God rewards Obedience

God Rewards Obedience

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession…

(Exodus 19:5, NIV)

Sometimes God asks us to do things that don’t make sense. It doesn’t seem logical. It doesn’t fit into our budget. It doesn’t line up with our schedule. “God, You want me to go back to college? I’m 40 years old.” “God, You want me to give them a gift? I was saving those funds for my own dreams.” Or, “God, You want me to leave this secure position that I’ve had for years and start my own business?” Too often we overanalyze it. We debate it. Look at it only in the natural. We end up making excuses, talking ourselves out of it, “That couldn’t be God.” But if you’re going to reach your highest potential, you have to have bold obedience. That means you obey even when you don’t understand it. You just do it even when it doesn’t make sense. That’s what faith is all about.

If you can understand everything, you have the time, the money, it’s all lined up, then that doesn’t really take any faith. God will ask you to do things that seem far out, unusual, not practical. With every act of obedience, there is a blessing attached to it. When you do what you know God wants you to do, a blessing will follow. God rewards obedience!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, today I choose to obey You. I let go of trying to reason it all out in my mind and choose to trust You. Thank You for Your faithfulness and for rewarding my obedience in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Good Friday 18 Apr 2014 - Lesson about wild dog

18 Apr 2014 

Just witnessed something so real. 

I was wondering what the bible was trying to illustrate about dangerous dogs and silly or dirty pigs. Urban dweller like me mostly see domestic dogs and most of the time they are tame, trained and tidied. I don't quite get this verse. 

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:6 NIV)

Why can't we give dogs what is sacred? They cannot appreciate it and will destroy it? Or mock it? 

From BSF notes: 

The dogs and pigs mentioned in the passage were not cute pets or tame farmyard animals. They were often wild and vicious. Both were hungry scavengers, known to even eat the dead. 

Read it on the bus on the way there and was trying to digest it. Wow, never thought I'll witness it real life real time at Ubin. Thank goodness I was spared the actual fighting and the scramble. When we walked past, the baby boar was already dead... 

Upon reaching the Chek Jawa path, we parked our bicycles to walk to the boardwalk. Admired the wild boards and the baby boars for a while before moving off. After we completed the loop on the way back, we saw this dog tearing away the flesh and devouring a baby boar!! 

OMG! Really stunned all of us. A life is just taken away like that. But that is life and that is the real wildlife and that is how the world goes round. 

It also made me realise how vicious, hungry and merciless the wild dog can be. 😱  

They can turn around and hurt you. 

Thank God for His protection during our trip to Ubin. We even helped to apply

bandage onto another lady who slipped and fell and bruised her forehead. Our blessings overflowing to bless others!

We were like wild dogs, but now we have been tamed to be obedient. Vicious and angry no more! 

Blessed Good Friday!!

Selfie no. 3 (or was it 4)

Drenched but we were ok and happy still. 

Jory's thanksgiving: 

Hey blessed ones I had so much fun today from hanging out with u guys! Love the workout, even the sudden downpour left great memories too. And counting mud skippers was such random fun! And who can forget our non stop selfies with rach's selfie stick everywhere we went hahs. 

Jonah n audrey: thank u for planning this! Audrey ur snack packs were so sweet and needful!! Thank u for blessing us with them 

Simin: for preparing ur own mini 1st aid kit for the cg 😉without anyone asking 

Ys: thank u for looking out for the cg like a big brother, won't forget u cycling in the heavy rain in ur no 4 to ensure everyone was safe. And of course for carrying anna and my water bottles ard ✌✌✌

And I wanna thank the Lord for his hedge of protection ard each of us - that our 1st aid kit wasn't used on any of us but even became a blessing to another injured cyclist 😊😊😊

22 sept 2013 sermon

22 Sept 2013 sermon

Once Adam and Eve the fruit. Their consciouns will be activated. Man will not need to ask God anymore.

Peter John  Paul writes mainly to Jews brother. 

Not just against Ceremonial law but sins and laws.

Without law, can there be holiness? 

Nono no. 

Roman 6:14

Sin shall not have dominion over you (because they are under law) for you are not under law but under grace. 

Roman 7:1-14

Woman can marry another man only if the husband die for she is no longer under law. 

The law manifest the sin. Showed that man has sins within. 

It is not God's pleasure to bring the law. It was brought by a messenger and angel. Whereas when Grace is brought, God directly speak to the person. 

God knew Man. He knew Man is unwilling to accept how bad they are. Man is still trying to find goodness in ourselves.

God's requirement of sin is the same. 

Law is forever and nv die. 

So we die to the law and be born in grace spiritually. The law cannot go beyond that anymore. It does not bind me and have dominion over me anymore. I'm not under that jurisdiction anymore. Wee! 

Obedience of a servant and son is different. 

Risen - death is behind us. 

Living - death is confirmed coming.

The high life is produced by the life in us. 

Don't throw rocks at others too. 

Fruit of man is at the moment of greatest of pleasure. 

Dare - Dead and Risen Eagles.

INTERESTING

Matthew 7:3, 5 You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend’s eye. But you pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye. 

You pretender! 

First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend’s eye. 

Focus on Christ and not your condition

1 John 4:4 

4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

So the devil’s trick is to get you to focus on your condition. When you are conscious of the symptoms in your body and your findings, you will see sickness manifest. But God wants you to focus on who you are and what you have in Christ. When you are conscious that you are the healed in Christ, you will see healing manifest.

