Amongst the Beautiful and the Afflicted in this world, I can only admit that I just one of the Afflicted. Beauty has always awed me, stunned me, shocked me, even bringing tears to my eyes. How shall I describe the amazing encounted with Beauty?
Can you recall the last time you came across one of the Beauties? A Beauty need not be a girl, unlike the fairy tales of the old. A Beauty can be a man, a creature, a scenery or even a god. Beauty is also seen in two main ways.
Firstly, Beauty can be viewed in the perspective of the Physical. This is the outer skin, the layer of creation as seen by the eye, the kind that produces almost immediate reaction by those who have sight.
Secondly, Beauty can also be viewed in the perspective of the Heart. This is what is known to mankind as "Inner Beauty", a phrase tossed about like lettuce in a salad mix. Visually, it isn't stunning, nor is its effects immediate. The eyes are biased against it, many times mocking it for the lack of "earthly beauty". There are only a small number who can see this class of Beauty more often, and they are the wise, the humble and the blind. For such discerning ability requires the Sight of the Divine, which allows one to get a glimpse of another creation's Soul.
I cannot say that I have such ability. Many times, I have chosen the physical over the heart when it comes to a choice between both Beauties. What about you? Do you possess Divine Sight, or do you long for it?
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
A General and a Prince
I'm a prince. Really. Hands up who's reading who doesn't believe. What?! So many hands... Well, you can be a prince too, you know...
And what's more, I'm a prince of the most powerful, most loving King in the entire Universe. And I'm not joking! He has the most beautiful palace in a paradise He created Himself called Heaven, and I've got my own palace there too... He has prepared a glorious, shimmering white gown for me that no other prince on this Earth can boast of, and I've got countless jewels all over my lovely home. Each jewel has it's own name and a person's face, a face of another prince or princess whose palace is somewhere in Heaven too.
I'm an imperial general too. However, I don't have armoured tanks or infantry with spears and guns under me. I have something much more powerful actually. Under my command are these winged creatures that resemble something like that of a human, but with gigantic wings, each holding a flaming sword bestowed to him personally by my Father the King Himself. My own weapon is many times more powerful. It cuts through the body, mind, spirit and even the soul. It's power comes from the Father Himself, like a lightsabre in Starwars. This weapon makes even the Devil tremble! Holding a banner representing my Father, my birthright and my position in Heaven, I will go to war with the Devil and his minions, and I will surely be victorious for the Father will be watching over me. All glory be to His name!
A prince and a general! Now isn't that a grand thought! And it's not something I'm gonna be, it's a position I already have. Right now as I speak, I'm performing my duties with great joy already. If I use my human eyes to view the people on this Earth, they would look something like what you might see normally everyday. However, if you were to look at the world through the eyes of the Father, you might see things in a whole new perspective. People who looked poor in terms of material wealth can be extremely rich in terms of spiritual wealth that only the Father can bestow. People who look frail and under-nutritioned can actually be extremely powerful and well-endowed in the eyes of the Father, doing great works and conquering demons and their armies daily.
And guess what? The only opinion that matters is the Father's opinion.
For it is the Father who will decide our fate, and our welfare for the rest of eternity. He is the King and no other will override His promises. He gives wisdom and blessings in His own time, and does things that many would think is unfair, but is actually the wisest decision. We might not see it until we review our lives again, but those who fear the Lord will have faith and trust in Him, and He shall not withhold blessing to a faithful child.
Are you a general or a prince yet? Maybe you're not. Worse still, maybe you are, but you refuse to acknowledge it! Think about it readers. It's time to go to war.
For Jesus!
*Puts on my armor, my robe, grabs my sword and rushes out, of the Father's palace into this world to war, uttering a shout of victory even before the battle begins. A ray of light encompasses me as my steely sword slews enemy after enemy, each and everyone cracking beneath the Word of God.*
And what's more, I'm a prince of the most powerful, most loving King in the entire Universe. And I'm not joking! He has the most beautiful palace in a paradise He created Himself called Heaven, and I've got my own palace there too... He has prepared a glorious, shimmering white gown for me that no other prince on this Earth can boast of, and I've got countless jewels all over my lovely home. Each jewel has it's own name and a person's face, a face of another prince or princess whose palace is somewhere in Heaven too.
I'm an imperial general too. However, I don't have armoured tanks or infantry with spears and guns under me. I have something much more powerful actually. Under my command are these winged creatures that resemble something like that of a human, but with gigantic wings, each holding a flaming sword bestowed to him personally by my Father the King Himself. My own weapon is many times more powerful. It cuts through the body, mind, spirit and even the soul. It's power comes from the Father Himself, like a lightsabre in Starwars. This weapon makes even the Devil tremble! Holding a banner representing my Father, my birthright and my position in Heaven, I will go to war with the Devil and his minions, and I will surely be victorious for the Father will be watching over me. All glory be to His name!
