Through Joseph, God brought the Israelites into the land of Egypt to escape the famine (Gen. 45:7). During the 400 years after Joseph, God caused the Israelites to be fruitful and they were exceedingly numerous. The arrival of Moses into the plot signals a new work that God was about to do ¡ª to redeem the Hebrew race and bring them into the Promised Land. God is constantly at work and we need to be sensitive enough to catch a vision of it. God may have done wonderful works before in our lives, but our readiness to move on from this day forth is what m atters the most.

Like the Israelites, moving into new exploits with God could mean that we enter into a desert experience. During the exodus, G od¡¯s presence was with them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The cloud gave direction and shade during the day while the fire provided warmth and light by night. Likewise, we need to continuously position ourselves in God¡¯s presence day after day, lest we get scorched, lost or suffer from hypothermia.

The year has come and gone and we are at the brink of yet another new year. We all love milestones and the closing of 2007 is a chronologically convenient moment to pause and reflect upon the year. W e have laughed. W e have cried. We have blessed and been blessed. There is a race set before each of us (Heb. 12:1). As such, lest we be left behind in that race, we need to stride on afresh, catch God¡¯s vision and purposes for us and bathe continually in God¡¯s presence. Year 2008 may just be another insignificant fabric of time, but our choices in its tenure have significant eternal consequences.

tmv

The decree had gone out from Caesar Augustus. Everybody should be registered. So the exodus started and everyone headed towards his home town. It was ‘Balik Kampung' time! The roads were jammed. The inn-keepers were grinning from ear to ear. Business was good. Sleepy hollows awoke to welcome the weary travellers.

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, no one noticed the crying need of a pair of parents-to-be. One inn-keeper finally offered Mary and Joseph his stable so that he would not be pestered for a room. Soon all was forgotten – he had done his good deed for that day and was proud of it!

As I read again the story of Christmas, I often see myself like the inn-keeper or one of the people in the exodus. The economic boost in our careers, the busyness of our lives and the distractions of events often dull our ears to the knock on the doors of our hearts. Our lives often get entangled with all kinds of demands in the home and office that we, like the inn-keepers then, are pressured to scream out, "No more room!" As a last resort, to get rid of the pesky knock on the door or to ease our conscience, we look around and offer something of lesser value to us. More than 2000 years ago, an inn-keeper offered Christ a manger instead of a decent room. The result? The inn-keeper missed that which is more important than brisk sales of rooms. He missed the privilege of welcoming the Christ child.

Jesus continues to knock at the door of our hearts. Why not open your heart today to the Saviour? May you have the privilege of welcoming Him into your heart and home this Christmas!

mw

Whatever happened? The message of Christmas despite being preached in churches on Christmas Day seem to fade when the festivity is over. We get back to work and our routine continues without much excitement. We get sucked into the hurried, individualistic world until next Christmas comes around. Is this what Christmas is meant to be? Maybe not.

We may not have been a character around the cradle at the first Christmas but surely Christmas did come alive when Jesus came into our hearts. Since then, hasn't it been Christmas? Everyday, we have a reason to rejoice like the angels who declared the good tidings, a reason to worship like the shepherd boys or a reason to bring our gifts to our King like the three wise men. If we do just that daily, Christmas will dawn upon us everyday and December 25, be a universal day when God's children throw a party, celebrate and share with others the birthday of the Saviour of the world.

Wouldn't it be great if your everyday is Christmas – to open up gifts of love, hugs and encouragement? Wouldn't we be called ‘blessed' like virgin Mary as we make the choice to be a channel to spread the joy and hope of Christ to all who cross our paths?

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY, folks! Our Saviour Jesus lives!

mw

This Christmas, O Lord, make my heart feel Your heart. Teach me, O Lord, to see with Your eyes, Teach me to speak with Your love.

This Christmas, O Lord, teach me to release my heart to love more, especially those who are thorns in my side,

This Christmas, O Lord, teach me to have patience especially towards bus drivers, motor bikers and drivers who change lanes without warning.

This Christmas, O Lord, change me completely that I may be a channel of Thy peace, that I may try to bring cheer to the cheerless, that I may speak of Your Salvation to my neighbours without embarrassment.

This Christmas, O Lord, teach me to really understand Your awesome love and to mean it when I say: "Take my life and let it be O Lord, consecrated to Thee."

AMEN

jm

As usual, names of people who are dear to us come to mind as we ponder over what to give each of them. This year, as I look out for practical gifts to share with others who have impacted my life, the name JESUS popped out! That started me pondering. Often we make it a point to appreciate others and give them gifts. What about Jesus? What shall I give Him this Christmas?

Paul in Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable sacrifice". Our bodies as a living sacrifice – that I think will be a tremendous gift to Jesus this Christmas.

Just as my other gifts, I want my gift to be practical and a delight to the recipient. A ‘practical' gift is one that is sensible and useful. For that to take effect, I must let Jesus have free access to gifts and talents He has placed within me. I should not allow any gift to stay dormant. Neither should I dictate to Jesus when or how to use the gift. The gift must involve a sacrifice of my time and priority. This means that certain adjustments must be made. Last but not least, it must be holy and acceptable. This speaks to me of the inner motives of all I do, be it in church or otherwise. I am sure when Jesus unwrap the gift, He would be delighted.

Many times in our Christian journey, we talk about the hand of God in our lives – how His hand is present not just in our past or present but also towards our future. At times the hand of God is seen and yet unseen in our lives in regards to what He wants to accomplish. But our loving Father is deeply committed to us and His eyes are always on us – never for a minute does He take his eyes off us.

Most of the time, we His children are so caught up in the doing, that we forget the importance of being. We cannot bypass this process of God because it is in this process that His hand does something deep. As we look at the ways His hand works in our lives, let’s be responsive towards that unfinished work He intends to complete . . .

