[I see] Forward Backward, [God sees] Faith Refined

[What did we learn on hindsight? What is ahead of us? We often would ask… But what’s most important, and that we should tirelessly pursue with all might, is what God sees and is doing in and through us. Through it all, He is after us, He is making our faith refined and purified. And we do remember that we are His most treasured possession…Song of Songs 6:3]

If I were to choose to live my life backwards
I would hope things had been different
I would hope that I did not make any mistake
So that I can be happier now
If, I were to choose to live my life backwards

But because I am living my life forward
I turn my mistakes into learning experiences
I live with no regrets
So that I can look forward to the newness that each day brings
If, I choose to live my live forward

Forward, backward
Backward, forward
Learning to let go of the past
Growing wiser as each day unfolds
Pressing on towards the goal I have in Christ Jesus

I throw off every sin that entangles
And every weight that ensnares
I run with perseverance the race that is set out before me
Looking unto Jesus
The Author and Finisher of my faith

Forward Backward
Backward Forward
Faith refined in me, God’s work in the making
Trusting Him, with my life I worship
I am His, He is mine…

Songs 6:3 "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine..."

Give me Oil

[Oil here refers to intimacy with God, our history with Him, our encounter with Him that only we ourselves can acquire individually as we grow in the Lord]

Give me oil in my lamp
I want to burn
For You O Lord my God

Fill my lamp with oil
I want to shine
For You and You alone

The knowledge of You
Fills my soul
Lighting every corner within me

The glory of Your Presence
Fascinates my whole being
Setting my heart aflame once again

More of You
There can never be enough
Come O Lord, give me oil I pray...

Hold on

[Prayer: Dark but lovely am I to You, oh my Bridegroom King. Increase my understanding of You and the days to come. Grant me skill to understand...]

I hold on to You
For You are the Shepherd of my soul
Altogether gentle and pure

I hold on to You
For You are the Anchor of my life
My strong tower and refuge

I hold on to You
For You are the Leader of my path
Bright shinning and victorious

The winds blew
The storms raged
The shakings came

I lost my grip
I lost my focus
I thought I lost it all…

Until… until I realized You are still here
Right beside me
Holding on to me

I hold on to You
You hold on to me
Together in eternity…

Set eternity in my heart O God!
With You I can scale the highest mountain!
With You I can overcome the deepest valley!

So I hold on to You
Knowing that You hold on to me
When I am weak, then You are strong...

WHAT IS STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND ME

[The heart cry of intercessors in the House of Prayer]

A little bit closer
A little bit nearer
That’s all I desire
That’s all my soul yearns

Why not now
Why not soon
It never felt so long
It never felt so parched and dry

You have stolen my heart
You have ruined me with Your love
You are all that I want now
Nothing else can satisfy

No other loves
No other thrones
Can ever take Your place
Can ever exalt itself against the beautiful One

My eyes gaze in lovesickness
Amazed at Your fascinating beauty
My heart’s ravished
With just one glance of Your eyes

So I run after You
Out of the depths of my heart I cry out to You
Can You hear my desperate plea
Will you turn and show me Your face

What is standing between You and me?
What is standing in the way?
How long more do I have to wait?
How can I reach the place near to Your heart?

I’ll do what it takes
I’ll give all I have
Just to be near
Just to hear You once again

So with clean hands
I come to You
With a pure heart
I seek You

With a heart that says yes
I earnestly seek You
In a dry and weary land
I thirst for You

And You slowly turned
As if You could not hold back any longer
You turned around
And You waited for me

I ran with the fastest speed
I ran with all my might
I threw off everything that hinders
And every sin that entangles

I fell right into Your side
And felt the scars of Your sacrifice
I fell right into your loving embrace
And heard the beat of Your heart

I will never let You go
I will never give You rest
For that’s the place that I seek to dwell
For that’s what I’ve always been longing for

Where you go
I will follow
Where you leap
I will skip with You

Commander of the army
Lord of host
I say yes
Let nothing stand between You and me… ever again…

My beloved is to me....To know how God feels and think about me...

It's not about how I feel... not that it's not important... In fact it is. God is so interested in everything about us, and even knows the number of hairs on our head...

Matthew 10:29-31 ~ Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

God wants us to quieten down, and let us really really know that all we NEED to really really know, is how he really really feels and thinks about us.

