Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Galatians Five

Take your stand so that no one can enslave you again since Christ has given you freedom. We give approval to any (non-physical) enslavement in our lives.

(Galatians 5:2-4. MSG) The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you call out of grace.

God doesn't care whether I care about being religious; following a set of rules. But if I don't show love with faith, I will kena from God.

I am quite feeling-less at times. I don't think I need to feel, to offer help. I see the need, I provide the help. Of course, it is always good to empathize with people, but I don't do it all the time. So what's wrong with that? Some people feel with you but gives bullshit help.

Some people that I will not try too hard to help
  • Those who think that they can rough it out on their own ("Good. You need help then ask.")
  • Those whom I have advised but it falls on deaf ears (I hate to tell you "I told you so.")
  • Those who are stubborn ("Saying it once is enough. No point repeating.")
  • Strangers. Those people whom I do not know.
You can't ignore what distracts you from your Christian race. Ignoring it is like ignoring that there is a hole in your pants and allowing the tear to enlarge. God will not distract us from running the race. Anyone that causes you to walk away from Christ will not be ignored by God.

(Galatians 5:12) Why don't these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves.
Funny to the max! The author is so pissed off.

What are some rules in our lives that we are so hard up about which don't actually matter. Sometimes, we are so particular about certain preference which makes no change to anyone's lives. We got to rethink why we put efforts in areas that don't matter.

God's perspective of freedom
Our freedom can destroy freedom.
Freedom grows are we serve one another in love.
Act of true freedom - Love others as you love yourself.
- What does these mean? (At the point of reading verses 13-14, I have no idea what Paul is trying to say. Then I realized the explanation can be found in verse 15. I did not come up with the answers myself.)

Our freedom can cause us to choose to do unwise things that make us enemies which can remove the freedom we have OR cause us to be locked us in jail, literally removing the freedom.
Freedom grows as we make more friends than enemy. I can make more friends when I take care of others as I would meet my own needs. If I care about others as much as I care about myself, I will be a very loving person.

(Galatians 5:16-18) My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

(Galatians 5:19-21. NIV = MSG)
Sexual immorality = Repetitive, loveless, cheap sex
Impurity = A stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage
Debauchery = Frenzied and joyless grab of happiness
Idolatry and witchcraft = trinket gods, magic show religion
Hatred = An impotence to love or be loved
Discord= Divided homes and divided lives
Jealousy = Cutthroat competition
Fits of rage = A brutal temper
Selfish ambition = Small-minded and lopsided pursuits
Dissensions = The vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival
Factions = Paranoid lonliness
Envy = All-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants
Drunkenness = Uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions
Orgies = Ugly parodies of community

I think that people (me) should choose to live a life not because of being threatened but rather because I want to enjoy the best that God has for me.

(Galatians 5:26 NIV & MSG) Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
That means that we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Your Moment in History

Many biblical characters in the bible has done extraordinary things in their lives. We usually can attribute them with at least one great attempt of faith. I believe there is one thing they have in common - they are ready to step into the unknown courageously.

These people did not prepare only when they were assigned the tasks. Preparation with God, yes. But I'm not talking about seeking the Lord but having the relevant skills, the character, the maturity, the faith level, the knowledge of God & His word.. required for the tasks. These people had what it takes to do the job. Do you have what it takes for your moment in history?

These great men and great women of God were preparing all their lives for their one moment in history. They have been disciplining their flesh, studying God's word, strengthening their strengths & weakening their weaknesses. so that when God calls, they're ready. Whatever it may be.

David fought bears and lions, then he was asked to fight Goliath.Esther, had a year of disciplined beauty treatment, and she was selected Queen whom saved the Jews.Saul was fervor in His persecution of Christians, he later planted the more churches than all the disciples did together.

God doesn't play punk with Himself. He does not get us to do things that we are unable to do. Which means, if you do not have the ability to do big things, you will do smaller things. Of course, serving God is not about doing glorious big things, but if God has given you the ability to do greater things, why settle for just great things. That is not being faithful.

Don't know how much you can handle? Let God decide for you, you just give your best everytime.

Seek God As A Maturing Christian

As we grow in our Christian age, we ought to mature in how, what, why, when & where we seek God.When we mature in seeking God, we will mature as Christians; more like someone who follows Christ.

How: Do you always go to God whining like a kid? Can you talk to God like an adult? The methods we use to seek God need not be simply just reading the bible. We can seek God by being in the nature, reading a favorite book, or simply enjoying the quietness that God provides.

What: Do we mature in what we ask God for? Are we still asking God for things as though we are a new believer, having minimal understanding of the Word of God?

Why: How are we coming to God in prayers? Why do we pray? Do we speak to God with understanding of who God is?

When: Do we restrict ourselves to talking to God at only certain times of the day? Do we shut Him out at other times?

Where: Of course, there are always better places that we can seek God in, but God is everywhere. Why restrict yourself in seeking God only in certain places.Are we able to only talk to God in certain circumstances; care group time, during Sunday worship?

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Simply Self Serving

I will share about a recent incident where I was self-centered and hope that you, who is reading this, will consider if you can be more gracious in your dealings with others. Do to others what you want others to do to you.