A prince and a general! Now isn't that a grand thought! And it's not something I'm gonna be, it's a position I already have. Right now as I speak, I'm performing my duties with great joy already. If I use my human eyes to view the people on this Earth, they would look something like what you might see normally everyday. However, if you were to look at the world through the eyes of the Father, you might see things in a whole new perspective. People who looked poor in terms of material wealth can be extremely rich in terms of spiritual wealth that only the Father can bestow. People who look frail and under-nutritioned can actually be extremely powerful and well-endowed in the eyes of the Father, doing great works and conquering demons and their armies daily.
And guess what? The only opinion that matters is the Father's opinion.
For it is the Father who will decide our fate, and our welfare for the rest of eternity. He is the King and no other will override His promises. He gives wisdom and blessings in His own time, and does things that many would think is unfair, but is actually the wisest decision. We might not see it until we review our lives again, but those who fear the Lord will have faith and trust in Him, and He shall not withhold blessing to a faithful child.
Are you a general or a prince yet? Maybe you're not. Worse still, maybe you are, but you refuse to acknowledge it! Think about it readers. It's time to go to war.
For Jesus!
*Puts on my armor, my robe, grabs my sword and rushes out, of the Father's palace into this world to war, uttering a shout of victory even before the battle begins. A ray of light encompasses me as my steely sword slews enemy after enemy, each and everyone cracking beneath the Word of God.*
Monday, May 09, 2005
Having Tea with God
Here I am in my office again. It's late at night, and I don't usually stay in, but I have to this time because I'll be moving out early with the NSmen for their preparation shoot for range. Can't complain though, I'm blessed to be able to stay out already...
My handphone is buzzing again. I glance at the message. It's G. My precious little G. I'm wondering why I call her "my precious" when she's not even mine yet. Hmmm... Sometimes it can feel so much like she's mine even though we haven't heard a confirmation from God yet.
I realize that I'm not talking to God so often anymore. Sometimes I wonder, if a person communicates with God really closely, would he or she have to write a blog? There would be no need what... Our conversations with the Most High is imprinted with the purest gold somewhere in Heaven and not by micromolecules on a computer screen... Then why do people do it still?
I believe in all of us there lies an urge to share our feelings with someone special to us, or with alot of people. You want a special someone to read your blog. Or maybe you want the bully in class to know how you feel. Or maybe blogging gives you a chance to express your feelings to someone out there who will just quietly listen to your emotions, the outpouring of your heart, and who will understand perfectly whatever you're going through.
Ever wondered who that special someone is? Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that someone is Jesus. Alot of people treat prayer as a ritual, some going to extremes such as lighting of candles, prostration on the ground, or even cutting one's own skin to draw blood. All these actions are done with the hope that the higher being he or she is praying to will listen, and that their actions will be seen as sincerity.
I can't think of another religion in which the Supreme Being invites you a tea with Him, or Who is there whenever you need Him, no matter how good or bad you've been the entire day. Or Someone who promises you a place in Heaven, or Someone who promises His love which is higher, greater and purer than any other. Agape love. Wow.
Prayer to the True Supreme Being does not require candles, prostration of the drawing of blood. It does not require a proper format of words, just your true feelings. It just requires your sincerity and innocence, with the addition of faith in the fact that He is listening and in control of the future. It's a simple conversation that can take place anywhere, anytime, anyhow. It can be said in your heart, in a whisper, or even out loud! God wants to hear how you feel. Realize that I said God wants to "hear", because He already knows how we feel.
One friend told me that prayer is giving God to license to work miracles in our lives. It isn't a demand that God MUST meet, it's just an act of releasing all dependancy on ourselves onto God. And He'll willingly do it for you, because He already advised us to give all our burdens to Him. ALL. But sometimes we just like to hold on to those things that build up our status to where we are today. We think that we deserve it becase we work hard for it. That's incorrect. We have it because God gave it to us, and we are to use it for His glory and purpose. If not, He might just take it away to teach us a lesson.
Aiyo, I'm beginning to sound like I know God very well like that. Honestly, whatever I know is from the Bible and that alone. And that's quite alot already. But I firmly believe whatever God wants to tell us about Himself, is already in the Bible.
The Bible is God's Autobiography, read it!
My handphone is buzzing again. I glance at the message. It's G. My precious little G. I'm wondering why I call her "my precious" when she's not even mine yet. Hmmm... Sometimes it can feel so much like she's mine even though we haven't heard a confirmation from God yet.
