Week 61: Sabbath - It is for Your Own Good

“Human beings need a rhythm of work and rest. God has established a rhythm of six days of work followed by one day of rest.” (Collin Bible Companion)

 “Sabbath is not dependent upon our readiness to stop. We do not stop when we are finished. We do not stop when we complete our phone calls, finish our project, get through this stack of messages, or get out of this report that is due tomorrow. We stop because it is time to stop.” (Wayne Muller)

Pic from:
http://soulcityblog.com/tag/sabbath/

No alarm was set last night. I woke up whenever I want to wake up. Late, but no sense of guilt and shame; why should I?, after all, today is my off day. Brush my teeth, wash my face and drink a bottle of small mineral water and not to forget, a cup of coffee – ‘Ah, refreshing~’ I said to myself. During our combo breakfast-lunch, my mother sparked a question, “Not working today?” “No mom today is my off day” She forgets that it is Sunday. She smiled. “So what you gonna do?” “Stay in the house… resting.”

What is Sabbath?

It is more than resting… it is a one day set apart for resting and worshiping God. Adele Ahlberg Calhoun defines, “Sabbath is God’s gift of repetitive and regular rest. It is given for our delight and communion with God. Time for being in the midst of a life of doing particularly characterizes the Sabbath.”

Why we should observe Sabbath?

Simply because Sabbath is a commandment from God. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.” (Exodus 20:8-10NIV, I encourage you to examine these verses carefully) It is the day for us to remember that we are finite being and only God is the infinite One. We could not constantly be on the go. I know a college student who works part-time at 7-Eleven store. Now, try to imagine if he works for 24 hours, 7 days a week none stop! Crazy! Burn out! Weary! Possibly dead! 

Pic from: http://soulcityblog.com/tag/sabbath/

God did not intend for life to be all effort – do, do, do, work, work, work – He intentionally command a Sabbath rest so that His people could remember what life is about and who is it for. By observing Sabbath we therefore acknowledge that God is in control. That we can trust Him, the Supreme Creator can manage all that concerns us in this world as we settle into His rest. Dudes and gals, I guarantee that the world will not, will never collapse if you just rest for one day!

How to observe Sabbath?

Let these few suggestions be your outward practice instead of rules okay;

·        Setting aside time for intimacy with God and others you love,

·        Letting go of things that stress you out for 1 day,

·        Letting the difficult conversations happen another day,

·        Not developing a to-do list for Sunday (or any other day that you kept for Sabbath due to the nature of your work)

·        Practicing restful activities. For me, I love to take a walks, a Sunday afternoon nap, cycling (maybe this one is quite heavy though), coffee with a friend, family time, reading, and play Monopoly game!

·        Go to bed early, commit your body and dream to the Lord and wake up naturally without setting an alarm the night before.

·        Go to Sunday Church service - having fellowship, meeting people.

Sabbath day and Young People

God commands that we take time to rest and worship not because He needs it but because we need the refreshment that worship and rest provide. We as a young generations are prone to do things for God excessively rather than balance it with being with God. We love to do Churchy things; join or organized extravagant events, take over big projects and into a high stressful position in Campus or in Christian fellowship which are far from wrong.  But without proper rest, we ‘die’ young faster and spiritually exhausted due to ‘overheat’ - that is a gravely wrong! Take a rest will ya?

Rest is the time to stop your normal routine to more fully enjoy the renewal of body, mind, and spirit that comes from time spent with God and his people. Cool down. Relax. Celebrate. Rest. “The Sabbath was made for man (that includes you), not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27, italic mine) Based on Richard’s translation; Sabbath is from God and it is for our own good.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Become like Children Again

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 18:3NIV)
“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” (Walt Streightiff)

Before I put these thoughts into words, I first imagining and thinking during my quiet time about many scenes and conversations that I experienced with children. I remember Jesus’ words about 2,000 years ago, “…unless you change and become like children…” He wants us to change. He taught us to become like children. What about the children that for us, adults, need to consider or to learn from?

Picture from http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?
file=/2009/3/5/lifefocus/3290353&sec=lifefocus

I’d learned (rather, re-learned) there are 5 ways to become more like a child no matter how old you get:

1.     Curiosity

Jim Rohn writes, “Be curious. Childish curiosity. Learn to be curious like a child. What will kids do if they want to know something bad enough? You’re right. They will bug you. Kids can ask a million questions. You think they’re through. They’ve got another million. They will keep plaguing you. They can drive you right to the brink.” Curiosity helps you to reach higher, learn more and keep you grow. Adults, be more curiosity about the things of God!

2.     Simple

In nature, they are very simple. They don’t care much about what they eat and wear. Their mind is simple. They pray simple and direct prayers. In fact, without pampering, flattering and over spoiling – children are content with whatever they have. They are simple! Hey you adults; uncluttered your life, live simple and simply live. [P.s: Simple here is not referring to being ignorance as the Book of Proverbs warned us not to be.]