I woke up this morning feeling bloated. I should be more discipline to rest enough. After showering, while I put on my makeup, the scenes of yesterday's happenings were played in my head like a home video. And then I was suddenly struck with embarrassment - I realized that I did not do as I had preached, I have probably embarrassed someone just to get what I want. I was overwhelmed with guilt when I thought how destructive my actions can be. This is what I mean when I say, I got what I wanted but I did not feel happy about it t all. I said a prayer for her.

***

Let's call her Felicia. The first time I met Felicia, she did my facial. The only thing I remembered about her was her rudeness. She was banging things against the sink, bumping onto the bed I was resting on whenever she walked, did everything in a hurried manner, even my facial. The experience was so bad that I cried during the facial. I left the salon very pissed.

The second time I encountered her again, I did not recognized her but I thought she looked familiar. The therapists were all masked up, you see. However, the moment she walked into the room, banging and walking into things, I was almost certain it was the dreadful therapist. Her identity was confirmed the moment she removed my makeup. Urgh. I left the facial pissed, again. I did not pay a few hundred per session to feel lousy. I swear that she will not do my facial again.

Yesterday, I called for an evening appointment. I planned to speak to my main therapist, Jamie, about not wanting Felicia to do my facial, however the receptionist replied that she was busy. I decided that I need to inform someone of my request before it is too late, so I told the receptionist. She also informed me to tell Jamie my request in person.

When I arrived for my appointment, I saw a note next to my appointment in their calendar, "不要上次那一个人", I was happy that they got my message. As I entered the room, I once again reminded another receptionist that I do not wish to have Felicia to do my facial if possible. I didn't feel so good though. Heart feels heavy. What's wrong?

Jamie came to look for me before facial began to find out what happened. I told her about my encounters with Felicia and assured her that I know Felicia did not mean bad. She was concerned about my feedback and took it seriously because she find me to be a good and reasonable customer and negative feedbacks from me was probably sound. She assured me that she has spoken to Felicia and explained what might had happened, and then allocated another therapist to do my facial.

***

There is no need to broadcast to people who are unable to help Felicia about how negative I felt about her service. I was more concerned about getting a good facial (which I had but I felt lousy still) than her being gossiped by her colleagues. I really wonder what my actions could have caused her to feel and cause others to feel about her.

It's true that her actions will speak louder than my words. That is her concern.
My problem... Why do I have to do it this way? Feedback for improvement is good but why did I have to present it in such a manner? Why can't I be more patient and wait for the right opportunity to speak to the person that can help Felicia? This revealed that I am more concern about making her pay, than helping her improve.


How do you know if you are being manipulated?
How do you know if you are manipulating?
How do you get out of manipulation?

This will be tomorrow's homework :)

Monday, November 01, 2010

You want it, you get it.

More often than not, getting the job done is not as important as building someone up. Before you agree with this statement, you have to internalize the need to value people over things. I was taught as a young care leader that 'Love people, use things' and not 'Use people, love things'. We need to train ourselves to value people because it does not come naturally to us.

There are *four things that everybody wants at some time in life:
  • To be first
  • To be promoted
  • To be great
  • To have things
and in order to get these things (without valuing people) we may bulldoze people that gets in the way. It's ok to want these things but if you value it over people, then you are going to be striving for it without the help nor the support of the majority. You may not be happy even though you get what you want. I read this FaceBook post recently, "The great tragedy in life is not in falling to get what you go after. The great tragedy in life is in getting and finding out it wasn't worth the trouble."

*"A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Nobody lives long enough to make them all himself." Many people that have gone before us have made mistakes that we can learn from so why do you want to make the same mistakes? - Ignorance, pride, stubbornness, immaturity... and the list goes on. Many people have died with regrets, knowing they will die alone; can we all learn from their mistakes before we die?

If you want to leave a legacy, invest in people. People will be the ones that will make sure you live on after you die. If you want to be remembered, serve people. If you are self-centered, you will not be on anybody's mind even while you are alive and even if you are, they are just hoping that you will die soon.

Usually, we will get what we worked hard for. The question is, is what we want worth the effort?
We will get what we want. But will you want to keep what you get?

*Top 10 qualities of a great leader (Dr. Phil Pringle) - Good book :)

Mastered By Personality

God created us uniquely us. However we categorize ourselves into phlegmatic, sanguine, melancholic, domineering. Depending on the situation, responding in our natural self may or may not be the best. God gave you a brain and will - you choose your own response in any given situation. Which also means, you choose what you will receive in return for your response; you determine how things can turn out - this, by the way is some sort of manipulation, which is another story for another time.

Well, you may think you didn't choose your responses, it is the doing of your personality, but in fact, you have chosen to respond this way because you allow your personality to take control. If we can train elephants to do tricks, we cannot train our own behaviors? Your daily training (or not training) has developed a habit.

