Rambling Thoughts in SMK Serian

Carrying The Cross

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:49:13 PDT

Jesus turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan!
You are a stumbling block to me;
you do not have in mind the concerns of God,
but merely human concerns.”
(Matthew 16:23)

The third temptation of Jesus was when the devil offered Him the kingdom without the cross.

The devil was saying, ‘Don’t go off and make all those sacrifices, spend nights in agony praying, and end up being tortured by soldiers and dying a horrible death. Just take it all now, from my hand!’

The church often faces the same temptation. The devil offers us power without suffering.

Jesus called Peter ‘Satan’ when he made the same suggestion.

When we mention everything about Christianity but fail to talk about suffering, we are taking away the cross from the Christian life. We are bringing a satanic suggestion.

Anyone who says we can follow Christ but not carry our cross is no better than Satan himself.

Jesus said so. He said it to Satan. He said it to Peter. And this goes to anyone else who dares to think they can be a Christian witness without talking about carrying the cross.

Let us realize that every Christian is required to carry the cross.

Oh Lord, I will no longer try to eliminate the way of the cross from my Christian living. Help me never again attempt to substitute power for suffering.

Bow Down To Me

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:32:30 PDT

Genesis 37:1–11

We don’t know why Joseph told his brothers about his dreams.

His motives might be entirely innocent.

But sharing his dreams had disastrous results.

His brothers already hated him because they saw that their father Jacob loved him more than any of them.

Joseph’s dream that implied he would rule over them one day made them even more angry.

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Many of Jesus’ brethren — the Jewish leaders of his time — reacted violently to his claims of lordship too.

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But as with Joseph, God blessed the Gentiles and the Jews through Jesus.

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The children of God will recognize who Jesus is and bow down to him.

A Faithful Steward

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:12:31 PDT

Genesis 24:1–67

A steward is one who is commissioned to oversee and execute the affairs of another. The closer a steward is able to represent the mind of their superior, the better they fulfill their role. Therefore, when a steward is on assignment, ideally they have no personal will or agenda; they strive to have the mind and will of their supervisor.

Abraham’s unnamed senior servant was an excellent example of a faithful steward. His mindset was to represent Abraham’s will and interests as faithfully as possible.

We are stewards of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our goal is to have His mind and will.

By looking at Abraham’s servant, we can gain insight into how to be a more faithful steward of God’s purposes.

In His Time

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:10:08 PDT

God will surely make all things beautiful in His time!

The Disciples' Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:03:00 PDT

May God use us to make a difference in the lives of Christians
who are persecuted for their faith around the world.

We can reach out to them,
each in our own church and community, and in our own way,
through awareness, through action,
and most of all,
through prayer.

My Brother's Keeper

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:12:09 PDT

God intended for us to be social beings —
to love, care for and protect each other.
We need to care for those who cannot care for themselves.
We need to care for the least privileged members of our society.
We are called to do good to all people,
regardless of race, gender or social position.
We are our “brother’s keeper.”

Every Christian Should Be Prayerful

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:43:25 PDT

God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times.(Romans 1:9-10)

Apostle Paul's primary ministry was that of preaching the Gospel. But he had also a ministry of prayer. He made prayer a priority and the Roman believers were never taken off his prayer list. Paul was a man of prayer. His praying wasn't selfish; it was always on behalf of others.

What a lesson for us! Our praying should not be selfish in nature. We should engage more on intercessory prayer. We should have a prayer burden for others.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Eph. 6:18)

God would have us involved in a prayer ministry and touch the lives of others!

How would you describe your prayer life? Who is the main topic of your prayer life, you or others? This is an area where we can all improve!

Every Christian Should Be Committed

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:50:43 PDT

God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you. (Rom. 1:9)

Paul told the Romans that he was totally committed to the Lord.

Every word he uttered, every thing he wrote, everywhere he went, Paul was a living witness to total surrender.

This explained the reason behind Paul's great success.

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When nothing else matters in our lives but what matters to the Lord, His work will get done!

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This is an area where we can always find room to work.

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We worship God by serving Him!