The hand of God is forever faithful
The hand of God is gentle
The hand of God redeems
The hand of God restores
The hand of God is kind
The hand of God heals
The hand of God delivers
The hand of God protects
The hand of God provides
The hand of God is gracious
The hand of God blesses
The hand of God disciplines
The hand of God lifts
The hand of God is mighty
The hand of God saves
The hand of God loves
The hand of God gives
The hand of God strengthens
The hand of God is righteousness

cg

In my struggle with decision, the story of the good Samaritan started to recite in my head. I was convicted. The least I could do was to check on the man and call the ambulance. As I waited alongside this man, some people started to take notice. Out of curiosity, a few stopped by for a while and then walked away. Then, I concluded that people these days are no longer as caring or kind as before. Most of our good, old values seemed to have been buried. As I stood there, waiting for the ambulance, I merely thanked the Lord and prayed for the injured stranger.

Amidst my discouragement, an Indian youngster on a bike stopped by. He looked at the man and after a short conversation with me, he sped off . The young man soon returned with an ambulance. The attendants lifted the man into the ambulance. Even as they were doing that, the young man was talking to the wounded man, reassuring him.

After that incident, I realised that as ambassadors of Christ, we ought to show more love and care to the needy. As it is, there are already a few, who though had no knowledge of God, yet exhibited virtues of kindness and compassion. This challenged me to do even more for the needy in our society. Indeed, we must have faith that God will work miracles for the needy but faith alone is not enough to make a difference (Jas. 3:14-17). Let us be that miracle and show them the love of God. Since God loved us first, we ought to love each other, because if we love each other God lives in us and His love is brought to full expression in us (1 Jhn. 4:11-12).

ec

The passers-by stood frozen, too shocked to do the right thing ... to help or not to help? The evil doers escaped and we wonder who would be the next target, the next victim.

Sounds familiar? Jesus told a similar story that we are all familiar with. It was the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The world we live in is tainted with violence and filled with ugly stories and events. Should we be caught in such a scenario, should we be the Good Samaritan? Would we emulate the Levite or the Samaritan who passed that way?

Then, Samaritans and Jews were divided by a great chasm – though they believed in one God, they simply did not get along well. Today, different kinds of chasms exist and hinder us from truly reaching out with God’s compassion and justice. Fear often takes over.

I wonder if the Samaritan felt the same fear that we feel today when he decided to take the risk, stop to help one whom they usually have no dealings with? The Samaritan revealed even more of what was in his heart when he got down from his donkey and put the injured man there instead. As if that was insufficient, he willingly paid for the injured man to be cared for in the inn. Would we have done likewise? Probably not and even if we do, it would be after much resistance.

That was a demonstration of compassion, mercy and justice that confounded the people. Can we still do that today? God, You have to help us!!!

mw

Jesus, the Son of God in human form, walked the face of this earth doing good, meeting the needs of the poor and needy (Mt. 4:23). Throngs of people, different in status and character followed Him because He met their needs — physical, emotional or spiritual. Jesus, by His good works brought them to a point of personal encounter with God.

In return, Christ’s vulnerability was met with betrayal. He was rejected, misunderstood and criticised despite His good works. And He faced death by crucifixion on a cross, the most humiliating of Roman punishment. When all seemed lost, the miracle of miracles took over. He arose from the grave and passed on the works of ministry to His church.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”. Therefore the baton is actually in our hands. There is no denial that the needs around us are overwhelming. The poor and needy around us need a touch and an encounter with God. We must seize every opportunity to share with them the ONE who can meet their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. Our obedience and good intentions may sometimes be met with betrayal. However, like Christ, that should not deter us from walking the way that God Himself has prepared for us.

In the parable of the Faithful and the Evil Servant, Jesus said, “Blessed is that servant, whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Mt. 24:46). May each of us endeavour to walk faithfully in the good works which God has prepared for us.

mw

I was naked and you clothed Me.
I was sick and you visited Me.
I was in prison and you came to Me.
Since when Lord?

Remember the wizened old man at ‘Jesus Street’?
He was hungry, sick and thirsty.
What about the deserted child by the wayside?
You knew her not but you reached out.

You sacrificed a few dollars for their welfare.
You took time to do the little you knew how.
Neither confident nor perfect in your deeds.
You simply and freely let love flow.

That my child, was what I meant in Matthew 25
As you did it to one of the least of these

You did it to me.
As you did not do it to one of the least of these
You did not do it to Me
(Inspired from Mt 25:35-45)

We see our world literally ‘collapsing’ before our eyes. Communities, schools, homes and offices are no longer what they used to be. Morality has lost its meaning. Authority has lost its command. Integrity has lost its grip on our conscience. We look on, moaning and lamenting. Come to think of it, are we—who have been given dominion over all created things by Creator God—in any way at fault?

What are we planting in our homes, communities and nation? Are we planting seeds that bear toxic fruit of distrust, enmity, pride, impatience, discontent, laziness, unforgiveness and pride? If so, we need to weed them out. As a community of Christ, we must lead the way because we are the only ones given the Truth to show the way. Only the church that abides in the Vine can bear the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22).

When our community have tasted the fruit of the Spirit, will they then long for such virtues. It is said:

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment.
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

Can we then continue to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the cry of creation?

mw

I want to emulate Christ’s selflessness
It was because of us He came
He offered salvation and forgiveness
He traded majesty for shame

Teach me of sacrifice’s meaning
That I may yield all for Your Name sake
So that when the hour is approaching
The choice I would gladly make

I strive for the heart of a servant
To serve in ways both great or little
May in my acts of service be present
The spirit of Christ’s example

Help me learn the lessons of humility
As I leave my pride at the alter
For under Your hand, God Almighty
I strive to be of humble character

I want to be obedient to Y our call
No matter what the work or when the time
To give my strength, m y life, my all
Is a privilege distinctively mine

Grant me chances to learn patience
The willingness to wait day by day
Teach me the value of perseverance

jr

The time we have is precious, we have no time to waste In looking over shoulders to see who’ll take our place. We need to have a vision and not a sense of lack; You’ll never make decisions if you keep on looking back.

