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Be yourself with God

Once again, I'm enlightened.

I remember how I comforted I felt when a dear friend prayed for me when I was in alot of pain. The short yet simple prayer led a powerful sense of peace to my being. I was yet a Christian then. She was a real sweetheart to come all the way to my house to pray with me.

There were times when I pray and I dun feel like I've really communicated all my thoughts properly in my prayers.

Now, its the step by step guide to teach me how!

Isn't God just wonderful? He knows! Yes He REALLY knows me!

I just love Him!

Try it?
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Monday, April 12, 2010
Be yourself with God
by Rick Warren
When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long. Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-15 (TEV)
"Jesus says don't get caught up in ritual prayer. You can't impress God with fancy language, and you shouldn't be trying to impress other people either. "

God created you and so he wants you to be the real you. By being authentic when you speak to God, you worship him as you Creator.

For years I copied the prayers of other people. I noticed they used certain words and even a special tone of voice. I imitated all the religious clichés: "Lead, guide and direct us, O Lord." "Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies." "Bless the gift and the giver."

In New Testament times, prayers were wordy, meaningless rituals. There was no spontaneity, no genuineness. But Jesus says don't get caught up in ritual prayer. You don't have to use fancy language. You can't impress God with fancy language, and you shouldn't be trying to impress other people either.

I love to hear new Christians pray -- no pious pomposity. They haven't learned the clichés yet. They just say, "Hi, God. It's me." That's how you make contact with God. You just talk with your Heavenly Father about what's on your mind. Just pray your heart. Reveal yourself.

Imagine I walked in the door one evening and my kids said: "O, almighty procreator of our family. How wonderful thou art, who sovereignly deposits our allowance to us. Oh, the majesty of thy wonderful self! We beseech thee to come eat dinner with us." I'd check their temperatures to see if they were sick! I don't want to hear that. I want them to say, "Hey! Dad's home. Good to see you, Pop!"

I'm not saying to be flippant in prayer, but that's how you make contact with God. You just talk with him in a genuine and heartfelt way.

Jesus gives us a model we can use as we learn to make contact with God. Over the next few days, we'll look at six things we can talk to God about when we pray.

Be real and be relaxed with God

I never knew that I can fall in love with a being whom I've not seen with my own eyes nor hear from Him directly.

But He has shown me that I CAN!

I was surviving on adrenaline for the past 2 days, i tried to calm myself down but cant seems to find a way to. In my mind, I was asking Jesus to help me, but in reality I was really trying on my own to do it. Because I dun seem to have located the right "methodology".

Then God unfailingly showed me how to do it! Step by Step, just how I can understand it!

NO, I dun mean that God appeared infront of me and held a conversation with me with numbered steps about it.

Instead, He inspired the authors of a daily devotion to write this piece, made the publisher publish this piece on this very very faithful day just when I need it!

Imagine the mechanics that this has to go through for it to work realistically?

WHAT are the chances that the authors knew that I have a need to calm down with specific instructions?

What are the chances that the publishers chose this article to be published on this day?

Multiply those just those two factors together and then you'll wonder now.... what are the chances???

Who can have such a powerful presence to influence so many chain events to occur for me to read this article on this day?

Only God can!

Now, isn't that true love? He moved this world for me just so that He can show me how much He loves me. :D

Start talking to Jesus today and ask him to show you How much Our Father loves you! And if you are feeling anxious, you can always try this out.....

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Sunday, April 11, 2010
Be real and be relaxed with God
by Rick Warren
Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
"Take a deep breath and try to forget anyone or anything that's around you and just focus in on God for a minute."

Hurry is the death of prayer. If you rush through all your prayers, it will kill your prayer life.

I have a habit in my prayer life, before I pray any prayer -- it is almost spontaneous -- that I take a deep breath. I just relax, settle down, and let go of any tension. Then, I'm ready to talk God.

So, when you pray - relax. Take a deep breath and try to forget anyone or anything that's around you and just focus in on God for a minute. Calm yourself down and get still: "Be still, and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10, NLT)

Jesus sat in Martha's house, but she was so busy, she couldn't stop to talk to him and enjoy his company. Jesus said, "Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her." Mary chose to relax at the feet of Jesus, listening to him while "Martha was distracted ...." (Luke 10:40, NIV)

Be real and relaxed, "go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6, TEV)

Easter means Jesus paid for our sins

Can't help but feel overwhelmed with happiness as I read this passage.

I pray for you to feel the joy that rushes through my blood knowing that I'm precious! Yes, so are you!