Ok God... let me throw away the bagful of 'me-first' and a spoonful of 'self-consciousness'. And wait, I think there's another pack of 'does-God-really-care' somewhere out there. Oh well, I think I'm (quite) ready to get a earful from you now...

You are lovely... you are lovely to me. Dark, but oh so lovely... ~ Songs 1:5 (paraphrased)

Gulps. hmm... sorry God, I know I am dark. Can you drop me some whiteners? You see, I need to look good before you (and others). Another bagful of 'self-consciousness' to dump. I thought there was only a spoonful.. Anyway, God knows, and still he says I'm lovely. So I think that's what it really matters.

So I guess I am getting there, getting to understand how God feels about me.. I am dark but lovely to him!!!! I choose to set my mind on how he thinks and feels about me. And let that thought inflitrate every part of my being, till every self-consciousness becomes God-consciousness..

My beloved is to me... ~ Songs 1:14

How He feels (about me) is first. What He thinks (about me) is first. Lord, set me free to revel in the knowledge of this love... God likes me!

A penny for my thoughts now? Find it here http://afteryourheart.blogspot.com/2006/04/my-name.html

David - Faith and Courage, Mighty in Spirit

An article that touched my heart...
http://www.intouch.org/myintouch/mighty/davidsfaith_77977.html
Here it is...

The Faith And Courage Of DAVID

What do you do in the heat of battle, when your world seems to be coming apart at all ends? Are you overwhelmed by your circumstances, and want to give up? Or do you stand firm in the faith that God has given you and refuse to buckle under the pressure?

David, the future king of Israel, had every reason to quit and walk away, but he refused to do so. He remained true to His calling even though he spent years wondering if he would ever experience the goodness and the fulfillment of God's blessings.

There was a time in David's life when death stalked him at every turn. Still, he held firm to his faith in God, and the Lord rewarded his obedience and called him, "a man after His own heart." (Acts 13:22) But how did he come to this point, especially when his life was marked by heartache, disappointment, and feelings of extreme loneliness? What molded the heart of David so that his life, even with its flaws, became a symbol of godly devotion?

For one thing, David's heart was undivided before the Lord. (1 Chronicles 12:33) Regardless of the trouble he faced, he decided as a young man to follow God with a whole heart and not to compromise his devotion to the Lord. It was David's faith and love for God that proved to be a leading characteristic of his life. In Psalm 23, David wrote: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me . . ." (v. 4).

In Psalm 18:2 he writes, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. . . He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me" (v. 19). God delighted in David just as He delights in you.

As a young boy, David spent many hours alone taking care of his father's sheep. These were not wasted moments. Many of the psalms we now read, memorize, and enjoy were written by David during this period of his life. This is when God chose to train his young king. Only the Lord has the ability to take a low-end job and use it to prepare one of His servants for a position in life like none other.

Are you weary from waiting on God? Maybe you feel as though you are in a dead-end job, and you want to quit. However, before you do this, ask God to make His direction clear to you. When faced with a decision, David often "inquired of the Lord." He wanted to know God's mind so that He could do the Lord's will. Is this a desire of your heart? Do you want to please God, or are you seeking only to please yourself? If it is the latter, you will experience much heartache and strife. But if you are seeking to please God, even though your pathway darkens at times, you can be sure God will lead you into His blessings.

Be patient and faithful in your waiting on God. He has something good in mind for you. David could never have assumed his role as king of Israel had he not learned to wait for God's perfect timing. Even though God directed the prophet Samuel to anoint David as the future king, his reign would not begin immediately. It would be years before David took the throne. Even after his victory in battle over the Philistine giant, Goliath, David was met with a stark, cold reality: God was not ready to remove Saul from the throne. In fact, Saul, whom David had helped in battle, became his dire enemy.

Instead of devoting his time to ruling Israel, Saul wasted years searching for David in hopes of killing him. Saul knew that his self-promoting actions had caused God to withdraw His anointing. God had chosen another to take his place, and David was God's man.

David never lost sight of His perspective of God. He may have become discouraged, but he never doubted God's goodness toward him. When you find yourself wondering what God is doing in your life, ask Him to help you regain your perspective.

God has not forgotten you. He is in the process of bringing something beautiful to pass in your life. He knows exactly what it takes to make you into the godly man or woman that He has in mind.

