~WHO COMPARES TO YOU?

Break me Lord, till there's no more of me for the world to see...

Fill me Lord, that its all of You the world will see....

Direct my eyes to see things through Your eyes...

My mind to be set on things that are above, rather than on things that are here on earth....

For that which is on earth is temporal, while that which is above is eternal (2nd Cor 4:18).

I broke down while leading worship in service today. Not because the worship was so good, but because for a moment, I was totally awed by the sovereignty of God, and how much He has put in us to declare life into our lives.

Shared a bit about what God did for mum last week. I really don't want to remember how weak her voice sounded when she told me she was in pains; talking about her bleeding (as a result of suspected tumor/fibroid?), her not been able to go to the Hospital for check-up coz she couldn't sit at a place for long, etc. I remember how confused I felt last week Thursday while I spoke to her on the phone, and how the weakness of her voice kept ringing in my ears for the rest of the day.

It's amazing how all we need to do is declare a thing in the Name of Jesus according to God's will, and it will be done. I remember how all I could do was type a few words: "Mum, I trust God to ease your pains and heal you completely. I love you so much mum, you mean a lot to me. Praying for you!", and how depressed I felt for the rest of the day....But the God I serve, He answers prayers. The bleeding stopped the next day, the pains were gone, and she could even travel (driving on her own). Glory be to God!!

How wouldn't I be moved at how amazing my God is? How couldn't I be awed at how Magnificent He is. Couldn't hold back the tears when I shared a bit of this story while I led worship today. Indeed my God is awesome.

I've not been the best I should be for Him. I've not exactly done the right things, but He still answers my prayers.

Lord, who compares to You?

~JEHOVAH PERFECTO!

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." (Ps 37:25).

Words are not enough to tell of His goodness....

Even the tears I shed don't express the JOY in me accurately.....

Indeed I can say He has been SO GOOD to me....

Indeed I can say His Will is Perfect....

Lord, I thank You  for this wonderful gift....

You've brought JOY to my Heart...

You've put a SONG on my Lips...

You are JEHOVAH PERFECTO!

The one who Perfects all that concerns me...

Some Trust in Chariots, and some in horses....but I TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD my God! (Psalm 20:7)

Woohooo!!! I'm officially A GRADUATE of The University of Nottingham!!! 

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

~GETTING BACK MY REAL SELF!!!

It's amazing what life in Uni can do to a person. Can't believe I lost touch of my "reading" habit. Despite how hard it was for me to accept this, I got to realize recently that I was beginning to lose the interest that I once had in reading inspirational books, and aptly working towards personal development.

So, I decided that the period after final exams would be the best time to catch up on what I have lost so far. Made some interesting plans:

1. Get books to read.
2. Make sure I read them: At least one book in a week.
3. Make a journal on every inspiring word/message/information I come across.
4. Put what I have learnt - the positives - into practice.

The journey to fulfilling these plans began today. Had a date with Sis. Chai Hong of Kajang Assembly of God to get some books at the Christian Bookshops in Petaling Jaya. I must say it was a lovely trip.

1st stop - Luther Center

Never been to this place before...however, was told that there was a book sale going on there, so that would be a good stop. I later got to realize that the book sale was organized by a Christian Bookshop called Glad Sounds Sdn Bhd. The sales spot was in a room on the 3rd floor of the building, and would be going on until 20th June.

Was so excited once I got into the place. Lots of books to choose from, and at affordable prices too....Discounts for some items went as low as 70%. Couldn't just imagine. Well, I originally had two books in mind before I left home - Tim Lahaye's "Why you act the way you do", and Spirit-controlled temperament. However, when I stepped into the place, I began to pick others books which didn't yet include any of these two mentioned.

T'was quite exciting picking books, and seeing how much discount I'd get on them. Summary is, I ended up with 15 good books from 4 different genres (Prayer, Leadership/Business/Entrepreneurship, Relationships/Marriage, and Christian Living).

Next stop... Evangel Book Center. I browsed through their book stands. Saw some interesting books I'd have loved to pick up, but they were quite pricey and had no discounts on them. They had some wonderful biographies I really would like to have...especially the one by Elizabeth Elliot, two books by Francine Rivers - Scarlet thread and A Voice in the Wind...but they still were very pricey.

Last  stop...Salvation Bookshop. From my point of view, they didn't have much to offer. Only saw one book I loved...still pricey...Considering the fact that I had spent so much already in Luther Center for the 15 books I got...Well, I concluded that I'd better be content with what I had picked up so far...got to finish reading those ones first.

So, here begins my holiday....Lots to read, lots of new stuffs to learn...I'm excited. Today was indeed a wonderful day!!!

I owe my sincere thanks to Sis. Chai Hong.

~THE PERFECT GIFT!

Like a workman that earns His wages at the end of every job performed,

She waits to earn that which belongs to her.

