Making things Happen

“Once you know what you want, the resources of time, money and people will show up.” (Mark Victor Hansen)

 One of my favorites author is Anthony Robbins. His book Awaken the Giant Within and Unlimited Power are such a genius work and I had gain much benefits from it. [Some of my friends’ critic me because his books are unbiblical – Indeed it is, take extra careful, but my answer will never change: ‘Don’t trapped in only one subject, read widely!’]

In his book, he writes a story about one afternoon when he and his friends desired to deliver Thanksgiving meals and gifts to needy families. Everything was fine except one problem – there were out of vans for rental due to weekend holiday.

Never give up on the situation, Anthony turned to his friends and said, “Look, the bottom line is that if we want something bad enough, we can make it happen! All we have to do is begin to take action. The problem is not that there are no vans in New York City. There are plenty of vans in this city. Look down the street! Look up the street! Do you see all the vans? The only problem is that we just don’t have one. Let’s go get one!”

Because of his contagious enthusiasm, they determined to get a van. They had tried my time including offering the drivers $100 to transport them but yet their effort were turned down. Seeing his friends were ready to give up, he exclaimed, “It’s the law of averages: soon or later somebody is going to say yes.” Anthony was right! Later that day, they managed to get a driver to help them. The driver said, “I’d be happy to take you.” He reached over and grabbed a hat. When he put it on, they noticed what we written on it: “Salvation Army.”

That day, they all went out and spent the afternoon blessing people.

This story is quite common in a movies but in the real life situations, average people would give up easily when they heard the first 3 ‘No’s. To make things happen we should take action. Never give up when you faced with unexpected challenges that life presents. As Anthony Robbins says, “You make most anything happen if you commit to it and take action. Miracles like this happen every day – even in a city where ‘there are no vans.’”

Remember: THINK BIG by committing to make things happen. START SMALL by brainstorming ideas. GO DEEP by taking massive action!

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Day 6: The Infinite Fatherliness of God

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)

When I analyze my prayer points, I realize one grave mistake I’d done. A constant repetition, not in words or requests but in the centeredness of my main objective: I’m not really interested in Himself but only in His blessings. May my mistake we shall not repeat it. Let us focus our prayer on the One who is giving rather than merely desires for His blessings.

Live as a child of God and you will be able to pray and most assuredly be heard as a child. To experience His promise above, you have to come to the attitude of a good child. J. Oswald Sanders reminded himself (or rather us), “Have I been asking God to give me money for something I want when there is something I have not paid for? Have I been asking God for liberty while I am withholding it from someone who belongs to me? …I have not been living as God’s child among my relatives and friends.” It is no use praying unless we are living as children of God. His promise is influence entirely to the relation between Father-child.

“…how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” I still remember when I was young. Because my family only has motorcycle, I and my brother have to decide which one of us should go with father to town. Fortunately, it was I but unfortunately for my father… it was I. I tell you why. Whenever I want to have toys, this I would do: I would stand still facing which toys that I want and never move an inch unless my ‘protest’ had been heard. Initially, my father just ignored my request… he would leave me there alone. Later on he would come back. Out of pity and love, even he was reluctant, yet he brought those toys eventually.

As much greater as God is than man, so much surer it is that prayer will be heard with the Father in Heaven that with a father on earth. The New Bible Commentary [21^st century edition] comments, “If even human fathers, who are evil (a recognition of the essential sinfulness of humanity), can be relied on to do the best for their children, how much more can God? This is not, of course, a guarantee that any prayer we care to offer will be successful, God gives only good gifts, which may not correspond to our ideas of what we should have!” 

Eugene H. Peterson in The Message paraphrase Matthew 7:9-11 this way;

“If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?”

Think about it…

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Related topic: 

Knowing God as a Father (Click to Read)

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Read.Think.Pray.Live.

The first time I heard the word Lectio Divina is when I went for Camp Cameron in May 2010. The word can be summaries as ‘spiritual reading’. It is intended to promote communion with God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. If you say that reading the Bible is boring, static and out dated – I’m fully understand that. If you say that it is fun, inspiring, refreshing and ‘I can hear God is speaking to me through’ – You're right. Both can be true. It depends on whether we want to ‘squeeze the lemon and get the maximum amount of juice’ out of it or just cut ‘the lemon and let the juice flow’. (That's a bad metaphor don't you think so?) 