The fields are white to harvest, the laborers are few. And word come to believers, “What now will you do?” Will you sit in introspection until the coming day? Or will you rise like young men and will you lead the way?

We can’t boast of tomorrow, we only have today. The past lies dead behind us, forgotten along the way. Let faith rise up among us, to see His Kingdom come; And let us run the race with joy, let’s see his will be done.

God looks for a people, the faithful and the strong, To speak to situations and cause things to be borne. Captives of a vision, singers of a song, Who only live to see His Kingdom come.

Obedience is not measured by a checklist of rules. Such a hollow, legalistic approach saps the essence out of the life of faith and the pilgrimage loses its character. There is a difference between the cheerful obedience of an affectionate child and the forced obedience of a wretched drudge. One is spontaneous, hearty, affectionate and free while the other is extorted by fear, or given with an eye to the wages. We should heed the call to obedience, not that it is a test to gain access to God, but rather it is the manifestation of our access to God as His children.

As such, there is not such thing as “I love God, but…” in the Christian pilgrimage. There is also no such thing as ‘good intentions’. Someone once commented that the road to hell is full of good intentions. Eugene Peterson once remarked that we don’t become whole persons by merely wanting to become whole, consulting the right prophets or reading the right books. Our Intentions must mature into commitments if we are to become persons of definition, character and substance.

Scripture is blunt to state that if a person claims to know Christ but does not do as Jesus commands, he is a liar (1John 2:4). The call to obedience may seem like lofty, unattainable perfection. However, as children of God, we can be sure that His grace is enough. If we love Him, we obey him – that is our part of the deal (1 John 5:2). God’s part of the deal is that when we obey Him, we are empowered to overcome the world (v3-5).

May we take hold of God’s grace and grow in our obedience to His call upon each of our lives.

tmv

When surrounded by enemies, Psalm 86 is indeed a great one for us to hang on to. David, in this psalm, realised that he was prone to fear but he knew from experience that fear of God is of utmost importance. So, he asked the Lord to give him an undivided heart that he might only fear His name. He remembered that God is supreme above all other gods. He realized that ‘idols' in his heart were a greater peril compared to the physical enemies around him. Thus, he prayed, "Teach me Your way, O Lord … unite my heart to fear your name" (Ps. 86:11).

We all know that our Lord is forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call unto Him, great and do marvellous deeds. He has delivered us from the depths of the grave; He has helped and comforted us. If our God does not have such attributes, we will not expect Him to deliver us from evil. Nor can we look to Him for healing or answers to our prayers. But how often have we faltered when it comes to trusting God?

Too often, we tend to accuse God for the ‘problems' we are experiencing. From such a perspective, we are trapped into thinking that there is no solution to our problems. Thus we lose hope of receiving God's healing and restoration. Fear starts to cripple our lives. In hard times, we may be tempted to say, "Lord, I think it would be great if You take away my pain now." However, David in Psalm 86 did not react in any of these ways. Instead, David said, "Teach me Your way". To him, it was better to endure suffering and walk in God's truth than to avoid pain and live a life of lie.

Can we exemplify David's response to his trials? May the challenges we encounter cause such unwavering trust in our hearts to arise so that we can echo the words of David, "For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God" (Ps. 86:10).

ct

But that does not mean we cease to exist. Our individual personalities are retained in a redeemed form. Enjoying our partnership with Christ, who is our Lord, we are fully ourselves.

In this partnership, everything that displeases Christ is crucified. Our old self often surfaces with many such desires which have to be put to death. So there is a self-denial in the surrendered life. But what we deny is what is harmful to us, what destroys our life. Thus self-denial is not harmful for a Christian. It is like the removal of a cancerous tumour.

A redeemed self is not like a passive machine that does only what God wants it to do and has no will of its own. On the contrary, the will of a redeemed person is fully active. He chooses to do the will of God, not because he is forced to, but because he wants to. He realises that this will is “good, pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

This life of doing what is good, pleasing and perfect and of living in a harmonious partnership with God is what He intended for man when He created him. So when a person surrenders his life to Christ, he finally becomes fully human. Surrender to Christ, then , is not harmful to us. It is the only way to live a complete life.

(Extracted from “The Surrendered Life” by Ajith Fernando in ‘Practical Christianity’)

The first attitude can be described as self-indulgence. Those following this path reject the whole idea of self-denial. They say, “If you want to do something, go ahead and do it.” They frown upon moral restraint. Don’t give temptation a second thought, they say. Give in at the first opportunity! If it feels good, do it.

This is a harmful way to live. It goes against the complete life God intended for man. It denies man’s true humanity. However much a person tries to fulfill himself through self-indulgence, he can never be fulfilled. This is because he has set aside and revolted against a very important part of his humanity, his moral and spiritual self. All the pleasure in the world cannot fill the void that results from denying our complete humanity. That is why Hebrews 11:25 says the pleasures of sin are fleeting.

A second attitude, by contrast, wishes to destroy all that can be included in the self. This attitude can be found among adherents of some non-Christian religions and also among some Christians. These people say that self and human desires are evil, and therefore we must give up all enjoyment of anything that has to do with ourselves. For them, self-denial becomes an end in itself.

This attitude is harmful because it too denies a person’s full humanity. God created our ability to enjoy things, to desire what is good. This ability and desire were tainted because of sin. The answer to this problem is not to stop enjoying life, but to enjoy the right things – the things God approves of. Joy is a very important Christian characteristic. Tertullian, a great theologian of the early church, said, “The Christian saint is hilarious.” Those who destroy the self do not know this joy. They become gloomy ascetics.