3.     Excitement

They excited about almost everything. They are so excited that they don’t need to drink coffee to stay awake at night and can’t wait to get up in the morning. And what we do as an adult? We so excited to lay our head on the pillow, get lazy! Can’t seem to wake up in the morning, unproductive! Now, tell me, can someone who is lazy and unproductive enter the kingdom of heaven? No! Be excited about God as a child!

4.     Trust

This is not a blindly trust somebody or someone though it’s true that children sometime tend to be in that manner. In a positive light, to be like children is to learn to trust like them. They trust that their parent would provide their needs. They ‘sleep like a baby’, worry free. This kind of virtue, we can apply also in our trust in God’s provision for our daily needs.

5.     Faith

Children are filled with faith while adults are filled with doubt. They believe all things are possible while adults often too skeptical. They believe even the unseen, the not yet happen while adults have a tendency to be cynical. My little cute cousin come to distracted me one evening while I’m reading and randomly said, ‘I believe that Jesus is here’. That’s faith! Oh, how I want to be like a little children again. Incredible!

Curiosity, simple, excitement, trust and faith are the royal virtues that I’ve learned from children. It is expensive lessons. Valuable food of thoughts. No wonder, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven…”

THINK BIG.START SMALL.GO DEEP.

Week 60: Sex - Save it for the Best!

“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” (1 Corinthians 6:13NIV)

“The Lord has appointed the use of sex only for man-woman relationship in marriage.” (Richard Angelus)

Let’s see if you can identify with these statements;

“Prove that you are a man”; “prove your love”; “prove if you’re fertile”; “Sex will make our relationship better”; “if you really loved me, you would do it”; “Just this once…”; “If you do not have sex with me, I’ll find someone who will”; “Don’t worry, I will use condom”; “Something to remember”… etc. “Lovemaking is essential in my life. It makes me feel so much a woman,” said Miss G.R. (Sept 17, 1971, The Star newspaper) “… personally, I enjoy lovemaking only with the right man because he only will be able to satisfy me.”

Had you heard anyone or perhaps you partner (or maybe yourself) said those pick-up lines to tempt their partners (or yours) to have sex before marriage? Without apologize for offends that may come out as you read this (if any), I want to ask; what is your stand in the sex before marriage? Would you wait to enjoy sex with your partner in marriage?

There are heavy pressures especially for a young person like you and me to go into sex. Sex jokes circulate around your campus hostels, songs about ‘love’ bombarded into your sensitive ears, downloaded videos, movies and even advertisement programmes may displayed some ‘unharmful -soft-sex’ scenes – what a pressures! And here is a challenging part if you say ‘No’ to sex before marriage; you know what ‘they’ may call you? A religious fanatic! You don’t want that, don’t you? Or would you still stand firm and say, “I’ll say yes to sex only after marriage!” …May you choose the later.

Let me quotes Jean Garland at length;

“Sex can bring you more pain and heartache that you can imagine. It always does when sexual activity happen outside the place God made it to be fully enjoyed. God made sex for a loving, committed marriage relationship. Sex is powerful, intense force within us. It is the one area where we take a part in the creation of life. Sex is God’s fine art. We ought to feel uncomfortable about misusing God’s gift. Casual sex is like placing your best jewellery on the floor of the chicken house!”

For those who are on the brink of making decision ‘yes’ or ‘no’, for those who never thought about it up until now, for those who read my blog for the first time (Welcome) – here are my stand on this; “Making sex before marriage is a sin! And I will say NO to sex before marriage.” Are you on my side? Would you respect God and thus, respect yourself by having control over your own body?

Here are 10 reasons why you should say NO to sex before marriage by Jean Garland(Summaries mine);

1.     Say ‘NO’ because God say NO to sex before and outside marriage.

“You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) However, moreover, He says YES to a loving, committed marriage relationship.

2.     Say ‘NO’ because you will save yourself from the guilt, shame and sadness that sex outside or before marriage brings.

Chose to wait. Save you reputation! Do not allow you name to be passed around as a gossip of the year. Chose to wait.

3.     Say ‘No’ because you will spare yourself the pain and grief of finding out that you were being used rather than being loved and accepted.

Love and sex is not the same thing. Love mean respect and care for each other.

4.     Say ‘No’ because every time you have sex, young woman, you run the risk of conceiving a baby.

There is no pill or condom that is 100% effective to prevent conception… “No!” is the only foolproof way of avoiding a pregnancy… and just remember about your parent’s reputations, will ya?

5.     Say ‘No’ because (girls), if you become pregnant, that eventually makes you a mother responsible to care for an illegitimate baby.

Most probably the father of your baby may run away… mere friends may leave you… abortion maybe on the top list.

