God's Help

How bad things may look right now means nothing, it's how good they can be with God's help that counts.

#224. Worship God In Song

I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
Psalm 144:9

Do you begin your day in song? Play a worship tape while you're dressing or to listen to Scripture on tape. Sing in the shower. Play music while you do housework or drive to work. You'll find that the words will be engraved on the tablets of your heart and become an ever-present song on your lips.

#223. Precious Lord, Take My Hand

#222. You Are Exactly Where You Are Meant To Be

Trust in God that everything is exactly the way it is supposed to be. Just as a child has to pass through a tiny channel on its way from the womb into life, so are you on your way to God.

#221. God Stopped The Rain

A few months ago, I wrote a post on how God answered my prayer by stopping the rain (click here to read).

A similar incident happened a few weeks ago on 6 January 2011…

I was carrying three bags full of stuffs when dark clouds started to hover above me. Red marks were seen on my hand due to the heaviness of the bags. With only a pair of hands that was carrying the bags; I couldn’t even stop to prepare to take out my umbrella.

I was hoping that it would not rain until I reached my destination.

But within minutes, it started to drizzle. Goodness grief!

I started to panic because I don’t want to be wet carrying such heavy stuffs.

I was so worried that I started to pray to God to stop the rain. Immediately, the rain stopped! Thank God!

After five minutes, it started to drizzle again! Oh man!

Once again, I was in horror. I walked hastily while praying to God to stop the rain.

Almost instantly, the rain stopped! Thank God!

Another five minutes later, it started to drizzle again! I was terrified! The on and off rain is worrisome.

Without any hesitation, in Jesus name, I called out to Him to stop the rain immediately and to rain only after I reached my destination.

(Let me ask you a question. At this point of time, do you think God will answer my prayer?)

Trust me, GOD ANSWERED! The rain stopped at once! Amazing right?

After which, God did something even more incredible. When I reached my destination with both of my feet in the shelter, the rain poured heavily with lightning and thunder!

Upon encountering such miraculous incident, it made me more assured that God is constantly listening to me.

You may think that such encounter is dramatic and unrealistic. However, if you were in my shoes or you believe in Him, you will know how wonderful my God is.

Now, stop and think of how God has been working in your life. If you have been neglecting Him, it’s time for you to wake up and get back on the right track with Him.

#220. God's Grace

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

We will never cease to need our Father - His wisdom, direction, help and support. We will never outgrow Him. We will always need His grace and His grace will never fail. It is not a well that will run dry but it is an ocean, the depths of which you can never plumb.

#219. Grace Upon Grace

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
(John 1:16)

O Beloved, how often we seek to live in our own strength and to approach God on our own merit rather than on His grace! We fail to appropriate His grace, which is there to cover our failure and to save us from despair.

#218. God Saved Me From Death

Have you ever encounter a near-death experience before?

It happened to me on the midnight of 16 January 2011. It’s a spiritual attack that almost took my life away.
I was sleeping soundly when suddenly… I was trapped in this illusion in my brain. It was definitely not a dream! (This illusion is something that is unexplainable by words.)

I tried to wake myself up but I couldn’t.
I forced my eyes to open but to no avail.
I tried to open my mouth to shout for help but I couldn’t open my mouth and I hear myself screaming in this illusion.
I couldn’t move my body no matter how hard I tried to move.

Do you have any idea how scary it is?

A sound came “If I am not going to do something to free myself from this illusion, I will either die in my sleep or die in this illusion and become a vegetable.”

I was frightened. Thoughts came running through my mind…

What is happening to me now?
Why am I trapped in this illusion?
Why can’t I open my eyes?
Why can’t I open my mouth?
Why can’t my body move?
My parents are yet to be saved. How?
I still want to share the gospel to unbelievers and to strengthen the faith of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
If I am going to die now, HOW?

I was extremely afraid.

I was at loss of what to do.

When I was so desperate fighting for survival, the thought of calling out to God for help appeared. I prayed to God while I was trapped in the illusion.

After I finished praying, my eyes open, my body could move and I was able to speak. Basically, I was back to normal.

I was in a state of shock.

I just experienced the power of God.

After this incident, I know how powerful my God is and that Satan is INCOMPARABLE to God.

I quiver every time I think of how I would have died just like that. If I had never accepted God in my life, I would never pray to the Lord and would have probably died.

Now, this precious life of mine is saved by the Lord. God saved me from death. I feel born and alive! He is worthy of my praise!

