Delilah Skit

Cletus take the reel

BWAHAHA. Tim Hawkins, I am a fan. If you know the song by Carrie Underwood "Jesus take the wheel", this is a parody of it. Aya aya wae.

Which Service?

"One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it. The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, 'Good morning Alex.'

'Good morning Pastor,' he replied, still focused on the plaque. 'Pastor, what is this? The pastor said, 'Well son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.' Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque. Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked, 'Which service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?'"

stolen from girltalk.blogs.com

Swine Flu

Prayer is Conflict

Prayer is no easy pastime. As I grow old I find that I am more conscious than ever of my need to pray, but it seems at the same time to become more of a struggle. It is harder to concentrate, for one thing. I was greatly helped by some private notes Amy Carmichael wrote to her "Family" (hundreds of children and their helpers, both Indian and European) in Dohnavur, South India, to help them prepare for a special day of prayer.

She quoted Paul's letter to the Colossians (2:1, KJV): "I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you." He is referring at least in part to the conflict of prayer. The same verse is translated "how greatly I strive" in the Revised Version; "how deep is my anxiety" in J.B. Phillips; and, in the Jerusalem Bible, "Yes, I want you to know that I do have to struggle hard for you... to bind you together in love and to stir your minds, so that your understanding may come to full development, until you really know God's secret in which all the jewels of wisdom and knowledge are hidden."

Here are Amy's notes:

WITH WHAT DID I STRUGGLE?

1. With all that says to me, what is the use of your praying? So many others, who know more of prayer than you do, are praying. What difference does it make whether you pray or not? Are you sure that your Lord is listening? Of course He is listening to the other prayers but yours are of such small account, are you really sure He is "bending His ear" to you?

2. With all that suggests that we are asked to give too much time to prayer. There is so much to do. Why set aside so much time just to pray?

3. With all that discourages me personally--perhaps the remembrance of past sin, perhaps spiritual or physical tiredness; with anything and everything that keeps me back from what occupied St. Paul so often--vital prayer.

WHAT WILL HELP ME MOST IN THIS WRESTLE?

1. The certain knowledge that our insignificance does not matter at all, for we do not come to the Father in our own name but in the Name of His beloved Son. His ear is always open to that Name. Of this we can be certain.

2. The certain knowledge that this is Satan's lie; he is much more afraid of our prayer than our work. (This is proved by the immense difficulties we always find when we set ourselves to pray. They are much greater than those we meet when we set ourselves to work.)

3. Isaiah 44:22 and kindred words, with 1 John 1:9, meet all distress about sin. Isaiah 40:29-31 with 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 meets everything that spiritual or physical weariness can do to hinder. Psalm 27:8 with Isaiah 45:19 meets all other difficulties. And the moment we say to our God, "Thy face, Lord, will I seek," His mighty energies come to the rescue. (See Colossians 1:2,9.) Greater, far greater, is He that is in us than he that is against us. Count on the greatness of God. But are we to go on wrestling to the end?

No, there is a point to which we come, when, utterly trusting the promise of our Father, we rest our hearts upon Him. It is then we are given what St. Paul calls access with confidence (Ephesians 3:12). But don't forget that this access is by faith, not by feeling, faith in Him our living Lord; He who says "Come unto Me" does not push us away when we come. As we go on, led by the Holy Spirit who so kindly helps our infirmities, we find ourselves in 1 John 5:14,15 and lastly in Philippians 4:6, . It is good to remember that immediate answer to prayer is not always something seen, but it is always inward peace.

And if the day ends otherwise and we are discouraged? Then tell Him so, "nothing ashamed of tears upon His feet" [here she is quoting from F.W.H. Meyers's poem "St. Paul"]. Lord, Thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love Thee. "Yes, my child, I know." But don't settle down into an "it will never be different" attitude. It will be different if only in earnest we follow on to know the Lord.

by EE

I am feasting on...

What an excellent read! Hold on I haven't finished. I keep going back to what I just read. But, I'd like to share with you some glimpses of it. This book pretty much a compilation of Tozer's 6 best essays and interview before He died. Listen to these words:

"Question: Dr. Tozer, what specific steps would you suggest for the earnest seeker after the "deeper life"?

Tozer: I have never been much for "steps" in the christian life, though they may be useful to some people. For the most part, my method has been simply to plunge in on the promises of God and let God take care of the "steps". I would, however, make a few recommendations to anyone seeking a more satisfying and more God-possessed life than he now enjoys.

First, determine to take the whole thing in dead earnest. Too many of us play at Christianity. We wear salvation as a kind of convention badge admitting us into the circle of the elect, but rarely stop to focus our whole lives seriously on God's claims upon us.

Second, throw yourself out recklessly upon God. Give up everything and prepare yourself to surrender even unto death all of your ambitions, plans and possessions. And I mean this quite literally. You should not be satisfied with the mere technical aspect of surrender but press your case upon God in determined prayer until a crises has taken place within your life and there has been an actual transfer of everything from yourself to God.

Third, take a solemn vow never to claim any honor or glory or praise for anything you are or have or do. See to it that God gets all honor, all the time.

Fourth, determine not to defend yourself against detractors and persecutors. Put your reputation in God's hands and leave it there.

Fifth, mortify the flesh with affections and lusts. Every believer has been judicially put to death with Christ, but this is not enough for present victory. Freedom from the power of the flesh will come only when we have by faith and self-discipline made such death an actuality. Real death to self is a painful thing and tends to reduce a man in his own eyes and humble him into the dust. Not many follow this rugged way, but those who do are exemplary Christians."


Do I hear a "WOW"? The Second "step" reminds me of a little prayer by Betty Scott Stam. Betty is a missionary (in China I think) young mother and much like us wished for a future and peaceful life. Yet, she wrote these words when she and her daughter's life were in danger of persecution:

Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forevermore...

Those words were written and signed in Elisabeth Elliot's bible when she was 11. May this be our prayer.

Reflection 20 - 27 April 2009

Overwhelm with words. There are too many things to recap what has been happening, my silly observation of human behavior (normally taken place in the mrt), my reads. I shall begin just with the order I've just mentioned.

What has been happening (or not happening)?

• My aunt gave birth a beautiful baby boy named Micha on Thursday
• Meeting my friend and also mentor, Tracey (and sending her off)
  
• Had a conflict with my brother (again) but we solved it. Just getting at each other nerves really...being very impatient with my brother
  
• Not applying for jobs, had been busy
  
• Finish Revelation and start Genesis (again)
• No church or youth fellowship
  

My silly observation of human behavior:

• Saturday night mrt ride: normally couples ready for a night out on the streets or fine dining. Making you feel left out, alone, unfortunate and jealous. Hahaha. Sebel deh!
• Seorang Thai tourist yang lagi baca tourism guide in Thai...pretty amazing...tulisan thai itu seperti kode rahasia yang menari-nari lenggak-lenggok di buku. Terkagum2 ama orang yang bisa baca itu.
  
• Kesehatan kulit orang. Wahaha.
• Seorang anak perempuan keturunan India, cantik sekali...berbaju ungu tua dengan bordiran emas. Digendong ayah...
  
• Keramaian tanpa komunitas
  
• Senyum dan susunan gigi manusia. Lol.
  

My reads:

Aduh banyak pisan. Tapi belakangan ini lagi menyimak tulisannya Tozer. Selalu menginspirasi, memuaskan, segar sekalipun beliau sudah tidak ada:

• Untuk gereja, doakanlah supaya dia tidak menjual dirinya pada dunia tetapi tetap setia sebagai mempelai Kristus yang mulia.
• Untuk anak Tuhan, jangan mencari kemuliaan bagi diri sendiri dalam pelayanan, dalam doa, dalam gereja. Selama motivasi kita adalah memegahkan diri, Tuhan akan membiarkan jiwamu menjadi kering dan tidak berbuah.
  
• Untuk orang yang ragu-ragu dalam menerima Yesus, jangan tunda-tunda. Tahukah engkau bahwa keputusan yang kau buat adalah satu keputusan terpenting yang manusia bisa buat dalam hidupnya? Apakah kau akan membiarkan Yesus berdiri diluar pintu hatimu seolah-olah Dia minta dikasihani dan kelaparan? Sekali-kali tidak, sebab Dia adalah Tuhan, pencipta alam semesta.