My friend, what you are conscious of will manifest. So be conscious of Christ, who is all the power of God inside you, and you will see that power manifest!

---- 15 Sept 2013 Sermon ----- -----

John 8:20 

He that follows me certainly not (can never) walk in darkness, but have the light of life.  

Loving one another is a sign (or fruit) of being born again. Not love one another then you'll get salvation. 

Wherever the bible is read and taught, woman is raised. Calvary is a fruit of following Christ.

Tell The World - Rap by Lecrae

Really like that Lacrae used his talent for music in rap to spread the word and to bless more. The more relatable and applicable it is, the more people are receptive. 

Glad God is touching hearts and changing  lives. There is no limit to what each of us can do to glorify him!! 

All glory to Jesus. 

(Chorus) 

Now I'mma tell the world, tell em 

I'mma tell it everywhere I go 

Tell the world, tell em 

Yea I'mma billboard 

Tell the world, tell em 

Cast Him like a radio 

Tell the world you are to know 

I'm brand new 

(Verse 1) 

Uh, I know one thing's true 

I don't even really deserve to know you 

But I... I'm a witness that you did this 

And I'm brand new so I... I'm ready to go 

And I'mma tell the world what they need to know 

A slave to myself but you let me go 

I tried gettin high but it left me low 

You did, what they could never do 

You cleaned up my soul and gave me life, I'm so brand new 

And that's all that matters 

I aint love you first, but you first loved me 

In my heart I cursed ya, but you set me free 

I gave you no reason to give me new seasons, to give me new life, new 

Breathin 

But you hung there bleedin 

And you died for my lies, and my cheatin, my lust, and my greedin 

What is a man, huh? that you're mindful of em? 

And what do I have to deserve this love? 

(Chorus) 

Tryna make the moments last 

Holdin on to the past 

But like a hero in a dream 

Christ came and He rescused me! 

Now I'mma tell the world, tell the world, tell em 

I'mma tell it everywhere I go 

Tell the world, tell em 

Yea I'mma billboard 

Tell the world, tell em 

Cast Him like a radio 

Tell the world you are to know 

I'm brand new 

(Verse 2) 

I can't offer you nothin, but your care and kindness keep comin 

And your love is so unconditional, I get butterflies in my stomach 

I got the old me in the rearview, gotta new me, gotta clear view 

I was so dead, I couldn't hear you 

Too deep in sin to come near you 

But you drew me in, and cleaned me up 

And take me home and beamed me up 

Before you do, just let me tell the truth 

And let these folks know that I done seeing your love 

And it's everlastin, infinite 

It goes on and on, you can't measure it 

Can't quench your love, they can't separate us from the love of God 

It's no estimate 

My face look the same, my frame done rearranged 

But I changed, I promise I aint the same 

Your love is so deep, you suffered and took pain 

And died on the cross to gimme a new name 

Aint nothin like I seen before 

I gotta beam to glow 

Was low, down, and dirty but you cleaned me Lord 

You looked after me, you keep rockin me 

Imma tell the world and aint nobody stoppin me 

(Chorus) 

Tryna make the moments last 

Holdin on to the past 

But like a hero in a dream 

Christ came and He rescused me! 

Now I'mma tell the world, tell the world, tell em 

I'mma tell it everywhere I go 

Tell the world, tell em 

Yea I'mma billboard 

Tell the world, tell em 

Cast Him like a radio 

Tell the world you are to know 

I'm brand new 

(Verse 3; 2 Corinthians 5:17) 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 

He is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

Yea, I'm brand new 

(Chorus) 

Now I'mma tell the world, tell the world, tell em 

I'mma tell it everywhere I go 

Tell the world, tell em 

Yea I'mma billboard 

Tell the world, tell em 

Cast Him like a radio 

Tell the world you are to know 

I'm brand new 

Lyrics from <a href="http://www.elyrics.net">eLyrics.net</a>

Jesus at the Centre of it all - Hillsong Praise and Worship song

Always feel super loved and touch whenever the song is sang or played.
Nothing else matters. I don't have to worry about how others see me, about their judgement, about their demands. All it matters is who I am in God's eyes, in Jesus's eyes. And i'm spotless lamb like Jesus to God! Beautiful and innocent. Special, youthful and fragrant. Amen!  
 
Chords are from this site. It also shows the tabs.
http://www.e-chords.com/chords/israel-houghton/jesus-be-the-center

D
            A/E         D/F#
Jesus at the center of it all
G       D   Asus4 A
Jesus at the center of it all
      G        D
From beginning to the end
A                Bm     A         G A
it will always be, it's always been you, Jesus, Jesus


D       D/F# G
Nothing else matters
Em                         D  Dsus4  D
Nothing in this world will do
D     D/F#   G
Jesus you're the center
Em    Bm7
everything revolves around you
        A                           D    A/E  D/F#  G
Jesus, you,  at the center of it all
                  D  A/E  D/F#  G
the center of it all


Jesus be the center of my live...

  A
From my heart to the heavens
Bm7       D
Jesus be the center
      G
It's all about you
         A
Yes its all about you 

D       A/E      D/F#
Jesus be the center of your church
G       D      Asus4 A
Jesus be the center of your church
     G      D
And every knee will bow
    A             Bm      A         G    A
And every tongue will confess you Jesus, Jesus

Be blessed. :)