The biblical attitude toward the self is to surrender it to Christ and let Christ be Lord of our lives. Christ will not destroy the self that is surrendered to him. Rather He redeems it and gives it back to us so that we can live the rest of our lives in partnership with Him. The person who is surrendered to Christ gives up everything that hinders total unity with Him. In biblical language, he puts these things to death (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5).

(Extracted from “The Surrendered Life” by Ajith Fernando in ‘Practical Christianity’)

Our pride is the first bastion of resistance to God's goal to make us the person we are meant to be. Our ego quickly jumps to the defense when criticisms are thrown at us. We have multiple reasons why any criticisms directed at us are biased, unfair or come from uninformed minds. But God often use negative comments to move us closer to His purpose for us.

Besides our ego, we by nature are slow learners when it comes to the lessons of trust and obedience. We repeat our mistakes so many times that we wonder we ever learn. Time after time Jesus revealed His sadness over His followers with the rebuke, AO you of little faith, why did you doubt?@ (Mt. 14:31).

Another formidable resistance to change is our great human tendency to travel the path of least resistance. We cringe when we have to do things other than the ways we are used to because to do things differently requires effort. But how can we ever change if we remain status quo?

Though we are not at all easy material to work with, God has the resolve to match our incorrigibility. Eugene Peterson puts it this way: 'God is determined on nothing less than the total renovation of our lives.'. The New Testament says it in numerous ways. "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phi. 1:6). He will not let up until we all attain "to the stature of the measure of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13).

God's resolve speaks volumes of His love and commitment to us. Calling us His "workmanship", He will do what He needs to present us faultless before God. And what He needs to do includes something we naturally shun, that is, discipline. Hebrews tells us that God owes it to us to discipline us, like a good father owes it to his son. And that discipline is not 'pleasant' but 'painful'. But whether they be testings, trials or sufferings, Paul brand these as 'light affliction' in the light of what they produce for us - "an eternal weight of glory' (2Cor. 4:17).

May God help us to put to death daily the resistant old man inside us so that the spiritual transformation He is working in us will reach full realization.

ac

The call to holiness is loud and clear in both the Old and New Testaments. The word ‘holiness’ is often used in reference to God, the objects and people God has set apart for His own service. The call to holiness is neither a matter of us becoming absolutely sinless nor is it God’s way of demanding unachievable perfection from us, imperfect beings. Holiness is foremost a matter of the heart, an issue of understanding who we are and a possible way of thinking and living that mirrors our true purpose in life.

What is our spiritual temperature? Do others see holy, Christlike qualities developing in our lives when we stay in close fellowship with Christ and follow His example? Or are the struggles and frustrations of life getting the better of us?

The trials of life are part of God’s plan to make us holy, more like His Son. Jesus, as a Man faced temptations and trials like us but He came through them all perfectly. Trials are therefore opportunities for God to work in our unregenerate souls and transform us more into His likeness (Rom. 5:3 -5; Heb.12:11).

In our pursuit of holiness, we need to daily keep our eyes focused on the finish line, our thoughts focused on our goal, patiently enduring and persevering through hardships and temptations.

In the booklet, ’Why Would Anyone Want To Be Holy?’ we are reminded of the need to live the Christian life from start to finish by faith, depending on God’s ability, His power and His grace. It is not merely a matter of trying hard to be holy because without the transforming power of Jesus Christ working in us and through us, holiness will always remain an attribute that seems obscure, idealistic and unattainable.

kk

The Oxford dictionary defines character as "the qualities distinctive to an individual; the strength and originality in a person's nature or a person's good reputation'. Another definition states: ‘the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another; a description of a person's attributes, traits, or abilities".

In his book CHARACTER & DESTINY, D. James Kennedy describes character as a distinctive mark or stamp which "... includes habits and personality traits that distinguish us as individuals, especially with regard to personal integrity, courage, moral fiber, and individual initiative". He says character is an image stamped on the soul and "...the marks of character are deep and indelible, but they can be read by the people around us from the way we live, behave, and speak. It is intimately related to our moral values and our deepest beliefs about who we are as people... visible in the pattern of behaviour a person exhibits when only God sees what really happens..." . According to Kennedy, "...character is a matter of integrity, self-respect, an inner sense of right and wrong, and a sense that things have eternal consequences...".

In this technological advanced age, GOD is sometimes ripped out of the soul of society. Post-modern Christians have conveniently replaced traditional and religious moral values with the thought that behaviour is the result of conditioning. There are no more absolutes; everything is relative. And in the absence of GOD, there are no standards of morality and decency. It is a sad fact that these humanistic ideas have slowly crept into our churches. Christians are beginning to compromise on moral values like chastity, sexual purity, integrity. If we don't speak in politically correct terms, we are un-cool. We have, consciously or unconsciously, expelled GOD from the world He created. Instead of influencing the world's belief system, we are influenced by them.

It is time for the church to NOT REMAIN SILENT but allow the voice of our faith to be heard and to impact our culture. If we truly believe that our GOD can save a lost soul, then we must also believe He can save our lost world.

bt

In order to live victoriously as Christians in this temporal world, we must first strengthen our personal relationship with God. We need to know our God so intimately that when we are assaulted by the storms of life, we will be able to see beyond the injustice of this world and see our God still fully in control of the situation. We will not demand answers that fit our finite minds but trust His infinite and perfect judgement. We will also learn to turn a deaf ear to the logical reasoning of man and be still, knowing that He is God ( Ps 46:10).

Other than Christ, many other bible characters also exemplified strong relationships with God. In the Old Testament, Job was outstanding as one who emerged victorious because he knew his God. Apostle Paul who declared, ‘Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ' (1Cor 11:1) was another example.

How did these ordinary people do it? I believe they not only talked to God when they needed help, but they were transparent with God. They must have talked about everything – their joy, hope, disappointments or confusion. Such transparency enabled God to likewise share His secrets with them and yet loved them despite all their flaws.

