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 | Knowing God - What I truly believe?
Many Christians these days believe about God and can name his divine nature well, and can tell others what they believe about the doctrines.
But their experiences with God Himself are mostly shallow-based and can not go deep in their walk and talk for various reasons.
I feel most disappointed in finding out it is so from among so called leaders of the church.
I would rather tell the true and whole story, for instance, how God carried me through more than 10 years out of work without family support, within minimal church and government support, in order to help the hearers see it for themselves.
I believe that we do lack "strong stories" to tell these days in our witnessing at church, at work, at home and at school. Our strong testimonies are one of the most convincing tools we often overlook to work at carefully and consistently when we seek to edify one another in relationship.
Doctrines need to be taught in manners of great wisdom and understanding, instead of spoon feeding,knowing how to lead and guide your audience into correctly handling the word of truth and competently discerning spirits, arguments and opinions from the truth. This is a very important step for our spiritual growth and development. By doing well in this area, it can have great impact on our choices, decision making and values system by which every part of our life is affected for the better and for the worse.
Let me put these verses before us all to chew over: Out of overflow of the heart the month speaks. The fruit of the lips increases learning. |
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Soul Mates
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Jul 11, 2009 4:59 am
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Dear Fellow-Christians
It sounds to me that I should drop some ideas about soul mates seeking issue this time round.
Apart from God filling in our inmost part, we have strong desire of seeking our own soul mates for the inner part of our being in order to engage in "soul talk". Therefore, seeking opportunities to meet with someone compatible with you, someone who click with you, someone "stood out from the crowd" in your eyes are inevitably what would naturally follow in the course of action along the process of longing, seeking, finding and settling in.
Our psyche seems to keep suggesting in our heart, here is the one or here is not what I am after. Certainly only God can tell if that person is really "right" for me or someone else. In all things acknowledge Him; He will make our paths straight. Clearly relying on our own understanding or being wise in our own eyes would not be good enough to help us make sound judgment in vital issues such as this.
Remember that it is the inside that counts as the outside fades away over time, whether we like it or not.
A loving and faithful relationship relies on God to bind the parties together and it is the heart that matters most in God's eyes. For this very reason, we must guard our heart with all diligence, for out of if springs all the issue of life according to the book of Proverbs.
Best wishes to you all reading and giving thoughts to this short article.
Regards
Bienne
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Golden Verses of Successful Christian Living
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Jun 12, 2009 4:42 pm
Mood: content,
151 Views
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In order to help fellow-Christians know how to deal with Satanic Wiles, Snares, Tactics, Strategies, Schemes and Weaponry effectively, putting on the whole armour of God is mandatory (Eph6) and part of that requires us of putting the belt of truth. Please therefore find the following references and take them to heart for yourself. Each one of them highlighted in the red signifies a key area of battlefield Satan uses to defeat us:-
Context: Prov4:20-27 Wants/Desires/Needs
Key: Guard your heart with all diligence; for out of it springs the issues of life.
Context: Mat 6:25-34 Deception & Fears
Key: But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Context: Prov3:5-6 Pride
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths (make them straight for you).
Context: Matt23:1-12 Pride
Key: And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (See also 1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.)
Context: 1Sam2:22-36 Pride & Deception
Key: 1Sa 2:30 And the LORD God of Israel says, I said indeed, Your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever. But now the LORD says, Far be it from Me! For those who honour Me I will honour, and those that despise Me shall be cursed/disdained/brought into contempt.
Context: Prov3:13-18 Ignorance & Deception
Key: Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Context: Luke 12:35-48 Ignorance & Deception
Key: Much will be required from everyone to whom much has been given. But even more will be demanded from the one to whom much has been entrusted.
Context: 2 Corinth6:14-18 Fears & Deception
Key: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness? … Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Context: 2 Corinth4:1-18 Fears & Deception
Key: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction/tribulation are achieving/working out for us a weighty, eternal glory that far more exceedingly outweighs them all beyond all measure. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary/transient, but what is unseen is eternal/perpetual.
Context: Heb13:5-6 Fears & Deception
Key: Let your lifestyle (ways, manners, conducts, characters, behaviours etc) be untainted by covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He Himself has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (See also 1Ti 6:6-12 But godliness with contentment is great gain.)
May God bless you all who read and give thoughts to each of them. Amen.
Regards
Bienne
www.lifeeverlasting.vpweb.com.au
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Walking by Faith
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May 24, 2009 4:12 am
Mood: contemplative,
199 Views
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For all born again Christians, walking by faith rather than by sight is optional if all the great promises of God held out for us in Christ are forfeited.
