A Place of Discovery

HE ALSO WORKS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACE But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel , (Philippians 1:12 NKJV) W e only see a glimpse of life, but God sees the whole picture. Being in difficult situation (or solitary in jail) like Paul, may feel like hell sometimes. But God works in all circumstances! Instead of regretting the hours he had to spend in prison, Paul used the opportunity to share the good news of salvation to the prison guards and writing letters to exhort and encourage the fledgling churches in Asia and Europe. He spent more than two years in prison (Acts 24:26-27: 28:30). I believe these are some of those most productive and fruitful years of Paul's life in such an unlikely place. Where are you now? Do you feel restricted to exercise your gifts, to enrich your life and others for the furtherance of the Gospel? Think of Paul! God can work in you and through you...

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ , (Philippians 1:9-10 NKJV) Paul's prayer reveal to us that the sign when God is in us is GROWTH. 1. Our knowledge and insight (discernment) will be coated more and more with love. 2. Knowledge puffs up (1 Cor 1:8) but Love (keeps it in balance and) builds up, purify and sharpening our discernment, directing and empowering us to tirelessly striving the excellent. And, 3. Love guards our intention and keep offenses away, sincerely seeking the best of (and for) each and every one as God would. May this prayer be the prayer of all our hearts! ~ plt270814

GOD IS WORKING IN US being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (Philippians 1:6, 9 NKJV) Our God is a faithful and mighty God. He longs to give us all the He has so that we can become like Him. Once He starts to work in us, He will bring it to completion. The question for us perhaps: do we aware that He is still w orking in us? How open are we to let God work in our lives? He will work in us only as far as the room we give him to move. He dispenses His grace freely but not loosely. He will give only when we are ready; that we ask from Him. Therefore, although He is Emmanuel who is with us, we need to "consciously" ask Him for help, tell Him that we need Him. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still. http:// www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/ t/hthineow.htm ~ plt250914

I THANK GOD UPON EVERY REMEMBRANCE OF YOU I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy , (Philippians 1:3-4 NKJV) The Philippians Christians are the exemplary community of Christ followers. Paul have many good things to say about them... Would there only sweet experiences that He have iin Philippi? There may be much more good experiences but I would believe that as a matured person Paul also has learnt to take the lesson from each encounter he has with the believers in the Philippi, the good and the bad. To see all these experiences in the light of God's grace. How did Paul do it? He didn't explain it in his letter. I believe he did it not only out of courtesy (the Bible only records what's genuine and authentic) nor that he chose to think positively (Norman Vincent Peale's theory of positive thinking in the 20th century was unknown to him). God didn't put Paul in a perfect 'sh...

LIVING IN ABUNDANCE MENTALITY When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19 NIV) Born as slaves and grew up in scarcity, they were two possible attitudes: 1) fear of not having enough, and 2) store as much as possible when there is oppportunity. It took 40 years for God to cure these ancient Isralites from this 'scarcity mentality'. Everyday God dropped manna from heaven. They could only take just enough for one day supply and to trust God for the next day... It would be rotten if they took more than what they needed. The cure worked this way, First, they need to know that their God is the Jehovah Jireh, who will supply all their needs. The aboundant life can only be found in Him. Knowing this should put our heart at rest, wecan count on our God. Second, they need to expe...

PERHAPS WE NEED A NEW HEART Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach..... the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. (Deuteronomy 30:11, 14 NIV) God makes it easy for us. He makes himself known to us and speaks in our language, in our level of understanding so that we can love Him, walk in obedience by keeping  all His commands (v.16) The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV) If so, why it is still so hard for us to follow God? We need God to circumcise our hearts (vv 30:6, 10:16) to remove all the scorns and callouses which have numbed us and made us insensitive to God. Let him give us a heart of flesh that will be capable to receive His love and to respond appropriately. ~ plt110914 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove f...

WE HAVE A CHOICE You are not to do as we do here today, everyone doing as they see fit,...Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord.  (Deuteronomy 12:8, 11 NIV) Everyone doing as they see fit.... No wonder chaos everywhere. In the ancient time God stated it very clear....  People can only worship God at the place He chose. God has the say... The heart of the matter is not on the place or method of worship, but on the Person. God is the ultimate standard for our lives. He is the Centre of our lives, the Focus of our worship. We, too, have a choice - our own way, the way of the world, or God's way? Life begins in God and it will also end in Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) If we want to live well, there's no other way but to choose God...