There is no greater form of worship that can be rendered unto the Lord than pure, heart felt service and devotion to the Lord.

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Have we committed our lives to the Lord?

We should have!

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Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom. 12:1-2)

Every Christian Should Be Thankful

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:09:49 PDT

Romans 1:8

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As Paul began writing to the Roman believers about his motives, he told them that he was thankful for them.

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Paul did not found this church. It had been founded by another.

Many men would have been jealous of the blessings that the Roman believers were enjoying. These people were the talk of the entire world! Everywhere Paul traveled, the people were talking about those Roman believers!

But, instead of being jealous, Paul was thankful! Paul could praise the Lord whether it was part of his ministry or not!

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God wants His children to be a thankful people. In fact, a thankful spirit is the Lord's will for every single one of us!

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes. 5:18)

We would all do well to learn to be more thankful for the Lord's blessings in our lives!

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Many Christians are not very thankful.

How does one go about cultivating a thankful spirit? The answer lies in placing Jesus Christ at the center of all you do!

If you make Him your sufficiency, then you will always be satisfied. If it takes material and physical blessings to make you thankful, then you are likely to be depressed and defeated. The secret lies in being satisfied with Jesus!

"I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:10-13)

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Every Christian and every church should have the same testimony that these Roman Christians had!

These people were known everywhere for their solid faith and lifestyles.

The same should be true of every Church and every Christian!

Whether we are at home, on the job, at the market, or anywhere, there should be that testimony that marks us as belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ!

What Every Christian Should Be

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:35:38 PDT

(Rom. 1:8-15

In Rom. 1: 1-7, Paul introduced himself to the believers in Rome.

He told them about himself, the messenger.

He also told them about his message, the Gospel of grace.

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Now, Paul turned the spotlight upon himself in a very real way.

He shared with them the motives behind the letter he was sending.

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In Rom. 1:8-15, Paul revealed 9 traits of genuine Christian character.

Paul revealed to the believers in Rome what every Christian should be.

God Ministers To His People

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:25:47 PDT

And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be His holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Rom. 1: 6-7)

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Paul turned his attention to the people he was writing to.

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He told them 3 great things they needed to take note.

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They Were Called To Be Saved

Paul reminded them that they shared together the greatest blessing of all: They had all received the sovereign call of God to be saved.

They had been called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Their sins had been taken away.

They had been claimed by God.

They had been declared righteous by God.

They had been brought near to God.

They had received salvation, the greatest gift of all from God Himself.

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They Were Called To Be Sons

They were loved by God.

They had a special place in the heart of God that no other people on the earth could share.

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They Were Called To Be Saints

They were called to be God's holy people.

They were called to live lives that were separated and sold out for the Lord.

They were to be different from the people who lived all around them.

They were to be light and salt in a dark world.

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Paul concluded his introductory remarks by bestowing a blessing upon the Romans Christian.

It was a prayer that they might be the partakers of peace and grace.

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God loves His people.

He ministers to their every need.

And we are to be His holy people.

Jesus Blesses His People

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 02:59:10 PDT

“Through Him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sake”. (Rom. 1:5)

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The Lord Jesus Christ richly blessed all who would believe and obey Him.

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They Receive Grace

Grace is the unmerited love and favor of the Lord Jesus Christ for sinners.

Through grace we are saved, kept, and cared for.

It is by grace that we understand the promise of an eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

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They Receive Gifts

They receive apostleship.

They receive gifts to work for the Lord.

They are drafted for His mission (Acts 1:8).

They are sent out as witnesses for the glory of the Lord.

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Witnessing is not only for the paid staff members of the church.

Every child of God is to be a worker in the Lord's fields of harvest (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).

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Let us be powerful and effective witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus Is The Powerful One

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:54:30 PDT

“Regarding His Son, who as to His earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom.1: 3-4)

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He Is the Son of God

Jesus Christ was no ordinary man. He is the very Son of God. He is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is God robed Himself in human flesh. While He walked this earth, He was the God-man. He was 100% both at the same time.

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He Is Jesus Christ our Lord

He is Jesus. This is His human Name. The title of His humiliation.

