Breaking Binds

Many who desire to walk with the Lord will begin to discover that there are many things in their lives they will need to change. For certain things, changes come easily and naturally but still for others, making that change is hard and difficult. A lot of times it is not that the person do not want to change but they were simply trap in the cycle of binds. No matter how many times one might try to break the cycle, they will find that there is simply no way out – unable to find that victory of God.

The Word of God says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. I am a strong believer that Christ had come to set us free from our past, to live in the present and mould for the future. This is His promise but why are there so many Christ follower still trap in the cycle – lacking freedom? I try to identify the reasons, and i came out with the following. Please read it with care and think for yourself if what i said is right and whether it is applicable.

 The first being FEAR. Often we are afraid of what others might think of us when they know that we are trapped. The condemnation that will come when others find out. This is the most powerful weapon the enemy will use against us, playing like a broken record player in our mind over and over again. How i see it is that if we are able to speak about our weaknesses publicly and not be afraid of how others might look at us, this is the first step to freedom and change as we put down our pride and humble ourselves before others.

We might be able to voice out our cycle of binds but it doesn’t just go away. Yes, the second issue is being ADDICTED. Most blame the problem of addiction on the things that they are addicted to. But the biggest problem with addiction is ourselves. The lack of Self-Control forces us back to the same old pattern. Therefore we need to learn self-control over our emotions, our thoughts and our actions. In so doing, we are beginning to break the cycle. There might still be times when we fall back into the binds, but the cycle is now broken. What we need to do now is to work on the binds.

The binds can now be removed totally by changing our PERSPECTIVE. How we view certain things affect the way we live our lives. For example, if we believe that once we came to know God, whatever we do doesn’t affect our relationship with God, then removing the binds will be harder as we are not pressed to make any changes to our lives. On the other hand, if we believe that we need to live a life that is pleasing to God, we will be more desperate to make the changes.

I believe that the most amazing thing about God is His ever-lasting grace. He never forces His ways upon us, just waiting patiently for us to respond to Him. What God hates is the evil within us but His love for us, His precious children is long-suffering. He never gives up on us responding to Him.

As we respond to Him, trying our very best to please Him, we will break the cycle of binds, having that victory that God spoke about. The freedom which can be found in Christ.

Faith

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

One of God’s awesome gift to man is faith. When faith is exercise, the impossible became possible; 10’s became 100’s – 100’s became 1000’s. So much so that with faith, man will be an overcomer in any given circumstances, strong enough to believe what God is doing in man’s life. And definately through faith, man will be able to please God.

Faith is build on the fundamental of trust, followed with obedience and displayed by actions.

Trust can be developed over time, through understanding character and ways of doing things. In the same way, trust in God is develop through understanding God’s character and His ways. As we are sure of God, we will be sure of His providence. For it is in Him we place our hope.

This hope in God, will help us choose to  follow His ways even to the point when we do not understand. This is the faith to look beyond the current and into the future, believing that God will bring whatever to pass. This is the obedience of our hearts and action through our hands.

Trust in God by obeying Him with your heart and live out that faith through your deeds.

Life – Complex or Difficult

Why must life be difficult or complex?

Is it because of the lifestyle that makes it complicated or the way we choose to live our lives? Is it because of circumstances that make our life difficult or the way we choose to look at those circumstances?

Doesn’t it all points towards how we choose to live this life?

We can make excuses by blaming it on the risks involved, the difficulties encountered and suitability for everyone else, but in the end, what makes up the fulfilling life?

Again, doesn’t it boil down to making a distinctive choice?

A life between pain and freedom often lies in our perspective. Those who found freedom refuses to come out with excuses which keep them bind to pain. At the same time, those who want freedom but still stuck in pain keeps the excuses flowing.

So, are we making choices of release and freedom?

Fear immobilizes
The fear of ‘what if’ becomes the endless strings of possibility.
The fear of ‘uncertainty’ if one chooses the path of else.
The fear of ‘loss’ in hope turns what is good into never-ending binds

Or, has the common factor: fear immobilizes the choices we make?

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
       I refused my heart no pleasure.
       My heart took delight in all my work,
       and this was the reward for all my labor.

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
       and what I had toiled to achieve,
       everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
       nothing was gained under the sun.

Solomon in Ecclesiastes – “Everything is meaningless”

Then, what is the ultima-tion of choice?

Many have said the ultimate choice of life is Jesus Christ, but why are many who walk with the Lord still stuck in pain and binds, defeated and in anguish, finding life meaningless? Haven’t they made a choice to follow and walk in the ways of the Father in heaven?

What is wrong in our choice of believe?

We have made the choice to believe but have we changed the way of thinking and seeing – which forms our perspective of life? And have we done what is good – by putting what we believe, think and see into a form of service?

Have we made the choice to believe, change and do what is good?

To believe in Jesus | To change our Perspective | To do what is Good

Facebook addiction

I felt bad not blogging for a while. And, it is all because of facebook !!! (let’s talk about addiction … hahhaaa), i have been typing on people’s wall, finding out more about people’s life, making contact with new lost friends, doing quizes, etc. Then i downloaded it into my iPhone (by the way iPhone 3G S is coming out soon) and i am on it 24 hours a day.

Just today, I took this funny quiz (facebook have all kind of quiz) on whether my crush likes me back and was thinking whether i should publish the result as it makes me look really bad hahahaaa … for my crush doesn’t like me back !!! (i think i will get heaps of encouragement for this on facebook … hahahaa) But in the name of fun, why not :p

—————————————————–
Steven took the Does Your Crush Love You Back? quiz.
(This quiz reveals if your crush is crushing back. But really, how could anyone not like you? We mean, come on.)

 Steven Lee’s result is “Probably Not”
Sorry, but the odds are slim. You’ve been coming on kind of strong, and your crush is sending out signals that they don’t like you back. However, there’s always a chance that your crush is the shy type. Maybe they do like you, but they’re afraid to show it – so instead, they’re quiet and distant. It’s possible. Not very likely, but possible. So if you really want to put yourself on the line, ask them to hang out sometime. Just make sure you play it real cool so they don’t get intimidated. (And also ’cause if they reject you, you can pretend you were just being friendly.)
 —————————————————–

This is what most people will go through:
“sob sob … How could people not like me …
bitterness … hahhaaahahaaa …
revenge … it’s all finished”

The 5 stages of Emotions (from experience)
Saddness –> Self-pity –>
Bitterness –> Fake Happiness –>
Anger –> and finally Release

As for me?
“Yeah !!! it is finally over!!!”
Mwahahaaahahahaaa

While i am Waiting

A nice and simple song to encourage us all as we wait upon the Lord’s answer.

My USB Drive

After i found my USB Drive in the washing machine, I feared the worse for all my documents. My mind sing the following words (and Yes, i have a simple mind) …

It is all Gone!!!
Verse1
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
 ”It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”

Chorus
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
 ”It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”

Verse2
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
 ”It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”

Well, tried it on my laptop and it still works. So my conclusion is this;
We can wash our USB Drive in the washing machine once in a while to keep it clean.

Fishing Trip 300509

It was an awesome fishing trip!!! Learnt alot about fishing today

 

Too Friendly ???

Funny quiz from Facebook … hahahaaaaaa …

Steven took the What’s Wrong With You? quiz and the result is Too Friendly.

You’re very open with people, which is great, but sometimes those people are wearing brass knuckles, which is not great. You tend to think that people are generally good at heart, and because of that, you’re very trusting.

People are drawn to your positive attitude and you tend to make friends easily. (You might also be a little vain, but hey, who could blame you? You’re a good-looking individual, and you have a right to be a little cocky about it.)

So where could you go wrong? Well, if you’re too friendly, you might not be on alert for those folks you really shouldn’t trust. So try to use more caution when you meet new people.

And quit trading gym socks with strangers. That’s just plain gross.

Legalism and Liberalism

In most part of the world (or rather the “western world” as most will be more familiar with this term); nations are or have embraced liberalism – the freedom of speech and thought. Of course Liberalism is more than the above mentioned but its ideal are primary tied very closely to the notion of “freedom”.

 Legalism on the other hand focuses on the idea to “strictly follow or abhor to a set of structure, rules, laws or regulations without any or much changeability”. It is best characterized on the many occasions when Jesus rebukes the Pharisee for being legalistic or to be more exact, hypocritical. Matthew 23 is one such passage.

As I contrast legalism with liberalism, it became clear that a balance is needed. Not to become an extremist like the Pharisee’s legalistic (hypocritical) ways nor the abusing of God’s given freedom as seen over the years, and even more evident now, the many that have took liberalism to the extreme and had advocate against many of God’s values.

Read through Romans 3, for the passage spoke about the balance of the given freedom found in Christ and at the same calling upon us not to forsake how we live our lives according to the Word of God – it still stands this very day!

 Romans 3:20

“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

 Romans3:28

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”

 Romans 3:31

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

Eurovision 2009 | Urban Symphony – Rändajad

Another song from Eurovision 2009 which is nice

 

 

English Translation
The Nomads

In the desert heat the sand
Blows like ice-cold snow
Night soon unfurls her wings
Nothing but the wind to escort the nomads

It is the way they wander from one day to the next
It is the way they wander from one life to the next
It is the way it weaves an invisible path
Before them it waits until you are ready to take the risk

It conveys only frozen souls
The moonlight makes shadows of them
Warmth in a ray of sunlight
Is what the morning brings once again

It is the way they wander from one day to the next
It is the way they wander from one life to the next
It is the way it weaves an invisible path
Before them it waits until you are ready to take the risk

They wander from one day to the next
They wander from one life to the next
It weaves an invisible path
It waits until you are ready to take the risk

A voice echoes over the mountains up to the heavens

It is the way they wander from one day to the next
It is the way they wander from one life to the next
It is the way it weaves an invisible path
Before them it waits until you are ready to take the risk
It is the way

EuroVision 2009 | Sasha Son – Love

Nice song and voice that i heard from Eurovision 2009. The first tube is the MTV Version, the second is live enjoy

 

 

 

Love

I’ve had it all, as a little child

I’ve done it all, as a little child

But the pain that I have

For the fame that I got, was for what?

A little girl is crying alone

A little boy, searching for his home

Even after I’ve sinned for a heart-craving dream

Is that a sin?

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love would love to love you back

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love will love you back

Will love you back

For just one moment, we all wanna be

Just as happy as one can be

(So don’t you make the same mistake)

(You’d better give from what you take)

And don’t you break

A little girl or boy crying at home alone

That faithful song will lead the way

To make you strong

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love would love to love you back

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love will love you back

If you really love

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love would love to love you back

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love

Then surely that love

Then surely that love will love you back

Will love you back

Is it time?

What really excite me these days? Well, nothing much i could say of it. Life is a sad routine of work, church and sleep. I really need something different, i really need to get out, no longer trap by the routine of daily life. I have to make a decision soon and let myself be free to the possibility of a future. The longer i stay where i am, the longer i will conform to what everone else makes life to be. I need the courage to take that step of faith into the uncertain, i need to move this beaten up body but i am truly afraid. What if i make a mistake? How will i ever support my journey? How will i ever support my family? Fear cripples my heart, it took away my will and my legs. I am afraid!!!

I am not the same as everyone else. For I don’t think the same, i don’t feel the same and i don’t anticipate the same. Isn’t that what was said of me by the prophets and confirmed by some others? Maybe that is truth and truth will free me from my pain? It might be the right time to go. But I don’t have the plans, i don’t have a single clue on what i should do.

There is always a faithful saying – Trust in the Almighty God to Lead the Way!!!

God, please …

“God, please empower me, strengthen me and align me with the power of the Holy Spirit. God, please make my heart bigger, the shoulders wider and the hands stronger to do Your very work.”

I live a good life, which is no where comparable to many others. So many times, i took for granted what many others could only wish for. My struggles seem small, when my eyes looked beyond my very own.

“God, please empower me, strengthen me and align me with the power of the Holy Spirit. God, please make my heart bigger, the shoulders wider and the hands stronger to do Your very work.”

I know my life is blessed by God, but is this really a life which i should live, for my very own. For this isn’t my life alone but for those whom God have prepared to do greater work. To see lives changed, free and ready to give freely unto Him as He call.

“God, please empower me, strengthen me and align me with the power of the Holy Spirit. God, please make my heart bigger, the shoulders wider and the hands stronger to do Your very work.”

I am weak but You make me strong. I am poor but You make me rich. I am lost but You reveal to me the path. I will trust You all the days of my life. I will walk on the path of righteousness. I will love as You will love, speak as You will speak and act as You will act.

“God, please empower me, strengthen me and align me with the power of the Holy Spirit. God, please make my heart bigger, the shoulders wider and the hands stronger to do Your very work.”

How do you help someone with very specific needs?

How do you help someone with very specific needs?

The very first thing is to have a very accommodating heart to accept the individual for who they are. Without love, nothing else we do matters. It just amounts to nothing.

1Co 13:1-3 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

Before sacrifice there is love. Love is a characteristic of Christianity, where love gives freely and never demands. Therefore, the only way to help someone with very specific needs is to develop a loving heart. No one can say they can’t love, or because of bad past experience. Love can be developed, especially so when we ask God to show us how. That is why God makes it the first and second commandment,

Mat 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Love gives freely and never demands, especially so with people. We can’t expect them to pay back or give back what we choose to freely give – our love. Our love is unconditional. That is why it is patient with each one and will motivate us beyond our norms. It will help us walk on the path beyond our usual route (out of our comfort zone) for the other party. That is what love can do.

Words of Empowerment

I will empower you to empower others
And through you, many will raise up to take their place

Then many will in-turn lead the others to take their places

The cycle will never stop till the day of the returning

 

I will reveal to you the ways to speak deeply into their lives

Many lives will be touched and transformed to do my work

These lives will in-turn play a part in touching and transforming the lives of those I have prepared in advance to do good works

The cycle will never stop till the day of the returning

 

I will speak dearly to you when you are tired

And your words will encourage and edifies the weariness of many

Many will rise up and claim the victory and in-turn pass on that same spirit to those around

The cycle will never stop till the day of the returning

 

I will give you faith to believe in great things

The very same faith will move mountains and bring about changes

People will rise up and follow that object of that faith and in-turn bring people along

The cycle will never stop till the day of the returning

In You I can trust

Oh Lord, I trust in You.
For how hard is this path of freedom and truth.

Great sacrifice You do not seek,
But obedience is all You need.

Make me a man of my words,
Stirring faith in my frighten heart.

For You bless as I choose to walk,
Closely on the path of Your righteous ways.

No matter where the path will lead,
In You I can trust, the God of all my days.

OC 2009 | Part3 Special Edition

“Enjoy your single-hood while it last !!! Cause it will be no more soon !!!”

that statement seems to linger in the air, in the ever-busy Coles Super-Mart and of course it came from that infamous indian-chinese Mr Bee.

Did he know something which i don’t? or did others know something which i don’t? Also, this particular gal have been on my case non-stop to write that last part about OC2009 – the direction to a relationship issue (well, i think i kind of put her off with my delays :p). 

Adding to these prior, i have matchmakers trying to pull some “red-strings”, discussion around these BGR topics with different ones, and even with leaders saying i do not have the gift of celibacy, I really begin to wonder where it all begins. Well, this chain of events did totally throw me off my tracks to focus upon the Lord. These events makes me realise that my convictions are so so shallow which resulted in my cry to God for the direction to a relationship issue. This really brings back memories of 4 relationships which i hold dear in my heart. Do bear in mind as you read this, that i have never been in a B-G-Relationship, but i did have plenty of lessons on each unsuccessful attempt as God teach me from each.

1st Attempt: The Relationship Must have Similar Direction (might not need to be the same but similar ones)

I was just about to leave for Australia, and i have this girl-friend whom i am pretty close to. In fact, one of her friend came asking me when i am going to pop that question, for she is just waiting. I wanted to but in me, something doesn’t feel right for i am thinking about what future do we have together? I don’t want to start a relationship which is long-distance, where i won’t get to see her for 3 years? Back then, i didn’t think much about the differences in our faith, but over the time as i grow in my maturity in God, i wonder where that will lead us too. I believe that the decision i made was lead by the Holy Spirit because our direction wasn’t the same. I believed that the Holy Spirit lead me through a process of thinking, which i am grateful to the Lord for. Case Closed.

2nd Attempt: The Relationship Needs to be Accounted For

One thing which i believe in is faithfulness even in liking someone. If i like someone, I will never seek another one till i get closure in the current. As such, after 1 and 1/2 years of liking, i seek closure but in a foolish way. Mine declaration of love came without the accountability of someone like my mentor. It ended with heaps of uncertainty, bitterness and the different stages of emotions. But through it all, i learnt the need to be under counsel for all the various reasons listed. As i choose to open myself up to different ones about how i feel, i found out more about the possibility of a relationship with the particular person and even more so in my case, the release of bottled up uncertainty and mixed emotions of the after declaration. Case Closed.

