Thursday, July 10, 2008
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORDAnd whose trust is the LORD.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
Old Man Sam | 10:40 AM |
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Sunday, June 15, 2008
Calvary Love (by Amy Carmichael)If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I find myself taking lapses for granted, "Oh, that's what they always do," "Oh, of course she talks like that, he acts like that," then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word, think an unkind thought without grief and shame, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I do not feel far more for the grieved Savior than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I can rebuke without a pang, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If my attitude be one of fear, not faith, about one who has disappointed me; if I say, "Just what I expected" if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where there is no peace; if I forget the poignant word "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I hold on to choices of any kind, just because they are my choice, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I am soft to myself and slide comfortably into self-pity and self-sympathy; If I do not by the grace of God practice fortitude, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve round myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have "a heart at leisure from itself," then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If, the moment I am conscious of the shadow of self crossing my threshold, I do not shut the door, and keep that door shut, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or the twentieth); if I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I take offense easily, if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I feel injured when another lays to my charge things that I know not, forgetting that my sinless Savior trod this path to the end, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I feel bitter toward those who condemn me, as it seems to me, unjustly, forgetting that if they knew me as I know myself they would condemn me much more, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If souls can suffer alongside, and I hardly know it, because the spirit of discernment is not in me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If the praise of others elates me and their blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I crave hungrily to be used to show the way of liberty to a soul in bondage, instead of caring only that it be delivered; if I nurse my disappointment when I fail, instead of asking that to another the word of release may be given, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I do not forget about such a trifle as personal success, so that it never crosses my mind, or if it does, is never given room there; if the cup of flattery tastes sweet to me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If in the fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself, so that others are caused to feel unwanted; if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous (to myself, for myself), then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I refuse to allow one who is dear to me to suffer for the sake of Christ, if I do not see such suffering as the greatest honor that can be offered to any follower of the Crucified, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I slip into the place that can be filled by Christ alone, making myself the first necessity to a soul instead of leading it to fasten upon Him, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If my interest in the work of others is cool; if I think in terms of my own special work; if the burdens of others are not my burdens too, and their joys mine, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I wonder why something trying is allowed, and press for prayer that it may be removed; if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment, and cannot go on in peace under any mystery, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If the ultimate, the hardest, cannot be asked of me; if my fellows hesitate to ask it and turn to someone else, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the Cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
That which I know not, teach Thou me, O Lord, my God.
Amy Carmichael, "Calvary Love," from If, by Dohnavur Fellowship. Fort Washington, PA: CLC Ministries, n.d.
Old Man Sam | 11:38 PM |
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Monday, June 09, 2008
Just realised that I've not posted a picture of the "lucky" car
Old Man Sam | 5:01 PM |
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Tuesday, June 03, 2008
As I was talking with a friend, she brought up this very insightful comment. “It's not that God trust us to do the job for Him. But that He trust in He has worked enough in us to complete the job for Him.”This got me thinking and was reminded of the following 2 passages:
Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:12b-13 - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Therefore I came to this conclusion
Unless I AM is bigger than I am, I think therefore I am.
or
When I AM is bigger then I am, God is therefore I am.
Old Man Sam | 1:13 AM |
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Wow! Won a car in a lucky draw contest.Just to document it ;)
I guess it was through christmas shopping @ Century Sq when I entered the contest back in December 2007.
Top prize: Car, 2nd: 1-carat diamond ring, 8-10th: $500 shopping vouchers
Got a call last thursday (21st Feb) that I was among the top ten winners in the lucky draw. But in order to determine the prize, I've to play some games. You know those promotional/marketing ploy to generate publicity for Chevrolet. Anyway, it's also not a bad deal to win the $500 voucher.
So I went down on sunday to play for my prize.
Mon, Mei Ann, Darren, Mei Peng, Wei En, Sze En & Rei En were there to support me :)
Among the ten contestants, there were only 2 of us guys.
For the 1st round, each of us have to draw an envelope from a box
The DJ then proceeded to ask the children among the audience to call out the contestant's number, who will then step forward to reveal whether it's a shopping voucher they've won, else you get to proceed to the next round.
A lady was the 1st finalist when her number was called at the 5th round
I ended up being among the last 2 contestant whose numbers have not been called
So I and another lady stepped forward and opened our envelopes at the same time(er.... I tore it open after seeing how the rest struggled to open it).
Wah-La! I got into the next round (Did I mention that my mom was still doing her window shopping)
The next round was like a russian roulette. Each of us took turns to choose a box containing a key that will open the car door. However, the DJ wasn't going to let us off easily.
We had to dance our way to the car. Heh.... So the lady and I just did stupid dance moves so that we can have the chance to unlock the car with the chosen key.
During the 2nd round, Mei Peng gave a yelp of excitement when the lady could not unlock the car. (Tsk tsk.... :P )
It was round 3 when I chose the correct key. Here's how it went.
They played Shake Your Bon-Bons, so I shook my butt to the car. (Eww.... yes that disgusting)
I inserted the key and slowly twisted the lock. Ka-Ching! I felt the release mechanism.
Keep your cool, Play it cool.....
I twisted it back to the original position and pretended that the door could not be unlocked and gave the DJ a look of despair. (Mei Ann did see that I unlocked the car)
"No?" the DJ said.
I unlocked and opened the door.
"Yes! You've won the car", "Congratulations Samuel Wang"
Mei Peng and Mei Ann were ecstatic, jumping up and down
Kids were lost, wondering what happened.
Mom still not to be seen (She later told me that she was standing all the way back and didn't know who won the car. When my name was mentioned, she screamed and the people around her looked at her... heh)
So I went up stage with the kids and Mom. Had to do the customary photoshoot with the big big key.
Wow! Thank you God for this gift!
Fine print says that I have to own the car and not sell it before that.
So now I'll have to plonk down 20K
Then I'll drive it for 3-6mths before decoding whether to sell it.
What a weekend :)
Old Man Sam | 2:27 PM |
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Sunday, January 06, 2008
Names of God
God is Jehovah. The name of independent being—“I AM WHO I AM”—only belongs to Jehovah God. As we consider His greatness, we fall down in fear and awe of this One who possesses all authority. Exodus 3:13-15
God is Jehovah-M’Kaddesh. This name means “the God who sanctifies.” A God separate from all that is evil requires that the people who follow Him be cleansed from all evil. Leviticus 20:7,8
God is Jehovah-jireh. This name means “the God who provides.” Just as He provided yesterday, He will provide tomorrow. He grants deliverance from sin, the oil of joy for the ashes of sorrow, and eternal citizenship in His Kingdom. Genesis 22:9-14
God is Jehovah-shalom. This name means “the God of peace.” God could never give to others a peace that exceeds understanding if He Himself were not perfect, unfailing peace. Judges 6:16-24
God is Jehovah-rophe. This name means “Jehovah heals.” God alone has the remedy for the healing of mankind. The Gospel is concerned with the physical, moral, and spiritual healing of all people. Exodus 15:22-26
God is Jehovah-nissi. This name means “God our banner.” We may go from triumph to triumph and say, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Exodus 17:8-15
God is El-Shaddai. This name means “God Almighty.” It is best understood as God who is all-sufficient and all-bountiful—the source of all blessings, fullness, and fruitfulness. Genesis 49:22-26
God is Adonai. This name means “Master” or “Lord.” God as Adonai calls all God’s people to acknowledge themselves as His servants, recognizing His right to command them as the Lord of their lives. 2 Samuel 7:18-20
God is Elohim. This name means “Strength” or “Power.” He is transcendent, mighty, and strong. Elohim is the great name of God, signifying supreme power, sovereignty, and a covenant relationship that He is ever faithful to keep. Genesis 17:7,8
God is Jehovah-tsidkenu. This name means “Jehovah our Righteousness”. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6
God is Jehovah-rohi. This name means “Jehovah my Shepherd”. The Lord is my Shepherd. Psalm 23:1
God is Jehovah-shammah. This name means “Jehovah is there”. And the name of the city from that time on will be: The LORD is There ." Ezekiel 48:35
Old Man Sam | 11:14 PM |
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Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Irony of The Cross
On that wretched day the soldiers mocked him
Ruckus laughter in the barracks room
“Hail the King!”, they sneered while spitting on him.
Brutal beatings on this day of doom
Though his crown was thorn but he was born a king
Holy brilliance bathed in bleeding loss
All the soldiers blind to this stunning theme
Jesus reigning from a bloody cross
Awful weakness marks the battered God-man
Far too broken now to heist the beam
Soldiers stripped him bare and pound the nails in
Watched him hanging on the cruel tree
God's own temples' down, he has been destroyed
Death's remains are left in rock and sod
But the temple rises in God's wise ploy
Our great temple is the Son of God
Here's the one who said he cares for others
One who said he came to save the lost
How can we believe that he saves others
When he cannot get off that bloody cross
“Let him save himself!”
“Let him come down now!”
Savage jeering at the king's disgrace
But by hanging there is precisely how
Christ saves others as the king of grace
Draped in darkness, utterly rejected
Crying, “Why have you forsaken me!”
Jesus bore God's wrath alone
Dejected, wept the bitterest tears instead of me
The mockers cry
“He has lost his trust,
He's defeated by hypocrisy”
But with faith's resolve
Jesus knows he must do God's will
And swallow death for me
(Don Carson - The Ironies of the Cross, Matt 27:27-50)
On that wretched day the soldiers mocked him
Ruckus laughter in the barracks room
“Hail the King!”, they sneered while spitting on him.
Brutal beatings on this day of doom
Though his crown was thorn but he was born a king
Holy brilliance bathed in bleeding loss
All the soldiers blind to this stunning theme
Jesus reigning from a bloody cross
Awful weakness marks the battered God-man
Far too broken now to heist the beam
Soldiers stripped him bare and pound the nails in
Watched him hanging on the cruel tree
God's own temples' down, he has been destroyed
Death's remains are left in rock and sod
But the temple rises in God's wise ploy
Our great temple is the Son of God
Here's the one who said he cares for others
One who said he came to save the lost
How can we believe that he saves others
When he cannot get off that bloody cross
“Let him save himself!”
“Let him come down now!”
Savage jeering at the king's disgrace
But by hanging there is precisely how
Christ saves others as the king of grace
Draped in darkness, utterly rejected
Crying, “Why have you forsaken me!”
Jesus bore God's wrath alone
Dejected, wept the bitterest tears instead of me
The mockers cry
“He has lost his trust,
He's defeated by hypocrisy”
But with faith's resolve
Jesus knows he must do God's will
And swallow death for me
(Don Carson - The Ironies of the Cross, Matt 27:27-50)
Old Man Sam | 1:28 PM |
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