My cell group was having a discussion last week about fear of God and we found a better approach to it…

In Exodus, Moses told the people not to be afraid. God has come to test them so that the fear of God will be with them to keep them from sinning. Another event was in Deuteronomy 6, where Moses was directed by God to command the people to obey the laws and fear God as long as they live so that they can enjoy long life and be prosperous. No matter what was the context, it is understood that fearing God is good.

A question rose. What it means to fear God? Long time ago before civilization people would pray to the tree or the stone because they know that there is a supernatural power controlling them. They do so because they fear that they would cause the ‘power’ to be angry or that they would not be in favor by the ‘power’. In contrast to the phrase ‘fear of the Lord’ here, it doesn’t mean fright or terror. It means ‘a good relationship with God’ based on reverence and respect for Him and His commands.

Our God fearing should be out of reverence and honor rather than afraid. In order to achieve that, we must understand and experience the loving nature of God. God is good, He is our Father, He is love. Some of us may do the things of God and follow His commands because they fear the judgment of God. They afraid that God will disapprove, angry or put a tribulation on them if they don't. However, as I’ve discussed earlier, God’s judgment will not be based on our sins or wrong doings but based on the things we invest in our lives. God wants us to follow Him out of love rather than fear. He wants us to live with Him.

Continue reading Deuteronomy 6: 4-9

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

It’s our hearts that matter. I pray that we would serve Him and follow wholly after Him because we love Him and desire a good relationship with Him.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases

His mercies never come to an end

They are new every morning, new every morning

Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord

Great is Thy faithfulness

 

Today I woke up with this song in my mind. I thank God for all He has done in my life and through my life. I'm feeling a fresh breath of God in my being. I'm excited of what He has installed for me! I love You Holy Spirit...

Finally... it's the end of the semester. It has been a busy semester with loads of works, works and works. I can't even count how many reports and assignments have I done. Nevertheless, I owe a dept of gratitude to everybody who has taught me much, encouraged me, worked along with me, been patient with me and never mind of me being a slow worker.

Yes, if anyone of you wandering who am I referring to, they are none other than all my beloved group members! Starting from analytical chemistry, Alan, Sook Wah and Summer. I have always been a blur queen and never understood the experiments and calculations. Thank you for even trusting me on the discussions. Summer, you rock doing the results and calculations! Sook Wah, really thank you for the efforts you took to guide me and explain to me. Not forgetting all the free information you have provided for me. Alan, I never doubt your performance, even now. You have been a group member that I enjoyed having and wish to have in the future. Next, food microbiology. Alan, Mei Hui and Hui Yi. There were total of 10 labs! Can you imagine? Thank you each of you who have been a good mate and will work your best to produce reports of quality (I hope they were!).

Now food processing and preservation. Alan (did I mention you already?), Summer and Xiou Hang. Alan, it was fun seeing you cook! Summer, you never mind getting dirty with the jam and cake! Xiou Hang, you lifted our sleepy afternoons with you stories! And of course being patient cutting the apples la. Alan (again?), Ben, Yee Lyn, Shiau Ting and Marcus. Thank you for the fun we had in preparing for the exhibition and having satisfaction (emotionally and physically) at the end of everything. Credit to Ben! (Hope to see you again in near future.) Finally waste management. Alan (huh?), Lee Yuen, Desiree, Stephanie, Mr. How?, Yip Sim, Shir Lee and Winnie (Fiuh!) Thank you for your contributions in any way.

Not forgetting the big group for analytical chemistry assignment. Sorry can't mention each and every one of you. Thank you for your willingness to coorporate and make our assignment a success! Bravo to all of you!

I really enjoyed the time we spent together, and all the nonsense we shared. But of course not forgetting the joined brows (Sook Wah, did I say you? Hahaha), stucked brains and yawning. Well, now that the semester has ended and you all must be wandering what to do for the next 2 weeks. Whatever plans you are having, all the best to you and see you again soon. Very soon.

Last night we had a good time in cell group…

Ben was leading cell for the first time and he was sharing about praying unceasingly. He mentioned that we often loose heart and give up in our praying when we don’t see the result that we expected. I was reminded that Christians are known for their hypocrisy. Sometimes they are so determined to make changes or do something but failing to do so most of the time and going back to square. How does God feel at these situations? Once again it’s not about how many times we fail, but how sincere we are when we repent and ask for forgiveness. God already knows it before we fail...

We often focus on how inadequate we are, how unworthy, how unrighteous we are. All these thoughts focus on the smallness of us. However, it is not how small we are that matter because it weren’t us who fight the battle of life and death. Christ did, and He won! Human will fail in one way or other no matter how hard we try. It was the love of Christ that set us free, not ourselves. Why don’t we stop focusing on our weaknesses and fix our eyes on the greatness of God who is holy, worthy and righteous?

Another point during the discussion was about the judgment of God. After our salvation, our judgment will not base on our sins and wrong doings. It will be based on the things we invest and do in our lives. Our salvation is secured and we are definitely going into heaven. But when we are facing the judgment of God after we die, God will review everything that we have done and test them with fire. Our ‘foundations’ should build on things that will last (not burned up by fire). In the bible it says Jesus Christ is the foundation. It is what a person built that survived through the fire will receive his reward.

In conclusion, let us not waste time thinking how timid we are, doing things that is temporal but focus on investing our lives in the Kingdom of God and doing the things that will last forever.

1 Corinthians 3: 10-15…

¹⁰By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. ¹⁴If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

One thing I was pondering. Who does human being live for? What does human being live for? Without delay I already have the answer. Self! We dress up neat and tidy so that we will look good, we study hard so that we will have a good life with a good career, we treat people well so that they will remember us and hope that they will treat us well in return, we bless the Lord so that He will bless us, Jesus died so that our sins can be forgiven, we receive Jesus as our personal savior so that we can have eternal life… If you realize, many things are pointing back to us!

So, what on earth we are here for? Yes, for ourselves. But let us be reminded that our lives are more than living for ourselves. God the Father created us so that we may live with Him, worship Him. God should be the focus here. We are created for His pleasure! Pastor reminded us that God is the one who loves us no matter what. So why don’t we fellowship with Him? Isn’t that we like to hang out with someone who accepts us and welcome us? So stop looking to the left or right but look to God and embrace His beauty, sing songs that will exalt Him, pray prayers that glorify Him. It’s about Him!

Many things are happening. Too many. Good and bad. But i know they are for good reasons.

 

I came to realize that i did not really know who God is. As in i know that God loves me. But i do not know that God loves me. Am i making sense? Eventhough i have an earthly father and as well as a Heavenly Father, i was an orphan in my heart...

 

Just something that i've learnt this week...

An orphan heart is a heart that is Fatherless in many hidden areas in our life. It's a heart that is not at rest or at home in love in the heart of the Father.

 

Many times we say that we love God because He first loves us. But the question is, how deep do we understand the love of God that He has for us? This is a crucial question as it will determine how deep we love Him. God is our Father. He loves us as sons and daughters. He protects, provides, encourages. He has a plan and a future for each and everyone of us. Do you believe it?

 

I am learning to accept God as my Father. Someone that trully loves me with all His heart. Someone that I can find love, hope, joy and peace. He loves us so much. It is till an extend that is incomprehensible. Our focuses, confidence should based on our identities we have in our Father. Loving God the Father is not easy. It may mean to have to sacrifice certain things that we really love very much. But God promises us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for He is with us, His rod and His staff, they comfort us. So, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. You will not regret abit of it.

 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know
I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives