Day 7 - Get a Life!

A shy person shrinks back from many things that she should confront. There are many things she would like to say or do, but she's paralyzed by fear. I believe we must learn to step out into things and find out what God has for us in life.

A more timid approach may protect individuals from making mistakes, but the result is that they spend their lives wondering "what could have been." Bold people, on the other hand, make more mistakes, but they recover and eventually find what is right and fulfilling for them.

Making mistakes is not the end of the world. We can recover from most mistakes. But one of the few mistakes we cannot recover from is the mistake of never being willing to make one in the first place! God works through our faith, not our fear. Don't sit on the sidelines of life wishing you were doing the things you see other people doing. Take action and make the most of life!

Pray: Lord, I put my trust in You and look forward to moving into new areas of life. I will not sit on the sidelines any longer. Amen.

Numbers 14:8, 9 

If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

Day 6 - Venture off the Path

If we want to be encouraged in our own individuality and independence, we must sow the same type of freedom and respect into other people's lives. "Live and let live" should be our motto.

There was a time in my life when I was rather narrow-minded, and I well remember judging and rejecting one woman in particular who was a rather unique nonconformist. She dressed eclectically long before it became stylish. She was not rebellious against authority, but she was unpredictable and determined to live her own life. She was sort of like the wind - you never knew exactly what to expect. That bothered me, because in those days I was more of a legalist. Everything had to be one way - usually my way.

I look back now and think I probably missed out on a great relationship with someone who could have nurtured freedom in me. But, like many people, I was fearful of living outside the norm.

If you are tired of living on the beaten path that everyone else walks, venture into the woods. Some people would be afraid they would get lost, but a confident woman expects to have a new experience that might be outrageously wonderful.

Pray: Lord, help me to see beyond my narrow limitations for people. I want to see what You see in them, but I'll never see it without Your touch. Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:27 

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Day 5 - What's the Difference?

The Bible encourages us to seek understanding. Read a couple of good books on the differences between men and women and also one on the differences in personalities. If you do, it may prevent thousands of arguments or misunderstandings.

Women offer unsolicited advice and give direction, and men usually don't take advice very well. The woman thinks she is just trying to help, but the man thinks she doesn't trust him to make the right decision.

When a woman disagrees with a man, he takes it as disapproval, and it ignites his defenses. Men only want advice after they have done everything they can do. Advice given too soon or too often causes him to lose his sense of power. He may become lazy or insecure.

Men are motivated and empowered when they feel needed. Women are motivated when they feel cherished. Men are visual creatures; once an image is in their head, it's hard to get it out.

Women are more inclined to remember emotions or how something made them feel. Seek understanding first, then speak.

Pray: Lord, I want to be a woman of wisdom and understanding. Help me comprehend why men are the way they are and how I can improve in my communication and friendships. Amen.

Proverbs 4:7 

Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding.

Day 4 - It's Not About Age

Timothy, Paul's "spiritual" son in the ministry, was very young, and he was fearful and worried about what people thought of his youth. Paul told him to let no man despise his youth. It really does not matter how old or young a person is. If God calls someone to do something, and they have the confidence to go forward, nothing can stop them.

How you respond to your age and, for that matter, how others respond is really up to you. We all age in years, but we don't have to get an "I'm too old" mindset. Moses was 80 years old when he left Egypt to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land.

Confident people don't think about how old they are; they think about what they can accomplish with the time they have left. Remember, confident people are positive and look at what they have, not what they have lost.

Even if you are reading this devotion and let's say you are 65 years old and feel you have wasted most of your life doing nothing - you can still start today and do something amazing and great with your life.

Pray: Lord, You used people of all ages throughout the Bible, and You can use me. Today is a new day, and I am excited about what You have for me to accomplish. Amen.

1 Timothy 4:12 

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Day 3 - Consider Your Life

Today's verse is very important to me. I am an aggressive person who wants to be involved in everything, but I have learned the hard way that it isn't wise or even possible. We cannot do everything and do anything well. Quality is much better than quantity.

Verse 16 begins by saying she "considers" a new field before she buys it. She considers her present duties and is careful not to neglect them by taking on new ones. In other words, she seriously thinks about what she is about to do and does not act emotionally without forethought.

Oh, how much better life would be if we all took time to think about what we are about to do before we do it. It is amazing how many things I don't buy if I just go home and think about it for a while. It is amazing how one good night's sleep changes our minds.

Emotions are fickle and ever changing. This is the reason why it is dangerous to do things based on high emotions without giving plenty of consideration to everything involved. Remember to think before you act.

Pray: Lord, I ask You to give me wisdom as to what I give my time and attention. Help me to be busy with the right things and to give my best to those things. Amen.