Eventually, we are called to be Christ-like and not phlegmatic, sanguine, melancholic, or domineering. Therefore, I think that it is an excuse to say that the reason we make mistakes because we are created in a certain way. Your explanation (excuse) is for others to empathize with you and give you time to change, but it is not a good enough reason for you to accept that you will always respond this way (the phleg, sang, mel or domi way).
You can continue to tell yourself the lie that you are created as such and therefore you cannot help it when you response in a certain way & people just have to accept you the way you are OR you can tell yourself that you are mastered by nothing but God.

Don't blame God for creating you in a certain way. He has created you this way because you were called to do something that only you can do for His Kingdom.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

You Need Not Always Share What You Know

Everyone manipulates. We all know how to and are doing it all the time, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. We manipulate others to achieve the results we desire. When we don't get our desired outcome, it is always "I'm right, they are wrong but they don't get it."

Sometimes we justify our desired outcome as beneficial for others, like the mothers always say "I am doing this for your own good". So how do you know if you are doing it for the good of others? Why don't you ask yourself, "If someone were to do this (whatever you want to do to the other person) to me, will I feel that the person is doing it for my sake?"

In any communication, once you make your audience feel threatened, they will turn on their defense mode against anything that you have to say. When you make your audience feel under attack, do you think you are doing them a favor? Since when do we associate "under attack" with "caring"? Why will we attack someone we care for? We only attack people when we care more about ourselves. So the times when you tried to tell someone you are doing something for their good, please think again, are you sure?

I have learnt this since I was a young care leader, 'If you cannot wait to correct someone, you are doing it out of the wrong motive.' Correction is meant for good. It is to help someone to realize that s/he is going off track and to get back on the right track. Correction does not need to be direct nor stern. It can be done in anyway as long as the person that you are helping gets back on track. The person that you are correcting doesn't even need to know that s/he is being corrected. When you really love the person you want to help, you don't need to make the person to feel the guilt to change. By the way, God does not want us to feel guilty; He doesn't even condemn us. When you want someone to feel the guilt, you are only trying to make the person pay for making you angry.

When we truly want to do it for the other person's good, then just do what is necessary to bring about the good outcome. Whether the person realizes that s/he has done something wrong previously is secondary. The more important thing is whether the person know how to do the right things to be right with God. The person will feel the pain of failing God when s/he realizes the mistake when God decides to reveal it to him/her - maybe through you, maybe not. It is not your's or my job to make the person feel bad. Don't decide for God or the person how it should be done.

When we can't wait to correct someone; tell someone that you think s/he did wrong; tell the person what s/he should do to be right... when we can't wait to do that... what does it reveal about ourselves? "I need to tell the person before it is too late" - ya, right. If it is not about life and death, there is no need to rush. If whatever that is going to come out of your mouth is not going to help build the person up - shut up, because further aggravation from you is going to make the person close up from receiving any help from anyone else with regards to the situation. If you can't help it (where got cannot help it? we not animals you know.), then you jolly well accept the consequences aka the back lash. If you throw a tennis ball against a hard wall, the ball will come back to you right? So if you are going to give a correction to someone whose defenses are up, you think they will receive your 'good gesture'? So don't ask why people don't appreciate your 'concerns' because they don't feel the concern.

A person who is known to speak wisely is someone who speaks slower than his/her mind thinks. Such people do not take matters at face values but evaluates the situation from all aspects before making a judgement. But yet, this person will think about the consequences of sharing his/her evaluation plainly before saying it. Sometimes people simply do not know how to handle your evaluation - they may not be ready to accept the fact (for whatever reasons) or perhaps they do not think in the same way as you do; so sharing it with them as soon as you have evaluated a situation may not be that wise.

You may be right about something, so what? What do you want to prove? Therefore, sometimes even when you know you got it right, you need not share the information... until you sense (from the holy spirit's leading) that it is time to reveal your findings for the good of others.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Our mothers (even fathers) tell us so

Guys usually go for girls that they would find unthreatening to their ego. Come on la, a girl who does not right your ego (I'm not saying tame) will only stroke it, then one day you will find the man in deep shit. Of course, guys don't have to allow every girl to challenge their ego - maybe just the wife & the mother.

Even when girls don't behave like girls because their mothers tell them 'men cannot be trusted', it doesn't mean that guys have to prove our mothers right - mothers don't always know best. Actually, fathers also tell their daughters not to trust other men.. Hahaha.. Change the wrong doctrine taught to me dude, if not I'll pass it on to my daughter as well.

I wonder what the fathers have been doing, congratulating their boys for winning girls in hop scotch game? Hello, we are not your challenger, it's another guy. Why you come challenge us? Find someone your own size.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Blind Man

There is a blind man that comes to my house, once a month, to sell tib-bits. He does that for a living. Though there are 5 families at my level but he only comes to my house, perhaps he was rejected by the other families before. By the way, he just left. Every time he comes, I only buy a few tid-bits from him and bring them to work to share with my colleagues - "Let's share the calories".

Today, I bought Oreo, Ritz, Chipsmore Fruit Plus. One day, I might buy his whole bag of tid-bits to feed my hungry friends. Perhaps starting from his next visit on, I might as well buy everything in his bag so that he can go home with an empty bag. I respect that he works hard for a living despite not being able to see. Apparently, he travels to many places in Singapore to sell his stuff. My mum said she once saw him in Ang Mo Kio.