If you have the desire to experience the Bible, here are 4 basic components that make up Lectio where you can read the Bible for all its worth.


Read
What is so special about the Word of God is that it reads us even as we read it. The people of the Bible are a lot like you and me, and a lot of them are far from perfect. For example when we read about Peter’s failures, we can identify with that. This is a basic component: read.

Think
Think about what the Bible is saying. Don’t read it in a flash and closed it fast. Some people read their sacred book without understanding it. What’s the use? Read it slowly and if any particular passage speaks to you, let it flow and meditate on it. When I read on the Letter to Colossians, I stuck with the verse, ‘Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as though you’re working unto God not unto men.’ for 1 month! Spend days and weeks or even months meditating on what a particular passage is really talking about – reflecting on it, soaking it in.
‘…he meditates day and night.’ (Psalms 1:2)


Pray
Ask God to show you more about what you’ve just read. Pray always for His guidance. Have a conversation with God. He is not that far away from you. He wants to do that with you.
The Message editors write, ‘You may want to pray about a passage more than once – in fact, that’s a good thing. You may want to pray with different focus at different times – talking to God about what you’re learning, thanking Him for the truth in the passage, asking God questions, asking Him to show you how to make the words real in your life, asking forgiveness for what you see in yourself after reading, just listening…’ I add: pray whatever comes into your mind!


Live
If you read what God has written, think about it, pray through it, but don’t allow it to change you, you’re missing a big point. James 1:22-25,
“Keep on being doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror. For he studies himself carefully and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and remains committed to it-thus proving that he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of what it requires-will be blessed in what he does.”
When you live the Word, you truly live!

Remember; THINK BIG the Bible is ‘Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth’. START SMALL by investing your time for reading and thinking through His Word every day. GO DEEP by continue praying and live the Word.

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Read.Think.Pray.Live. is inspired from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson's introduction.  
Credits to the editors team.

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Day 5: The Certain Answer to Prayer

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

 Every first week of the month, my church have a corporate prayer meeting after Sunday service. Prayer items consists of praying for members and Church programs; national issues especially for Sarawak state election; and the world crisis including praying for persecuted Christians around the world, for safety of the unrest countries and their citizens, and Japan earthquake and tsunami victims.

After today’s corporate prayer meeting and while preparing to share with you all on the work of prayer, I’m more and more convince that we all ought to learn to pray, practice to pray and start to pray! And when you pray, you may and must most confidently expect an answer to your prayer. We have learned that our Father in Heaven is waiting for us pray. It is in prayer and its answer that the interchange of love between the Father and His child (us) take place. Andrew Murray writes, ‘Prayer and its answer – the child asking and the Father giving belong to each other.’

‘Ask, and it will be given to you’ I still remember when I’m watching movie The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, there is a scene when Frodo Baggins and Sam desperately want to enter the Black Gate. Then, Gollum tried to stop them ‘No Master, it’s too dangerous!’ ‘But that’s the only way’, said Frodo. ‘There’s another way Master…’ ‘Another way?’ replied Sam the Brave angrily, ‘Why don’t you tell us sooner?!’ You know what Gollum replied? He said, ‘Master didn’t ask.’

James 4:2 ‘You do not have, because you do not ask.’ The promise is this: Ask, and it will be given to you. Ask the things which consistent for God to give, things which he has promised to give, which would be best for us, and most of all ask things that would glorify His Name. ‘For everyone who asks receives.”

“Seek, and you will find.” This is common sense. Today before I went out for evening walk, I need to change my shirt. Where can I find my favorite Malaysia Football jersey? In the kitchen? Outside my neighbor clothes hanger? No! I must seek it in the right place – my own closet. So it is with our prayer. Seek your answer toward the Father. Seek in the proper spirit; humility, sincerity and perseverance. “The one who seeks finds.”

“Knock and it will be opened to you.” Ask the right person. Seek at the right place. Knock at the right door. Guns n’ Roses said it right when they sing, ‘Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven’s door.’

Andrew Murray once writes, ‘One thing is sure: The Lord wants us to believe most certainly that asking, seeking, and knocking cannot be in vain. Receiving an answer, finding God and the opening of His heart and home are the certain fruit of prayer.’ Adam Clarke comments: ‘Ask with confidence and humility. Seek with care and application. Knock with earnestness and perseverance.’ My Zondervan Study Bible comments that ask… seek… knock… are indicating on constant asking, seeking and knocking. Persistent prayer is being emphasized, like the persistent asking of a desperate beggar. Here is the key of prayer: Keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking!