I personally have been in this walk since 1991, my spiritual birthday will be tomorrow, and that means 18th years in the Lord.
Apart from thanksgiving, it is also time for reflection of the past and looking forward into the future, the promising future God has for me as His dearly beloved child.
It is surely worthwhile to share with my audience here for the sake of encouragement as well as warning.
Be watchful over what Satan can do against you in terms of muddying your mind and weakening your faith with partial truths; your beliefs system must be firmly anchored in the Scriptures
What do you mean by beliefs system then?
I was reminded of this in 8 key areas by the book I've been going through and the drawn out points I've been praying about.
The first key word is SUCCESS; the world likes talking about it and its belief systems and values are expressed through its deep-rooted networks spreading all over the world, bombarding us day and night, telling us that success has to be recognized by certain authorities or authorized figures, approved by certain awards/world standards, and showcased normally by being very rich, highly influential, extraordinarily beautiful and accomplishing great works of some sort.
But the author of the book reminded me again God's way is not our human way (ie the way of the world). He quoted Josh.1 -8
"Be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
Was Joshua's success dependent on other people or favorable circumstances? Absolutely not. Success hinged entirely on living according to God's Word. If Joshua believed what God said and did what God told him to do, he would succeed. Sounds simple enough, but God immediately put him to the test by giving him a rather unorthodox battle plan for conquering Jericho. Marching around the city for seven days and then blowing a horn weren't exactly approved military tactics in Joshua's day!
Joshua's success was conditional on obeying God regardless of how foolish His plan seemed (in our own eyes or in the eyes of the world).
This is what we often find wrestling with God because our reasoning tells us that it does not make sense to me at all; it is contrary to common sense; it goes against the "norm" of society in which certain ways of doing things are set in concrete and everyone living in it is expected to follow suit. It is like fish going against the flow. This is however what walking by faith means - God ordained this way, Joshua made it through and God set him up as a hero of faith for us to follow.
Thanks be to God for such a lesson of faith; most importantly, glory, honor and praise be to God if I indeed one day truly make it through to the very end in and through Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour. Amen.
http://bigchurch.com
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My UniqueTestimony Sealed With God's Power
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Apr 23, 2009 3:33 am
Mood: contemplative,
212 Views
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I was born again on the 25th of May, 1991. After that, transformation process by the name of sanctification started to take place over the years. Some of the highlights I am sharing below are meant to bless all of you reading this blog for your own good. May God be glorified through it. Amen.
Highlights of Key Achievement in Christ
1. Having developed the ability to speak and use the language effectively at work, at home, at church and in the community with confidence, including testifying to foreigners, I am now ready to move unto a higher level of proficiency, native-like proficiency and allowing English to become my second nature.
2. Have developed the ability to discern the vanity of this world — everything is chasing after the wind, I have mapped the physical realities, spiritual realities and conflicts of the past, present and future against my experiences and most importantly, against the Scriptural truths in the Bible.
3. Having developed the ability to build into my life multi-skilled capacity in a number of areas such as computing, publishing, gardening, cooking and nutrition, life skills, observation, organisation and coordination, research, analysis and people skills, little by little, I am confident that maturity will surely come to each respectively targeted area over the long term when God gives me more opportunities to learn and grow, and put them into practice, including the possibility of teaching and training others via online channels.
4. Having developed the ability to throw off “family bondage” and to become independent financially, relying on God for provision, protection and guidance, I am expecting that not only my own personal affairs are managed well, my own household will follow suit along with the possibility of helping others similarly also.
5. Having developed the ability to get back into my field of profession, business administration, evidenced by the provision of God through the latest employment with CHL in 2008, I was given the opportunity to demonstrate that ability before unbelieving managers and staff after waiting upon God for ages. Up until that point, I was consistently diligent in working through the maze of the working world in Australia.
6. Having developed the ability to gain much wisdom and understanding from above, I have been actively laying up treasures in heaven, redeeming time for better use, setting my life in order, building more spiritual and physical resources, and using resources at my disposal wisely — being cost effective, minimising waste, and maximizing benefits.
7. Having developed the ability to get well again due to my broken family and abusive background after being shown mercy and God helping me to get back on my feet, little by little obviously, I can now with His support leave behind the spiritual and psychological sickness, though not completely just yet, but my struggles, pain and hurt will finally be gone from me as the process of healing continues into the future.
