We know that the human soul have these dimensions: the will, the mind (intellect) and the emotions. But there are 2 more dimensions that affect the soul - imagination and memory.
Imagination affects us positively if we centre it on Christ and His given dreams and plans for us but negatively if we centre it on the lies of the evil one. Imagination can build up our faith as we focus on the Lord who has promised the dreams but it can cripple us if we start to worry or be anxious on what is to come.
Imagination deals with the future while memory deals with the past. Good memories help build our faith in the Lord as we reflect and are reminded of His faithfulness and goodness to us in the past.
Bad memories hinder us if we get stuck by guilt and cannot move forward.
So let us bring our memories to the Lord for His forgiveness and cleansing and our imaginations to Him for sanctification and clarification so that we move forward in faith and obedience.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Love and Follow God
I prayed that my children would love and follow God all the days of their lives.
I thought about what it means to love and follow God and realise that:
1. a person can love God and yet not follow Him (like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-24 - he loved his father but yet chose to go away with his inheritance. He did turn back finally but after much suffering)
2. a person can follow God and yet not love Him (like the elder brother in Luke 15:25-32) - he followed his father but with resentment about his father's treatment of his younger brother. It showed a lack of love)
May we learn to love and follow God our Father through Jesus His Son with the Holy Spirit's help all the days of our lives.
I thought about what it means to love and follow God and realise that:
1. a person can love God and yet not follow Him (like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-24 - he loved his father but yet chose to go away with his inheritance. He did turn back finally but after much suffering)
2. a person can follow God and yet not love Him (like the elder brother in Luke 15:25-32) - he followed his father but with resentment about his father's treatment of his younger brother. It showed a lack of love)
May we learn to love and follow God our Father through Jesus His Son with the Holy Spirit's help all the days of our lives.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Hearing God
We can all hear God's voice if we believe and trust Him with our lives.
When we recognize the voice of the Lord, we have security.
When we respond to the voice of the Lord, we have salvation.
The voice of the Lord is:
1) a voice of comfort - we can count on Him (Matt 14:27). He cares for us.
2) a voice of communion - we can come to Him (Matt 14:29). He desire us to commune with Him.
3) a voice of compassion - we can cling on to Him (Matt 14:31). He is with us in the storms of life.
Let us respond to His voice in faith by:
1) honestly calling out (Matt 14:28)
2) humanly stepping out (Matt 14:29)
3) humbly crying out (Matt 14:30)
When we recognize the voice of the Lord, we have security.
When we respond to the voice of the Lord, we have salvation.
The voice of the Lord is:
1) a voice of comfort - we can count on Him (Matt 14:27). He cares for us.
2) a voice of communion - we can come to Him (Matt 14:29). He desire us to commune with Him.
3) a voice of compassion - we can cling on to Him (Matt 14:31). He is with us in the storms of life.
Let us respond to His voice in faith by:
1) honestly calling out (Matt 14:28)
2) humanly stepping out (Matt 14:29)
3) humbly crying out (Matt 14:30)
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Three Nails
Jesus was nailed to the Cross with 3 nails - two on His hands and one through both feet.
The nails represent the three main areas of sin in our lives - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
When He died on the Cross, those areas of sin no longer has power over us. His death has given us victory over the flesh (lust of flesh), the world(lust of eyes) and the devil(pride of life).
We can overcome their tempting presence by claiming and proclaiming Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jesus is the Way of God (not the way of the flesh)
Jesus is the Truth of God (not the 'truth' of the world and all that entice our eyes)
Jesus is the Life of God (true Christ-centred life and not the worldly self-centred life)
The nails represent the three main areas of sin in our lives - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
When He died on the Cross, those areas of sin no longer has power over us. His death has given us victory over the flesh (lust of flesh), the world(lust of eyes) and the devil(pride of life).
We can overcome their tempting presence by claiming and proclaiming Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jesus is the Way of God (not the way of the flesh)
Jesus is the Truth of God (not the 'truth' of the world and all that entice our eyes)
Jesus is the Life of God (true Christ-centred life and not the worldly self-centred life)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Hope for the Now
In this current time it is easy to give up hope and forget all the blessings that have been received in times past.
But remember, God is IN CONTROL - He ALWAYS has and ALWAYS will.
Times such as this reveals where our hope and anchor is - is it in the blessings of God or in Him?
I, for one, will continue to trust and believe He is faithful even if I lose all I have for I have seen Him move both through the lean times and the fat times. What about you?
True faith in God is tested - know that if God did not keep His Son Jesus Christ from us but let Him suffer for our sakes, will He not give us all things that are necessary for our continuous walk with Him?
Let us hold on even with our little faith till the dawn breaks and the sun (Son) rises in our hearts.
But remember, God is IN CONTROL - He ALWAYS has and ALWAYS will.
Times such as this reveals where our hope and anchor is - is it in the blessings of God or in Him?
I, for one, will continue to trust and believe He is faithful even if I lose all I have for I have seen Him move both through the lean times and the fat times. What about you?
True faith in God is tested - know that if God did not keep His Son Jesus Christ from us but let Him suffer for our sakes, will He not give us all things that are necessary for our continuous walk with Him?
Let us hold on even with our little faith till the dawn breaks and the sun (Son) rises in our hearts.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Acts 1
The Days before Pentecost:
40 days with Jesus (v1-11)
Application to life:
1. Wait for the Spirit to come and lead
2. Receive His instructions
3. Go and Do what He shows
10 days after His ascension (v12-26)
Application to life:
1. Check that our hearts are not hardened like Judas so that we be deceived like him.
2. Pray together
3. Seek God for our 12
40 days with Jesus (v1-11)
Application to life:
1. Wait for the Spirit to come and lead
2. Receive His instructions
3. Go and Do what He shows
10 days after His ascension (v12-26)
Application to life:
1. Check that our hearts are not hardened like Judas so that we be deceived like him.
2. Pray together
3. Seek God for our 12
Sunday, May 17, 2009
God is at Work
Let us ask God for wisdom daily at our work.
Let us not be knowledge long and wisdom short.
Let us go when God says so and not be like Moses who said 'but..'
Let us release to God what is in our hands (like the staff of Moses) - our identity (what God make us to be and do) so that He will transform it for His higher purpose and plan.
God is calling us - let us remember that the our place of work is the holy ground of worship.
Let us not be knowledge long and wisdom short.
Let us go when God says so and not be like Moses who said 'but..'
Let us release to God what is in our hands (like the staff of Moses) - our identity (what God make us to be and do) so that He will transform it for His higher purpose and plan.
God is calling us - let us remember that the our place of work is the holy ground of worship.
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