He is Christ. He is the Anointed One. This is His official title. He is the One promised before the foundation of the world. He is the Messiah. He is the Savior of the world.

He is our Lord. This is the title of His exaltation. He is the victor over death and the grave. He is the resurrected and exalted One. He is to be honored, feared, obeyed and served. He is Lord (Acts 2:36).

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He Was A Descendant of David

He came from the kingly line of David. He is the King of the Jews.

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His Righteous Life Proved That He Is God

He was born without sin, lived without sin, and He died without sin. He yielded totally to the Spirit of holiness. Everything He did, He did as a Spirit filled man. He lived a righteous life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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His Resurrection From The Dead Proved That He Is God

Death could never hold Him! He was perfectly holy. He submitted to death only for our sakes. He died and conquered death so that we who follow Him might enjoy eternal life!

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Jesus is the Powerful One!

Jesus Is The Promised One

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:56:51 PDT

"... the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures..." (Rom. 1:2)

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Paul had talked about the messenger.

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Paul was a servant of God.

He was His ambassador.

He had been set apart by God to carry His Gospel to a lost world.

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Paul then talked about his message.

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Paul’s message was centered in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Jesus Is The Promised One (Rom. 1:2)

The Gospel involves the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

It was not an afterthought of God.

God had been declaring that His Son would come and that His Son would die for the sins of humanity.

The Gospel is not a new thing.

The Old Testament Scriptures speak of the Lord (John 5:39).

The sacrifice of the Messiah is plainly foretold in the Old Testament (Isa. 53:1-12).

The Old Testament is filled with types and symbols that point to the coming Savior.

Adam, the Ark, the Manna, the Tabernacle, the Sacrificial system, etc. all pointed ahead to the One who was to come.

Every little lamb that was killed in sacrifice gave testimony to the One who was coming later.

Jesus is the promised One.

He is our promised Lord and Savior.

Paul, The Ambassador Of God

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:31:45 PST

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Rom. 1:1)

His Condition. Paul began by proclaiming himself to be a servant of Christ Jesus. He chose to humble himself. And this was the secret of his greatness! As a servant, he had no personal rights. His life was totally sold out to the will of God.

His Calling. Paul said he was an apostle. He was a representative of King Jesus and he operated under His Divine authority. When he spoke, he spoke for the Lord. When he acted, he acted as a representative of the throne of Heaven. His authority was the very authority of God Himself.

His Commission. Paul said he had been set apart for the Gospel of God. His life has been separated for the glory of God and for the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing else mattered to him but the things that mattered to God. His commission was to carry the good news of Jesus to a world trapped in sin.

The Gospel is a special message.

It is the Gospel of God. It is His plan alone.

It is born in the heart of God. God is love (1 John 4:8) and He does not want to see a single sinner die without Him (2 Pet. 3:9). His love is so great that He will stop at nothing to get the message out.

It is the only Gospel that will save the lost. God only knows of one plan that will save the lost soul (Acts 16:3; Acts 4:12; John 3:16).

Paul considered himself to be a slave to Jesus, an ambassador of God, and a proclaimer of the good news of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

God holds the same expectation for us. We are to go forth into the world with His message, as His representatives in His Name and power, and we are to tell His Good News to those who are perishing.

Are you an ambassador of God?

Personal Experience With Jesus Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:19:21 PST

John 1: 37, 40

A successful soul winner must have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

There Is A Commitment In Salvation. Before anyone can witness, they must know what they are talking about! They have to be saved before they can share!

There Is A Confidence In Salvation. They must have their salvation nailed down. When there is a lack of confidence in one’s own salvation, there will be a lack of power in one’s witness.

There Is A Clear Testimony Of Salvation. They must think their own salvation experience through in detail. Only then can they tell others what has happened in their lives.

Our most powerful illustration of salvation is our own personal experience with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Andrew was able to share with Peter what he had already experienced of Jesus Christ.