They also displayed total obedience to God. Christ was ‘obedient to the point of death' (Phil 2:8). Job did not heed his wife's suggestion to ‘curse God and die' (Job 2:9). Paul was obedient to God's call on his life as the Apostle to the Gentiles. He boldly declared, ‘... I have finished the race, I have kept the faith' (2Tim 4:7).

May each of us also increase in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men!

mw

EDIFICATION, a term often used in the New Testament, refers to the building up of individuals. When we edify others, we enhance their self-worth. This is a great gift that you can give your husband or wife.

But how should you build up your mate? Husbands and wives should follow biblical principles, like the example in the Song of Solomon. In brief, the husband edifies his wife by praising her. The wife edifies her husband by lovingly responding to him.

God has designed marriage so a husband is dependent on the affirmations of his wife and the appreciation she shows him for all he gives her. In the same way, a wife's sense of beauty depends greatly on what her husband thinks of her. She needs to be nourished with praise, never diminished by criticism.

It is wounding when a husband criticizes his wife. It is equally wounding when a wife lashes out at her husband. Both spouses have a tremendous need for encouragement through words, focused attention, eye contact, and loving touch.

The above extract is from Focus on the Family Malaysia. For more information about Focus on the Family Malaysia, please visit www.family.org.my or write to focus@family.org.my

mw

The following are some practical ways to strengthen our families:

1. Commit each member to the Lord and pray daily for each other.

2. Be faithful to the local church. This is not the day to try making it on your own. The body of Christ provides protection and edification. You need the church and it needs you!

3. Strengthen your marriage relationship by following the principles laid out in the Word of God. This will produce security and blessings to your children.

4. Guard what influences come into your home. Teach your children to be wise and discerning. If you surround them with the genuine, then they will be quick to discern the counterfeit.

5. Properly prioritize your lives so that there is time for one another. One of the greatest tools of the enemy today is to make us so busy that proper training, encouragement, fellowship, etc. are neglected.

6. Train and teach your children. Don't assume that someone else is doing it. Scripture clearly places that responsibility upon the parents (Pro.6:20, 13:1, 3:1).

7. Finally, trust in the Lord: "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which cannot be moved but abides forever" (Ps. 125:1).

May this be a year of great fruitfulness as the Lord helps us strengthen our families. dg

When our heavenly Father made us in His image, it was not just to look like Him. It was to be like Him in every part of us, namely our speech, actions, thoughts and behaviour. We are to reflect that Christlike character so that whoever looks at us will wonder who our Father is.

A child truly reflects his parents' influence and teaching. This kind of influence will not be there if we do not spend time with our child, to talk to him, play with him, walk with him, solve problems together with him, enjoy meals together with him and be with him in time of sickness or pain.

Sad to say, many parents hardly have time for their children anymore. Their work takes top priority, their income second and the children the least in their list. Teaching and training is often left to the maids, the school teachers and the Sunday School teachers. Their lives are greatly shaped by the influence of their peers, the television, the media, the internet, popular shows or film stars, the songs and the list goes on.

Who would our children reflect at the end of the day? Us, someone or something else? Think about it.

rw

She enjoyed going to church and participating in their programmes and activities. It gave her a sense of belonging and it was so much easier to be with people who understood her.

Her attention returned to the Bible passage she was reading, "All this is from God, who reconciled us ... he has committed to us the message of reconciliation" (2Cor. 5:18-19).

The word ‘reconciliation' jumped from the page. She pondered. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for mankind to be reconciled to God. Salvation was therefore about reconciliation. And the passage before her clearly stated that as Christ's ambassadors, we were called to demonstrate this act of reconciliation to others.

She felt somewhat uneasy as she thought of her family. She had avoided them because she did not want to face the prospect of explaining her faith to them. She feared being ridiculed and rejected. As such, she had chosen to remain in her comfort zone, being amongst believers where she felt more accepted.

But now she realised that was not a justified excuse for neglecting one's family. She remembered how she herself had rejected the Good News and yet people had not given up on her. Most important of all, God did not give up on her but patiently waited for her to open her heart to Him.

And then for the first time, she felt the love of God for her family, so overwhelming that it wiped out all fear of being ridiculed. She reached for the phone, "Mum? I'm coming home for dinner." Martha realised that it was time she brought Jesus home so that they too might be given an opportunity to be reconciled with God.

dm

Of all the families in the Bible, which was the steadiest? Let's see … Abraham had to part with Ishmael. Isaac's wife conspired with adik to steal abang's blessing. Jacob's sons sold their brother into slavery, while David the man of war, brought up sons who warred with him and with one another. Solomon, man of peace, established his kingdom after having a jealous sibling slaughtered.

The story of David's sons is disquieting. Why when David loved God so completely, did his sons turn out as various shades of rottenness? 1 Kings gives us an idea. In the account of how Adonijah installs himself as his father's successor, the Bible provides an early reason for his impetuosity. 1Ki. 1:6 states: (His father had never interfered with him by asking, "Why do you behave as you do?").

Family is the foundation of the community and the church. If families are intact, the community is strong and the church unshakeable. Families are the little churches where discipleship ought to be taking place. For that to happen fathers and mothers need to have their Head firmly in place. Their marriage ought to stem out of covenant with that Head as Shepherd to guide and direct them. If mothers and fathers plug into God right at the beginning, then He will naturally become the anchor of their sons and daughters too.

But say, wasn't God the boss of David, and didn't his sons turn out to be rotten eggs? (To be continued next week)

cm

"Do you want to be made well?" a gentle voice called. The tears, explanations and frustrations rolled out. The note of despondency was evident.

Now, this MAN, whoever he might be, simply said, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." Well, no harm obeying. I have been lying here, waiting for the water in the pool to be stirred so that I can get in and receive my healing but I am always TOO LATE.

That was a scene we read about in the gospel.The sick man was waiting for the water in the Pool of Bethesda to be stirred up so that he could receive his healing (Jhn. 5:2-9). Are we, like the sick man, waiting for God to move? What is the deep cry of our heart?