He is blind but that did not stop him from travelling. Some people have eyes that work fine and legs that can carry them around but they choose to be Humpty Dumpty and sit on the wall. I pray that God gives him wonderful encounters with people as he goes about in his daily routine. The reason I bought from the blind man because my mother always do charity work. She influence my life much much.

Dream Girl

Everything that had ever happened to me were allowed by you. The good things, the sucky things. You let me go ahead with my unwise choices even though you know how silly it will make me look or how hurt I will feel, because you trust that I will eventually learn from my mistakes and make the right choice, and make them more of the time.

Your trust in me is amazing. You knew me so well yet you so believe in me. You have all the reasons to doubt me but you saw who I can become and invest generously in me so that I can be your dream girl. You trust me in areas that I am weak because you trust that I will not remain weak. Your trust has encouraged me so much and motivated me out of my weakness. Your trust in me is not humanly possible.

I'm like a kite with strings attached. You let me venture out to wherever I wanted to, but you made sure I will return to you. I have become who I am because you believe in me. No one will trust me the way you do.. But I do want to find someone who will try.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Genuine Or Counterfeit

Continuing my thoughts about a message...

Someone messaged me today, "Seriously, I wish I could remain single and not feel lonely. Because I think there is no true balance in a love life. Love is like a razor that slit into the hearts of many."

I think those whose hearts are slit by "luv", found counterfeit love instead. People who truly love you and care for you will protect your well-being. I'm not even talking about BGR. Your parents, siblings, shepherds, friends - those who genuinely care for you, will make sure you are not hurt in anyway.

Some people who are hurt by 'luv' sometimes deserve it because they purposely put themselves in the position to be hurt. Some people choose to be hurt then blames the other party for hurting them. It is just simply the lack of self-control to do what we know it's right. It is like purposely touching the stove when we know we are going to get burnt.

I realized that there are many people who do not know how to make accurate choices in their lives because they don't know their directions in life or they choose to live in self-denial. I believe that it is important to FIRST know where God wants you to go and then include the things/persons into your life that will help you get there; which also means exclude those things/persons who will distract you. We need to be clear of what we need and don't need. Don't be a garung guni.

Please don't determine the outcome of your love life by the result of others' love life. You are building it differently from them and will reap a different result.

Singlehood

I am so tired again. Tiredness has become a chronic disease in my life. My eye bags only appear during non-holiday seasons - 11 months in a year. I'm tired but not out. Don't get me wrong.
To blog about my thoughts at the end of the day is challenging. This is made slightly easier when I have been sorting them out throughout the day.

Someone messaged me today, "Seriously, I wish I could remain single and not feel lonely. Because I think there is no true balance in a love life. Love is like a razor that slit into the hearts of many."

Let me share my thoughts about the message.

Singles do feel lonely when more and more of their friends have boyfriends and have lesser time to spend with them. Therefore we fear that we cannot survive singlehood because of that. Actually, God will not give you what you cannot manage. I also believe that in order to serve God's people, you need to spend time with the people of God, whether single or attached - so getting attached is not a reason for isolation.

When we trust God to provide for us, we do not worry. Really... you worry only when you do not trust God to meet your needs. Our hope is not in what is seen but in a God who knows our needs. God knows your needs. Do you know that God knows? We do not even need to lower our standards. Does God need you to help Him to meet your needs by lowering your standards - where is your faith?? If you believe God that you will be going heaven, then how come you have problems believing that God will bring you your life partner at the right timing.

Certainty that comes from God removes all fears and doubts so that we can give God our best. Many singles do not serve God with their best because they want to create their own destiny, just in case God doesn't do it in their timing. When you are not serving God's people because of your lack of faith in God as your provider, and take matters into your own hands; you will find that you waste time and worse of all, waste away. When we are focused on our own needs, the Kingdom of God will still advance but you have no share in it & worse, your needs are still not met.

There is no need to guess "who's the one?" all the time - You mean God will not be clear in His direction for you? Is this the type of relationship you have with God - full of vagueness? Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and God will meet all your needs. If God will meet your needs, why waste time searching for "Mr Right" when you can use the time to serve God's people? How does God meet your needs? Does He make you search high and low for it? Or does He bring it to you? Your trust in God can be observed by your deed - so stop kidding yourself because you cannot kid me - I judge the tree by its fruits.

Friday, October 22, 2010

If a man can't provide, he isn't a man.

I met Sherli @ Strictly Pancakes today. My birthday treat. Pancakes are not out-of-this-world, but I like them. Dislike the bunch of birthday-celebrating-low-EQ-peepz screaming at the top of their voice.

Sherli recommended me to read an article from Jaeson Ma. Then I realized that he is the author of "Women don’t want to marry boys, they want to marry men. Women don’t want boys they have to put up with, clean up after and take care of, they want to be lead, pursued and taken on an exciting life adventure." that I have been seeing posted in FaceBook.

I think this is another kind of article that girls will read and feel the need to pass it on their male counterparts, who will sneer at it and not read it. I find that these articles are useless if the audience that it is intended for has no interest in wanting to be the best for God and his people.