6.     Say ‘No’ because you will be able to choose to marry the special person God has planned for you.

No explanations needed.

7.     Say ‘No’ because of the danger of catching a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).

It can cause you not to be able to have baby in later life, can cause severe illnesses and even lead to death, some can be ‘cured’ but leave scars and more open other dangerous viruses such as AIDS virus that cannot be cured.

8.     Say ‘No’ because you will destroy your plans for the future.

Don’t left behind for what God lies ahead.

9.     Say ‘No’ because you want to fully enjoys sex in a relationship of genuine love.

Genuine love is a committed love that stands through tough times… sex through genuine love can be fully enjoyed without guilt or fear.

10.    Say ‘No’ because those of us who love you to say NO.

Your parents and family, your Church members, your wife/husband-to-be love you and except you to say NO. Even if no one else loves you, Jesus loves you, and died for you to give you the power to say NO. Pray and believe that ‘I can do everything through Christ who gives me the strength I need’ (Philippians 4:13)

I write this article after receiving news that some of my friend was pregnant before marriage. It hurt so much to hear the news especially you have the change to share and make the different about it… Readers, you who have an ear, let him/her hear; say ‘No’ to sex before marriage!

 Share it!

[Maybe you have already had sex and you are not married. You feel dirty, betrayed and broken. Do you want to hear the Good News? If yes, maybe you want to share it with your trusted friend, counselor, Church leader, Christian staff worker or you can write to me at Motivates4life@hotmail.com.]

Day 21: The All-Inclusive Condition ("If you remain in Me")

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
(John 15:7 NIV)

Suppose you bring home a homeless child to stay in your place. One day, he comes to you with a request and you ask, “Why you come to me?” He replied, “I’ve observe your ways. I’ve been with you for many days… can you give some food for my friends too, would you give me? I remember your promise to never let the children go hungry.”

How can such a bold request ever been made?

What make that child full of confidence that you gonna grant his plea?

Because he had observed your ways, hang around with you for quiet so long, he knows that you’re kind and compassionate, and he remember your words.

So it is with our prayer, if we be in the present of God, know His will and His promises we are confident that when we ask from Him, it will be given to us. Tell me, who in the world that ever prayed and didn’t expect for an answered prayer? And if God doesn’t give what we pray for; will that make Him a liar and promise breaker? No! God will answer our prayer, “ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

For a whole context of
'Abide in Christ' read John 15:4-7
[The Vine and the Branches]

However, John 15:7 included 2 conditions for us to fulfill so that God may fulfill His promise. What He is to be to us depends on what we are willing to be to Him. Here are the conditions:

1)    “If you remain in me”

2)    “…and my words remain in you.” (we will examine this on Day 22)

“If you remain in me”

Ask whatever you wish… if you remain in me (NIV), ‘you are in me all the times’ (BBE), ‘Stay joined to me’ (CEV), [‘Jikalau kamu tinggal di dalam Aku’ (TIB)]. But I prefer the New King James translation, ‘If ye abide in me’. Abide here refers to stay, remain, stand, and be present. To be united to Christ, we need to abide, stay, and remain in Him.

In the growing life of abiding in Christ, the basic need is to believe. And added to that, faith and obedience would be essentials to continue abide in Him. Andrew Murray writes, “Obedience (in keeping God’s commandments) and faith (in the Son of God) must go together. But faith can’t simply be added to obedience; it must be revealed in obedience. Faith is obedience at home, looking to the Master; obedience is faith going out to do His will.” (Italic mine)

Are you abiding in Christ now? Are your prayer based in union with Jesus?

Let the words of Oswald Chambers challenge you to live a life abiding in Him;

“Think of the things that take you out of abiding in Christ – Yes, Lord, just a minute, I have got this to do; Yes, I will abide when once this is finished; when this week is over, it will be alright, I will abide then. Get a move on; begin to abide now. In the initial stages it is a continual effort until it becomes so much the law of life that you abide in Him consciously. Determine to abide in Jesus wherever you are placed.”(My Utmost for His Highest) 

 Lord, teach us to pray.

Love for the Least

“Anything you did even for the least of my people here, you did also for me.”
[Matthew 25:40]

What is the sign of the saved? It is in their scholarship? Their big bling-bling cross figure hanging on the car’s front mirror? Their willingness to go for mission trip to rural areas? Their ability to amaze the audience attentions and well-said preaching? Their skillful writing on their blog? Posting godly words and hope-filled poems? . . . No.

The sign of the saved is their love for the least . . . for the overlook. No TV3 coverage and Karam Singh Walia's latest report. No radio and holala announcement. No attention-seeker ceremonies. No YouTube advertisements. No, they are just good people doing good things for ordinary people extraordinarily in an ordinary ways.

 For when we do good things to others we do good things to God. Let Jesus’ light reflect from you and shine to others. “Anything you did even for the least of my people here, you did also for me.” 