The sick man knew that the stirring of the water was his chance to be healed – so that his life could be lived differently. What about us? As we recognise the stirring of God's Spirit, are we ready to do whatever it takes and let God be God in our individual lives, our work-places, our homes and our church?

Like what Jesus said to the sick man, it may not be what we had in mind. We may have our own perceptions but God may actually say something different to us! We just have to be ready – empty the vessels of our hearts and make them READY. READY to receive and let God be God. Come what may, our waiting, seeking and pleas are not in vain. JUST BE READY! God's outpouring is at hand but He needs vessels that are right and ready.

mw

Most of us can honestly confess that we do not live in the triumph of Easter Sunday all of the time. Life simply does not work that way. No matter what victory we claim as Christians, the realities of life are often too difficult to bear, even for people of faith. Our own faith journey is often rife with pain, suffering and great risk... and all this physical and emotional pain are part of our humanness. We struggle to understand the inequities of life. Sometimes we are misjudged and misunderstood by others. Sometimes our world can become dark and hopeless—marriages break down, children make destructive decisions, friends betray us and loved ones die— like the world of Good Friday, as Jesus journeyed to the Cross. These realities did not go away even for the Son of God.

The challenges we face are all part of our journey. Like Jesus, who knew there would be a glorious Easter morning after the darkness of Good Friday, we, too, in our sojourn, will experience the inevitable darkness of our Good Fridays. And strangely, some of the best works wrought by God are in the darkest moments of our journey, even when that journey leads to our Golgotha. But there is hope for us because at the end of the dark tunnels of life, there is a light. Resurrection Sunday has no meaning without Good Friday. The darkness then, is a basis to celebrate the light.

When we trace Jesus' journey, and take up our own crosses, we are in a sense, accompanying Him on the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrow. Along the way, we may need to stop to nurse a wound, pick a thorn or comfort a broken heart ...but, let's also not forget to stop and smell the roses or enjoy the beauty of a rainbow after the rain. May we make time this season to take a brief respite and contemplate the Cross and what it means. In the course, we will be drawn to a closer communion with Him. And oh, what joy and wonder will fill our hearts at the sacrifice Jesus made on that Good Friday more than 2,000 years ago to show us light in the darkness and offer us life in the midst of death.

bt

What do we and the Christians above have in common? We are all BUSY people with cares that sometimes seem too heavy to bear. We are all needy people, needing to have our spiritual batteries recharged regularly so we would not buckle under the pressures of life. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, the Word of God encourages us to enter into a secret place – a place where we can draw from the Source of Life and allow living waters to flow without running dry (Jn. 4:10-14)

That secret place is found when we carve out time from our busy schedules and reserve it as our ‘Quiet Time' with God. Despite deadlines and commitments, we should guard our quiet time jealously and consider it as a spiritual investment to help us be at peace in the midst of increasing turmoil. This time should be prime time that is meant for our Maker to tweak us to the right frequency with Him so that we are can hear His voice more clearly and be obedient to His Spirit's promptings.

Will you enter into that secret place and let your Maker refresh your soul and cause that living water to flow freely once again?

at

Life is about choices. In life, we choose between obedience or disobedience, salvation or damnation, the fullness of the Holy Spirit or otherwise. We make choices on our vocations and the selection of our life-partners. We can also choose to stay put in our country of origin or migrate to another country.

Whatever our choice, the Holy Spirit remains gentle. He reveals and nudges us to do what is right but He does not impose His ways on us. Yet, He neither leaves nor forsakes us. He is there when we were still in our mothers' wombs. He is there when we struggle through issues in life. He is with us in the darkness of our trials, difficulties and uncertainties, gently drawing us to a place of total submission and humility before God, to say, "God if you are real, show me who You are" or "Help! I can't make it alone" or " Not my will, but Yours be done". He hears our cries of desperation and hopelessness. Even before we acknowledge Him as our Saviour, He knows us. All these experiences can cause us to come to a point of knowing Him as a loving, merciful and gracious God whose gift of salvation extends even to the thief on the cross beside the Son of God at Golgotha. The assurance to the thief who cried out to Jesus was ". . . today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Lk. 23:43).

Despite our mistakes and brokenness, God still redeems. Nothing is lost with Him. God actually picks up the broken pieces of our lives, puts them together again and then uses us as we willingly surrender to His gentle Spirit.

dc

For most of us, Christian living has not been untouched by disappointment, bewildering friction and people problems. The call to love our enemies is bad enough. But, do good to those who hate you? Surely Jesus had raised the bar, and perhaps we were meant to try even harder. But if the Christian life is just a matter of doing our best, why do we need the Holy Spirit?

Some Christians talk about working at distinct areas of their lives. It could be temper, envy, carnality, fear – there's no shortage here. Their way out? One person said, "I intend to wring the last drop of self out of me." The self trying to get rid of self! We need the Holy Spirit to show us a more excellent way. We concentrate on our wrong attitudes. A negative way. The Bible positively says, "Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).

This walk is a lifestyle, a companionship, a leaning upon His Spirit. It is not knowing the truth alone but continuing in it that changes us. As Paul Volk points out, "We seek truths. God seeks to make us true." We walk beholding, and become transformed. Then we catch ourselves letting go of offences, showing mercy, being true to God, self and others. And as we look back we remember with surprise that we were actually responding instead of reacting. And it wasn't us! We end up saying with C.S. Lewis, "So, it was You … all the time …!"

sn

That question in Acts 19:2 seemed to be a kind of watchword with the early church. Paul who was radically changed when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, knew the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that enabled him to live out his new faith and empowered him to do the works that Jesus did while He was on earth. That made him ask the Christians in Ephesus, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?"