She's been led to the gift shop,

to pick out that which best suits her.

There are a variety to choose from, 

In different forms - shapes, colors, sizes - they come.

She sees a gift She so admires, one she doesn't seem to be able to take her eyes off from...

But, Is that the best for her? 

Coz she's expected to choose that which is best for her. 

Then He says "If that's what you want, you can have it! ....the desires of your heart I'll let you have!"

And she turns, staring Him right in the face,

Oh, that look! It seemed more out of permissiveness than out of satisfaction....

Then loudly she said "Oh that! I'll pass",

Let's move on!!

Let's keep searching!!!

~The Character Traits of a "Good Friend"! :-)

Do you have friends? Who are your friends??

How does one really get to know if a person should be classified as a friend? Who is a good friend? Who is a bad friend? These are questions that would often flood the mind of an individual who is out for the best in any friendship or relationship.

If you are familiar with any of the set of questions outlined above, I'm sure you'd agree with me that choosing and keeping the right friends can sometimes be a very tedious job to do.

Anywayz, here's some useful tips I got to figure out. It could help you know who exactly to call a Good Friend, or which kind of friendship or relationship you should keep away from. Yeah, it's a kinda long one, but please read to the end....trust me, you will not regret the fact that you did! I really learned a lot from it!! :-)

The Character Traits of a Good Friend (Culled From TSPOON93@aol.com)

Some may not realize that the traits of a good friend relate to the character of one’s mate, but a little reflection shows why this must be so. The breaking of the marriage covenant is a sin against a companion, a close and intimate friend.

That leaves the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God (Prov 2:17).
 
The term rendered “companion” here is used elsewhere (Prov 16:28; 17:9; Ps.55:13) for the closest of friends. If my mate is not a friend, what is she? And yet some have foolishly chosen to marry one who fails to qualify even as a friend. 

Here's a brief summary of the qualities of a good friend, drawn mostly from the book of Proverbs:

1. A GOOD FRIEND IS FAITHFUL. 

Fair weather friends are numerous, and Proverbs mentions these (Prov 14:20; 19:4,6,7). But a true friend is a person  who is still there even when the going gets tough.

A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity (Prov 17:17).

A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov 18:24).

Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away (Prov 27:10).
 
2. A GOOD FRIEND REBUKES US WHEN NECESSARY.


There are things which may need to be said to a friend that are not easy to say. I am disappointed by the sentimentalism that pervades our friendships so that we flatter our friends when we need to frankly rebuke them. A true friend is the one who is honest enough to tell us what we need to hear, rather than to flatter us.

A man who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps (Prov 29:5).

Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy (Prov 27:5-6).

Why is it, then, that we seem to think that a wife should never criticize her husband? Is it not better to be corrected by our closest friend than by an enemy? Sometimes the kindest thing a wife can do for her husband is to tell him that his idea is absolutely ridiculous--in a gracious way, of course.

3. A GOOD FRIEND IS THOUGHTFUL AND TACTFUL. 

A good friend is sensitive to our needs and speaks in such a way that we are encouraged and enriched. His sensitivity is demonstrated in his understanding that gaiety and goodwill is not always appropriate nor appreciated. “It matters not only ‘what’ we say, but ‘how,’ ‘when’ and ‘why’ we say it.”

Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart (Prov 25:20).

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him (Prov 27:14).
 
4. A GOOD FRIEND SHARPENS US. 

Not only do we need to be criticized when necessary, but sometimes we need to be probed or stretched in our thinking. A good friend does not allow us to become intellectually stagnant, but prods us on to higher and greater thoughts.

Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another (Prov 27:17).

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out (Prov 20:5).

Isn’t this true to life? Don’t you seek to develop friendships with those who will challenge your thinking and present you with new avenues of thought? Why should one of these friends not be your mate?
 

5. A GOOD FRIEND OFFERS US WISE COUNSEL. 

Those whom we choose as friends should be marked by wisdom and thus have godly counsel to offer.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend (Prov 27:9).

Think back for a moment to the account of David, Nabal, and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. David was angered because of the ungracious words of Nabal to his young men. He was determined to wipe out every male in the house of Nabal (1 Sam 25:13,34). Abigail quickly formulated a plan to appease David’s anger and then spoke words of wise counsel, pointing out how detrimental David’s actions would be to his future rule as king (1 Sam 25:28-31). David’s reply indicates his appreciation of the wisdom of her words:

Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed, and from avenging myself by my own hand” (1 Sam. 25:32-33).
 
I would simply point out that David was indeed wise to marry a woman who could offer such wise counsel. And we would do well to marry one who offers wise counsel as well. Why is it, then, that husbands seem to think that the biblical instruction concerning the submission of the wife to her husband precludes her offering him wise counsel, if offered tactfully and in a submissive spirit? Let us learn from David and Abigail.

And that's all from me for now!!! 
xoxo.