Guys think that girls are trying to tell them to be somebody they are not. Are they not excited about being the man that God has created them to be? The best among the guys? No?
I think that the article is not telling guys how to treat girls but how to be a servant of God that will accomplish the tasks that God has given to man. You think they need all these skills to love a girl only. They need the skills to serve God so that they can make a difference in the Kingdom of God.

I am quite sick and tired of all these articles that men will not read and insist that women are bossy & women will read and then feel depressed as they think about the men in their lives... father, brother, boyfriend, boy-friend... and the stupid man that pushes his way pass her to board the MRT train first.

But generally, I am glad one guy thinks this way.

I spent the day with a group of men in our house church learning what it takes to be a man of God when it comes to loving and respecting women. In our day an age most men are not men, they are boys. Most guys still want to marry their mom, have a women serve and take care of them, are not willing to take initiative or commit in a relationship, most men are still living in fear, not pursuing their callings by settling for “safe” because its easy. This is sad, upsetting and the standard must change.

Women don’t want to marry boys, they want to marry men. Women don’t want boys they have to put up with, clean up after and take care of, they want to be lead, pursued and taken on an exciting life adventure. If you go to most of the churches in the Western world today, you will find that there are very few spiritual men, instead there are many spiritual women. It’s disappointing, but I hear it from women of faith all the time, “Pastor Jaeson, where are the godly men?”

Today, a good brother and leader in our GBS community Daniel Ra explained what God showed him to be the “5 Pillars of Manhood” in how men must love, respect and serve women. It was enlightening and reinforcing from what I have been teaching men for years when it comes to pursuing a woman of God… of course none of us are perfect, we all have our mistakes, but we must each strive to be better and greater than what we were before yesterday, everyday making an effort to be more like God, to be just like Jesus, to be a man of faith and honor.

The 5 Pillars of Manhood…

1. Lead - A man must be a leader in a relationship, in a marriage, in a family. There are no excuses. A woman doesn’t want to make the decisions for her man, she wants her man to lead in the relationship. A man must take initiative. A man of God is leader, not a follower, a servant, not a slave, a hero not a coward. A man of God knows God and therefore knows himself. He should be the leader spiritually first, emotionally, mentally and physically he should set the standard for others to follow.

2. Protect - A real man of God will protect his partner. That means he is willing to lay down his very own life, needs and wants for the protection of the one he loves. Every decision he makes when it comes to a relationship has her protection in mind. A woman needs to feel secure, that she is protected and safe with her man. She doesn’t need to second guess, wonder if she will be okay, or have her heart and mind played with. A real man of God will not only protect his woman physically, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He always has the highest good in his mind for her safety, well being and wholeness. This is for the Christian guys out there, don’t emotionally rape a sister, play with her heart and tell her you are just her brother or friend. That is BS. Man up. You either pursue a woman of God because she is God’s precious creation, or you don’t try touching it at all, or play with their hearts emotionally, unless you are willing to be up front and clear with your intentions and the direction of the relationship from the start. Emotional rape is as painful to a woman as physical rape. Women are emotional beings and their hearts are not to be played with. Protect your sisters heart.

3. Provide - A real man of God will do whatever it takes to provide for his significant other. That means monetarily in finances, in basic needs and as well as what she desires. When a man asks a father for his daughter in marriage, the father will not ask, “How are you doing spiritually first?” No, the first thing the father will ask is, “How will you provide for my daughter?” Because part of being and becoming a man is providing for others, especially your wife and children. If a man can’t provide, he isn’t a man. God gave us hands and we must put our hands to work, no excuses to be lazy, God made us to rule the earth. Women are not be treated as toys, trophies or a luxury item, women are God’s highest creation, the very image of God.

I tell men all the time, “Treat your woman like a queen and you will live like a king.” Don’t be cheap brothers, you need to go all out when it comes to pursuing a woman. This is not a one time thing, but a continual practice. Women were created for beauty. They were created beautiful, to feel beautiful to be treated beautiful. You don’t handle a rose without care, it is the same with a woman of God, you treat her with the utmost care, honor and respect. Practically, that means you don’t take a woman to Denny’s on a first date, you take her to a place that hurts your wallet, but it’s worth it because she is worthy.

Also, men must also provide for women emotionally. When a women asks you, “How are you doing?” She is really asking, “How are you being?” Meaning, what are you feeling, thinking, seeing, being about at the moment. To love a women we must provide at every level – basic needs all the way to providing for them mentally, emotionally and spiritually, if not their hearts will die. Be a man, provide for your women.

4. Integrity – A true man of God is a man of his word. Too many men in our culture break promises, play with women’s hearts, date girls as if it was a game, and have no respect for women at all. This is disgusting. In old times, when a man said “You have my word!” that word was bond, it was as if an actual contract had been written, because your word was your reputation. How many men do we know today who say one thing, but do another? Men who do not keep their word, their promise or follow through with their verbal commitments. In our culture we don’t take words seriously, but in God’s world words are everything. Blessings and curses come out of the same mouth. What comes out of our mouths determines what is truly in our hearts.