The apostles in Jerusalem too acknowledged the importance of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. When Philip's preaching in Samaria resulted in the conversion of multitudes to Christ, the apostles in Jerusalem quickly sent down Peter and John to minister to the new converts that they might be filled with the Holy Spirit, "for it had not yet fallen on any of them but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:16).

Likewise for us today. Even though we know that our conversion is absolutely valid, we cannot remain content with merely being saved and miss out on the vital experience of the power of God. Today, the majority of Christians seem to fit the description of those Samaritans in Acts 8:16. They have salvation, but not the power to minister and witness which comes with Jesus' baptism in the Spirit.

If you are a Christian, you can and should have the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The same watchword of the early church still resounds, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" If you have yet to receive this gift, we urge you to ask for it. You will be blessed and the church as a whole will be blessed too.

mw

Why is it that whenever we determine to limit or control ourselves, our flesh wages war against us? Why do we seem to lose control of self-control? We know the need to guard our diet to stay healthy yet cannot ‘help' ourselves when a succulent piece of oil-dripping fried chicken is served. What about those who starve themselves just for a "silky stick thin" look?

We know we need to keep our bodies (the temple of the Holy Spirit) holy and pure, but often times, we are fought greatly by our own hormones. Even the slightest compromise causes a snowball effect and leaves us languishing in guilt, shame and pain.

The examples can go on and on. So, what is wrong with us Christians? We know what is right, but we often end up consciously doing wrong. Is it a lack of motivation and drive to make correct decisions?

Here is the good news. God did not leave us alone in this sin-infested world to be slowly eaten up by temptations. He gave us the Holy Spirit. The one true motivation, drive, ‘oomph', power or whatever you want to call it, is the Holy Spirit. What about those who already have the Holy Spirit but are still in the same old sinking boat? Perhaps they have neglected, suppressed, underestimated or are ignorant of the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you constantly lose your ‘cool', then may I urge you to be diligent and intentional in depending on the power of the Holy Spirit to give you self-control. The key to self-control comes down to who really is in control. Is it you or God? When we allow God to be the Lord of our lives, He will lead us toward discipline and self-control.

So let us examine our hearts and our daily living patterns to determine whether we are actually walking in the freedom of self-control.

jr

This same marching order still sounds but are we willing to let God arise? Isaiah says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him" (Isa. 59:19). Our God is dynamic, never static – always stirring within hearts, to arise more and more. God does not merely stay in the background when His enemies are creating havoc. He is all ready to arise, lift up a standard against them and scatter them!

In the story of Elisha and the widow's oil (2Kgs. 4:1-7), we read of the miracle of God multiplying the widow's jar of oil. The oil ceased flowing because the prophet's widow ran out of jars. The problem was not the lack of oil but the lack of jars. The lack of jars limited the outpouring of His oil.

Today, God is saying, "GIVE ME MORE JARS". The jars can be likened to the space in our individual hearts. Many of our ‘jars' are cluttered with other concerns and distractions because the world we live in is a very seductive place. As such, we need to clear the clutter, ‘free' the space in our hearts and enlarge our capacity so that God can pour His Spirit without measure. When our hearts are cluttered with so many other concerns, we are limiting not only our own capacity to receive the full measure of the oil, but also the extent of God's arising. Therefore, it is the condition of our hearts that ultimately determine how and to what extent God's Spirit can move.

As we knowingly and willingly present our hearts as empty vessels before God, we can expect a great outpouring of His oil. Only then will we be in the position to heed the marching order to let God arise and His enemies will be scattered!

md

Once we are saved, we belong to God. The Spirit dwells in us and marks us out as God's possession. He is the seal that confirms, certifies and assures us of our eternal state as God's children.

A. T. Robertson, the author of a number of books that are used in theological studies has an interesting note on the title "Spirit of Truth". He said that the title is eminently appropriate as the Holy Spirit is marked by truth, gives truth, defends truth and is in contrast to the spirit of error.

The Spirit is marked by truth because of His divine nature – He has all the attributes of a deity, one which is truth and is absolutely trustworthy in all that He says. The Spirit gives truth in the sense of divine inspiration. He convinces us of Christ's deity, His incarnation, His being the Messiah, His sufferings and death, His resurrection and ascension, His exaltation to the right hand of God, and His role as the Judge of all.

The Spirit defends the truth by empowering the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, which proclaims and exonerates the truth. He reveals to us the counsel of God as it relates to worship, doctrine and Christian living. The Holy Spirit stands in stark contrast to the father of lies, who is in the business of deception and trickery. The Spirit of Truth was distinctively sent into the world to expose the truth to all and to bring conviction to sinners – a grave but eternally necessary truth needed to be heard by all.

kk

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Cor. 13:14).

Paul highlights the importance of having the grace of Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit in our lives as he concluded his letter to the Corinthians. All the three persons of the Godhead are needed as we Christians endeavour to live out this new community, reflective of the God whom we worship.

In this world where sin often rears its ugly head and seeks to destroy the new community of the Spirit, we need to be ever so attentive to the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who will awaken our hearts, speak to our spirit man and lead the way that Jesus be lifted up and all come to the knowledge of God. As such, our communion or fellowship with the Spirit must go beyond the casual chat over a cup of coffee. We must not ignore the voice of the Spirit because his resources are unlimited, his power invincible. We have to recognise the still small voice that speaks in the inner recesses of our hearts to do the right thing at every crossroad of decisions. When we choose to obey the Spirit, divisions are overcome, oppressions end and estrangements are swept away. We become a community of people, though largely unknown to one another, are cemented together by grace and love. As we worship and pray together week after week, breaking bread, remembering all that Christ had done for us, the communion of the Spirit moulds us more and more into the image of God.

