Nothing but the blood of Jesus Heb 9:9-28 9which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly (Y)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which (Z)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10since they relate only to (AA)food and (AB)drink and various (AC)washings, (AD)regulations for the body imposed until (AE)a time of reformation. 11But when Christ appeared as a (AF)high priest of the (AG)good things [a]to come, He entered through (AH)the greater and more perfect tabernacle, (AI)not made with hands, that is to say, (AJ)not of this creation; 12and not through (AK)the blood of goats and calves, but (AL)through His own blood, He (AM)entered the holy place (AN)once for all, having obtained (AO)eternal redemption. 13For if (AP)the blood of goats and bulls and (AQ)the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14how much more will (AR)the blood of Christ, who through (AS)the eternal Spirit (AT)offered Himself without blemish to God, (AU)cleanse your conscience from (AV)dead works to serve (AW)the living God? 15For this reason (AX)He is the (AY)mediator of a (AZ)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been (BA)called may (BB)receive the promise of (BC)the eternal inheritance. 16For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, [b]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19For when every commandment had been (BD)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, (BE)he took the (BF)blood of the calves and the goats, with (BG)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both (BH)the book itself and all the people, 20saying, "(BI)THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU." 21And in the same way he (BJ)sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22And according to the Law, one may (BK)almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and (BL)without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23Therefore it was necessary for the (BM)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but (BN)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ (BO)did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of (BP)the true one, but into (BQ)heaven itself, now (BR)to appear in the presence of God for us; 25nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as (BS)the high priest enters (BT)the holy place (BU)year by year with blood that is not his own. 26Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since (BV)the foundation of the world; but now (BW)once at (BX)the consummation of the ages He has been (BY)manifested to put away sin (BZ)by the sacrifice of Himself. 27And inasmuch as (CA)it is appointed for men to die once and after this (CB)comes judgment, 28so Christ also, having been (CC)offered once to (CD)bear the sins of many, will appear (CE)a second time for (CF)salvation (CG)without reference to sin, to those who (CH)eagerly await Him. Words & Music: Ro­bert Low­ry, in Gos­pel Mu­sic, by How­ard Doane and Ro­bert Low­ry (New York: Big­low & Main, 1876)What can wash away my sin?Nothing but the blood of Jesus;What can make me whole again?Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! precious is the flowThat makes me white as snow;No other fount I know,Nothing but the blood of Jesus. For my pardon, this I see,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;For my cleansing this my plea,Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Nothing can for sin atone,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;Naught of good that I have done,Nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my hope and peace,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;This is all my righteousness,Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Now by this I’ll overcome—Nothing but the blood of Jesus,Now by this I’ll reach my home—Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Glory! Glory! This I sing—Nothing but the blood of Jesus,All my praise for this I bring—Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Laureen Love Who is God? Let's Celebrate this Christmas! Psalm 95:6Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.Blessed Christmas,Would you like to join me this year, in remembering the birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah?Matthew 1:18-25 (New American Standard Bible)Conception and Birth of Jesus 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, " Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.Luke 2:1-14Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem 1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."Psalm 100All Men Exhorted to Praise God.A Psalm for Thanksgiving. 1 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. Happy 19th Birthday Jason! Living the Conflicting Natures The Conflict of Two NaturesFor we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.Romans 7:14-25 To my Friends I know you will support my decision.Thank you, I love you. In Sure Good Time The Lord Knows ALL and IS ALL.I have been praying and searching, thinking and planning, about what I can and will do.I was reminded of my perspective of life here in a temporal world, and how I should go about planning in a world of which I know not what tomorrow holds, and I conversed with God through it all.He knows my heart, and He directs my steps.In faith I walk, I seek and He shows.I thank God for His providence in the various findings that I have "chanced upon", the events that have led me to depend on Him even more, and a sound mind by mercy from Him who has kept me in His dominion. Learning: Is my relationship with God sufficient for me to expect Him to exhibit His