I realize that I'm not talking to God so often anymore. Sometimes I wonder, if a person communicates with God really closely, would he or she have to write a blog? There would be no need what... Our conversations with the Most High is imprinted with the purest gold somewhere in Heaven and not by micromolecules on a computer screen... Then why do people do it still?
I believe in all of us there lies an urge to share our feelings with someone special to us, or with alot of people. You want a special someone to read your blog. Or maybe you want the bully in class to know how you feel. Or maybe blogging gives you a chance to express your feelings to someone out there who will just quietly listen to your emotions, the outpouring of your heart, and who will understand perfectly whatever you're going through.
Ever wondered who that special someone is? Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that someone is Jesus. Alot of people treat prayer as a ritual, some going to extremes such as lighting of candles, prostration on the ground, or even cutting one's own skin to draw blood. All these actions are done with the hope that the higher being he or she is praying to will listen, and that their actions will be seen as sincerity.
I can't think of another religion in which the Supreme Being invites you a tea with Him, or Who is there whenever you need Him, no matter how good or bad you've been the entire day. Or Someone who promises you a place in Heaven, or Someone who promises His love which is higher, greater and purer than any other. Agape love. Wow.
Prayer to the True Supreme Being does not require candles, prostration of the drawing of blood. It does not require a proper format of words, just your true feelings. It just requires your sincerity and innocence, with the addition of faith in the fact that He is listening and in control of the future. It's a simple conversation that can take place anywhere, anytime, anyhow. It can be said in your heart, in a whisper, or even out loud! God wants to hear how you feel. Realize that I said God wants to "hear", because He already knows how we feel.
One friend told me that prayer is giving God to license to work miracles in our lives. It isn't a demand that God MUST meet, it's just an act of releasing all dependancy on ourselves onto God. And He'll willingly do it for you, because He already advised us to give all our burdens to Him. ALL. But sometimes we just like to hold on to those things that build up our status to where we are today. We think that we deserve it becase we work hard for it. That's incorrect. We have it because God gave it to us, and we are to use it for His glory and purpose. If not, He might just take it away to teach us a lesson.
Aiyo, I'm beginning to sound like I know God very well like that. Honestly, whatever I know is from the Bible and that alone. And that's quite alot already. But I firmly believe whatever God wants to tell us about Himself, is already in the Bible.
The Bible is God's Autobiography, read it!
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
The Race of Life
Recently during sermons, Pastor Stephen has been emphasizing about bringing out Christ to the world through one's actions. Alot of people have the mindset that evangelism means proclaiming the Gospel to everyone around you, or inviting everyone to church with the hope that the pastor's sermon would be a little it more interesting that Sunday. Alot of people also believe that being a missionary involves going to the deep, forgotten jungles of the earth, meeting a cannibal tribe, learning their language and then teaching them about the Savior named Jesus.
Is that all to it? If you think so, then I'm afraid you're very wrong.
Many people don't have the opportunity to go overseas, into jungle areas or even meet a cannibal tribe. Many people don't even have the courage to tell their family members about Christ . Then how come evangelism is something that God wants us all to do? Pastor Stephen puts it very plainly.
IT'S SHOWN IN THE WAY YOU LIVE.
Now, some of you might have heard this before. I'm not here to expound on what Pastor had just said. I'm here to bring up a dilemna that I'm facing, and that some of you people out there might just be facing.
How do you bring your friends and family members to Christ if you haven't been living in a Christ-like manner all your life?
Take me for example. When I was in Zhangde Primary School, I was a loud-mouthed, arrogant, vulgar little brat who enjoyed behaving like a gangster-wannabe. At 173cm in Primary 6, I was taller and heavier than every single one of my teachers and classmates, and with it came a little charisma when it came to talking with other guys. I also behaved bullishly and childishly, and recalling the memories can spark a little regret in my heart.
Now I have 2 best friends, Richard Yew and Huang Yaosheng, who also came from that class of Primary 6. Through God's grace, I have managed to keep in contact with them through the teenage years, and was even given the opportunity to bring them to my church. Eveleen, now Richard's sweetheart, has also accepted Jesus into her life, and I'm really happy for her. Praise be to God!
With these 2 ex-classmates coming to Christ, I have a desire to bring more people from this ex-primary 6 class to church. I have the added advantage of having Richard and Yaosheng to pull strings and encourage them, but through meetings, they still have roughly the same impressions of we three hooligans from the past. It's hard to convince someone to come to church when last time you kept talking dirty things and teasing the girls all day.
