Week 57: Peace be with you

“Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” (Unknown)

“Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.” (Donna Wallis)

The sultan of Brunei, with an estimated fortune of $20 billion, is the fourth wealthiest royal in the world. The rich Seria oil fields in Brunei are the basic of his wealth.

The Sultan – educated in Britain – own the world’s largest palace, a variety of airplanes, dozens of cars, and some of the world’s top hotels, among them the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. He lives a life of ‘excessive’ luxury. He knows that he is the target of burglars, kidnappers, terrorists, against whom he must constantly guard. He owns several private houses and hotels in and around London and makes it a point to move from one to the other by only revealing his schedule to not more than a few trusted intimates.

What he cannot purchase is what he treasures most – peace of mind.

(I wonder, does our chief minister of Sarawak … have the same problem too)

Probably as you read this article; you need a peace of mind. You need what Jesus promised to His followers, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27) This kind of peace is not for a person who takes everything lightly – snaps his fingers, whistles, and sings. Nor the kind of peace that no matter what happens, he/she won’t be shaken and moved and not showing it when he/she feels the pain – that’s plastic! This kind of peace also not an attitude of ‘Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die’. No! This kind of peace is way much better!

The word translated “peace” in the Bible can also be translated “tranquility,” “harmony,” “concord,” “security,” “safety,” “prosperity,” and “felicity.” This kind of peace, ironically, doesn’t come from you. (Not even from Yoga or religious mediation practices!) It comes only from God, the source of peace. Those who believe in God have the Holy Spirit, God’s promise presence that is living within every believer. God’s Spirit brings peace of mind and heart as he guides you into productive living and comforts you in time of trouble.

Writing about the peace of God, John Edmund Haggai commended, “The assurance of peace is conditional upon no outside circumstance, for this peace is possible only through Christ. A life without Christ is a life without peace. Without Him you may have excitement, worldly success, fulfilled dreams, fun, and gratified passions – but you will never have peace!” I say, “Amen to that sir!”

I asked a pastor one day, “You always traveling from one long-houses to another; don’t you afraid that they might reject you badly?” He showed his unattractive smile and replied, “I’d encounter many difficulties before. And with all of these challenges, I have a peace of mind. Jesus is my peace and I’ll hold on to that for the rest of my life.”

Indeed, money can’t buy a peace of mind. Owning the largest palace and lots of ‘toys’ doesn’t attract peace to us… You need to ask from the Giver itself, and that is what Jesus Christ’s offers to you. Jesus is ‘the Prince of Peace’. (Isaiah 9:6)

Peace be with you brothers and sisters,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Wedding Ceremony, Love, Law and a Question

Wedding ceremony. I love it! Lovely couple, foods, people, and celebration… I love it! Since last May to early July 2011, I heard many wedding going on and yes, I did attended some of them… I love it!

 

One day as I attended my friend’s wedding, I had this imagination;

picture taken with permission from
http://www.lightframephotography.com

I imagine that the bride and groom are there in all their finest and splendor. But before the ceremony begins, each exchanges the other a contract detailing the rules of their relationship after marriage – routine life that needs to be fulfilled by both parties.

The husband reads, “You must help with the dishes each evening; you must not go out on Saturday and Sunday night; you must take care of the lawn each Friday, you must go washes you dirty clothes by yourself.” The wife stunned, hers are, “You must cook the meals; you must keep a clean house; don’t complaints.” I thought, would they sign the agreement anyway? In my imaginations, well, I just end it here.

What’s the problem here? They are trying to set a contract for what love would cause them to do willingly in the first place! If we want to apply this imagination (or rather illustration) into a spiritual realm, it would be like this: A Spirit-controlled person need no law to make him or her live a righteous life.

Religious law won’t make you righteous!

Dress code rules won’t make you holy!

Mumbling words of mantra in ‘the name of god’ from sacred texts won’t save a soul!

For a Spirit-controlled men and women, they are drive by the motivation to do what is right comes from within. They don’t sign contract to live righteously. They act according to their love relationship with God. They are chain by love not law. Take a hard look at your walk with God; it is characterized by a growing list of rules or a growing love relationship?

THINK BIG…START SMALL…GO DEEP

May you’re chain by love not law… oh, I love wedding ceremony, don't you?

Day 19: Power for Praying and Working

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things that these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14NIV)

Jesus was speaks to His disciples whose training time is coming to an end. A graduation will begin from the school of Discipleship. And after graduated, these alumni were assigned to take over His place and His work. I can imagine Peter’s confusion when Jesus mentions that their successes and victories are to be greater that His. “How could it be?” Peter might be the first to ask. Jesus already answered, “Because I am going to the Father.” ‘What?’ my thought could not comprehended. Little that I know that He was going to the Father to receive all power, so that now they could ask for and expect that power in His Name.