The thought of my life being saved by the Lord is constantly in my mind now. Frankly speaking, I am cherishing my life a lot more as compared to the past. I no longer live for myself. I live because of Christ. Praise the Lord!

#217. Storms and Sunshine

But through all of the seasons of life, God is with you. Whether you are rejoicing or fighting back tears, God wants to share the moment with you. Allow that to happen, give thanks in the good times, ask for help in the difficult times.

#216. Although Forgiveness Is Very Hard, It Is Necessary

Holding onto anger and old hurts hardens your heart and hurts only you. Ask for help in letting go of the anger. Ask to see the situation through the eyes of compassion. Allow yourself to feel the lightness of forgiveness.

#215. Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.
Psalm 40:1-3

#214. Countless ways to love God

Love God through love for your parents. Love God through love for your spouse. Love God through love for your children. Love God through love for your friends. Love God through love for your country. For God is in all these and much, infinitely, more.

#213. You can be an Encouragement

Everyone needs encouragement but it's so easy to forget to take the time to give it. Think of someone in your life whom you appreciate today or someone who made you smile and tell them! Even if it's a stranger, take a moment to let them know you noticed.

#212. You are commanded to love everyone, not condemn those who don't agree with you

Your opinions are just that, - opinions, regardless of where you got them from. They are tiny, a speck compared to the immensity of God. You cannot possibly have even the faintest idea of what God commands to other people, to other lifeforms. Your only possible intelligent choice is to continuously open in love and acceptance. Today more than yesterday.

#211. Please God Alone

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
Psalm 73:25

When God is our focus, everything else - including self - has to take a backseat. He is the only One we have to please. Isn't that refreshing? We don't have to afraid that such an attitude will make us hard or unloving or uncaring. What God works out in our lives will reflect His character, His likeness - His imprint.

#210. Focus on God

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21

Paul wrote these words while a prisoner of Rome. His epistle has come to be known as a letter of joy. Paul's focus was on Jesus, not on his own life or circumstances. Where is your focus today? Joy comes when it is Jesus first, others second...then you. And if to lives is Christ, there's always joy.

#209. The world never delivers on its promises

Make more money and you'll be happier, get a bigger house and you'll feel satisfied, buy fancier clothes and people will admire you - the materialist's mantra.
THIS IS WORLDLY THINKING! IT'S ONLY TEMPORAL!

But there is always a bigger house, someone making more money and a new style that makes your expensive wardrobe obsolete.

Pursue things that deliver: take care of each other, love one another and believe in God. These are things that deliver, and that's a promise.

#208. True faith flowers from and through doubt

If you never questioned your beliefs, - you are just a puppet dancing to somebody's strings. If God had wanted your mindless obedience, you would've been created without mind and without free will. But you have both so you can come to God of your own accord. Just look at the lives of saints, - most of them had gone through a dark night of the soul, and that's why their faith was so strong. The path to true faith always goes through doubt. So ask those questions you've always been afraid to ask, and find the answers, and then your faith will become unshakable.

#207. Choose to believe God

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Psalm 119:160

Your peace, soundness of mind and effectiveness all depend on what you believe - and whom you believe. If what you feel, think or hear does not agree with the Word of God, it is a lie. Don't miss knowing your words and purpose by believing lies of men or the musings of your mind. Choose to believe God.

#206. God's love for you

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:10

Have you begun to grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of God's love for you? When you were a sinner, ungodly and without hope, God loved you, pursued you, and wooed you. And He did not let go until you gave in to His desire to be your Father, your Lord, your Redeemer. That is what you are worth to Him.

#205. Ask God what He wants you to do today

A friend SMS:

“As I was reading from Exodus, I saw how Moses sought refuge in the Lord and he didn’t go, “God, I do this, I do that and you bless me” instead he went, “God, what am I to do?”

Indeed, all of us are to ask God what He wants us to do and not what we want to do.
Start today by asking, “God, what do You want me to do today?””

#204. You Are In Control

#203. Psalm 37:7

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:7

#202. Peace Can Be Found In Unlikely Places

Even in the darkest storms peace can be found by those who seek it. When turmoil and tension tear at your heart, pray for peace and most often you'll find peace in prayer. Of course there is no need to wait for a storm, pray for peace right now.

#201. Zechariah 8:16-17

These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.
Zechariah 8:16-17

#200. Love Is The Opposite Of Logic

Logic is argumentative, aggressive upon the mind, splits the world into right and wrong, us and them. Love is generative, compassionate, embracing all creation. Logic pays attention to what is being said. Love pays attention to how things are said. Logic leads to debate. Love leads to communion. Practice love to be closer to God.