What a woman wants is a man of integrity. Someone who says what he does and does what he says. Someone they can trust at their word. So as a man you must come through. Words means nothing if they are not backed up with action. Don’t say sorry unless you mean it. Don’t say sorry unless you are able to back up your apologies with doing the right thing. Integrity is doing what is right, whether people are watching or not. Integrity is what you do when no one is looking. Does your woman trust you completely? If not, it is a question of integrity. Don’t tell a women you love her unless your love shows, words carry weight. They either carry false weight or real weight, a woman knows when a man means what he says.

So live by your words, live by action, be a living proof of your values, convictions and commitments. Don’t get involved in a relationship unless you are sure this what you want and what God is leading you both to do. I’ve had my share of mistakes in the past, where I got into a relationship without thinking about the consequences, protecting my sisters heart and the fear of the Lord from the get go, I’ve had to make amends and face the results of my sin and foolishness. Trust me brothers, don’t do what I’ve done in the past, don’t play games, don’t feed your fleshly desires, rather seek God, seek the best interest of the one you are pursuing, be honest, forthright from the start about your commitment and your vision for the relationship and stick to your word. Be a man of integrity.

If you pursue a women, it should be with the intentions of marriage. If not, stop playing yourself and her. It’s not about finding the right woman, it’s about being the right man. That starts with first knowing God in order to know yourself, then you will know how to love and respect a woman.

5) Courage - You are not a man until you climb the great wall of China! This is what it says at the actual great wall. Well, I have climbed the Great Wall of China so I guess I must be more of a man than others, just kidding. What is the greater underlying message here? It is a message of courage. It is a message of adventure. A man of God is a man of courage, a man of adventure, a man who is willing to take risks and do the impossible. Men were born to live a life of great adventure. Men were created to fight battles. Men were created to rescue beauties. Men were created to live.

Sadly, most men are not living. Most men are cowards, fearful and afraid of failure. Imprisoned by their own thinking and what others think about them. Many men are just boys waiting for their mother’s approval, or the approval of others in society. Most men I know are people pleasers, not God pleasers. They are more afraid of how others may reject them or not accept them if they choose to take the road less traveled.

All men die, few men truly live.

Women don’t want nice guys or good boys, women want men on a mission, men on adventure, men who are dangerous. This is why many women are drawn to bad boys because bad boys live with a sense of risk, danger, mystery and unknown. Men were created to live fearless and to live by faith. But if you walk into a church today what you find are a bunch of boys playing with their toys, working at predictable jobs — not their true callings, and living boring lives. It’s sad, but most guys get their sense of adventure from playing video games or watching TV, what happened to our men?

A man of faith will sweep a woman of God off of her feet. He will challenge her to go the distance in God, in their relationship and in life. A man of courage is someone who in the face of fear still chooses to move forward with trust in God, setting out to obey God’s voice at whatever the cost, because that is what matters the most. We need men who have hearts fully alive, hearts full of passion and are on a mission to change the world. There is a high cost to being a man of courage, there is a price to pay if we want to be a real hero, it means we are willing to go against the grain, follow God against all odds and live a life of honor, courage and righteousness.

When a woman finds a man of courage, it will encourage her to be all that God has created her to be. As a man, your goal is not how your woman can serve you, but how can you serve your woman? As a man, your goal is not how a woman can serve your destiny, but how can you do all that you possibly can to release the fullness of God’s glory and destiny in her.

Men take the lead, protect at all costs, provide in every way, live by your word and live a life of adventure with the Holy Spirit — obey God, not man and you will be the man of God you were created to be — and your woman will love you for it.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Monday, October 18, 2010

My feelings today as a 26 years, 1 month, 1 day old datin

I went out with Eelee today to celebrate my 26th year on earth. I am so tried now. Waiting for my hair to dry. So many thoughts went through my mind in the bathroom. Deep thinking done in the toilet. It is going to be draining to blog them all. Anyway, the thoughts should be worked on.

"When I ignore God, things start to fall apart.
Unnecessary concerns arise and fills my heart.
Did I think that my past successes were my work of art?
Did everything fall nicely in place because of my gut?
So why did I once again allow fear to grip my heart?
And choose to live my way which saddens my Guard.

I know that I have chose what's bad
Please forgive me and help me back on track.
I want to trust you with my all,
And nothing will be done until I know it's your call."

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Galatians Three

Though the following seem like my learnings from the Bible, I have included the thoughts that sprung up from the recent happenings in my life. You do not need to know what happened. I just hope that you take something away after spending 5 minutes of your time on this post.

Confirm - Secure
(Galatians 3:1-5) I received the Holy Spirit because I believed what I heard. God gave me the Holy Spirit and work miracles because I believed in Him. Even with these understandings, fear and desperation drive me to attain my goals the familiar way - I forgot all about the security of God's leading. This reminds me of the story of Moses when he struck the rock when he was told to speak to it. If any major decision is not made with God; without any confirmation from God, I will regret it|there will not be a favorable outcome|I have wasted my time|I have missed out on the 'best'.