Men’s prayer on earth and God’s answer in Heaven are meant for each other. He is willing to provide for us, to forgive our sins, to save our souls, to give us eternal life and much delight in extending the gospel throughout the whole world. Pray. Pray. Pray. Richard Foster said, “In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God’s thoughts after Him: to desire the things he desires, to love the things He loves, to will the things He wills. Progressively, we are taught to see the things from His point of view.”

Before we end, I would like to invite you to pray with me,

Lord Jesus, teach me to pray. I trust You to teach me to pray in faith. Teach me this lesson: Everyone who asks, receives. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen. 

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Week 38: Simplicity – Uncluttered your Life

‘This is all I have learned: God make us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.’ (Ecclesiastes 7:29 Good News)

‘Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify. Simplify.’ (Henry Thoreau)

‘Live simply so that others can simply live.’ (Reverend Peter Young)

 One day I said to my mom, ‘Mom, we should throw these things away or at least gives it to others.’ She answered, 'No!'  I’m referring to bundles of old clothes that she keeps in her closet which consume 1/5 of her rooms’ space. Maybe it’s the way I said it or I’m not sensitive to her feeling, but this simple real life situation had a profound truth about human being; we all have a problem when it comes to simplifying our life.

Simplicity is freedom. It brings joy and balance. Yet, it’s hard to apply especially in today’s get-all-you-can life style, yes, including living in an under development (or is it already a development?) country such as Malaysia.

Inward Reality

The discipline of simplicity is truly an inward reality that results in an outward life-style. Simplicity begins in inward focus and proper perspective. If we have a right attitude toward what is important, we will soon realize that living a simplicity life is no more a rules or methods for us to follow but it’ll become a life style. Few years ago when I devoted to live my life in simplicity, I keep this in mind;

What I have I receive as a gift,

What I have is to be cared for by God,

What I have is available for others.

Arthur G. Gish said, ‘We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like.’ Even so, sometime we buy things we do not need to impress others that we like. 2 years ago I brought a PSP which obviously is not my need because I don’t really play video games. I brought it just to impress my brother and friends. To show them that I can afford to buy it. Early this year, I sold it out! 

Simplicity sets possessions in proper perspective. Of course God intends that we should have adequate material provision, but bare this in mind when Jesus said, ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ (Matthew 6:21) Inwardly, we must acknowledge that God should be our first priority in our life and ‘Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ (Matthew 6:33)

Outward Life-Style

A highly recommended book by Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline suggests 10 controlling principles (added mine) for the outward expression of simplicity. He warns that these ‘should not be viewed as laws’ but rather an expression toward inward reality as I understand it.

1.      First, buy things for their usefulness rather than their status. ‘Stop trying to impress people with your clothes and impress them with your life.’

2.      Second, reject anything that is producing an addiction in you. Example; twitter, Facebook, blog, coffee, chocolate, pornography etc. Be in control rather than let it control you. ‘Refuse to be a slave to anything but God.’

3.      Third, develop a habit of giving things away. What you have now that you don’t really need that you can give away?

4.      Forth, refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry. Example; unless you can afford it, do you really need to have an iPod?

5.      Fifth, learn to enjoy things without owning them. I have a tendency to have my own reference books but actually some books I don’t need to own because I can borrow some from Eu Pui’.

6.      Sixth, develop a deeper appreciation for the creation. I love to take a long walks and enjoy nature. While Annette Arulrajah, my boss and friend, love to take beautiful pictures of God’s creations.

7.      Seventh, look with a healthy skepticism at all ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes. ‘Take extreme caution before incurring debt’, said the author.

8.      Eighth, obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech. ‘Let what you say be simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.’ (Matthew 5:37) Often, I’m guilty of this basic principle.

9.      Ninth, reject anything that breeds the oppression of others. Such as racism, sexism, and nationalism.

10.  Tenth, shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the Kingdom of God. If this blog consume more time than my passion to read His Word and doing what I’m supposed to do – I’ll not hesitate to stop and take a long pause before I continue it again.

