This is a challenge. Let's see if we can do this for the next 10 days, if not more.
For many, spending time with God is that half hour daily devotions. Let's not limit it to just half-hour a day. We do encounter God in many instances during the day. Sometimes we have opportunities to show forth our faith and experience God. Let's meet God throughout the day, and record them as part of your spiritual journey.
The Challenge:
At the end of the day, reflect on how you encountered or experienced God. Write down your reflections.
Showing posts with label Intimacy with God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Intimacy with God. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Pet Peeves
I have a pet peeve. Well, I have an issue that troubles me.
Why do Christians say, "So lucky!" Or, "You're so lucky." Or "I have not been ill for the past 3 months" and they knock on a piece of wood. I know that knocking on the wood is to prevent their words turning on itself.
How I wish I can answer, "Well you believe in luck, I believe in God." Or "Luck. What has luck got to do with it?" Or "I prefer to think I am blessed by God."
A friend drove into a car park that at first glance was quite full. We found a space quite near the entrance. She remarked immediately a few times, "We're so lucky, we're so lucky" like a giddy teenager. Being the passenger, I smiled. But inwardly I said, "Thank you Father for blessing us." Why can't I say that out loud. I guess my friend is a Christian who believes in the luck of the coincidence more than our heavenly Father who knows our needs.
Isn't luck just like Doris Day's "que sera sera, whatever will be, will be" ?
Isn't luck like saying please, please to the universe and hoping someone out there will answer?
Isn't luck like a needle in the haystack?
Well, blessings on the other hand is given by God. Blessings is guaranteed because we are God's children. Blessings is a shower of God's love. Blessings is a surprise, a gift that God gives to us to show that He is pleased with us.
Ah...the blessing of blessings!
The challenge is - Emphasis Blessings instead of Luck
Why do Christians say, "So lucky!" Or, "You're so lucky." Or "I have not been ill for the past 3 months" and they knock on a piece of wood. I know that knocking on the wood is to prevent their words turning on itself.
How I wish I can answer, "Well you believe in luck, I believe in God." Or "Luck. What has luck got to do with it?" Or "I prefer to think I am blessed by God."
A friend drove into a car park that at first glance was quite full. We found a space quite near the entrance. She remarked immediately a few times, "We're so lucky, we're so lucky" like a giddy teenager. Being the passenger, I smiled. But inwardly I said, "Thank you Father for blessing us." Why can't I say that out loud. I guess my friend is a Christian who believes in the luck of the coincidence more than our heavenly Father who knows our needs.
Isn't luck just like Doris Day's "que sera sera, whatever will be, will be" ?
Isn't luck like saying please, please to the universe and hoping someone out there will answer?
Isn't luck like a needle in the haystack?
Well, blessings on the other hand is given by God. Blessings is guaranteed because we are God's children. Blessings is a shower of God's love. Blessings is a surprise, a gift that God gives to us to show that He is pleased with us.
Ah...the blessing of blessings!
The challenge is - Emphasis Blessings instead of Luck
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Who am I in Christ?
Who are we in Jesus Christ?
Because of what Jesus has done for us, we have a new citizenship, a new status, a new purpose in life. Let's start with the letter A. Meditate on each characteristic that you are now endowed with. It's not what you have done, but who you are. Claim it as a promise and a truth and let God work in your life.
Say to yourself.
I am...
Able - Philippians 4:13
Abounding in grace - 2 Corinthians 9:8
Abounding in hope - Romans 15:4, 13
Adequate - 2 Corinthians 3:5
I have...
Abundant life - John 10:10
Access - Ephesians 2:18
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Become Beloved
In Henri Nouwen's book - Life of the Beloved, he implores us to recognize that we are the Beloved. When we realize that we are the Beloved, he encourages us to take the great spiritual journey of becoming the Beloved. We become the Beloved in our daily existence, in everything that we do.
