20061231
1 Samuel 15:1-26
talks about how God delights in obedience more than burnt offerings and sacrifices. v22
Saul did not obey God's instruction to destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions completely. He and his soldiers spared Agag king of the Amalekites and the best of the sheep and cattle. v9 He wanted to sacrifice the plunder like the sheep to the Lord. v21
Because Saul rejected the word of the Lord, God rejected him as king. v23
v24 Then Saul said to Samuel, " I have sinned. I violated the Lord's commands and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.
Personal reflections
In this passage, I have seen that God delights in our whole-hearted obedience to His commands, and not disobeying some part, rationalising that this pleases God, as in Saul's case. "I did obey God, destroyed everything except the best of the plunder, so I can sacrifice to the Lord" paraphrased from v20-21
I think his soldiers were probably greedy and wanted to keep the best of the plunder. For Saul, he was afraid to the people(soldiers) and so gave in to them. v24
This passage speaks to me deeply. Knowing God delights in my total obedience to Him, and not compromising His commands under pressure from friends, yet I lack the courage to stand up unwaveringly for God. I do not want to fear men and give in to them; I want to fear God and stand up for Christ, to be His salt and light in this world. I'm weak but God is strong, I believe He can give me strength to live the life that is pleasing to Him.
Abba,
I pray that You'll fill me with Your Holy Spirit continually, that I may have power to live the life that reflects You, to walk in obedience of all Your ways. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Zeniv
starSfish @ 1:07 AM link to post
20061219
SAT CELL IS ON!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!
Time to meet, greet, eat, worship, share! Myammar pple back, PS pple back, US pple back. 230pm at my place. Come with an expectant heart and be blessed! Think cell may be long this sat. Get ready to be blessed and recieve a touch from God!
Sunday, we will be having a combined Young adults Christmas service at Sharon Sim's place 630pm. Invite friends. Bring a gift about $5-10 for gift exchange.
Zec
starSfish @ 12:10 AM link to post
20061208
Hey all...
just wanna thank you all for keeping me in prayer all this while. its been a really interesting time, as I begin my uphill climb with the Lord & if its not the uphill, then I'm starting to enjoy my downhill... either way, I'm evermore confident in the Lord's decisions!
my last few check ups, were great. everything was as what the Lord has told me. I broke my ban and rode to NUH for my check up with the doc. the doc got me hooked up to this mobile ECG, and told me I could do anything I wanted to, except bathe, cos the machine was attached to me.
I smiled, and asked, if that meant that I could cycle?
he nodded and added that he'd prefer that I clocked some higher HRs.
that brought a big smile on my face.
since I was at NUH, so the next place I went was south bouna vista rd. aka 99 turns. wahaha!!! I even went for a worship prac in church...
the next day, I went back and the doc told me the results. haha!!! it was as what the Lord has told me. I could ride all I want. and based on all the analysis, if I want to keep be able to cycle, I've got to consistently maintain a base level of fitness. well, that to me is a much better deal.
at the review of my neuro scan on thu, the doc looked at my results, and then said, your head and brain's ok.
so what does that mean?
the next time you want to hit me, you might want to reconsider. cos the car hit me, and was in turned !!!hahaha!!!
You give and take away, You give and take away,
My HEART will choose to say, BLESSED be YOUR NAME!!!
---YXX---
starSfish @ 1:39 PM link to post
20061206
Heya.. Some updates for this sat.
Tentatively, we will be meeting at 3pm to chill and catch up.
We will be watching 'Open Season' @the Cathay.
Time of show? Either the 410 one or 525 one.
Please report strength to J Mo. Your attendance and number of friends coming. If possible report to him by Friday morning. Thanks!
Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. (1Chronicles 16:11)
starSfish @ 10:55 PM link to post
20061202
starSfish
Hey ppl!!!
just wanna share this with you.
Nov, has been quite a month for me, venturing into the extremes of emotions, struggling with being immobilized, struggling with exams, and having the attachment in Germany approved. for now, I can't really see how they could be related, but I know that in the larger picture, they are.
As I reflected on this month, I recalled the "$80 bike story" I shared in Aug. and realized a very interesting pt.
[what's a bike designed for? it's been designed to help ppl get around over all sorts of terrains, distances, at all sorts of speeds, regardless of the weather... ... as Christians we are said to be vessels for God.if I were a bike and God was the rider, would God like to ride me around?while riding, would God be able to trust me?or would I be a burden to him, that He'll be praying that I don't breakdown?
am I going to be the type of bikes that God would ride to all sorts of places speeding downhill comfortably? or would he only entrust me with small mundane tasks?]
did you know that I find it a lot easier to make decisions while cycling on the $80 than my other bike?
for example, when I'm on top of a hill, I look down and see a really steep and challenging route ahead. on my better bike, I'd hold my breath, anticipate & imagine the adreline rush, hold my guts and then hesitate... but when I'm on the $80 bike. the decision's made even b4 I reach the top. I definitely won't try the slope, cos the bike might just fall apart, a car in front of me might just jam his brakes etc... in fact I won't even think of bringing the bike up there.
notice the difference. on the good bike, my concern is of myself, am I going to have enough guts to go thru? on the $80 bike, the concern is on the bike.
often in our lowest moments, confused & frustrated, we wonder how we actually ended up there. how did I actually get this genetic disorder? how?!!??! What!!!? why!?!?? its not fair!!! the fact that we can feel down means we've been up b4, somewhere better, somewhere higher. so how did we end up in the ditch or valley? well, God wanted to bring us from a high pt to another. [Ps 84:7]
the fact that we're down in the valley means that the rider feels that this bike is able to take all the stress, have the appropriate traction, reaction, etc. it means the rider TRUSTS the bike! We're down there, becos God TRUSTS that us!!! [1Cor10:13]
seeing the problem from this point of view, makes the object of focus rather different doesn't it?
Its not about me,
As if You should things my way,
You alone are God and I surrender,
To Your ways
---YXX---
starSfish @ 2:13 AM link to post