Testimony 20/11/06: What is Faith Like?

What is faith? Many people would quote Hebrew 11:1, which says “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” But… what is faith like?

Faith is like the eye. Faith is not about us believing something hard enough that it compels God to do something. Faith is like the eye that sees everything in front of it and never sees itself. Faith is occupied with the object upon which it rest and pays no attention to itself at all (A.W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God).

Can we say the same about fear and worry? They do focus on an object. It could be the past. It could be circumstances. Other people. Or even yourself! But although it focuses on an object, fear and worry is always selfish to a certain degree.

You worry about your exam results. Will I pass? What will my score be? Can I proceed to the next level? What would people say about me? You fear about your father’s failing health. Who would provide for me if he passes away? What would I do without him? Will I survive?

Faith is very much affected by focus. Faith focuses on God. Just like prayer is not about the one who says it, but the One who answers it. The focus is on the LORD. While we are looking at God, we do not see ourselves. What are you focusing on? Yourself? Other people? Circumstances? Or even the devil?

The next time you are in front of the mirror, look into your eyes, and remember that faith never focuses on itself. It focuses on Jesus.

Testimony 09/10/06: Men Under Authority

I had my passport in the office as I apply for a visa to the UAE. When all procedure had finished, I ordered my staff to send my passport home via the office regular transport. It was weekend, so the passport would only arrive on Monday. Thinking that it would take too long, my staff gave my passport to another staff instead. He was on a sales trip and would be passing by my house.

But guess what… he forgot to give the passport to me! I was not aware of the scenario at all. When I found out on Monday, my passport was already in Bali. 1,200 km away! I was very angry. All the more, I need my passport to fly to Australia in 5 days time! I cannot be angrier. The two of my staff started arguing with each other on the phone, who is right, who is wrong, what should have been done, what should not have been done. But I did not want to hear all those. All I want is my passport!

And oh… how often do we think that our ways are smarter than our parents’ ways; how our ideas are better than our boss’ ideas; how our thoughts are smarter than God’s thoughts!

Many years ago, an inventor made a grand piano. It was built to make music. But one day, the piano think to itself, “I think I am prettier if I put a vase on top of me.” And so it becomes a table instead. Other time it says, “Hmmm… I am really flat.” And so it becomes an ironing board.

We are all God’s tools. And a tool is made for a specific purpose. But if the tool has its own thoughts, how can it be fully used by the One who makes it?

We are all men under authority. God is our highest authority and He puts us under the authority of others. There is no authority that has not been ordained by God. If we cannot submit to the authority above us, nothing can be done, no matter how smart, no matter how knowledgeable, no matter how skillful we are. Everything will just be out of order and out of a greater plan. Sometimes we just need to obey, not to think.

***

As for my passport, after a lot of anger and arguments, it was sent back home through DHL. How amazing that a simple 20 km ride becomes a 2,400 km round trip just because of one silly mistake.

Testimony 01/10/06: So Much More

Think about the most beautiful thing in your life. It may be spending time with your spouse. Or may be cooking with Mom in the kitchen. Playing with your dogs? Surrounded by your best friends? Helping other live a better life?

As for me, I love to be out there in the nature. I like waking up in the morning when everything is still quite and I could get as much fresh air as I want. I enjoy watching the bees collecting nectar from the flowers. I enjoy smelling the roses as they bloom in spring. I enjoy climbing the hills and driving along the coastal road. I take pleasure watching the sun set in the evening. And oh… how I love to watch the stars at night!

How beautiful all those! And it makes me feel ever so close to my God.

But guess what… if you think the sunset is beautiful, if you think the stars are wonderful, if you think flowers are adorable… Jesus is so much more beautiful than all those add up together! And beautiful God means beautiful plans. His plans for you and me are for good. How wonderful!

***

Jesus, beautiful Saviour
God of all majesty
Risen King

Lamb of God
Holy and righteous
Blessed Redeemer
Bright Morning Star

All the heavens shout Your praise
All creation bows to worship You

How wonderful
How beautiful
Name above every name
Exalted high

How wonderful
How beautiful
Jesus, Your name
Name above every name
Jesus

I will sing forever
Jesus, I love You

Jesus, beautiful Saviour

Planet Shakers 2006 by Hendry Seeley

The Word 30/09/06: Budgeting

Budget is a moral statement of a person, of a church and of a nation.”
~Brian Houston~
Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church, Sydney Australia

How true that is! How we spend our money, on who (or, what) we spend on, how much we spend, how much we save, how much we owe, who do we owe, what we do with what we owe or if we do anything about it at all… they all say about who we really are! Do you tithe? Sponsor a child? Buying a present for your Mom? Collecting paintings? Buying your 100th pair of shoes? It shows our character, our faith, our priority and who we honour.

It is the same with time. While we can spend our money, we can also earn money. But time? We can spend it, but we can never turn back time! So how we spend our time also shows who we are. Who do we spend time the most, how long do we spend, how do you spend it, how often do we spend… they all tell about who we are and what we are investing in.

How do you spend the time and money God has entrusted you? Or may I ask in another word... who do you worship?

Book Review 06/11/06: Soul Surfer

Introduced to water sport at a very tender age, Bethany Hamilton decided to become a professional surfer by the age of nine. She would wake up very early in the morning to catch the best of waves in the sea Hawaii. In late October 2003, she was attacked by a shark in which she lost her left arm! She was only thirteen. But not even losing her arm would stop her from fulfilling her dream. Within a year, she has won the Award for Best Comeback Athlete! “I think that if I can help other people find hope in God then that is worth losing my arm for,” she said. This is truly an amazing story of faith, family and fighting to get back on the board.

Book Title : Soul Surfer
Subtitle : A True Story of Faith, Family and Fighting to Get Back on the Board
Author : Bethany Hamilton, Sheryl Berk and Rick Bunschuh
Year : 2004
Publisher : Pocket Books, New York, USA

The Word: Preserved for Mercy ...by Charles Swindoll

“But the Lord said to him, ‘Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven time over.’ Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him may kill him.” Genesis 4:15 (NIV)

I’m sure you are wondering what that special mark was. Frankly, so do I. In my research, I read one idea after another about the “mark” of Cain. I even started a list. Some of the items are downright homourous. Others are plausible. Most of them are intriguing.

• The Lord placed a bright light around Cain so he would appear frightening to others and they’d stay away from him
• God put leprosy on Cain’s forehead so that no one would touch him for fear of disease
• God gave Cain a dog
• The Lord changed Cain’s personality so others would be intimidated in his presence
• The Lord gave Cain a brightly coloured coat
• Cain grew horns on his head, which made him look like a kind of animal, so people would stay away from him

Are you ready for the right answer? No one knows! All we know is that God, in His grace, preserved Cain’s life. The only reason I can see for God’s doing this was to say, in effect, “Sometime in the remaining years of your life, if you find a place in your hardened heart for repentance, I’m ready to hear you. I’m ready to accept you. I won’t even allow your vicious act of murder to keep you from me… permanently.”


Taken from “Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives” by Charles Swindoll pp. 30-31