Even though David loved God greatly, he was not perfect. He was a warrior and a man easily drawn aside by his passions. Still, he was unflappable in his desire to know and please God. He was a man who was "mighty in spirit" because he did not waiver in his love. Would you like to know David's God? You can. David's closeness to the Lord came as a result of his heart's desire to spend time alone with the Lord. This is where spiritual greatness is born—in the presence of God.

David's commitment to God was based on who God was and not what he could receive from the Lord. He believed God had a plan for his life, and he was determined to see it become a reality.

Forerunner Ministry

1Chronicles 12:32
“... the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times,
to know what Israel ought to do...”

Jeremiah 3:15
“And I will give you shepherds according to My heart,
who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

(A) Understanding the Times
Seven Theological Premises of the Forerunner Ministry

- the uniqueness of the generation when Jesus returns.
- the Father heart of God is going to be fully revealed and restored.
- three unprecedented activities of the Holy Spirit.
- revelation of three faces of the beauty of Jesus. (Isa 4:2)
- the primary focus of the Father’s labor is the poor.
- the strategy of God is to shake everything that can be shaken. (Hag 2:6-8)
- God will raise up the forerunner ministries to prepare the church.

(B) What is the Forerunner Ministry all about?

- Whenever God is about to do something “new” or “unprecedented”, he will raise a VOICE to announce, declare or to make sense of it. Amos 3:7 ~ “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”

- The forerunner ministries are “proclamation ministries” and consist of people (forerunners) whom God will raise, to propagate / declare the message on his heart (trumpet His call), to prepare the church (His Bride) for his coming.

- The spirit of the forerunner is the Spirit that prepares the Bride for the End-Times.

The bible is clear that the forerunner ministry is specifically described at the end of the age. Most of the forerunner prophecies refer to the glory of God being released in a global dimension. The context of the forerunner ministry is to touch all the nations of the earth. Isaiah 40:1-5

(C) The motivation of the forerunner ministry ~John 3:27-29

(D) Biblical Models - Noah, John the Baptist

It is not about being a pioneer nor anything to do with temperaments. God will raise up the new generation of the Daniel People, David Generation, the 'John the Baptist's (burning and shining lamps), 'Anna & Mary's and Joel’s Army who operate in the Spirit of the Forerunner.

Daniel People
Dan 1:8; Dan 3:17-18; Dan 10:12; Dan 11:32b
Made up their minds to know God; fasted lifestyle and prayer; loved not their lives unto death.

David Generation
Jer 3:15; John 3:27-30
After God’s heart and lead many in the knowledge and understanding of God. One thing.

John the Baptist’s
John 5:35; Isa 40:3-5
Burning and shining lamps, voice in the desert

The Anna’s
Luke 2:36-38
Prayed and fasted in the temple. Saw the fullness of the Messiah through the boy Jesus, and bore witness to the Redeemer.

The Mary’s
Luke 10:38-42; John 12:1-8
Recognized the time for Jesus’ death and anointed Him with the alabaster jar of perfume. Sat at Jesus’ feet.

Joel’s Army
Joel 27-32
Operate in supernatural power; Great Harvest

(E) KNOWING WHAT TO DO
What is the Purpose of the Forerunner Ministry?

1. To ANNOUNCE ahead of time what God is about to do.
2. To DECLARE what is unprecedented & uncommon in his/her generation.
3. To MAKE SENSE of what is happening & the heartbeat of God.
4. To PREPARE the Church to be in agreement with God.

(F) What does the Forerunner do?
4 unique functions of the forerunner ministry as seen in Isaiah 40:1-5

ABG!! - Ambushed by the Bridegroom God

"ABG! ABG! Now that was what happened... If You don't mind dear God, could You please tell me that earlier? Save the struggle on my part? Ok, I get it, I needed that. Besides, it would not have been called an ambush if You have told me everything earlier.." She recalled what happened to her months ago...

"Where are You God, Your manifested presence, that tangible presence that I used to feel? Why are my times spent with you so... so... unfruitful? I mean I did the usual thing, prayed the usual way, but it's different.. what's happening to me? Have I been faithless?"

She was doing her own thing. Caught up (with the secular needful duties and stuff). And subconsciously she began to also 'do' the 'God things'. God watched. When has He ever slept or slumbered? Psalm121. He watched. His heart was burning passionately for His beloved as He watched.

He decided to launch an ambush. He will have to withdraw to launch the ambush. He will have to be 'invisible' for a while. He has to do this, as He knew just how she is. He sees and hears the cries of her heart for more of God, even before she knew it herself. He springs into action to a heart that says yes. But can His beloved understand? Can His beloved endure? Will His beloved seek Him? Will His beloved run to Him?

"I sleep, but my heart is awake.." ~ Songs5:2

What was that she heard? Accusations. 'So you are checking in on God now. You think He'll hear you? Where were you the whole week?' And the guilt talk went on and on... The beloved's heart was awake, awake to lovesickness... "Where is my lover, where is my Bridegroom God? The accusations are from the pits of hell... help!"

The One in ambush sent His word to His beloved.. "His understanding no one can fathom.." ~ Isa40:28

His beloved lifted up the word, without even knowing God was near. His left hand is under her head (Songs2:6). He has never left her, although she felt as though He did. With the word, she sent the accusation out of sight and out of mind.

"And my heart yearned for him. I arose..." ~ Songs5:4

But His beloved was alone, and lonely. What's happening? How to even begin to tell another what was happening when she herself knew not what was going on? She broke down in tears and exasperation...

But she decided to press in and seek God. Faint with love, eyes squinting with mustard seed faith, she arose as she looked to God. She thought, whom have I in heaven but You? Surely Jesus understands, and too, went through lonely moments of alone-ness. Her thoughts were drawn to the cross. To the garden of Gethsemane... Her tears slowly dried up as the scene and emotions of Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane filled her mind and whole being. Yes, God understands... He went through the loneliest moments on earth.

She fell asleep in weariness and slept soundly... She fell right into the arms of her bridegroom God who loves her and pursues her passionately, even when He had to withdraw His manifest presence to cause her to...

... to cause her to see her own heart that wants more of God! To cause her to realise how much God loves with a deep passion, even in her weakness, and not just 'do' more of the God things to 'earn' back His favour. To cause her to yearn for more of God in response! She exclaimed, "I am dark, but lovely!" Songs1:5. Her heart yearned and longed for more of God... Such love, such God!

"My heart leaped up when he spoke..." ~ Songs5:6

Now everything made sense... "God, you ambushed me! You set me up!" Now she truly KNOWS that He understands, and that He LOVES her unreservedly and passionately even in her weakness. Oh how God answers the prayers of her heart. His ways are not our ways... His thoughts are not our thoughts... they are higher! Isa55:8-9.

"Tell me God," her heart leaping at the revelation of His divine ambush, "tell me, what do I do now? Shall I give up everything to follow you? If you say so!" she exclaims, as her heart responded in passionate lovesickness, mixed with the human fears of needing to give all up, to give up the things she enjoys and loves doing...

And like Abraham, she passed the test. She was willing to give it all. But that was not what God wanted. He wanted to test her heart. Yes, He already knows her heart. He says behold...

And the beloved's journey continued. God sent many angels to refresh her along the way. Angels whose reward are in the hands of God, because of their hearts of love... He also gave her some gifts. Gifts that she knew were from God, and she cherished them. But the greatest reward for the beloved, was the unveiling of God himself to her through this divine ambush. Who is this God? What is His Name? Songs5:10-16...

Indeed, our Bridegroom God is our Joy and Great Reward...
Gen15:1 ~ After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Reflections and Projections...

Ahh… finally found this article. Reproduced from the good old TOUCH NUS Connexion, a quarterly production by TOUCH NUS ISN 4/94…. Gee… more than 10 years ago!! But the message still resonates in my heart, and I hope yours too… It’s written by a dear brother-in-Christ, whom I had a pact with - to continue to spur one another in Christ (includes knocking the head, slapping the shoulder etc) if either of us dare stray off from God, whom we dearly love and serve with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. We all have a debt to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ… a debt to continue to love one another… don’t we? Rom13:8


Reflections & Projections

It is the time of the year again when the world talks (and jokes) about making (and inevitably breaking) New Year resolutions… For us, however, it must necessarily be different. As God’s chosen people, beloved children and soldiers of His mighty army called to serve Him alone, I believe that each New Year is an important landmark for look back (in evaluation and thanksgiving) as well as forward (in terms of vision, goals and plans).