Anyone can identify with that? Anyway, I always believe that nothing is impossible for God, and therefore my faith in His power is unshakable. I'm planning to ask my aunt (my father's older sister actually) to join my grandmother for the Chinese Service at 11 o'clock this Sunday. It's Mothers' Day, and I was hoping to ask them (she and her husband) out to church with a pretext of a lunch treat after that. Haha.. Will be calling her later tonight, she didn't pick up my earlier call. I'm sure God has His hand on the end result, however He does it. I'm just His instrument, and I'm very proud of the job too. Can't wait to see my relatives coming to church on a regular basis. So far it's been grandma only, and God has blessed her richly with wonderful health, and G, who always takes so good care of her. That's one of the many many reasons I fell in love with G.
Anyway, though it's not written in the Bible, I enjoy imagining myself as a Commanding Officer of an entire Angel Battalion, in which God is the King of Heaven's Army. Haha... Reasonable what, given the fact that He has (without a trace of regret!) acknowledged me as His son. Jesus Himself said that we will see and do even greater miracles than He Himself has performed during His time on Earth, and I must say they are terribly remarkable already.
God can do anything. I am His champion, and you can be His champion too. In fact, if you're reading this and you've already accepted Christ, God has already prepared whatever you need, sword, shield, armor, you name it He's got it. But He'll never force you to put it on. You'll have to put it on youself. That's the only clause in this agreement. God never forces anyone to do things against his will. He just promises that everything we Christians do will 100% have good results, if we would only consult Him first.
I'm a champion, young and fearless, with still a long way to go before I utter the words of the apostle Paul who has fought the good fight and finished the race of Life. Will you accompany me?
Is that all to it? If you think so, then I'm afraid you're very wrong.
Many people don't have the opportunity to go overseas, into jungle areas or even meet a cannibal tribe. Many people don't even have the courage to tell their family members about Christ . Then how come evangelism is something that God wants us all to do? Pastor Stephen puts it very plainly.
IT'S SHOWN IN THE WAY YOU LIVE.
Now, some of you might have heard this before. I'm not here to expound on what Pastor had just said. I'm here to bring up a dilemna that I'm facing, and that some of you people out there might just be facing.
How do you bring your friends and family members to Christ if you haven't been living in a Christ-like manner all your life?
Take me for example. When I was in Zhangde Primary School, I was a loud-mouthed, arrogant, vulgar little brat who enjoyed behaving like a gangster-wannabe. At 173cm in Primary 6, I was taller and heavier than every single one of my teachers and classmates, and with it came a little charisma when it came to talking with other guys. I also behaved bullishly and childishly, and recalling the memories can spark a little regret in my heart.
Now I have 2 best friends, Richard Yew and Huang Yaosheng, who also came from that class of Primary 6. Through God's grace, I have managed to keep in contact with them through the teenage years, and was even given the opportunity to bring them to my church. Eveleen, now Richard's sweetheart, has also accepted Jesus into her life, and I'm really happy for her. Praise be to God!
With these 2 ex-classmates coming to Christ, I have a desire to bring more people from this ex-primary 6 class to church. I have the added advantage of having Richard and Yaosheng to pull strings and encourage them, but through meetings, they still have roughly the same impressions of we three hooligans from the past. It's hard to convince someone to come to church when last time you kept talking dirty things and teasing the girls all day.
Anyone can identify with that? Anyway, I always believe that nothing is impossible for God, and therefore my faith in His power is unshakable. I'm planning to ask my aunt (my father's older sister actually) to join my grandmother for the Chinese Service at 11 o'clock this Sunday. It's Mothers' Day, and I was hoping to ask them (she and her husband) out to church with a pretext of a lunch treat after that. Haha.. Will be calling her later tonight, she didn't pick up my earlier call. I'm sure God has His hand on the end result, however He does it. I'm just His instrument, and I'm very proud of the job too. Can't wait to see my relatives coming to church on a regular basis. So far it's been grandma only, and God has blessed her richly with wonderful health, and G, who always takes so good care of her. That's one of the many many reasons I fell in love with G.
Anyway, though it's not written in the Bible, I enjoy imagining myself as a Commanding Officer of an entire Angel Battalion, in which God is the King of Heaven's Army. Haha... Reasonable what, given the fact that He has (without a trace of regret!) acknowledged me as His son. Jesus Himself said that we will see and do even greater miracles than He Himself has performed during His time on Earth, and I must say they are terribly remarkable already.
God can do anything. I am His champion, and you can be His champion too. In fact, if you're reading this and you've already accepted Christ, God has already prepared whatever you need, sword, shield, armor, you name it He's got it. But He'll never force you to put it on. You'll have to put it on youself. That's the only clause in this agreement. God never forces anyone to do things against his will. He just promises that everything we Christians do will 100% have good results, if we would only consult Him first.
I'm a champion, young and fearless, with still a long way to go before I utter the words of the apostle Paul who has fought the good fight and finished the race of Life. Will you accompany me?
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