The first step in becoming a Beloved is to acknowledge that we are Chosen. Nouwen recommends three guidelines in this spiritual journey. First, we have to keep unmasking the world for what it really is. The world is manipulative, controlling, power-hungry, and destructive. All of us face the world and call it different names. We have to unmask the world, realize the lies it is telling us about ourselves, refute the lies and repeat truths to yourself. If the world is telling you, buy that new TV. You need it. You can always charge it on your card and pay for it monthly. The truth of the matter is you don't need a new TV. Paying for it monthly means you cannot afford it. You am the Chosen one, and that is not the way God wants you to live. Unmask the world - unmask the psychology it teaches, and seek the truth.
Second guideline is to look for people and places where God's truth is spoken and where your identity as the Chosen one is affirmed.
Third, celebrate your Chosenness. A simple thank you to those who affirm you as the Chosen one and to God who has chosen you. Gratitude begets gratitude.
Get in touch with your Chosenness with these three guidelines.
As I go on my special seat in my room to reflect on my Chosenness, I learn another guideline. Do not talk about myself but speak in a way to reflect that I am the Chosen one. All my words and action should reflect to others of my Chosenness.
The first step in becoming a Beloved is to acknowledge that we are Chosen. Nouwen recommends three guidelines in this spiritual journey. First, we have to keep unmasking the world for what it really is. The world is manipulative, controlling, power-hungry, and destructive. All of us face the world and call it different names. We have to unmask the world, realize the lies it is telling us about ourselves, refute the lies and repeat truths to yourself. If the world is telling you, buy that new TV. You need it. You can always charge it on your card and pay for it monthly. The truth of the matter is you don't need a new TV. Paying for it monthly means you cannot afford it. You am the Chosen one, and that is not the way God wants you to live. Unmask the world - unmask the psychology it teaches, and seek the truth.
Second guideline is to look for people and places where God's truth is spoken and where your identity as the Chosen one is affirmed.
Third, celebrate your Chosenness. A simple thank you to those who affirm you as the Chosen one and to God who has chosen you. Gratitude begets gratitude.
Get in touch with your Chosenness with these three guidelines.
As I go on my special seat in my room to reflect on my Chosenness, I learn another guideline. Do not talk about myself but speak in a way to reflect that I am the Chosen one. All my words and action should reflect to others of my Chosenness.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Spiritual Keys from Hope for the Heart
This is a wonderful resource for Biblical counseling. It gives Biblical verses and principles how to handle different kinds of problems.
Go to the following website
http://www.hopefortheheart.org/site/PageServer
Look for Help Topics / PDF Downloads
Select your topic.
Look for Free Download
Sign in or register to become a member.
It's that easy.
Go to the following website
http://www.hopefortheheart.org/site/PageServer
It's that easy.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
June Hunt's Seminar on Conflict Resolution
June Hunt has a radio program where callers call in with their problems. This caller told June about his problem with abuse. He told June that he and his wife were sitting on the bed. He pulled his wife towards him and she fell off the bed.
June immediately asked how is that possible when he pulled his wife towards him and she fell off the bed. He confessed that he flung her off the bed.
June really listens with her heart and her mind.
Attend her seminar this Saturday - Sep 11, 2010
For more information
http://www.hopefortheheart.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=101746
June immediately asked how is that possible when he pulled his wife towards him and she fell off the bed. He confessed that he flung her off the bed.
June really listens with her heart and her mind.
Attend her seminar this Saturday - Sep 11, 2010
For more information
http://www.hopefortheheart.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=101746
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Free Audio Books
Words are great - written and spoken. I love to read but listening to audio books has been a great find for me. After a day of reading books and papers, and staring into the computer screen, I really need to rest my eyes. Listening to audio books allows me to tat, and crochet. Try it.
Christian audio gives away free audio book each month. https://christianaudio.com/
This month is Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders.
Check out as per normal. If you do not have a membership, just start one. At check out, type in the code, SEP2010. When you check out, you get to the page to download the book.
I've downloaded A.W. Tozer's Pursuit of God and enjoyed listening to it. It was an impetus for me to draw near to God.
When you've downloaded the book, you can keep the book for life.
Try it. You'll love it. You have nothing to lose.
If you've missed A.W. Tozer's book and would like to have it, post me a comment.
Christian audio gives away free audio book each month. https://christianaudio.com/
This month is Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders.
