Thoughts: The Battle For My Mind

I’m sorry Lord,

For the times when I have fallen

For the days when I turn my face, heart and thoughts away from You

For forgetting about Your face of Grace and Mercy

For compromising on Your Truth

For not giving You the Thanks and Honor due to Your Name

For grieving Your Sweet Holy Spirit

For not upholding Your Purity

For feeling like a failure

For the pain and loneliness that is my constant companion at times

So hard pressed on every side when I take my eyes off you

But Thank You God

That You have sent Your Holy Spirit as my Comforter

That You are my Helper

My Salvation

My Joy

My Best, All-knowing Friend

My Lover

My Constant Companion

My Life

My Redeemer and Sacrifice

My No. 1 Intercessor

My Song

My Warrior who fights on my behalf

My Hope

My Healer

My Good Father

My Protector

My Unfailing Love

My Faithfulness

My Righteousness

My Holiness

Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Love,

Your Beloved Daughter

In My Mind (talking to myself)

There’s a saying somewhere that Christians are people who talk to themselves the most and I do find myself doing more of that…as I continue to question myself, the things I do, what I think and basically being aware of the fact that the Holy Spirit dwells in me.

Today, as I was going to get my lunch from Subway (HV) I was just thinking to myself, should I take the bus (I had just gone for gym so a bit lazy). Yet at the same time, the awareness that it was the easy way out and I knew that I had to humble my physical body so that my spirit’s condition can be revealed to myself.

I’m beginning to understand the significance of Jesus saying WHEN we fast not if we fast…basically it is choosing to feed my spiritual being before my physical. Cause just as I understood what was being spoken last Sat by the speaker during Fuel Prayer, “The strong man is the one that you feed FIRST!”. It kinda of hit me home that I’ve been feeding my physical man first and that was the root of why I feel spiritually dead at times…like a total “unspiritual Christian” which is NOT NORMAL…cause Jesus promised me an abundant life in Him!

So, as I chose to walk to Holland Village instead, I was just telling myself “Take your time to walk there, lunch isn’t as important as the time you spend walking and talking to God on their way there”. As i walked, my mind was mentally engaged in asking God and seeking His revelation for me…the questions in my heart…but more so…preparing my spirit to be the dwelling place for Him to reign.

So often, we go about doing stuff that we are able to do on our own and seek God only when we can’t do something. The mindset change I believe we need is that God wants to partner us, not to do the BIG things that we can’t do but rather, He wants to partner us in all that we do because He delights in our relationship with Him. It becomes a relationship that is eternal rather than a “work relationship” mentality that most of us have.

….Had Subway Turkey Breast, 6″ Wheat Bread, No cheese, No toast, All the veggies except onions and chilli, finally mayonnaise and sweet onion sauce…

As I walked back (choosing to go by the commonwealth ave), I got a bit lost cause I’ve not walked through there for a few months. So was wandering around till I found a familiar landmark…at the same time, I was asking myself, “Why didn’t I just walk back the same way I came…faster some more”… How typical for someone who just said I wanted to spend some more time walking with God…I guess that’s one Singaporean mentality that we gotta change with regards to God and our attitude towards time. Do realize *God is timeless*.

As it is, I became hot and sweaty and there were some stale smells as I walked past under the housing blocks. It wasn’t exactly a nice place for someone who had just bathed and was smelling nice and fine. Yet, as I was talking to God about my stupidity, the Holy Spirit used this experience to teach me some stuff that I kind of thought about but was never able to put down clearly and coherently.

Basically, here’s what I was thinking and receiving:

1. “Rachel, you live in a nice, new building compared to the rather disheveled neighborhood you are walking through now…there are things that you have not experienced, what about the hope of people who are living in an environment that is not the best or smelly. Do you see the countenance of the elderly, that I am their hope showing them that they have a purpose beyond death”

2. “Rachel, you are nice and clean, and you don’t want to get dirty. Yet, if I call you to serve, you will have to get dirty and smelly in the process because it is the nature of the world that you are in now. Yet, so many people, choose to stay nice and clean because it is comfortable. As such, they delude themselves that being in the world, you will get dirty, and the only way you can get clean is through me, Jesus. Rachel, you have been revealed this because you understand how in need of purification you need, in the midst of a sinful world that daily unloads all sorts of dirt on you. Renew and purify your mind, heart, soul and body in me.

WoW God.

Love,

littlelamb

The Father’s Heart & The Son’s Prayer

As I went to the gym today (w/o my iPod) so it was a time of being quiet and hearing what the Lord is speaking to me for today more clearly. It went about and I was asking in my heart, Lord what does it mean to grow in intimacy with you? I mean I’ve reach some level of intimacy but there’s still more that I know is waiting for me. As I thought about it I came about…hmmm…what is the Lord’s standard of intimacy as shown in the Bible. Then I came to think upon the Lord Jesus, for he is the perfect example of deep intimacy with the Father. I thought of obedience  being the standard of intimacy and then it led me to the Lord’s prayer…cos the disciples seeing the Lord’s intimacy in prayer with the Father.

So as I pondered upon the Lord’s prayer, the Holy Spirit spoke to me of the following.