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Monday, April 05, 2010
Easter means Jesus paid for our sins
by Rick Warren
Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness. Ephesians 1:7 (GWT)
"Everything you've ever done wrong, everything you're ever going to do wrong, things you haven't even thought of yet, all those sins have already been paid for by Jesus Christ as he died on the cross. "

Jesus' death and resurrection paid for our sins.

There have been a lot of great religious teachers throughout history. They've all had good things to say, but what makes Jesus different from every other religious teacher throughout history is the fact that he died and rose again.

That's of critical importance because it's not the life of Jesus that saves you; it's not the teachings of Jesus that save you; it's his death and resurrection that open the door for your salvation.

Jesus died for your sins. The Bible says we've all blown it. We've all made mistakes. None of us is perfect. That's pretty obvious; I don't measure up to my own standards much less God's. We have all sinned.

The Bible says that justice demands punishment. If you do the crime, you pay the time. If you break the law, you pay the fine. If you get caught speeding, you get a ticket. If you break God's laws, you pay God's penalty and, according to the Bible, "the wages [for our] sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NLT).

In other words, somebody has to pay for all the things you've done wrong in life: either you pay or somebody else pays for you. And this is where God says, "I'll do it!" He steps up to the plate. Jesus Christ is sent to earth—God in human form—and he says, in effect, "I will pay for your sins."

Here's the good news: Everything you've ever done wrong, everything you're ever going to do wrong, things you haven't even thought of yet, all those sins have already been paid for by Jesus Christ as he died on the cross: "Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness" (Ephesians 1:7 GWT).

When Jesus died on the cross for you, it showed two things:

It showed how much your forgiveness cost. The highest price you can pay for anything is to give your life for it. And that's what Jesus did. He gave his blood. He gave his life. It was extremely expensive. Grace is free but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus his life, but he paid for your sins.
It shows how much God values you. It shows how much you matter to God. Jesus died for you on the cross. It shows the highest price possibly to be paid was giving a life.
How much are you worth? Jesus says, with his arms stretched out on the cross, "This much I'm willing to die for you." You may think that you're worthless because of things you've done wrong. But Jesus says, "No. You're priceless. And I'm willing to give my life in order to pay for your sins."

Don’t trade your life for temporary things

I was just sharing with a dear friend on how God reach out to each of us differently. For me, God has always used words, daily devotions to answer my queries.

The past 2 weeks has been quite a nightmare for us (me & my dear friend). We were caught up in a biz transaction that took us on a 2 week roller coaster ride. We had sleepless nights, worrying about what might happen and how do we try our best to savage the deal. It was such a traumatizing time for me, I could not sleep well at night, at most just 4hours of sleep as compared to my usual 8-10hours. I used to just fall asleep on the bed but I lie in bed wondering if there was anything more I can do or what went wrong. I jump out of bed in the wee hours of the night checking my email for the "promised email from the other party" which never came. I lived 2 weeks of my life checking my mobile phone for messages, emails or phone calls.

I couldn't eat a proper meal. I fell ill twice in that 14days, had fever and felt cold all over. I was not just physically exhausted but also mentally exhausted. My whole mind was just filled to its brim with this case. It was causing harm to not just my personal health but my marital health as well. My hubby says that I'm physically here but mentally not around.

Finally, we got some sort of a break from the case and I got the much needed rest. And I asked myself why am I into that?
What should my focus be? Slowly but surely, God unfolded the answers before me.

Thank you God for once again using words to encourage me, to help me focus on You and what's important.

Thank you for sending Jesus to live amongst us, sacrifice for our sins and show us how to be a better person.

Happy Easter to all!

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Sunday, April 04, 2010
On Mission: Don’t trade your life for temporary things
by Rick Warren
There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (MSG)
""What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission? "

So much of what we waste our energy on will not matter even a year from now, much less for eternity. Don't trade your life for temporary things.

Jesus said, "Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62, TLB). Paul warned, "Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out." (1 Corinthians 7:31, MSG)

What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission? Whatever it is, let it go. "Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back..." (Hebrews 12:1, TLB)

How can we do this? In one of his most misunderstood statements, Jesus said, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." (Luke 16:9, NIV)

Jesus did not mean for you to "buy" friends with money. What he meant was that you should use the money God gives you to bring people to Christ. They will then be friends for eternity who will welcome you when you get to heaven! It's the best financial investment you'll ever make.

You've probably heard the expression "You can't take it with you"- but the Bible says you can send it on ahead, by investing in people who are going there! The Bible says, "By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven--it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well." (1 Timothy 6:19, TLB)