3rd Attempt: The Relationship is Entrusted to the Lord

I was at the age of wanting a life-partner, to experience the joy and the pain of a relationship. In fact, i noticed someone fairly quickly after the 2nd attempt. Unexpectedly, i began to spend more time with this someone and my feelings for her begin to grow at a very fast pace. At this stage, i definitely do not want to make the same mistakes as before. So i confided in my mentor and entrusted to Him my feelings. I committed to God and prayed like never before (almost any chance i get). Like the relationship before, i wanted closure so i prayed and asked God for the opportunity to declare my interest to her. I remember that particular day when i actually did. I got the go ahead from my mentor and i prayed as well that despite the outcome, it will not be like before, filled with uncertainty, bitterness and the like. I want proper reconciliation despite whatever outcome. To this day, this sister is one of the best girl-friend which i got (or i wish to think so). I could freely share with her and just have pure fun. Through it all, i entrusted to God the relationship and despite the fact that the relationship didn’t go the way i desired, God gave me a great sister and friend. Case Closed.

4th Attempt: The Relationship Requires Patience and Selfless Love

In 2006, i begin to take note of this gal and today is 2009. 4 years and i couldn’t find rest because there wasn’t an ending. Through all the countless prayers i have made, God was simply asking me to wait. No matter how many times i prayed, i always get the same answer, “Be Patient and Wait”. Sometimes, i wonder why i have to wait, how long do i have to wait and thoughts of letting go did cross my mind but i couldn’t because there isn’t an ending. It did came to a stage where i decided to leave it aside for a season. But with the happening of recent events, it again sparkle my deepest desire. This was when i decided to cry out once again for a direction in the relationship issue and this time round, i got the clearance to find closure but i do need to find the right timing and opportunity. Often people only wanted their deepest desire met but i know that God’s resolution is the best even if it doesn’t met my desire. Through it all, i learnt two things – Patience and Selfless Love where the latter focus on the other party and not on the self.

This is a really long post, where it took me a while to write and think things through. My desire is to be as honest about my feelings and at the same time, i wanted it to be something where others can be encouraged and learnt from. As always, i encourage all of us to continue Trusting in the Lord.

Just a Simple Encouragment

If you are waiting to read a nice good post, on a certain topic …. errr ……. well …. i am feeling kind of sleepy now, so maybe another night, when i have greater inspiration.

On the other hand, i just want to write a simple encouragment to you who needs them.

Keep your spirit up,
for you will never walk alone,
for at the darkest of times,
all of us will be here with you.

Stay strong in the Lord,
for you are never alone,
for through the longest of nights,
He is always there for you.

Remember that the Lord and us will always be here for you.

Classic Worship

I haven’t heard and sing this classic worship song for a long long while. And just listening and playing to this song really bring back some great memories. Now together with another awesome classic, “Exalted, You will ever be exalted”. It really sings of the majestic nature of God, on a whole new level or worship.

False Teacher – Me?

Paul wrote to Timothy,

“As i urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless controversies rather than God’s work – which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

This passage reminds me of a man, who loves to argue endless doctrinal issues with his mentor, stirring up werid questions and statements on purpose in cell (one friend used to call it “spanner”), loving controversies and teaches extreme doctrines. Well, you might have a guess by now – that the person is me. Many sees me as a great teacher of the word or as one who knows heaps (i seriously wonder how that happens). But as i look back over the years, where i have lead others on path which are wrong, it really struck my heart with sorrow. Those that might have fallen away over my words, my style and my reasoning. Those that might never have got a chance to hear the truth over my teachings. Yes, as Paul proclaim that He is a great sinner, so am I one as well.

Over the couple of months, God has been laying in my heart the importance of studying His words, using His words as the basis of my impartations and teachings, not to depart to the left or right of the truth. But the more i study His words, the more i found out that i don’t really know His words enough. I am afraid, i am worried, i am scared to teach His words anymore. I do not have the confidence i used to have. I begin to find myself palming off questions where i could have easily answered. All because, i am afraid. Fear really cripples the spirit of a man.

One thing amazing about God is that even when i afraid and when i am weak, He still gives me the opportunities to share, to impart and to teach. Because of these opportunities, i stand as a living testimony of His greatness and love.