You can choose to do what is right over what feels right only if you are strong enough. I am not strong enough all the time. I seek to be stronger each time, so that I can experience God each time. Sometimes I wonder if I portray my reliance on God the wrong way - people doubt my confidence and certainty. I am sorry if you don't know how to get certainty from God and is always living in vagueness & blurness. Lead me Holy Ghost.

I Am Right
(Galatians 3:6-14) I am right not because I follow the rules. I am right because I know who's Right. I hope I make sense :P Rules will never declare me as good, because I break them all the time. But I am good because I choose Him who is good - my decision made me good. Oh no.. how to make this simpler? I do not depend on human efforts to be right. God just needs me to declare "Jesus died on the cross for me & paid the penalty of my sins. I owe Him & will live my life for Him." - and I'm right.

Law vs. Promise

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Galatians Two

Though the following seem like my learnings from the Bible, I have included the thoughts that sprung up from the recent happenings in my life. You do not need to know what happened. I just hope that you take something away after spending 5 minutes of your time on this post.

Personal Remedy
(Galatians 2:5) How strong are you to 'not give in' to the lies you tell yourself? Sometimes when 'the need to obey God' makes no sense to you, how to deal with the urge to sin? This is a vicious cycle that will keep us bonded when we do not have a personal remedy for it.

Live Like A Datin
(Galatians 2:6) Paul never meant for this to be viewed negatively.
Seriously... do you really think that people with title has 'it'? I personally think that we give respect to whom we want to give. In this age and time, people don't give a hoot about who you are, or consider you, until you have contributed something positive in their lives. You can be a pastor and there are people planning to spit in your face someday.
Your title tells me what you are suppose to do and your key performance indicators. To get my minimum respect, do your job and get results. You can be appointed over me, but you don't rule over me - isn't that a great new for me. I choose who I want to submit to (and it may not be you).
How others choose to live their lives, cannot affect how I want to live mine - the same goes for you, the one reading my post. Stop thinking that you have no choice because someone else's action is affecting you. Though their selections and decisions may irritate you; just let it stop there - don't let the itch develop. I choose not to be affected.
Yes, you may be forced to do what you do not like because of the one that is 'ruling over' you - God is the ultimate boss & you think He can't do something about it if He wants to?
Sometimes, I myself don't feel 'it' even though I am given the titles. I am rather proud of my achievements than my titles. Though people may call me Datin, but do I live like one - sadly no.

Play Politics
(Galatians 2:9) How to get people's approval? When they recognize that God is with you. But sometimes, you must understand that people's approval is not necessary for you to continue to do what God has called you to do. However, having the right people's approval do bring you to places faster. Politics - Yes, it is & I believe we all should know how to play it to our advantage. People who claim that they are not playing politics, are in fact playing it - playing it well too. They are just not admitting that it is good to play the good guy.


Galatians One

Though the following seem like my learnings from the Bible, I have included the thoughts that sprung up from the recent happenings in my life. You do not need to know what happened. I just hope that you take something away after spending 5 minutes of your time on this post.

Get Personal
(Galatians 1:1) Remember who you are working for "sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father..." We need to know exactly why we are doing what we want (need) to do/are doing in order to keep on the right track. This reason has to be a personal one and not adopted. Even when what we are doing is worthwhile, we may still lose the purpose of doing it when we have been doing it for the longest time. Sometimes, a "calling" is not even sufficient enough to justify what you need to sacrifice.
I think this is the same for marriage. When we have been in it for the longest time, and when things settle in auto-mode - what's next?

Be Balanced
(Galatians 1:6-9)
"deserting the one" - Why did they desert the One?
"turning to a different gospel" - Can't they differentiate right and wrong?
"throwing you into confusion" - Why are some people easily confused?
"pervert the gospel of Christ" - Why do some people want to tell another story?

Can you tell what is not of God? Can you find the wrong bits in the theory mass, like finding 'Wally' in the crowd? I know it is one thing to identify what is wrong and another to avoiding it after detection, but my question is how sensitive are you to even coming close to identifying what's not right in the first place - especially if it is coming from you.

I think it is not an art but a gift to be able to be balance - not bias that is. I think that the ability to determine what is right and wrong, good or bad, beneficial or harmful, in an objective manner, defers from person to person. That is why, though we are given the same kind of information to enable us to live a fulfilled life, we do not all end up successful because of the way we decipher the knowledge. My understanding becomes my lifestyle.

There are some people I know whose theories can be easily overthrown and each time they share it I will ask myself "Can't they adopt the right thinking process?". Some people are always genuine wrong - that's why they are always courting problems - THIS is the law of attraction. So can these people start analyzing in the right manner? I would like to learn how to attain a higher-level thought process?

There is a saying that everything is subjective. I beg to differ. I believe that the truth is objective. The result of following God's leading is always good - this is objective.
We usually think we are right until someone proves us wrong - duh!. So when does it stop? When will we attain the ultimate right answer if the truth is objective.

Stop Dreaming
(Galatians 1:15-16) It is special to know that you are 'set apart'. However, please be concise as to for whom are you set apart for and for what purpose. Don't generalize. People like to feel special, but we are 'set apart' for action, not for feeling. Please come out of your fantasy world and stop fantasizing as a superhero - live like one.