When the nation of Israel was poised to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering, Moses’ injunction to them not to forget the Lord (in Deu 8) included the important command to remember (v2, 11) all that God has done, and to hope in anticipation of the land promised to their forefathers (v1, 7-9). It was Israel’s failure to obey that led to her sin and suffering. Indeed, a clear command to ‘watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live’ is recorded in Deu 4:9.

I believe nothing streamlines our walk as much as knowing where we came from and where we are going. It is in remembrance and thanksgiving that faith arises ( 1Sam 12:24 – ‘Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all of your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.’) And with rising faith and commitment, we face the challenges of the new year ahead – things that our Father will bring into our lives to teach and mold us, and promises to be fulfilled.

It is important to note that the difference between this and a ‘New Year Resolution’ is that – we are not our own! It is our dear Master and Commander who sits with us both in planning and execution. And He says, “My word that goes out of My mouth (to you)… will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purposes for which I sent it.” Isa55:11

Let us at the beginning and end of this year, and every year of our lives, be able to say with Paul:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it for a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1Cor 9:24-27

Guidelines for Reflection and Projection
- Find a quiet place and set aside at least an hour or two. Bring along a notebook!
- Ask God to bring you back through the past year (like a motion picture!) – its significant events and lessons learnt / thanksgiving items (you’ll be surprised how much the Spirit helps you to remember!)
- Prayfully ask – and listen – for God’s direction and vision for you in the new year.

SUGGESTIONS for Areas of Life to Consider
* Reflection * – significant events of the past year; new experiences; special areas of growth; other blessings and victories etc

* Projection * – Personal life: areas that God wants to deal with; level of walk / personal devotion / area of service. Ministry: new areas; visions; goals for the new year.

General (The Whole Person)- evaluation and goal setting in the areas of : Spiritual, Social, Physical, Mental, Emotional and Career.

Pain pain go away...

Halo God.. it's me.. again. Yes... you remembered correctly. I was the one who came to you, yesterday, and... the day before yesterday. Yes, it's about the pain again. I'm asking you again to take it away. Would you hurry please Lord...

What do you mean how long it has been there. If I can remember, since the beginning of time!! Alright, I'm exaggerating.. but you surely KNOW what I mean. This PAIN hurts, this PAIN weakens me, and oh my, this PAIN is so much in the way and the PAIN... hmm...erm.. I see that I'm full of the PAIN and focusing on just the PAIN. But God...

Oh God you are beginning to speak, yes, yes, over here, this pain... but soon as you speak, my garfield eyelids covered half of my eyes... you mean you are not REMOVING my pain?!?

2Cor 12:9a And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

I was about to protest vehemently, but something welled up inside me. Could it.. could it be the grace so amazing that warmed my heart. Wait, the pain.. it's still there.. but somehow it doesn't seem to matter THAT much anymore. And instead of getting so 'full of the pain', I seem so drawn into knowing the grace of God, and my, it's sufficient for me. That's all he said, and that's all I need to know...

So on and on I lay hold of the thought about his grace...about his strength made perfect in weakness. I lay hold of it because there is something I received that I could not fully grasp with my carnal mind. Oh God, speak through my thick skull I pray!!

And the next moment, I found myself proclaiming things I have not heard of from myself... I cried out.. "most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12:9b-10

I could almost sing a song... not about the pain, but about the grace that is sufficient, and the power of Christ that rest upon me, making me strong in every way.

~ He is my everything, He is my all. He is my everything, both great and small. He gave His life for me, made everything new! He is my everything, now how about you? ~

Psalm 34:8 ~ Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Knowing God through the Book of Haggai

The Book of Haggai
(Haggai: rebuild the House; Ezra: restore the Law; Nehemiah: rebuild the wall)

WHAT
Background: Ezra 1:1 -4:5; 4:24-6:22

Work had started on the temple on the issue of Cyrus' edict, in 537. However, the work lapsed in the face of the opposition of the mixed peoples who had remained in the land during the long captivity, and who feared the restoration of Jewish power.

Cyrus had died in battle in 530, and the armies of his tyrannical son Cambyses had marched through the land on their way to subdue Egypt . They would have laid tribute on its produce as they went, impoverishing its inhabitants yet further.