Jesus The Proclaiming Word

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:31:08 PST

John 1:4-13, 18

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known." (John 1:18)

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Jesus Came To Reveal God To Man. Everything He did was to unfold more of the revelation of God to man. Men needed to see God not just as a Lawgiver, but also as a lover. Not only as a judge, but as a justifier. Not as some stern and hateful being, but as a saving and caring God. Jesus did just this by His life. Jesus came to put God on display before men and He did this in two primary ways:

He Came To Proclaim Light (John 1:4-9). He came to a world in spiritual darkness. He opened the curtains of grace revealing the truth of God to men wandering in darkness. He came to illuminate the pathway of men toward God. This light will either cause men to repent of their sins and run to the opened arms of the Lord, or it will cause them to reject the light and continue on their course of darkness. One will lead to salvation; the other will lead to damnation (John 3:36).

He Came To Proclaim Life (John 1: 10-13). Jesus came to His people, who had His Word, and were living in His Promised Land. He came to tell them that there was a way to come to the Father and to experience eternal life. But they refused His call to come to Him!

Now, anyone who will respond positively to the light of God and will come to Jesus and receive Him into their heart and life will experience the new birth and will enter into eternal life.

This life comes not by our natural birth, not by our own good works or the work of another, but only through the will of God (John 6:36-40).

There is only one entrance into life and that is through the Son of God. He is the Door (John 10:9) and He is the Way (John 14:6). If anyone will enter into life, they will enter through Jesus!

Who Is Jesus Christ?

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:21:35 PST

Read John 1:1-2

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He Is Eternally God. The Word has always existed. He is eternal. He always has been and He always will be. Before there was anything else, there was the Word. Jesus had His birth in Bethlehem, but not His beginning.

He Is Equally God. Jesus is the perfect expression of Who God is. He is everything God has ever said or will say. He is everything God is about in human form. Jesus is God’s equal. The God we serve is a triune God. There is one God Who manifests Himself in three Persons. The Word, Jesus, is one of those manifestations.

He Is Essentially God. Not only is the Word co-eternal and co-equal with God, the Word is God!

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Some Thoughts

Jesus Christ and His Father are one. (John 10:30)
When God sent His Son Jesus into this world, He sent One Who was eternally, equally and essentially God. (John 3:16)
When the angels said, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord,” they were announcing the birth of God in human flesh! (Luke 2:11)

All through His life The Lord Jesus proved Who He was over and over again. The truth and power of His deity was constantly display. Every word, every deed, and every miracle declared Him to be God.

Jesus Christ is God!

Which To Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:48:02 PST

Some people say, “Don’t do to others what you would not have them do to you.”

Every system has its rules and regulations, and we must follow them. There must be no deviation and violation of them.

We are told to mind our own business. Let other people take care of themselves.

“Don’t meddle into people’s affairs,” was what we were told when we were young.

We are often reminded not to cause harm to others, or it may lead to terrible consequences.

A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire, we are often told.

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Others say, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.”

Now, this is different. This is a positive statement.

We must contribute towards the good of others.

We must have positive thoughts, feelings and attitudes towards them.

And we must do more good.

We must learn to share more, and take less.

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Now, that is a tough call.

Which is the right thing to do?

I leave it to you to decide.

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:07:22 PST

Adam was alone. He had no one to share with him. He was very lonely.

All the animals moved around him in pairs, rubbing necks and shoulders, following one another closely and intimately.

Adam was made to see his loneliness. He yearned for a partner.

God put Adam to sleep.

God created Eve from Adam's rib.

God created Eve specially for Adam.

Eve was taken out of Adam’s side to be equal with him.

Eve was taken from under Adam’s arm to be protected by him.

Eve was taken from near Adam’s heart to be loved by him.

When Adam awoke, He saw an absolutely beautiful and perfect woman there with him.

Adam’s immediate response was “Yes!”

Finally, here was the woman whom he couldn’t live without.

Finally, here was the woman who was compatible with him and who completed Him.

Adam had the heartfelt love for Eve.

Adam was sure that Eve was the woman God has created just for him.

How about you? Have you found your beloved? I have.

Happy Valentine's Day 2012.