Remember; THINK BIG simplicity is freedom, START SMALL by saying ‘No’ to distractions and temptations that can clutter in your mind and GO DEEP so that you can have room, quiet space and time for God. 

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Month of April free books

Hi readers,

I grow up watching cartoon series Doraemon. His friend, Nobita Nobi is a very timid person. His archenemy is Giant, a full-time bully and bad singer. Every time when Giant meet Nobita, he always get bullied by him and thus, he rather not to meet him due to fear and he know that he will always stumble whenever he meet Giant.

Everyone have to face our own 'Giants'. Like Max Lucado writes 'He taunts you with bills you can’t pay, people you can’t please, habits you can’t break, failures you can’t forget, and a future you can’t face. But just like David, you can face your giant, even if you aren’t the strongest, the smartest, the best equipped, or the holiest.'

What is your giants brothers and sisters? Whatever it is, I just want you to know that soon or later you'll have to facing your own giants in life. You get to choose, my friends, either you want to face it alone or having God stand beside you: strengthen you and give you hope to overcome. Focus on giants—you stumble. Focus on God—your giants tumble.

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I'm giving away 3 copies of Max Lucado's Facing Your Giants this month.

Get your copy now!!!

How to get this for free?

• Comment on the column below and write 'Yes, give me one'
• Then send me your mailing (not e-mail) address together with your comment or send it to motivates4life@hotmail.com if you don't want your address to appear on this blog. 
• to readers in Malaysia ONLY.  
• Only 3 books available.
• That's all. Thank you. 

Day 4: The Model Prayer

‘Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…’ (Matthew 6:9)

 The Lord’s Prayer is prayed around the globe in virtually every language. Back to my home town, I used to pray it in my own Iban language ‘Apai kami di serga, kudus meh nama nuan…’ I was young, I understand my need to ask for forgiveness, but I had no idea what most of the prayer meant.

The Lord’s Prayer is not a mantra or fixes formula to pray to God. Rather this prayer is a pattern for all Christian praying. Jesus is teaching that prayer will be acceptable when and only when, the attitudes, thoughts and desires expressed fit the pattern. J.I. Packer author of I want to be a Christian further explain that every prayer of ours should be a praying of the Lord’s Prayer in some shape or form.

He outlines that the Lord’s Prayer requires reference to a spectrum on 7 distinct activities:

1.     Approaching God in adoration and trust,

2.     Acknowledging His work and His worth, in praise and worship,

3.     Admitting sin and seeking pardon,

4.     Asking the needs be met, for ourselves and others,

5.     Arguing with God for blessing, as wresting Jacob did in Genesis 32,

6.     Accepting from God one’s own situation as He has shaped it,

7.     And Adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin.

‘’Our Father in heaven…’’ Andrew Murray explains that ‘to appreciate this word of adoration correctly, remember that none of the saints in Scripture ever ventured to address God as his Father.’ Therefore, I’m convincing that prayer to God as Father is for Christian only. (You might want to read my previous note on ‘’Knowing God as a Father’’ click title to read.)

‘’…hallowed be your name.’’ Adam Clarke comments (I simply it) ‘We hallow God’s name, 1st with our lips, 2nd in our thoughts, 3rd in our lives, 4th in our families and 5th in a particular calling or business."

‘’Your kingdom come...’’ The Father is a King Who has a Kingdom. ‘’..Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’’ Faith has accepted the Father’s love; obedience accepts the Father’s will. ‘’Give us this day our daily bread,’’ This mean that we are to pray for all need for material things, all need for spiritual renewing and restoring, and all need for guidance and help.

‘’…and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’’ God will forgive us the same way as we forgive others. (You might want to read my previous note on ‘They are asking you now, 'Can you forgive me?' click title to read.) Such forgiveness is impossible without a forgiving spirit toward others. ‘’And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’’ Always ask the protection from all sin and the power of the evil one.

Whenever Reverend Peter Young came to give a talk in local church, camps or conferences, he almost always remind us that the Lord’s Prayer is about: Thy name, Thy Kingdom, Thy will; then give us, forgive us, lead us, deliver us. “Us’’ not ‘’My’’. That’s why the Lord’s Prayer is beneficial, particularly when we use it in a gathered congregation to unite our prayers.

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we must do so from the heart, not mechanically. Jesus’ disciples asked Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ So gives us the model for us to pray. Readers, we are made to pray, therefore we must learn to pray.

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