In summary, the life transforming sanctification process initiated by God will continue unto completion as something significantly destined for each truly born again Christian, each child of God, each member of the body of Christ. This will surely result in glorification to believers in due time and all glory will credit back to God alone.
Meanwhile I can see clearer and clearer the work of God in progress in my life, turning my darkness into light, my sickness into health, my sorrow into gladness, my weakness into strength, my folly into wisdom, my failures into success, my fears into faith and my ugliness into beauty.
Glory to God in the highest through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.
Kind Regards in Christ
Bienne
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DEADLY Crisis Facing Humanity
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Mar 14, 2009 12:11 am
Mood: calm,
271 Views
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In my pondering about things happenng to us far and wide year after year, I have poured out my heart before God concerning 10 aspects of the deadly crisis facing humanity. There is nothing really new or exciting about fundementally. Sin always is the root cause of all the problems facing us, past, present and future. Until God's promised Saviour Jesus Christ comes again as prophesied, there is no "once and for all" solution.
In summary, I simply highlight the 10 aspects of it for our readers' discernment and intercession as follows:-
1. Pride and fears are the most effective weapons of Satan being used to cripple us and to render us ineffective in our service to God, among other factors.
2. The Persecuted Church dwelling within the 10/40 window in particualr suffers constantly horrific assaults, especially through the various channels of authorities enegized by Satan powers.
3. The Lukewarm, Apostate Church in the Western Developed World has taken root and borne much fruit over the years not for the glory of God unfortunately.
4. Austalia's internal chaos and spiritual blindness deepening -- serving materialism, vanity, pleasures, lusts, indulgences, sports, science, and spiritism.
5. Deeprooted poverty and injustices worldwide hurting the multitudes day and night resulting from the wicked rich and powerful exploiting the weak and the poor as the bibles says.
6. The whole creation is subject to painful groaning: Ecosytem and its rules violated and wide life, plant life and so on longing for liberation according to Romans 8.
7. Relationships of all forms and levels falling apart; unity and harmony are rarely seen and practiced.
8. Crimes and evils committed by individuals, among other factors, are driven by "Self" issues: internal crisis unresolved and intensified eg pain, hurt, strife, struggles, and conflicts.
9. Conflicts and warfare unceasingly, nations against nations, kingdom against kingdom.
10. Spiritual darkness in its forms, expressions, goals and objectives are hidden from many ignorant and self-willed poor men and women.
May God have mercy on us because time is running out; God's judgment must run its course so that the new order of things will be ushered in in the end. God is always on time for everything He does, doesn't He?
The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.
Regards
Bienne
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Single Adults 30+ Ministry
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Feb 20, 2009 7:25 pm
Mood: calm,
324 Views
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Background
Single Adults over 30+ wander from church to church to look for fellow-Christians who can identify with them in meaningful and fruitful fellowship within a local church setting but come out empty-handed or become disillusioned because their needs are largely ignored or neglected within the Local Church Ministry Framework.
Vision
Long Term View
A full-grown Single Adults Ministry is set up in the right direction from start to finish, headed by Christ and facilitated by His tools /instruments of righteousness for planning, organization and coordination, and implemented by division of labor of Christians involved, including seeking regular input, feedback and evaluation from members.
Short Term View
Single Adults over 30+ have a legitimate place to go in for Christian friendship, cell group-based worship, prayer and intercession, as well as nurture. The fellowship will form the base for group base outreach. This is meant to be a significant transitional arrangement from singleness unto marriage.
Collecting all those in the same boat into the Single Adults Cell Group Fellowship in order to be to one another mutual support and encouragement in the work of faith, the labor of love and the patient endurance of hope when temptations, trials, afflictions/persecutions and tribulations/troubles assail us, and when waiting for God’s promises to come to pass in His time. (Ro8:22-25)
Calling
Single Adults over 30+, truly born again and baptized by immersion, being members of the body of Christ, serious about their faith in Him and their daily walk with Jesus from the heart.
Goal
It is intended that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in the church, and we in Him, according to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. (2Th1:10-12; Ro8:14-17; 29-30)
If any of you is interested in finding out more, just drop me a line and I am after those living in Melbourne of Australia at this stage. God willing, we will make it more universal via our website which will be built in a year.
Regards
Bienne
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Love the Truth from the Heart
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Jan 19, 2009 2:39 am
259 Views
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Love the truth from the heart so that you will be set free from bondage of sin.