Stand Up, Our Children

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:36:28 PST

Get up! Our dear Children.
Stand firm and stand strong!
Get ready and always be ready,
And walk on your own!

Finally it comes,
Now that you have to be alone,
Learning and doing things on your own!

Now we can't watch over you,
Now we can't lend you our hands,
Now you are far, far away from home.

Oh! Our dear Children.
Carry out your plans carefully,
Make your choice wisely,
And walk your path with caution.
Walk well, our dear Children, walk well.

Remember those early days,
When we had you in our arms,
Oh! How much hurt, pain, fun and joy we shared!
Remember those many times we helped you,
Until you finally stood and walked on your own.
Oh! How many tears of joy we must have cried together!

Finally, finally it comes!
There you are...
Far far away...
Over the other side of the world,
Far far away...
Struggling and fighting on your own.

Oh! Our dear Children.
Get up! Stand up! Stand firm!
Be strong and walk on your own!

Oh! Our dear Children!
We promise to be there with you.
We will never be far away!
God knows how we always have you in our mind and heart.
And how many times we earnestly cry and pray for you.

Oh! Our dear Children.
Stand firm and stand strong.
May the Lord God be with you,
And may He be with us too!

Que Sera, Sera

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:18:23 PST

The fact that Christians are going to church on a regular basis is a big deal to them.

It may seem a small, unimportant or insignificant event to some people, but rain or shine, occupied or free, happy or sad, these people are always there in the church, worship their God and enjoy the service proper.

Some of them have been there for the past many years; some since their childhood years or their early youth. Maybe if you care to ask them, they will answer you the reasons for their joy in the Lord!

Some are newcomers. They are very excited and interested in all they do. They are very active to serve the church, and will readily share with you their newfound faith.

Christianity is of faith in Christ. It is the thought, the desire and the drive to love and serve God the Father through His Son, for His wonderful gift of salvation.

Are these people wrong in putting their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Maybe. And if that is true, they would be the most miserable of all people on earth. For if there is no God, and if the afterlife is a fairy tale, then let's eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!

Many people are now talking about the last days, and the last day.

Some are rushing to God.

Some continue to enjoy themselves. They just wouldn't care.

What about you?

Is it still, "Que Sera, Sera, What will be, will be..."?

Or is it the time to renew your faith in God?

Winning Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:37:50 PST

Have you heard people speaking nasty words about others lately? Do you see them doing nasty things too? Have you witnessed their friends jeering and cheering them on?

Don't be too surprised! This is exactly what many people in the world are doing right now. If they think they can't beat you, they will try other ways to discredit you and destroy you! And if you think you can't beat them, they think it is better for you to join them!

Winning and losing have become an important part of our lives today. We compete virtually in everything and for everything. We prepare ourselves for every opportunity, every offer, and every situation to challenge one another. We just want to win. Losing is shame to our pride. Even our goodness and cleverness are put into competition today.

And people prefer to side with the winners, and not the losers. So if you are always a loser, you are not only out of the tournaments, you are out of your circle of friends! Winners always stay together, and they make great boast!

I was once like that too. I was once there with my circle of winning friends. Winning is fun! Winning is important! Winning is addictive! Winning must be a regular occurrence! Winning is everything! Winning is the only thing!

But who can win everything? Who can win every time? Everyone will have their falls some time in life. Me too! And so the losers quit, and the winners keep fighting. It is like dog fight, and more dog fights! And losers will just have to retreat and quit!

But it is alright to lose sometimes. We need to learn from our mistakes and then move forward. We need to learn to avoid making the same mistakes twice. In due time, God willing in the near future, we will succeed again.

It's never true that "Once a loser, always a loser." Losers never stop fighting. They continue on, and they will eventually win. They may not be that good fighting in the same red ocean, but they can create a blue ocean of their own. They will then have their new friends and friendships in the blue ocean.

We do not always have to fight in order to win. Some people who like to fight, have in the process, discover that they have won many wars but lost the battle eventually.

Life can be quite miserable without our friends. It's better then, as we grow older and wiser, to win some friends near us or round about us, to accompany us till we breathe our last.