wonderful life in me?I am thankful for my elders in church, the family of God.The first to plead his case seems right,Until another comes and examines him. - Proverbs 18:17Regarding EldersFor the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. - Titus 1:7-9Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. - 2 Timothy 2:14-26and she reminded me,He who guards his mouth and his tongue,Guards his soul from troubles. - Proverbs 21:23Perseverance and Growth for me...perseverance is not perfection. There is the incurring of God's displeasure, and grieving of the Spirit, a wounded conscience, bringing upon oneself temporal judgment and discipline. One prayer without perseverance is not salvation. Faith is a gift of grace, powered eternal by the supernatural Spirit, of the true and living God.from Psalm 119: Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness. (v. 33-40)Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul observes them. The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, After Your manner with those who love Your name. Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. My eyes shed streams of water, Because they do not keep Your law. (v.129-136)Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word. Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. Let my lips utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. Let Your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight. Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.(v.169-176)And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'"This is the great and foremost commandment.The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." - Matt 22:37-40Planning in a world I can see not, what tomorrow holdsThe plans of the heart belong to man,But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,But the LORD weighs the motives.Commit your works to the LORDAnd your plans will be established.The LORD has made everything for its own purpose,Even the wicked for the day of evil.Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.Better is a little with righteousnessThan great income with injustice.The mind of man plans his way,But the LORD directs his steps. - Proverbs 16:1-9'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. - Proverbs 21:5LORD, You have searched me and known me.You know when I sit down and when I rise up;You understand my thought from afar.You scrutinize my path and my lying down,And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.Even before there is a word on my tongue,Behold, O LORD, You know it all.You have enclosed me behind and before,And laid Your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;It is too high, I cannot attain to it.Where can I go from Your Spirit?Or where can I flee from Your presence?If I ascend to heaven, You are there;If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.If I take the wings of the dawn,If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,Even there Your hand will lead me,And Your right hand will lay hold of me.If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,And the light around me will be night,"Even the darkness is not dark to You,And the night is as bright as the dayDarkness and light are alike to You.For You formed my inward parts;You wove me in my mother's womb.I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;Wonderful are Your works,And my soul knows it very well.My frame was not hidden from You,When I was made in secret,And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;And in Your book were all writtenThe days that were ordained for me,When as yet there was not one of them.How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!How vast is the sum of them!If I should count them, they would outnumber the sandWhen I awake, I am still with You. - Psalm 139:1-18Search me, O God, and know my heart;Try me and know my anxious thoughts;And see if there be any hurtful way in me,And lead me in the everlasting way. - Psalm 139:23-24ceasing from Anger Cease from anger and forsake wrath;Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.For evildoers will be cut off,But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.But the humble will inherit the landAnd will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.The wicked plots against the righteousAnd gnashes at him with his teeth.The Lord laughs at him,For He sees his day is coming. - Psalm 37:6-13LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up;You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down,And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue,Behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before,And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit?Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there;If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn,If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me,And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,And the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to You,And the night is as bright as the day Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my inward parts;You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;Wonderful are Your works,And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You,When I was made in secret,And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;And in Your book were all writtenThe days that were ordained for me,When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand When I awake, I am still with You. - Psalm 39 Praying though He Knows I used to ask, "Why pray, when He knows?"Today i found some words. I offer my heart, in prayer,I