1. Father in Heaven: Enables us to acknowledge and approach God in the intimate relationship as son/daughter to a Father. Our sonship is not of our own feelings or thoughts but that of the Holy Spirit in us calling out ABBA Father to God. This establishes our right and relationship with God to approach him.

2. Hallowed be your Name: This acknowledges that God is sovereign and more than encompassing for God has been given many Names and each of his names is a name of His power, revealing his ability to answer any need we bring to him

3. Your Kingdom come: What is the Lord’s kingdom? I was led to think of the parable of the King and the two debtors and H.S. said that the Lord’s Kingdom is one of mercy and forgiveness. Also led me to think of John the Baptist and Jesus who proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is at hand, which leads to a Kingdom of repentance and restoration of goodness. (A day when lion and lambs will rest together and peace will reign in justice and righteousness)

4. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven: Knowing what is the Lord’s good and perfect will for his people. Most of the things that happen on earth are due to decisions made in Heaven. Jeremiah 29:11.

5. Give us today our Daily bread: Reminds us that we live each day by the power of the H.S. breathing and Lord Jesus (Bread that was broken for us) interceding on our behalf before the Father. Bread is also the living word of God that feeds our spirit with good healthy truth.

6. Forgive us our sins: The reality of God’s Kingdom & Will firstly to us.

7. As we forgive those who sin against us: The reality of God’s Kingdom to those around us.

8. Lead us not into temptation: If we choose to crucify our self, we immediately place ourselves under the Lord’s ability to die to temptation.

9. But deliver us from the evil one: Realizing that each day is a daily battle for the Lord to protect and make a way out for us, in a world that is full of trials. Realizing that it is the Devil that is the ruler of this world.

10.For the Kingdom, the power and glory are yours: Yup, that we look forward through the midst of being sojourners in this world to the world ahead that the Lord has prepared. This fulfills the calling that God spoke to Abraham, that through the Nation of Israel, all other nations will be blessed. Jesus also said that the children of Abraham are those who faithfully seek the Lord in repentance. Luke 3:8

11. Now and For ever: The Lord is the same today, yesterday and forever, so this means that our prayers are not just a one off thing but rather when we pray we know that the Lord hears us because it has been his plan since the beginning of the world that all men may know him (a personal relationship).

The Lord’s Prayer

Abba Father in Heaven,

Hallowed be your name.

Your Kingdom Come,

Your Will be Done,

On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our Daily Bread,

Forgive us of our sins

As we forgive those who have sinned against us

Lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For the Kingdom, the power and glory are yours

Now and For ever

Amen

Be blessed,

littlelamb

Moving on into the New Year

As I look back to 2008 and even 2007, I see that I have grown much in my walk with God. Yet as I reflect, I couldn’t really describe that the progress I’ve made is of my own doing because Change is often the most intimidating part for me, actually for us all.

So as I was reading this book BRIDGES: Getting from A to B by Mark Geppert, this excerpt most succinctly summaries how each step of faith I have made is by God’s guidance and faithfulness.

“When the pain of where you are is greater than the perceived pain of where you are going, you will go. But, as long as the perceived pain of where you are going is greater than the pain of where you are, you will stay”~ Pastor Dan Livingston

I guess, without pain in life (God knowing that it is better for me to move ahead, trusting in Him than to remain stagnant and out of reach of the abundant life He has promised to all who seek him) that I won’t have the victories and revealation of God working through me today.

Even as the New Year ahead is uncertain and the economy is always changing, yet, I’m able to press on as the happiest people are not those without problems but rather people who are able to face their problems…one day at a time…with the strength that comes from a ever faithful relationship from the Lord. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

Love,

littlelamb

Preparing You For What Lies Ahead

The happiest people are not those without problems but those who are not afraid of problems.

In the midst of economic problems, turning into personal financial problems and even relational problems, how does one come to a point when one is not afraid of problems?

Let me venture a suggestion: They consist of 3 parts.

1. The Ability to CRY, GRIEVE, LAMENT without losing hope in God.

Qns 1: To some people, pain, crying, grieving & lamenting are signs and expression of not trusting God. Is this absolutely true?

Ans 1: No. In fact it is wisdom and strength to us, which can only come out in the context of PAIN and  UNCERTAINTY. Lamentations 3:23-24 & Psalm 13:1-6. Often it is people who want to be in control and want the hope that they ask for and planned for that face the most disappointments in life.

2. Two Benefits of Biblical Lamenting

Firstly we open ourselves to God’s comfort (Personal Healing) which He gives directly to us or through His people (Body of Christ) 2 Corinthians 1:4. Such that God’s comfort is SO MUCH BIGGER than our harm & pain, so that we can then direct our full energies to doing the things of God.

Secondly, we comfort others by articulating, sharing and voicing our feelings before God and asking Father God for help. By doing so, you affirm your trust and reliance upon God and allow Him to minister and comfort you.

In these times of uncertainty that we live in daily, the Qns is: “Who are you relying on?”
Be blessed,

Littlelamb

(Excerpt from Paster Edwin’s Sermon)