Check out as per normal. If you do not have a membership, just start one. At check out, type in the code, SEP2010. When you check out, you get to the page to download the book.
I've downloaded A.W. Tozer's Pursuit of God and enjoyed listening to it. It was an impetus for me to draw near to God.
When you've downloaded the book, you can keep the book for life.
Try it. You'll love it. You have nothing to lose.
If you've missed A.W. Tozer's book and would like to have it, post me a comment.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Beloved
Henri Nouwen wrote that God calls us beloved. But in this society it is difficult to hear that. People around us do not affirm us as beloved. And if people do affirm us, we doubt it. So the problem is within and without. We listen to others before we listen to God. The voices of others are louder than God's. We seem to believe in others more than God.
How can we quieten ourselves to hear God first?
How can we learn to trust in God more than others?
If God were to call you by a loving name, what would that be?
For me, God calls me His child. Often I go my own way in my impetous self and regret it. I can see God shaking His loving head and sigh. I often ask, God why do you still love me even I err so much. And His answer is, I know your heart.
In the morning, I will awake and greet God with Good morning, Father. And I can see Him smiling at me and blessing me with a good day.
When I get frustrated with my studies and my writing, I would say, Now what, Father. And He will say, relax, don't fret, I am here with you. Everything will be alright because I am with you.
When I am ill and in pain, I ask God How long? And He will say, I will give you strength to go through it all. I will heal you and you will remember me.
God is my Father, my loving, heavenly Father.
What would my Heavenly Father call you?
How can we quieten ourselves to hear God first?
How can we learn to trust in God more than others?
If God were to call you by a loving name, what would that be?
For me, God calls me His child. Often I go my own way in my impetous self and regret it. I can see God shaking His loving head and sigh. I often ask, God why do you still love me even I err so much. And His answer is, I know your heart.
In the morning, I will awake and greet God with Good morning, Father. And I can see Him smiling at me and blessing me with a good day.
When I get frustrated with my studies and my writing, I would say, Now what, Father. And He will say, relax, don't fret, I am here with you. Everything will be alright because I am with you.
When I am ill and in pain, I ask God How long? And He will say, I will give you strength to go through it all. I will heal you and you will remember me.
God is my Father, my loving, heavenly Father.
What would my Heavenly Father call you?
What area in your life do you want to grow in?
If there is an area in your life that you want to grow in, what would that be?
I have asked a few people this question, and these are the answers I have received:
Prayer life
Know the Bible
Improve my Thought life
Live a more spirit-filled life
Hear God
What would your answer be?
I have asked a few people this question, and these are the answers I have received:
Prayer life
Know the Bible
Improve my Thought life
Live a more spirit-filled life
Hear God
What would your answer be?
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Pray for your children and other children
Mention the children by name as you pray for them.
Use photos of the children as you pray for each of them.
Tell them that you have been praying for them.
31 Days to Pray for Your Children
Use photos of the children as you pray for each of them.
Tell them that you have been praying for them.
31 Days to Pray for Your Children
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
May I? Can I?
Language is fun. I know because we use it all the time. We use it to miscommunicate. We manipulate it to control man. We look at it and sigh! And there is sign language, and body language which speaks louder than words. God made language for a purpose. And I think the biggest purpose is to communicate with Him. But then, God does not need a language of words but the language of intentions, and the language of the heart.
So when I ask God "Can I"? He will say you have the ability to do it. Ask again.
So I should ask, "May I?" Because He is Lord God and King Almighty. This would make us servants, slaves, subjects, and worshipers. Our worth, identity, self-concept is based on Him. We are actually utterly nothing without Him.
Think about it. Really it's really fun to come into the ultimate presence of God. And as you think about it, you are using the language created by God.
So when I ask God "Can I"? He will say you have the ability to do it. Ask again.
So I should ask, "May I?" Because He is Lord God and King Almighty. This would make us servants, slaves, subjects, and worshipers. Our worth, identity, self-concept is based on Him. We are actually utterly nothing without Him.
Think about it. Really it's really fun to come into the ultimate presence of God. And as you think about it, you are using the language created by God.
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