“In my name…”

‘Wait, (pause) in His name???’ I thought as I read the Word, ‘I remember how it is use in today’s modern day prayers’. Now how many well-meaning Christians and especially the ignorance that you know abuse or misuse the ‘name of Jesus’ in their so-called prayers? God have spoken ‘for I, the Lord your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name.’ (Exodus 20:7)

“The phase ‘in my name’, however, is not a talisman for the command of supernatural energy. He did not wish it to be used as a magical charm like an Aladdin’s lamp. It was both guarantee, like the endorsement on a check, and a limitation on the petition; for he would grant only such petitions as could be presented consistently with His character and purpose, not simply to gratify our whims.” [The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Volume 9 by the Zondervan Corporation]

“He will do even greater things…”       

We might assumed in our limitations that the works would be fewer and weaker once He was leaving the scene… oh what we gonna do without Jesus? Will we ever do greater works that He did? Yet, men like Peter and Paul did much greater things than He had done because Jesus now with the Father. And from the Throne He gives the Holy Spirit to be our strength as we do the works for His Kingdom. Effective working first needs effective praying and as we believe and ask in His Name, the power comes and takes possession of us to “do even greater things’! (Too many ‘and’, eh?)

In conclusion, I would like to quotes Andrew Murray’s immortal words, “Whoever wants to do the works of Jesus must pray in His Name. Whoever prays in His Name must work in His Name.” And as we pray, we can do greater things!

 ....................................

Little Pilgrim’s Progress (Free Books)

I heard so much about the book entitled Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan that I’m tempted to read it. But you see, I’m not really a fiction reader and thus, my passion and interest doesn’t goes to this kind of genre. But after I ‘tasted’ a wonderful book by Mitch Albom’s Five people you meet in Heaven (Thanks to Caroline Lee for borrowing it to me; 'sila jangan kembang hidung') my interest suddenly blossom and that’s when I’m fall in love with classic books such as Pilgrim’s Progress.

Pilgrim's Progress is a wonderful book about a man named Christian. In the beginning, Christian has a heavy burden on his back that he can't get rid of.  He tries to take it off himself but he can't.  He then meets a man named Evangelist.  Evangelist tells him that the only way to get rid of this burden on his back is to go to the Celestial City ...he keeps going and doesn't give up… and that’s the beginning of his challenging adventure.

As you read the story, you’ll find that somehow somewhere you’re ‘click’ with his troubles and obstacles as you walk in your journey as a Christian or perhaps in your early stage after accepting Christ. Thus, I would like to offer you this easy-to-read, simple English and more understandable version in a modern-day style entitled Little Pilgrim’s Progress from John Bunyan rewrite by Helen L. Taylor.

God bless you,

Rich 

[P.s: Sell your PSP, Laptop and iPod and buy this book!!!]

................................................

Only 3 Books available!!! Do you want to have a copy of this book? Do these 2 things:

1)    Comment below “Dude, there is a heavy burden on my back _(Your name)”

2)    E-mail me at Motivates4life@hotmail.com OR send message to my Facebook your real name, phone no. and your postal address.

Week 56: Don't Worry! - Today's Trouble is Enough for Today

“All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.” (Osward Chambers)

“The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.” (George Muller)

Worry is a natural part of life, in a small dose it’s helpful, like my friend Rayneld worried about his wife and her well-being, like my mother worried about my brother when he doesn’t went back home late at night, etc. But too much worry of it can distract and paralyze you. It crowds out the good in your life and keeps you focused on your problems, which only makes them seem worse. It’s like giving a steroid to your mini minny problems that if you examine at it closely, most of the time it never happen. An old man was asked what had robbed him of joy the most of his lifetime. He replied, “Things that never happened.” I heard someone say it best; worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s trouble.

Consider the things human beings worry about. The average individual’s worries can be divided into four categories: First, there are the things that will never happen, which constitute 40% of worries. Second, there are things over and past that can’t be changed by all the worry in the world, and they are another 30% of the total. Third, there are petty, needless worries, which constitute 22%. Fourth, there are legitimate worries, and these are only 8% of the whole. Now my dear readers, which category of worry are you struggling with right now? Remember - worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s trouble.

I read and copy of How to Worry Scientifically from an article and I want to share with you some of the nuggets behind the art of worry scientifically:

1.     Never worry over rumors or what ‘they’ say. First get the facts.

2.     Know definitely your worry problem. Write it down. Face it.

3.     Worry about only one problem at a time.

4.     Set a definite day, afternoon, or night for worrying. (Mine is at night, the time when I’m really sleepy)

5.     Never worry in bad, in dining room, or at church.

6.     Select an air-conditioned room. Lean back in an easy chair.

7.     Never worry with a frowning face. Smile, sing, or whistle.

8.     Never worry when you are tired, sick, angry, or depressed.

9.     Never worry while working, playing, visiting or shopping.

10.  There are two times never to worry – when you can help the situation and when you cannot.

11.  Never worry alone. Take it to the Lord and leave it there. (I quote Proverb 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”)

To be worry is normal, but to let worry crowning in your life is sinful. Worry becomes sinful when it prevents you from thinking about anything else, including God. The Bible teaches that you find rest from worry when you admit that you can’t do anything about the future and what already happened – to God who is ‘our refuge and strength’ (Psalms 36:1) Why don’t you entrust your cares to God instead of worrying about them? May you’ll find yourself overjoyed rather than overwhelmed. Hear the Master speaks,

“That is why I tell you not to worry about yesterday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look as the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)

Think Big Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s trouble. START SMALL Surrender your worry to Big God and He’ll makes yours Smaller and Smaller GO DEEP “Aren’t you far more valuable to him than they (birds) are?” TRUST GOD

......

