But Continue Thou

This weekend has been really quite powerful. 3 continuous day being submerged in God's word and having His word speak to me in a powerful way. I thank God for this weekend, and the truths that has been revealed to me, only through the Spirit. I know that surely, as God teaches us, and truths that has been learnt, we would definitely be tested and trial on our understanding and whether we can "continue in the things" we have learnt. Yes. So, never take God's word for granted. Each time He speaks to us, hold them close to our heart, and continue to ponder and meditate over them. And when testings and trials hit us, may we remember the lessons God has taught us to prepare us, and remain faithful in our trial!

Friday

Prayer meeting, pastor preached on Noah again. But this time, it was really a refreshing message on trusting God even though He may seem silent. The song that came to my mind when I heard the message was- When God is Silent. Indeed, by staying in the ark for such a long period of time, hearing nothing from God but the sound of waves clashing onto the ark may seem such a difficult time to endure. Yet, so often we find ourselves in the same situation as Noah. Even though we may be in God's will, God's silence continues. Well, it comforting to know, God remembers us, as He remembered Noah. I am encouraged by Noah's example. And I realised great men of faith indeed did not live a life that is as thrilling and as exciting as we see it, as pastor said during youth meeting. Rather they lived a life of faith, standing sometimes on a single promise of God. Therefore, really, to live a life of faith sometimes may not be as thrilling as it seems, but rather sometimes a whole life of simply waiting, patiently before God. Just as Noah did in the ark, His life exemplified FAITH by trusting and waiting on God. And He stood wholly on God's promise all the time, and "did not waver at the promise of God, but was strengthened with faith". But the message to take home is that God remembers us, even though He may seem quiet. "Yes, its time to trust!" when God is silent. Take heart, and take faith that God remembers us. "He will never leave us nor forsake us". Sometimes I feel, if we could fully comprehend what this verse meant, and stand on this promise of God, why should we worry or why should we ever doubt His presence. God is ever with us, yes, even to the end of times.


Saturday

Pastor preached on Peter and His "emotional" commitment to Christ. Well. I realised that sometimes we may be too quick to make such commitments as Peter did. Take more example youth camp, when we are all fired up, its really easy to make those commitments and "pay lip-services" to God. But how many have stood strong and firm in their commitments. Its not the number of commitments or what those commitments are, its whether we are able to keep them which is important to God. Do not be too quick to commit, without devoting ourselves wholly to that commitment. And do not, "pay lip-services". Sometimes I wonder, if it is because we take our commitments to God too lightly, that we so often fall out of our commitals. But thinking of it, I feel that if we treat each commitment as a promise or convenant to the Most High God, we would be faithful in keeping them. Another reason I could think of, why we fall short of fulfilling what we promised God is because we are depending on grace that we recieved during the camp or in the past. Never depend on past grace. His grace is sufficient for us, for the day. I always remind myself that. WE must remember to draw grace directly from God daily, lest we do not have it to stay close to Him. What can we do, without grace? I believe if, daily we renew and draw grace from our Father, commitments to Him will be kept to because of His ever-present grace with us! Oh, if only we could comprehend it!

One thing that really struck me was when pastor spoke about the mathyrs both of the present and of the old. It was the incident he mentioned in US, how a gun man killed the youths because they refused to denounce their faith in Christ and the dicsiple an apostle, how he was burnt and speared so badly because of His firm stand. Yes, as pastor said, the way out was simple, to denounce their faith and they would be instanly spared. But, are they willing to? The phrase that struck me, was this, "How can I be unfaithful to One who has been so faithful to me?" Wow! Amazing! And in my own words I will like to put it this way, "How can I turn my back against Him, who has been sooo faithful to me all my life?" I asked myself that simple question, if that gunman was pointing the gun at me, and threated to kill me if I do not denounce my faith, what will I do? It may not be as easy as jus saying, I would not. Because, if we seriously ask ourselves honestly if that WAS to happen, it may be a struggle. But... Simply simply because of such wonderful faithfulness that God has been in my life, I can never ever denounce my faith, even if it costs my life. Really. Great is Thy faithfulness, my Lord!

Then came,
Sunday

Sunday's message was powerful, and a comfort to my soul and I believe to everyone who has heard it. I thank God for using pastor to preach that message and speaking to my heart. It was such comfort to know how to have PEACE, in a midst of the storms of life. Undeniably we have to acknowledge that God is in ultimate control of everything and anything. If we suggests that there may be somethings that happened which is not willed by God, we may be seen as blasmpheming against Him. Because, if we suggests that, there suppose to be "someone" greater than God right? Absolutely not. There isnt, and we have to acknowledge God's ultimate sovereignity over every single circumstances. Pastor brought out a phrase which has been my constant prayer for very long, "The best place to be in, is in the will of God". Simply staying in God's will can gurantee our protection, our safety and eventually blessedness. (Romans 8:28) I cannot understand why we ought to worry unless we stray from God's will? Because we have God's promise, and God's guarantee, that His way is perfect! And unless we do His will, we will step out of His will, and that would only mean, danger! SO much comfort and encouragement just to know that every single day spent in God's will can guarantee such blessedness, and safety. Okay, simply putting it. There are two ways, only two: God's way and our way. If we choose our way, the end is sure, uneasiness, discomfort, fear and insecurity. However, God's way means peace, joy, safety, protection and blessedness. Which way would we choose? And why should we worry for ANYTHING if we could only understand fully what this means? The root of the problem is whether we understand this simple truth.

Pastor said something that struck me again. Ha. "God did not save us to lose grip on us through the storm." And it made me think, let whatever I do be worthy of Christ's shed blood, be worthy of Christ's suffering on the cross for my redemption. Let every choice I make prove His salvation worthy. Walk worthy of our Lord!

There is more to these messages. But sadly I could only remember these points. I pray that it has been a blessing, continue to read up on these chapters and examples. Noah, Peter and Paul. And may God keep these truths close to our hearts, that when trials come, continue in the things that thou hast learnt!

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