offer my soul, in prayer,I offer my mind, in prayer,I offer my life, in prayer,to the One who loves me, knows me & searches me.Examine me, O LORD, and try me;Test my mind and my heart.Psalm 26:2AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'Mark 12:30"I, the LORD, search the heart,I test the mind,Even to give to each man according to his ways,According to the results of his deeds."Jeremiah 17:10 Happy First Birthday since the last July - but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; - (1 Peter 3:15) Looking back, I’m just so overwhelmed by thankfulness. God is Gracious, Merciful, Kind and He really IS the Master Engineer who knows all and is all. When I was 15, I met a boy, and my eyes were opened to many things that I didn’t know and were not used to. I learnt to ask questions about love, life, pain, anger, happiness, God, the why’s, how’s, when’s, what’s and who’s. The boy was a tool in God's plan for my life I’d say, and that God was using the circumstances that enveloped me to equip and train me into becoming value-added for His service. I learnt a lot about who I am, why I am and how I am. One out of many things I learnt and am continuing to learn about is that God is really, the ONLY ONE who can save me from myself. No one can save another one. I can't save myself. God can be merciful, with the very important intercessions of others who love me, and who love God, (the prayer of the righteous is effective and powerful as in Proverbs 15:29 James 5:13- The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.) He called me and made me begin to ask questions, by God's grace, my anger caused me to go into a frenzied, anger-driven demand for answers I had, to, in retrospect, really was by God's mercy I even had those questions to begin with, He really has blessed me and I can’t describe how much I do not deserve it. And those anger-driven questions and search, were graciously answered by “hands-down, I-give-up revelations” (because we know that the possibility of losing to our own excuses and anger, is 80/20. The bible or His word, is Truth, and cannot be denied as real wisdom.) Then I began to learn about God's character through people around me, myself, and the word of course. It was important to search in the right places. Facing the real issues was important, and that was really scary and intimidating. I learnt that the beginning of the hunger for His word is the best mark of a real believer. It is really incomprehensible how the angry questions came. Grace now seems to be the only possible explanation. I was 18, working at a hotel then, and fresh graduated from a polytechnic. I tried to fill all my waking hours with work, running away from whatever I felt I was. Inside, it really felt empty and lonely I think. "I think" because I’m not too sure my memory serves me 100%. But I didn't really consciously think too much about how I felt. It was something deep down and I masked it with other things like, “I want to earn money, want to do this and do that, think about my future..” a lot of worldy things overtook me and crowded my thoughts. I was deluding myself with the wrong priorities and was frustrated because it seemed important to think about those things and yet it wasn’t satisfying and in no way fulfilled me. It was made worse when I worked with hardly any rest, operating extended shift hours due to the hotel’s severely understaffed situation. I was draining out physically and mentally, there was no time for me to think much about emotional health. By God's grace, I began going back to church, for a really embarrassing initial reason of wanting to catch a ride home from my parents if it was a Sunday morning. Since I ended my night shifts and would leave the hotel around 7.20-ish in the morning, reach church at 8am, and service started soon after, my parents who were in church would drive me home after. I graduated from a well-reputed girls’ school, became angry with God over silly excuses and petty ignorance, while having lived a comparatively sheltered and comfortable life with loving parents. Then I started my first job at an F&B outlet, met the boy and began to expose myself to a lot of ungodly things. I started a relationship with the boy, left church and became openly defiant towards God. I threw myself into a series of unhealthy relationships with the guy and other people around me, destroyed the healthy ones, and “God” had developed into a noun of a supernatural entity in the store room of my mind. Life then slipped into the doldrums and I found myself extremely lonely, empty, purposeless and tired. Being tired of being unhappy, I decided to then look around me, for things that made me happy. With a calmer spirit and thankful for a few things in life, I started to ask questions. One or two answered questions led to a tumult of other questions. Emotions flooded my being and my logic was demanding for missing connectors. Angry-questions surfaced because it was the period where I had to face my insecurities and go against all that I believed, begin to interact and look at things I feared and was angry about because it went against my (now-I-look-back-at) sinful nature. I was too angry with people by then, and had lost all faith in people. Experiences taught me how selfish one and even those who claimed to love me most were and could be. Definitions of love and trust and pain were learnt with physical examples. I learnt that the world’s values were relative. At that point it didn’t matter to me at all, whether there was anyone who cared for me because I was too selfish and at the same time, didn't have the human capacity to bother