Recommended books;

1) The Gospel of Matthew chapter 6
2) How to Win over Worry by John Haggai

3) How to stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

(If you're near from my place, you can borrow those books from me)

He Command, You Trust.

While Moses was on Mount Sinai, the Lord said to him, “Give these instructions to the Israelites: When you have entered the land I am giving you as your inheritance, the land must observe a Sabbath to the Lord every seventh year. For six years you may plant the fields… but during the seventh year… Do not plant your crops or prune your vineyards during the entire year…” (Leviticus 25:1–4NLT, Italic mine) 

The Book of Leviticus (Old Testaments) closes with instructions regarding the conduct of the land. In chapter 25 to 26 especially, God through Moses layouts rules regarding regular periods of rest for the land. In summary, every seventh year (Sabbath year) the land must rest from sowing and reaping, and every fiftieth year marks a Jubilee*, when debts are cancelled and possessions return to their original owners. To provide for both the Sabbath year and the year of Jubilee, God promises to bless in abundance the prior year.

“But you might ask, ‘What will we eat during the seventh year, since we are not allowed to plant or harvest crops that year?’ The answer is, ‘I (God) will order my blessing for you in the sixth year, so the land will produce a bumper crop, enough to support you for three years.’” (Leviticus 25:20-21)

This is hard. (well… at least for me personally). Would you have the faith to do what God required of Israel? Let’s say that God were to asking you after six years of working (in whatever your do now), you were commanded (not suggested) to leave your work for an entire year… doing nothing but rest… would you have faith to do that? Perhaps you might think about what to eat, how to provide for your family, how to pay your dozen of loans, money won’t be enough… etc. I wonder - do we have the faith to do it?

When God commanded the Israelites to leave their crops unplanted for an entire year, God was asking them to place their source of livelihood completely in His hand. He was teaches them to rely on Him alone, to live by faith and to experience the later thrill watching how He would supply their daily needs. I heard saying, “We live by faith, and faith lives by exercise.” God was reminding the people, especially to us today, who believe that the same God who works wonders, and miracles in the past, the Faithful One saying to us at this moment, “Just trust Me”.

Would you trust Him in the midst of uncertainties? Would you trust Him when the only things that He left are His words?

God assured that when you obey Him, He will follow through on His promises; “Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6) “And He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” (Matthew 6:33)

When He command, you trust!

Think Big. Start Small. Go Deep.

God's Standards for Success

“Success is living in such a way that you are using what God has given you – your intellect, abilities, and energy – to reach the purpose that he intends for your life.” (Kathi Hudson)

 “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3NLT)

 Today the world usually defined success as how much we own and how much we achieve. If I were to compare myself with others, then by the world’s definition I’m successful-less because by the end of analysis – I don’t have car (at this writing), no superb title or position (like most people ought to have), and I have less income. [According to Lucifer’s standards; I’m failure, rubbish, and scum of the earth and of no used!]

But what does God says about success? According to His standards, success is measured not by material assets but by spiritual assets, not by what you have but who you are, not by what you know but by who you know. The most successful people I know is the one who know Christ and lives in close fellowship with Him – now that's success in God's eye. 

You may ask, “Is it wrong to be successful both in the world and in the spiritual life?” I’ll say, “There’s nothing wrong with that.” Being rich doesn’t mean you’re worldly. (If you have problems with your money, give some to me, will ya?) Being famous doesn’t mean you’re show off. But we get into trouble when we gain material or worldly success at the expense of true success as God defines it – wealth over welfare, car over character, and gold over God.

For closing, I would like to quote Ronald A. Beer in length, he writes it best, “For a Christian, success is measured by faithfulness and fruitfulness, not revenue and profits. It is spiritual assessment, not numerical one. Too often success is measured in terms of appearances, finances, or other external qualities, but the Lord looks at your heart. God measures success not by prestige, possessions, or power, but by the weight of your motives, your actions, and your devotion to Him.”

THINK BIG When you die, you will leave behind ALL your material assets 

START SMALL Start to accumulate your spiritual assets that will last for ETERNAL 

GO DEEP Partnering with God in this life… that’s insurance for the life to come.

 ...........................

You might interested: (Click on the title to read)
Week 30: Success isn’t one-sided

[P.s: I'm not quoting the Scriptures except Proverb above, if I do that this article could not contain]