Help Others to Win

“It is a pleasant thought that when you help a fellow up a steep hill, you get nearer to the top yourself.” (Reynolds Price)

“When you have the ability to help someone win, you will be that person’s friend for life.” (Les Parrot)

I believe that God wants us to help others win in life, to be people who reach back, invest and help others become the best person they can be. To be someone who show the ways or open doors for others to grow and reaching their full potential. It’s a responsibility (also an opportunity) for us to help others win because based on my own experiences and by testimonies from a bunch helpful friends; the one who help others, in reverse, will harvest most reward along the process.

One of my favorites Bible-character is Barnabas. Barnabas was one of the first encourager and motivator for Paul during his initial period of conversion. Barnabas was God mighty instrument in helping Paul win at life. Barnabas stood up for Paul when Jesus first disciples apprehensive about Paul join them in ministry. Paul was accepted and he went on to write half of the New Testament. Today, my readers, you can be a Barnabas in someone’s life.

Do you have a passion to help others win? If you’re secure with yourself, you answer probably a resounding ‘yes’. I hear you! 

John C. Maxwell (and Les Parrot) in a book, 25 Ways to Win with People, suggests 4 steps you can take to help people win (I summaries the point briefly):

1)    Believe in People

If you don’t believe in people, then you are unlikely to do everything you can to help them win. “Those who believe in our ability do more than stimulate us, they create for us an atmosphere in which it becomes easier to succeed.” (John Spalding)

2)    Give people Hope

Hope is one of the most powerful and energizing words in the English language. It’s been said that a person can live forty days without food, four days without water, four minutes without air, but only four seconds without hope. If you want to help people win, then become a purveyor of hope.

3)    Focus on the Process, not just the Win

When you help somebody win, don’t just hand it to him, even if it’s in your power to do so. Help him win. If you assist him in the process, then you’re not just giving him the victory; you’re giving him the means for additional future victories.

4)    Understand that when you help others Win, you also Win

You can’t help winning when you help others win.

THINK BIG Life is not a competition; it’s a mutual beneficial.
START SMALL Simply look around for open doors of opportunity.
GO DEEP Make helping others win a habit for life!

,,,,,,,

Sarawak Laksa, Bossy Blogger and Master's Example

“That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served – and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.” (Mark 10:45, The Message)

“The world needs servants. People like Jesus, who ‘did not come to be served, but to serve’. He chose remote Nazareth over center-stage Jerusalem, his dad’s carpentry shop over a marble-columned palace, and three decades of anonymity over a life of popularity.”
(Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life)

Morning sunrise shine on my bedroom’ window and my heavy eyes browsed over my mini library to get some booze words of inspirations. As I moved my hands to select which book to read, at once, my eyes fixed on drawing block paper-size that is hanged wide open in front of my single bed. It was my quote of the month;

“God is not looking for more stars; He’s looking for more servants.”
(Howard G. Hendricks)

Those words make my day! I skipped my meal, ride to work and whistle along the way. My thought was puffed up with word; servant, servant, servant. As I’m about to place a stand on my motorcycle, I smelled something delicious – Sarawak Laksa! Who can resist that? My nose sent signals to my brain and within millisecond, Mr. Brain instructed Mr. Stomach to make a reactions – it made sound~ I need a breakfast! I need Laksa!

So I waved my hand, with high tone voice almost reach a scream level and commanded, “One special Laksa!!!”

There I was; a motivational writer, an inspired blogger, and a Christian staff worker. Waved my hand violently instead of raised it properly; High tone voice instead of soft, clear and polite words; A General-like command instead of a human-like request. I treat others as my servants and I’m the master! After I realized of my arrogant and bossy state – I’m sorry for the pride. I should raise my hand, soften my voice, and request, “One special Laksa, please~” [Keyword: Please]
Now, isn’t that much better? A servant-like manner? A Christ-like follower?

 “He set aside the privilege of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death – and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion” (Philippians 2:7-8 The Message)

Jesus entered the world to serve. He is the Boss of Creation but He washed His disciples’ feet. Master over angels but chose to be a slave for mankind. If that doesn’t convince you to serve, I don’t know what to write anymore. Questions: Now, why should we expect anything less? Shouldn’t we do the same? If the Master served, we as His Servants should follow His example: serve.

Have the mind set of servanthood wherever you are – home, office, class, church, and shopping mall or even at Laksa stall. Wear the banner of servanthood with whomever you meet – colleague, pregnant lady, old people, children, parent, strangers or even Laksa stall’s owner. Keep the attitude of servanthood whenever you are – 24 hours a day minus sleeping time.

Love the overlook…

…lower your nose and chin 45 degree,

…and offer your hands for the needy

Yes, offer your hands… Remember; we serve because Jesus Christ’s pierced hands, the greatest servant who ever lived, had done it first. THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.