about others. I took those who loved me, and who stood by me, for granted. I was so proud. I hurt them, and enjoyed manipulating them to achieve what I wanted, nursing my pride. I didn't believe anyone was capable of truly loving me the way I wanted them to, though I wasn’t able to see all this so clearly then. I felt guilt, but was highly desensitized to morals and a conscience already. Then, I was only confused, and didn’t know what I really wanted. I didn’t know how to help myself. I did know however, how best to destroy myself. So I became a recluse, got myself into a lot of unnecessary trouble and bad company to delude and confuse myself, to indulge in the pain and tell myself how pitiful I was. I got involved with fights, gangs, dealt with harmful substances to the body, destroyed my body’s immune and metabolic system, aggravated small health problems, lost value of my life, became promiscuous and lost the desire to live. I could have been struck with terminal illnesses with the wrong choices I made, or made to deal with liver and kidney failure. Trying to find temporal happiness was never enough, and I grew tired of the ways in which I knew how to deal with myself eventually. I was too preoccupied with loving myself in a very unhealthy manner to have a heart for others. Simply, I didn’t know how to love myself, and thus never could love others, though then, I fought the hardest to prove I knew what love was, and prove how much I could and did love someone. When my efforts backfired, I was lost and confused. I decided not to seek my answers from people. Hurt, I went to the bible straight - the biggest fear I had. I had grown up in a family who brought me to church when I was a baby. I grew up, going for Sunday school lessons every Sunday for most of my childhood years. The bible was a familiar text with many topics addressed, with which I had issues with. In ignorance, I was angry and skeptical about “Christians” whom I knew. I could not reconcile sinful lives who proclaimed they had knowledge of what righteousness was. I thought I knew about this God, and didn’t need Him. I knew it was what I was most angry with and was what I needed to confront most. I felt like I needed to confront God. Why did it seem He insisted I needed Him and belonged to Him? I wanted claim over my own life. Did He really know me? Why did He allow my circumstances and experiences? In the process of trying to love myself, and getting increasingly damaged from how I threw myself around fiercely in trying to learn who I was, I had affected my family – father, mother and baby brother. The effects of the hurt I caused them, can never be erased and have to be dealt with continuously even after the storm. I had scarred each individual terribly and affected their growth by my seemingly short period of 4 years of harmful, selfish, destructive choices. Today, I am thankful for a family I still have, and I am sure it is only God who could have and can hold it together despite the difficulties and seeming impossibilities. Today I know my God is true and real and is that one entity. I have found out what Love is. There is only one who demonstrated this perfect love. Only one is capable of perfection. Christ died for me and put up no struggle whatsoever to prove who He was. He simply silently, died for me, even though I could not understand why then. He laid his life down for me, and held me in His arms, painfully looking at me self-destruct. He became the willing sacrifice and only acceptable atonement for the ugliness of my sinful nature.The bible, the only source of truth blew me away. By God's Grace, my sisters-in-Christ whom I pushed away from me by hurting them very badly, still love me so much today. Grace, is such, being blessed with things I know I am unworthy of, for I am nothing, and an ugly creature without salvation. There is no reconciliation between righteousness and me, except by the intercession or bridge, of someone perfect and blameless, who is willing to love me so much, seeing how ugly I am, and being my sacrifice, He has now imputed righteousness to me, and made me clean. The Spirit that has entered my life, being made a new creation of salvation, and is my daily intercessor, is God, able to guide me and lead me, to teach me and refine me. I am a constant work-in-progress, learning and growing in my faith, my belief and relationship with this Father who redeemed my life, of whom I belong to. For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness. (Psalm 18:28) Acknowledging that I was nothing, was precisely what I needed to know back then. When I sought others, I was still too in love with my self. How sinful my pride and silly of me to nurse it. I learnt that the best way to prevent myself from sinning is to run away from the temptation. Recently, in a confrontation with my family, I had a reminder but this time I learnt how personal a responsibility it is because the other party might not see the resulting harm of unbridled emotions coming. The moment you see it, You withdraw and protect the other party and yourself in the process. It seems especially difficult when u love the other party so much. It means the more each party would try to do something or enforce his or her ideas or expectations in a manner not best suitable for the moment. It is so difficult to put one’s self away. Both parties escalate in emotional intensity of whatever feelings generated - frustration, anger, sadness, and disappointment - negative words result in a kind of destructive anger that controls and overtakes due to man's sinful nature. So I must withdraw, before the anger is fed till