Do What Is Necessary
(Galatians 1:21-24) Many times, we try to prove to people we are God's chosen one. Paul simply helped people to know God. God helped Paul to get the credibility he needs to do God's work.

Monday, October 04, 2010

6 Birthday Cakes

I have 6 birthday cakes this year.
  1. Helen (Market brand)
  2. CG (??)
  3. Jacqueline (Awfully Chocolate)
  4. Lynn + Huiwen (Begawansolo)
  5. Mummy (Market brand)
  6. Michelle + Kelly (NYDC)
Received affirmation about me being a strong pillar, good mentor, good friend to my sheep.
I also want to have someone like that to take care of me. Is that too much to ask for? I am figuring out why I don't have someone like that - there must be a reason I have not yet understand.

Joyce specially got all my sheep to celebrate birthday for me this year.
Really happy to know that I have made a difference in their lives.
God could have used anyone to say those things that I have said to them, so I thank God that He used me - because I available myself with the right motives.

I am definitely have a lot of changes that I have to make in my life so that God can use me more. I just want to pray that God has mercy on me & continue to use me in His plans.

*****

Just came home from the super be-lated birthday dinner with Michelle & Kelly. My bad. Was really busy just before the Bali trip.
Swallowed the Lobster Ravioli & lime margarita @ 211 even though the stomach will churning like a washing machine. Cakes at NYDC is good too. But in the end who really cares about the food, it is the company that matters.

We all choose who matter to us & we will find out in time if we have made the right choices.
Sometimes we can tell that people make the wrong decisions and we are just waiting for our predictions to be validated. It's kinda shiok to be proven right. But of course, I don't mean it in a bad way - but "don't you see it already?"

I love "Mmmbop" - one of the songs that never fail to lift my mood in any circumstances. "So hold on to the ones who really cares. In the end they'll be the only ones there. And when you get old and start losing your hair. Tell me who will still care. Can you tell me who will still care? Oh care."

That's all.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

New Year Day (2010) Gift

Cut on right leg Bruise on right ankle

I Am Silly.

When I look back at all my negative posts, I think that I am simply being critical and immature. I often think that people misunderstand me, but as I look at the negative posts I wrote about others, I do not understand people very well myself. I wish to delete those posts but I think I will just leave them there to remind me of my silliness.

My Journey To My Creator

I think I am not in the 'disappointed mode' now.
I think I am pretty much over with the frustrations.

Nobody is perfect. I am not. So why should I expect people to be.
I used to be frustrated because I expect people to be who I think they can be. (How come nobody tell me what they expect of me? Anyways...)
Everyone is in different seasons of growth and I need to understand which season they are in and work with God to help them. I think that instead of being judgemental and critical, I should be helping people who are trying to 'level up'.

God has planned for us to each have a different path and everyone decides how they want to walk this journey with God. In the end, each is accountable to God for their own walk so I need to make sure I walk right.
Along in my journey to my Creator, I can help those who wants help and need not be frustrated at those who wants to take it slow. Some people are not ready to move at 100km/h, it is not that they do not want to. I know that there are times that I want to cruise too. So move with those that can move at the same speed and hope the slower ones can catch up - there is no need to be frustrated, it saves no soul. I am sorry if my frustration has dampen souls.

The reason that why sometimes we are not motivated to serve God more, with our all, is because our knowledge of God's giving has not increased. The more we understand (know) God's giving, the more we are able (want) to give back to God.
I have understood that I can't just "push" myself to simply do more (tasks will become meaningless and I will be tired out), I need to be drawn ("pulled") into God's love (mercy, grace, blessings, forgiveness) so that I will be serving with joy and giving with understanding. Serving God should be a pull factor thingy and not be forced (push).

In order to encourage others to give more of themselves to God, I need tell them to find out God's goodness in their lives and not to criticise their current giving.

God, as I travel this journey, help me to help others - the way it would help them best.
Amen.

Act With A Burden

17 October 2009
God will always give a burden before telling us what to do, e.g. Nehemiah. He will want us to see the lack of the people and feel for them before allowing us to act.
What we want to do may not be what is necessary. So before we waste our time, energy and resources, allow God to tell us what needs to be done. God knows best.

*****

For the two years that I have been in the new place, mostly I felt disappointed. I felt that many things could have been done better. I thought that some people should have responded better and some should have work harder. I thought I saw what was lacking and I would use whatever I have to fill the gap.

I may have the skills to things right, but I was not doing the right things.
I simply wanted to change the way things are done, according to what I think is right.
I do not have a burden for the people. I just wanted to prove them wrong (or that I am right).
I thought I knew what was needed to do, until God showed me otherwise.
Me trying to do what I thought was right, was a waste of my time.

I cannot do the right things with the wrong heart attitude; things will not turn out right. I will not act right. I will not be able to give glory to God. I will not act in love. I will not achieve godly results.

I am still disappointed.
I still want to change how things are done.
But this time, with a right attitude. It is for God and for friends.

Thank you Jesus for correcting me.