In 522, Cambyses himself died, and an ambitious but nobler man, Darius, an officer of his armies and himself of royal stock, seized power. It is at the beginning of his reign that Haggai prophesies. Ezr4:5; 4:24-5:2; 6:14


WHO - The Main Characters
* Haggai – Prophet
* King Darius
* Zerubbabel – Governer of Judah
* Joshua – High Priest


HOW to use the book to know God more / grow as a believer
Personal: Consider our ways and return to putting God first. Trust in God's provision for our lives even as we do His work and put him first. (Hag 2:8 don't worry about finance)

Corporate: Pray for the word of the Lord to come. Stir up the hearts of the believers (the Anna's, Mary's, songbirds, musicians, helpers etc) to come and build the House.

- The word of the Lord came (6 times)
- Thus says the Lord of Host (13 times)
- Says the Lord (6 times)
- Consider your ways (5 times)


WHY - Purpose of the Book

4 Prophetic Messages

- Call to build the House (Hag 1)
- Encourage the people to build the house through the prophet Haggai (Hag 2:1-9) -> be strong
- Blessings of obedience (Hag 2:10-19; 15-17)
- Assurance to Zerubbabel (Hag 2: 20-23) -> God's encouragement to the leader

A Lifestyle of Worship, Reading the Word & Living as a People of One Thing

There is something to learn from the patriarchs of old.

They build altars.
They pitch tents.
They dig wells.

Genesis 26:25
So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Altars of Worship
Noah sure had the adventure of his life. Swung around the flood, he was in the ark for numerous wandering days. I wondered how he survived all that smell of the creatures great and small. Anyway, he was in step with God's great plan, and I'm quite sure God took care of that, and many other issues. Very sure. Besides, our God who is so detailed in giving Noah the specific measurements of the ark, will surely note and provide what Noah needed to survive the flood.

Come on Noah. The ark is not moving anymore. It's on dry ground. Even the dove told you so with proof on its beak. Move it. Don't waste time. Oh, I see that you were waiting for God to speak before you make the next step. My sincerest apologies. Now I know why I often go ahead of God, and get frustrated. I learnt something here. Thanks Mr Noah.

So step by step, all went out of the ark, into the dry land. And as if he has been planning that for the longest time, Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. Gen2:20.

And it was so with Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua... They all built altars. Altars of the expression of worship unto the Lord. And there at the altar, setting apart what was holy. Whenever we now come before God in worship, we remember the greatest perfect sacrifice on the cross, and say He is worthy!


Pitching Tents...
What's the fad with tents? Aren't they temporary, and not to mention not here to stay for long? I mean, how can you count on tents to cover your head, especially in moments of storms? And, how does it feel like going home to a....'tent'? Surely not!

Bingo! Right on spot. I just answered the question with my questions.. so much for thinking my thoughts aloud.

Hebrews 11:13-16
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Paradigm shift. I've got some re-thinking to do. Set priorities and re-align my life. Am I a pilgrim (TR: Temporary Resident) or PR (PR: Permanent Resident) of this earth? Tents would do. Whatever's over my head, it's temporary. Besides, it helps to have little to give up and pack / unpack along the way. When storms come, we hide under the shadow of the Almighty. He is our ultimate refuge and strong tower. Paradigm shifted, and much re-alignment in the process.. Thank God He helps the faint but sincere hearted ones. We stumble and fall, we get forgetful and go off-track, but God is the strength of our heart and portion forevermore...

No wonder God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has even prepared a city for them. To reign and rule and be with Christ is the greatest hour they longed and lived for. Putting up with the discomfort of tents is really nothing compared to what they will receive in the days to come.

I long to join them... I want to join them. I must join them!


Dig Wells
DW101.
Step one: Identify location.
Step Two: Pick up tools.
Step Three: Dig it in, dig it deep, till fresh water gushes out.

That should be it. And keep at it. From truth (reading of the word) to revelation (discovery of truths that speaks to the heart, development of conviction) to history (my journey with God) to testimony (share the word / history with impact).

Dig the word. Stay focused. Let the word marinate your heart as you meditate on the truths. Use the word as your prayer language. May we find delight as the word of God comes forth to us, and swiftly.


So in the new year ahead, may we grow deeper in cultivating a lifestyle of Worship, Reading God's word and Living as a People of One Thing. And what's on the altar got to be holy. They call it set apart. In Romans 12:1-2, we are exhorted to set apart our lives as a spiritual act of worship, constantly renewing our mind with the truths of God.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."