Let's start rather to win friends than fighting personal wars.

The blue ocean would be nice. We are peacemakers, not breeders of strife and contention. We don't want to fight to win!

But we want to seek friends, companions, and partners. We want to nurture our loved ones who nurture us. And we will learn to win their trust and confidence!

Everyone wants to win. Me too! But I prefer to win friends.

Celebrating Time

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:54:13 PST

There are always good reasons to celebrate.

We celebrate our festive seasons. We welcomed the New Year 2012. We are in the midst of the Chinese Lunar New Year 2012 celebration. Festive seasons are always happy occasions to celebrate. We have our family reunions. We have our sweet times together with our relatives, neighbors and friends. It is always fun time, and we used to wish one another luck and the very best for the future.

We celebrate during our times of wealth, prosperity, and prestige. We celebrate during our times of peace, stability, and security. We celebrate when we enjoy longevity, good health and youthfulness. They are always great times to celebrate, since everything is going well, and everyone is at their best.

We also celebrate when someone(s) among us come to their senses after an extramarital affair or after making some grave mistakes. It is time to reconcile, to forgive and to forget. It may not be easy. It may pierce the heart and prick it. But who doesn't err? Let those who have not erred cast the first stone.

Then we celebrate the success of others dear to us. We celebrate when everything runs smoothly in our lives and there are always some pleasant surprises along the way.

There are always good reasons to celebrate.

Are you celebrating now?

I am, eating some sweet and juicy mandarin oranges.

Spiritual Contentment

noreply@blogger.com (Yeo KH) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:13:01 PST

Psalm 32:1-11

Psalm 32 was written by David after he committed adultery with Bathsheba, and had her husband, Uriah, put to death.

David committed these sins and tried, unsuccessfully, to cover them up.

He was confronted by Nathan the prophet and made a full confession.

During this time, David also wrote Psalm 51. There, David made a full confession of his sins and requested forgiveness. He also promised that he would teach other sinners the ways of the Lord.

Psalm 32 seemed to be David’s fulfillment of that promise.

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David reminded us that spiritual contentment is possible (1-2).

Spiritual contentment needs a heart that is clean, forgiven and honest before the Lord.

True contentment is found when we know that our sins, and all their defilement and the judgment associated with them, are gone forever!

True contentment comes when we are right with the Lord!

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Spiritual contentment involves chastisement (3-4).

When David sinned with Bathsheba, he tried to cover up that sin.

He succeeded for about a year.

While David lived with unconfessed sin, his world was turned upside down as God brought chastisement into his life to confront his sin.

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Spiritual contentment involves confession (5).

When David was confronted with his sin, he came totally clean with the Lord.

He dealt with his sin, his iniquity and his transgressions.

He opened his heart to the Lord in transparent honesty and held nothing back!

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Spiritual contentment gives us divine protection (6-7a).

When we walk closely with the Lord and turn to Him in times of trouble and temptation, we find that He has all the resources we need to escape the danger at hand.

God is a place of refuge and safety.

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Spiritual contentment gives us divine preservation (7b).

When we walk closely with the Lord, we are preserved through troubles and trials.

We are not exempted from troubles and trials, but we are kept in them and strengthened by them.

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Spiritual contentment gives us divine proximity (8-9).

God promised to give David guidance and direction in his life.

God also warned David of stubbornness and disobedience.

He told David that He will guide him with loving eyes.

With His eyes, God could give David a warning look, a warming look or a welcoming look.

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Spiritual contentment gives us divine peace (10).

Those who submit to God and walk with Him shall have joy, peace and blessing.

Those who refuse to walk in the ways of the Lord will have sorrows.

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Spiritual contentment gives us divine praise (7c, 11).

We walk with the Lord.

We are saved and secure in our relationship with Him.

We are sanctified and clean.

We have hope for the future.

We have every reason to lift our voices and shout for joy.

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Some thoughts:

We must be saved before we can experience true contentment and peace!
We must get before the Lord, confess our sins and forsake it, before God restore our contentment and joy.

Let us go for spiritual contentment.