Proverbs 31:16 

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Choleric!!

The choleric temperament is fundamentally ambitious and leader-like. They have a lot of aggression, energy, and/or passion, and try to instill it in others. They can dominate people of other temperaments, especially phlegmatic types.

Many great charismatic military and political figures were choleric. They like to be in charge of everything.

However, cholerics also tend to be either highly disorganized or highly organized. They do not have in-between setups, only one extreme to another. As well as being leader-like and assertive, cholerics also fall into deep and sudden depression. Essentially, they are very much prone to mood swings.

Day 2 - When You Feel Afraid

Just because ordinary people take steps to accomplish extraordinary things does not mean that they do not feel fear.

I believe the Old Testament hero Esther felt fear when she was asked to leave her familiar, comfortable life and enter the king's harem so she could be used by God to save her nation. I believe Joshua felt fear when, after Moses died, he was given the job of taking the Israelites into the Promised Land.

I know I had fear when God called me to quit my job and prepare for ministry. I still remember my knees shaking and my legs feeling so weak that I thought I would fall down. I remember the fear I felt then, but it frightens me more now to think of how my life would have turned out had I not faced the fear and pressed forward to do God's will. Fear does not mean you are a coward. It only means that you need to be willing to feel the fear and do what you need to do anyway.

Pray: Lord, thank You for the many examples in Your Word of individuals who stepped forward in faith despite their fears. Help me to do the same. Amen.

Ezra 3:3-4 

Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices. Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.

Day 1 - Believe In Your Value

Take a minute and look into your heart. How do you feel about yourself? If your answer does not agree with God's Word, I encourage you to begin today renewing your mind about yourself.

See yourself as God sees you. Study God's Word and you will find out that you are precious, created in your mother's womb by God's own hand. You are not an accident. You are valuable, you have worth, you are gifted, you are talented, and you have a purpose on this earth.

Not only must we ask God for things He has promised us but we must receive them (Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:24).

If you feel unworthy, you probably won't ask, and even if you do, you won't receive by faith. Don't let feelings rule you anymore. Take a step of faith and start improving your quality of life today. Believe that you make good decisions, that you are a valuable person with a great future, and something good is going to happen to you today!

Pray: Lord, I ask You to imprint Your love into the depths of my heart. I believe You have a great future for me and that I can walk in Your purpose for my life. Amen.

Isaiah 43:4, 5 

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

The Confident Woman

A 14-day spiritual journey with Joyce Meyer 

Women are a precious gift from God to the world. We are creative, compassionate, intelligent, and, according to the Bible, equal to men.

But years of abuse and wrong views of women have caused many to lose the confidence God wants us to enjoy. We may feel that we're somehow "less" than men. Less valuable. Less worthy. The truth is, we are very valuable - to society, but more importantly to God.

God wants us to be courageous, respected, admired, promoted, sought after, and most of all, loved. And we can be!

Day 1 Believe in Your Value
Day 2 When You Feel Afraid
Day 3 Consider Your Life
Day 4 It's Not About Age
Day 5 What's The Difference
Day 6 Venture Off the Path
Day 7 Get A Life
Day 8 Our Vindicator
Day 9 Your Heart Desires
Day 10 In Due Season
Day 11 Boldness or Pride?
Day 12 The Prayer of Consecration
Day 13 Quiet Inner Confidence
Day 14 Be Courageous

End Of Ortho Posting Break

Day 4 of a 5 day break. 
Day 1 was a Saturday with Anakainos meeting then lunch afterwards. Came home for a nap then family dinner with grandpa.

Day 2 was a Sunday at Charis Christian Center then Orang Asli trip. Quite a good experience but i was distracted by my self-centeredness :-( it was all well until i became desperate. I'm sick of myself hunting for boyfriend. Really need a lot of prayer for this!

Went to Alvin's to collect my new Samsung S2 :-) Then went for dinner at Beng Fatt's for his daughter's fullmoon. Met Justin's girlfriend Kym finally. Will need to pray for this too. Of course Adrian n Pui Yan too. It was a mini reunion for CLC members of all these years. Some of them looks familiar but i can't recall their names!

Day 3 was a day trip back to sitiawan for beauty session with Ben! It was quite a rush session though. But it wasn't too bad in view that i had my hair done. It looks bad now but hopefully it'll look better later :-P

Nonetheless he's still in my mind :-(

Hopefully today will be a fruitful day with no nonsense. And that it'll be a good day spending time with God! :-)

"A Thousand Years"

"A Thousand Years" 

by Christina Perri 2012

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more 
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer
One step closer