it's too big and ugly, and the sinful man snubs out the Holy spirit of wisdom, righteousness and peace. I learnt how remorse and transformation begins with thanksgivings, and how when trying to help anyone, it is important to look at my capacity and accept not being the best one to do so at the moment. Love for the other person, and being able to put my self aside completely would be the best way to help someone else, and at all times, the power of a praying, righteous intercessor is the most effective help. I must then work hard, to make ready myself, to help when called to do so. God is the true and only Master Engineer, knowing all individuals before they were formed in the womb, and of all situations and circumstances he allows, and of this world he created. Trying to reclaim the relationships with people whom I brushed aside is difficult. When I looked them up again to apologize and love them and show them how much I didn’t deserve their love, I learnt that they still love me and I love them now. I am really thankful for them, who understood what love is, and chose to love me when I did not understand. It is hardest to be joyful all the time, irregardless of the situation around us. To tell yourself that you are not strong, yet able to be happy all the time irregardless of the circumstances and situation, because you trust God, and are unable to count your blessings from the sheer number, when you are blown away by how nothing you are and everything you are because of Christ's redeeming power. With God’s gracious revelation of His character to us, we discover He is our endless resource of strength, wisdom, peace and joy. We are nothing without Him, but everything with Him as our lives. Successful "happiness that masks personal pain", no matter how deep within the individual, can never be told. Only God is able to see. A "fake happiness" with the intention to gain someone's awe or appreciation and attribute nobility or personal strength is self glorification and contributing to it, to feed it, is harmful and destructive for the individuals involved. THE greatest problem we have is loving ourselves too much, it is our sinful selves, all men was born with. Which is why, our all-knowing and very personal God, in foresight only He has, has told us that “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18) The Lord is my gracious and mighty Redeemer. O Lord, You have pleaded my soul's cause; You have redeemed my life. (Lamentations 3:58) The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. (Nahum 1:7) Likewise, He knows false men, and He sees iniquity without investigating. (Job 11:11) Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. (Psalm 44:21) God sustains me, and feeds me when I have my priorities straightened out, seeking to fulfill his will for my redeemed life (Matthew 6:25-34) and loving Him, by learning how to care for the temple in which the Spirit dwells. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) He has given me peace beyond comprehension (Philippians 4:7) and joy like a fountain. -"Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?” – (Ezekiel 18:31) Happy Fathers' Day I love you still my father. Philippians 2 12So then, my beloved, (Z)just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your (AA)salvation with (AB)fear and trembling; 13for it is (AC)God who is at work in you, both to will and to work (AD)for His good pleasure. 14Do all things without (AE)grumbling or disputing; 15so that you will prove yourselves to be (AF)blameless and innocent, (AG)children of God above reproach in the midst of a (AH)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you (AI)appear as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that in (AJ)the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not (AK)run in vain nor (AL)toil in vain. Why I am here. It is because of Why I am here, that makes my how and what I do important.Therefore, it is not a matter of what society deems impressive but what the Lord.What ever I take on, what ever comes my way, I know the Lord leads me.I am His slave, and I desire to obediently seek my Master's will.The pressure has been growing, with people around me, querying what I intend to do with my life. It seems unsatiable that my answer is not set, not "concrete plans".Today is the first time I can recall, ever receiving a fallen through application. I have been blessed, by God's grace, I realise today, with multiple options and opportunities to make the Right choices. It has made me swell with pride and forget who it is, that I should be living for.10For am I now (T)seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a (U)bond-servant of Christ. Galations 1:10I want to serve Him, from the pits of my soul, I cry out that He shows me what He wants me to do. I earnestly seek to build myself up spiritually so that I will be ready to do what He calls me to do.What matters to me, is that I know it is wrong to put God second, and my earthly jobs or responsibilities first. If God is put first, I can no longer give excuses that what I want to do, may be what would be best suitable for me to serve God in. I am so thankful that my God is not one who confuses, but is very clear. If there is doubt, it probably isn't what I should do. Intepretation needs no argument. Intepretation should only be One resounding voice.33for God is not a God of (A)confusion but of peace, as in (B)all the churches of the (C)saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33He is merciful and gracious and gives us so many chances to learn. I am thankful for the many chances He provides for us to get glimpses of