The ancient promise of God to dwell among us, be our God and we His people still stands today – all because of the fellowship and communion of the Spirit (Lev. 26:12). The only hindrance that will forfeit that promise will be unconfessed sin in our lives which grieves the Holy Spirit. Let us therefore confess our sin (1Jhn. 1:9) as He reveals it to us daily. Only then, can His Spirit flow freely and be our partners in life and ministry. Consequently, people around us will recognise God in us and with us. This will cause an awakening in our land!

mw

The PROMISE of the Father – the Holy Spirit, the abiding Helper, the Teacher who will bring to remembrance all that Jesus taught. At Pentecost the early Christians received that PROMISE with visible evidence of speaking in tongues. They were empowered to continue Jesus' work and ministry with zeal and power. Thus their world was impacted. Today, we still need that PROMISE to fulfill God's call upon each of our lives.

We are living in what is called the ‘last days'. The WARNING for us in Mark 13:22 says,"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect". Seasoned Christians are not spared. The evil one is continuously scheming, always on a look-out for a way to cause us, the elect of God to fall and not finish our race here on earth well. That is why God the Father gave us the PROMISE of the Holy Spirit; and Christ the Son, the WARNING of being deceived even if we are God's elect.

The choice before us if we want to survive this onslaught and finish well is to strengthen our stakes as an individual, as a family and corporately as a church. We cannot do that on our own. That is why New Year resolutions are often dismal failures. We need the PROMISE of our heavenly Father to come alongside us so that our priorities are right, our doctrine sound, our choices wise and motives pure. When we consciously determine to take effort in strengthening our stakes, we can be sure that we will be more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom. 8:37).

Let us therefore recognise the WARNING and hold fast to the PROMISE for our God is more than able to keep what we have committed to Him until that Day (2Tim.1:12).

mw

Today, many people are of the idea that our nation will, in all aspects, either remain pathetically the same or worsen. Some have chosen to move away from this ‘rut'. Others merely accept moral decay, injudicious society and disasters as a norm of these ‘last days'. Yet, there are those who still hold on to God's promise that He will pour out His Spirit upon ALL flesh and save everyone who calls on His name (Joel 2:28, 32).

Biblically and historically, we have seen God bringing a change in tide in seasons of utter hopelessness, ungodliness, decadence and injustice. Such can be said of the condition of our nation today. As such, we urgently need a mighty outpouring of His Spirit so that we arise and return to our true nature and purpose of being placed in this land. If the impregnable ‘Iron Curtain' could fall within days in the 1980's, God can still intervene in our nation.

What would cause such a change? J.E.Orr concluded after 60 years of study of spiritual awakenings that "whenever God is ready to do something new with His people, He always sets them to pray." Jonathan Edwards similarly noted that "when God has something very great for His church, it is His will that there should precede it the extraordinary prayers of His people."

The desire and strength to pray as such comes by His Spirit. God encourages us that in the day of His deliverance, when we turn to Him, He will pour out His Spirit of grace and prayer( Zech 12:10). His Spirit will teach us how to pray (Rom. 8:26-27). And when we call unto Him, He will answer and show us great and mighty things (Jer.33:3). Thus, when God sends an outpouring we will know that it has come, neither because of us nor our prayers, but because of HIM, by HIS SPIRIT.

If, therefore, God finds amongst us, hearts that are yielded to Him, He will certainly come and pour out His Spirit of grace and prayer upon us, for our nation. But before yieldedness and prayer, there can never be an outpouring. O Holy Spirit, we yield ourselves to You today; come upon us, we pray!

ld

As Christians, we are to be conformed to the image of Christ as He is the perfect image of what God wants His children to be like (Rom. 8:29). Christ calls us to imitate Him for He is gentle and lowly (Mt. 11:29).

Paul in his writing to the Ephesians exhorted them to walk worthy of their calling and endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit. His addressees were Christians and they needed that reminder and exhortation. It reflected the situation of their day and how challenging it must have been for them to live as Christians then. Likewise for us. In a world like this, we are called to bear the image of Christ. As the world observes us – the way we walk, talk and live our lives, would they be amazed and say, "How much like the Father?" Christians are the walking pictures of God. Quoting G T Manley, "This is our great need, to be more like Christ, that His likeness may be seen in our lives; and this is just what is promised to us as we yield ourselves in full surrender to the working of His Spirit".

In our effort to live out lives reflective of our heavenly Father, we are called to a loving family bond with both God and man. In our journey on earth, we are to imitate the characteristics of Christ, especially His lowliness, gentleness, forbearance in love. Even as we prioritise on that, we will learn to bear with one another, allowing both the strong and the weak in faith to be so bonded in unity. And where there is unity, God commands His blessing to descend like the dew of Hermon (Ps. 133).

mw

One thing I have resolved... I'm not making any more new year's resolutions! They don't work for me! Going through the list of unaccomplished tasks depresses me. So why be miserable? I ask myself.

My wish is to be happy... happy that I'm healthy and alive. I'm grateful God still gives me breath each day. I try not to take my life for granted... for the simple reason that I nearly lost it ten years ago. Well, I guess if your days are somewhat numbered (like mine is) you just have to be candied about it... and be grateful the claws of death had not gotten at you in the stillness of the night! For me, everyday is a bonus! And when my doctor tells me I'm doing fine, that's double bonus!

John Piper in his book "The Pleasures of God" says: "A great part of God's glory is his happiness... To be infinitely glorious is to be infinitely happy... it's a glorious thing for God to be as happy as he is." Piper continues, "It is good news that God is gloriously happy. No one would want to spend eternity with an unhappy God."

I want to spend eternity happy. I want to be as happy as possible in God, because I know if I'm not satisfied in Him, I will not be free. I want to come to the point I can say I'm ready to lose my life because I know where to find LIFE. But I haven't arrived there yet, you see, I'm still working on it.

As we venture into a new year, let's be grateful for past blessings too, because when we count up past mercies, gratitude wells up in our hearts. Melody Beattie, a US bestselling author and journalist, sums it up beautifully:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

So, be grateful God has brought us into 2007... and be happy we can still continue our faith journey with Him.

Well, HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!

Let's celebrate... let's have a ball!