The Ways Of God

It has been long, haha, ten days since I've posted anything. But I guess I have been rather busy with work, and more of school activites. June holidays past so quickly, and I'm not complaining it to be short but rather I am fine with returning back to school. Just that 1 month passes realy fast. Come to think of it, this phrase, "time and tide waits for no man" seems to have an element of truth in it. Just consider, how day passes after day and we are in no position to stop time at any point and enjoy the way we are living. Not long, I believe, we woul find ourselves graduating from school and college and going into NS.. and 10 years later (which really isnt long if we stop to consider how quickly time passes)... Well, I guess its only true that the bible mentions that man's life is but a drop of dew, which comes and goes so quickly. Imagine a place where God promised nothing bad, but all the good things of this life times infinite times and there wouldnt be end to it, it will be for eternity. To be honest, I am eagerly waiting for that day and eternity with a God whom I cannot fathom His love, grace, mercy, faithfulness. Wonder what it'll be lik when we see Jesus? I cannot imagine...

Well, to get back to my point, this june holiday has been quite special and I am indeed throroughly blessed by how God has worked in my life. I guess not being able to go for the june camp and some other church activities in the end didnt deter me from being who God wanted me to be, from learning more about Him, and to prepare me and equip me for my work ahead. His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts higher than my thoughts (Isa 55) So as the guys shared before, we may not be able to see the big picture and comprehend what God's plan is but the only thing required of us is to trust! Our gracious Lord prepared me in a very special way this holiday, not through camp but through personal seeking and time spent with Him.

I guess the Evangelistic Meeting (Youth) played an important part in how I was to learn that God salvation so free and so true, to learn of how God was all powerful and all knowing to save lost sinners, to see His hand move and witness His saving grace. The Lord convicted me of my unrighteousness, my sin, through the messages preached by Bro Webb, even though they were evagelistic in nature, but God's word is indeed a discerner of our thoughts and pierced and convicted me of my wrong thoughts deeds and words.

I was not allowed to go on the following sunday after evangelistic meetings because I made a mistake. I heard Bro Barry Webb's sermon was powerful, but I guess God also had a sermon I was to remember and keep with me for the rest of my life. It was getting grace from God by Dr Jim Berg. His definition of grace spoke alot to me- the supernatural power and desire to do His will - that is grace! God promised where sin aboundeth, grace aboundeth more! Isnt that wonderful? His grace is sufficient for us! Even a verse which got gave to me as I sought for a verse to write to my sister, was 2 Corinthians 9:8 and it really stayed with me, that I could share it with others. And God is also able to make all grace abound toward you, that having all sufficiency, you may be complete in every good work. Nice ~!

During June Camp, I started to use Charles Spurgeon's morning and evening devotional book for my devotional and God spoke many secrets and truths to me thru that devotional. One was on how we loved Him because He first loved us, and how we before God loved us knew no love. We cannot claim to love God because we have no knowledge of love. But my prayer was that we may love God with the love that He has showered on us. Another special truth was about sin. We have been saved by the cross and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and our sins have been washed clean. But take heed not to take this grace for granted! Sin IS still sin, and remember what was the wage of even ONE sin before we recieved His salvation - death! Unless we realise the severity of sin and totally abstain and abhor it and pursue holiness, the Spirit in us is grieved each time we sin against God. Point to take is: Because we know what sin did to our Christ, all the more we should not commit. Indeed, I have been so blessed by Spurgeon's devotional and I never fail to be refreshed it and God's word.

The holidays are filled with lots of ups and downs spiritually. And I guess each of them, every single one of them was used by God to mould me. God uses every mountain and tide to mould. And God truly was in control of every circumstances. I rest assure that as I rest in His cirriculum, I can never be wrongly treated. I can know that every circumstances was acknowledged by Him so that it could ever reach me. Keeping a Quiet Heart by Elizabeth Elliot never fails to edify me through His word on how to be contented and have peace in whatever circumstances. A quote from Amy Carmichael from the book was that a cup filled with sweet water can never overspill a drop of bitter drink no matter how suddenly it was jarred. Indeed, if we are in God's hands, what blessed assurance we have! God picked me up each time I was deep in sin and very gently and mercifully lead me back to Him.

The first night of revival meeting at Life BP by Stephen Jones spoke to me very powerfully and convicted me alot. I purposed after that message to live my life according to God's Word. Indeed, I have neglected the word of God in my life. How often I pray "Make me more like Thee" when God's direction, and guide is right before my eyes! How I've not learnt to live and abide in His Word so that He may abide in me, that I may bear much fruit for Him! Indeed, if one roots his life into the very word of God, He is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, whose leaves shall not wither, gives its fruits in its season, and whatever He does will prosper! Do I really want to be ashamed when I see Jesus that I all the while had the revelation and guide of God yet have not opened it and lived it? Truly, living according to what it teaches is much more precious than even the experience the disciples had, seeing the transfiguartion of Christ. How often we place our trust in experiences and encounters with God! When the only way to remain and abide in Christ is through His Word. Value the Word of God more than the special encounters and experiences, I've learnt. Another thing is when we read the Bible, we should firstly bend our minds to understand it and then to bend our wills to live it. I was convicted of my sin of lying once again, even if it may be a little compromise. But I guess it spoke to me in the sense that I knew I had to bend my will to live according to His Word and abide in what He taught. God's Word has become true and living to me, and I value it so much more after that night.

I had BSP camp which took up the last few days of my holidays. Well, I have nothing much to say about the camp but that I was very distracted and I lost the peace that I had sought after. God was gracious and merciful to me. Sunday school on the very last day taught about the directions for living and the Holy Spirit. Verses like "Walk in the Spirit that you may not satisfy the lust of the flesh", "the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol.. with such there is no law", "we are under the Spirit not under the law" and I was there and then convicted of my sins and I had only to pray for forgiveness and for the Spirit to live in me and for me to walk in the Spirit.

After two days of school, I'm so glad that God, in His own circulum has prepared me for tough times, and eve ahead. Such is the case where I had peace when faced with a tough testing and how I leaned no longer on my strength to keep my footsteps right, but only by His grace that I was able to walk uprightly and faithfully. Continue praying, youths, for one another that we may bear one another's burden in this way.

God has been great, indeed great to many, testified in so many so many lives. Faith seems to come alive in this month as I hear the touching testimony our missionary to Yunan and truly, faith being tried, and coming forth as gold after refining! Faith alive! In how God has worked in people close to me, and how their testimony shows that the Lord we serve is the One True loving Creator and Savior. How each life testifies of His faithfulness.

And that I may proudly say, "I know whom I have believeth! "