who He is. And in my humble position, I do not deserve and will never be able to fully comprehend just how great and awesome this God whom I serve is.In this temporal world that I live, serve, work and play in, all endeavours are areas of service. How then, will my Lord use me? I am thankful for the life He has given me and preserved, so that I may revel in His love.19(AY)We love, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19May His will be done. God of Love In a conversation with a friend who was looking forward to choosing a Godly man, I was thankful, God has never let go of me. Oh God of grace and mercy, how can I live without you.For why will you die, O house of Israel? Eze 18:31 says (11:06 PM):Focusing on loving God and knowing how best you can enjoy this time of singleness as a gift of undivided attention for God and serving him, to fulfill his Will for this world would eventually lead you closer to Him revealing who's the right one He thinks you'd be the best suitable helper for, so both the guy and you can serve Him even more mightily together.That seems the only reason why God'll give us partners.All other reasons why men and women come together, will not hold, with peace and a deep true love. When you're tired I learnt one thing today - not to cook when I don't feel like it, when there are people scrutinizing me, and when I'm tired.Cos the result is the bin chute flap tearing off a piece of my flesh. my own Cook I had to learn how to appreciate cooking for my self. I finished one tray of pork, 2 eggs, a bag of kway teow, 8 pcs of Yong Taufu, 1 bag of Xiao Bai Cai, and another bag of noodles within 2 meals.In all, I think it's still cheaper and less effort eating out.I like to cook when I'm alone, which is ideal if my future turns out to be what I partly hope and partly think will happen - me single, living in a spacious apartment, doors always open to anyone who might want to come so I might share my peace, joy, love and security, anytime.I've learnt how to appreciate eating salads since I moved in.I'm really thankful for so many things.- God's providence.He gave me shelter, a loving family, a dear sister, a new family, recovery of health, mercy, allowance to commit to Wed night classes and Sun mornings, being able to serve in the worship team, financial stability, security, helped me devalue my greatest challenge, learn to give and receive bountifully in return.Now I clean, cook, iron, wash and work.and I am Happy.Happy in the Lord.Wed night classes, Sun service and classes, 2 jobs, shuttling between 2 families, catching up with dear Laureen, getting enough rest to recover and adjusting to new environments.I've had the privilege to try out Laureen's love, her cakes, pies, cookies and macaroons. Please Laureen, expand, do it for more people. We want you to. TM 10 Jan 2007 Love is Home 2007 To 6 years and countingI love her. I am thankful for this constant that has grown up with me, who understands what growing pains mean to me and showed me what Love was. Most people in our lives come and go, and we know who will leave. We know too, who won't. I haven't quite figured out how to explain it, but you just know. Of course it took a hell lot of effort, and there were the ups and downs, but love without possession, born out of time, understanding and faith, made it happen. It's the start of a new year, and it means so much of me, that she's back home. I've begun to hold on very dearly to people who really should stay around. I spent new years with my new mother, and spend whatever time I have apart from working with pure happiness. Working keeps me happy too, although it's a different kind of happy - happiness that sometimes require effort, focused on the simplicity of life, thankfulness and determination. I am happy like a child when the people I love so dearly are with me. That kind of love, comes with trust.Trust is a Big word. It's the one word that has affected the what, who, and why I am. It crossed the years with me. It takes a lot of time to grow trust, and it takes an even longer time to throw myself into the arms of anyone. To people with no evil intentions, my nature tells me to take it real slow, to let things stand the test of time. The equation now is, the longer it lasts, the more it is real and IS a part of my life.She stated something so true on Tuesday. "It's so strange how people now just don't see what dating is. They go straight into a relationship." That's precisely what has been frustrating me. Why can two individuals get to know each other, before possessing the other party? "Commitment" had become THE word to mask "Possession"."You don't want to Commit is it?"I think... "Why do you want to Possess me... now?" (and it's been like... what? Hardly a week since I've known you?) Everyone wants to talk things out, smart move. To possess someone, act fast, speak fast, win fast. Give it time... If it's yours, it will be. Have more confidence in at the least, yourself, your choice.Again, things never changed one bit since the last time we saw each other face to face. Yes, she's a hell lot more physically attractive, she makes everything fail in comparison to her, so she's increasingly the flower among the shrubs. Her personality casts a shadow on everything and everyone. But most of the time when I walk with her, I'm not thinking so much about anything around me. I'm just happy to be by her again.Girl, you've taken care of me, nursed my wounds, held me and rocked me.I'll take care of you, and love you, till I no longer can, when my skin turns cold and my blood's left my body. Thank you, for being the you I cannot be more proud of, the you I hold on to so dearly, and for being the first to awaken me to the reality of Love. A good new year I just wished I had a photo.I spent new year's eve with Joan, her two sons Ivan & Lucas, her friends and her best friend Joyce. I was at Trinity @ Paya Lebar with Joan and Joyce, and we crossed the years together. baby girl Hello there Self Good to be back here after a long while.It's still me. Christmas Many take Christmas day as a time to yes, celebrate the remembrance of the birth, life, sacrifice, death and resurrection of Christ the saviour, and desire to fulfill themselves with the knowledge that one man can never exist as a single entity, by loving and being loved in return, be it by family or friends. With love, peace and goodwill for mankind, they congregate to celebrate the life we live and ability to love that we are blessed with. That is the Christmas cheer, the joy that makes the "Merry" in "Merry Christmas"- the warmth of Love.What happens then, to those unable to love another man?What happens then, to those who do not know of this great Love of our Father, Christ the saviour, who loves unconditionally and elevates the concept of what love is to another higher plane altogether. Christ Loved us, just as we love Him and one another. With a mortal's own ability to love, I can achieve nothing, and cannot Love. Through Christ, he has enabled us to Love one another.How I long for the day to come, when my partner will understand this, and celebrate with me, this Love our Father has bestowed us. When my partner can love me, as a sister, friend and wife. just how do i let go Maybe I should accept it.as a part of my life, that happened, and let it go that way. Too many memories, within the most robust period of my youth, have come and gone, and you were a part of it. What is it that I feel whenever I am reminded of you?snow patrol run lifehouse everything everything Surf gimme those channels84, 69, 16, 17, 55, 81 Smile. Smile though your heart is achingSmile even though it's breakingWhen there are clouds in the sky, you'll get byIf you smile through your fear and sorrowSmile and maybe tomorrowYou'll see the sun come shining through for youLight up your face with gladnessHide every trace of sadnessAlthough a tear may be ever so nearThat's the time you must keep on tryingSmile, what's the use of crying?You'll find that life is still worthwhileIf you just smileThat's the time you must keep on tryingSmile, what's the use of crying?You'll find that life is still worthwhileIf you just smile The Blogosphere - a no cost exhibition space for the "ME"? What do you feel about this? This commercial was aired on Channel 5. What you've seen in the compressed video clip used as the intro to blogtv.sg is exactly what you'll see and hear on television.Upon hearing what their inaugural topic was going to be about, tiny alarm signals were raised. "BLOGGING : THE 'ME' GENERATION".. Although they seem to have taken care not to place obvious judgement on the "me" angle of blogs they seem to advocate and maybe, unwittingly validate, the angle carries undeniably negative connotations. Negative words like "selfish", "attention-deprived" and "lonely" come to mind. In Ling's take, she defines the act of blogging as a form of public exhibitionism, quoting Macmillan to describe an exhibitionist as "someone who likes to be seen or noticed by people and tries to impress them in silly or strange ways". Is this not, a one-sided, skewed, biased and unbalanced, perspective of what blogging is about?A blog as stated by marketingterms.com is merely, A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links. The function of a blog is characterized by its author or authors. If the author or authors, have in mind the objective of the blog as a tool to reach the masses in public interest, or to keep loved ones and distant family separated by physical distances updated and in the know, making sure that he or she as the author practices responsibility and self-restraint, consciously ensuring posts are objective, and still getting his or her point across to his or her intended audience with the audiences' benefit in mind, is it still a selfish act and a form of public exhibitionism?BlogA (a ficticious name given to a web log authored by my best friend in Australia and me) is one such example of how we show each other, that no matter how tired or upset we are, when it is most tempting to indulge in self-pity and wallow in the sick pleasures of telling ourselves how lonely we are and practising loneliness, we instead come back to BlogA, knowing we are not alone, and choose to remember we have each other to confide in and be responsible for. With love, it is an effort and desire to keep each other updated, close up the gaps of the physical distances with the immediacy and referable medium of the blog, or web log.Espcially since this particular web space practises the efforts of privacy with the use of a password and is only, by right, assessible to my best friend in Australia - my intended audience.The objectivity of the perspective put across on blogtv.sg of the blog as a platform for public-exhibitionism without questioning the definition and the possibility of the existence of a "Self" without others, is questionable.The perspective of the "'ME' GENERATION" raises defense, especially in the asian culture which practises values of humility and selflessness.How will the the sound be separated from the noise?(in reference to the animation found under "coming up next week".) A Dog's Life. Fortified. Please give me a sherry, sweet olorosso, or port. Otherwise just a Brandy will do fine too.