Employer-employee relations in the right way is this:
Col 4:1 Masters (Employers and Bosses), render unto your servants (employees) that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master (YHWH, The God of the Universe) in heaven.
Ephesians: 6:9 And, Masters (Employers and Bosses), do the same (Eph6:5- to servants (employees). Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.
Ephesians: 6:5-8 Servants (employees), obey your earthly masters (Employers and Bosses) with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ: not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord Jesus Christ and not to men and women, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether are slaves or free.
May this always be our reminder as we seek to serve God faithfully in the workplace. Amen.
Regards
Bienne
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Incarnation through Virgin Birth
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Dec 25, 2008 2:03 am
286 Views
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Christmas is about God's love for all mankind expressed through His Son sent into the world to be one of us, taking upon himself human flesh, trouble and sorrows, known as the Son of Man, Son of Sorrows, acquainted with griefs.
However Christmas is not the true date of His Birthday. This date was handed down by Catholic traditions as I was told.
Reflecting on the gift of God, priceless and matchless as it really is, none of us who knows God would not bow in worship and adoration, exclaming what a great God He is indeed. Who is like YHWH?
Christmas's true meaning and purpose have been watered down by commercial propaganda through Santa and his gifts because the Devil does not want people know the truth about Christmas and seeks to deceive many. Blind people accept this commercial logic easily without giving wise thoughts of what they believe and do unfortunately.
This Christmas I has been with the Lord only, coming out of the routine messages we normally receive from church services every year. This is a helpful break for me to reflect on HIM and His first coming so that I could offer proper worship and sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise to Him without fear or pressure.
What would He bring tommorrow He knows. Will we have another Christmas again before He comes for His own, the promise of His coming again? We need not to worry; the main thing is we have the eternity in view at all time and our commemoration will not cease whether we are in the body or out of it.
Thanks be to God for His Prince of Peace Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of all who believe. Amen.
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You are what you eat
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Nov 24, 2008 10:46 pm
Mood: cheerful,
363 Views
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What is a Healthy Diet?A healthy diet is one which provides all known nutrients and low levels of food components which are detrimental to health, such as sugar, saturated fats, cholesterol, salt, preservatives, colorings and additives. A healthy diet is rich in whole "natural" and unprocesed foods, and very high in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes/pulses, seeds, and nuts.
Guidlines for Optimal Nutrition
1. Eat foods as close as possible to their natural state and as fresh as possible
2. Eat a large variety of foods, especially those that are in season.
3. Always wash fruits and vegetables before eating
4. Eat fresh, high quality foods, including organic unprocessed foods.
5. Use cooking methods that retain the nutrients in the food: pressure cooker
6. Grilling, steaming, baking, stir frying and eating some foods raw are healthier choices thatn deep frying and boiling.
7. Eat more fibre found in whole grains, beans, legumes, vegetables and fruit.
8. Decrease saturated animal fat consumption because they have concentrated toxins.
9. Avoid old nuts, grains and seeds because mould can grow which ahs been linked to cancer.
10. Avoid highly proceedded foods; burned foods; organ meats due to concentrated toxins found eg in liver; and fried and fatty foods, along with additves, preservatives and colorings.
11. East protein at every meal
12. Drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of pure, filtered water or low sodium mineral water per day.
13. Lean to rotate foods and nto over consume the same type of foods on a regular basis.
14. Have a colorful meal that is rich in nutritional value and flavour. Take pleasure in preparing wholesome meals to be enjoyed as food for nourishment.
15. Chew your food carefully and slowly
Partake in regular, preferably aerobic, exercise for half an hour at least per day.
16. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, drugs and stress as much as possible.
17. Drink the juice of half a lemon or apple cider vinegar in warm water on waking or soon after.
18. Remember good nutrition and health is about balance and variety.
We are what we EAT indeed, both physically as well as spiritually. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks; what is stored up in you is what you bring out into public.
Let's feed on the word of God always so that we may stay healthy and fruitful in every good work, which God has prepared for us who are His to do. In Christ's name I ask Amen.
Regards
Bienne
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Loneliness is a big thing
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Nov 2, 2008 9:04 pm
Mood: calm,
338 Views
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Loneliness is a big thing, is it not?If we understand ourselves correctly, we are not meant to be alone. As God created Eve for Adam, so are we procreated for our mates, for our families, and for our communities.
However, when Christ came as a helpless babe and as he grew up into manhood, he experienced loneliness himself for our sake. The most devastating strike on him in this regard was when he was forsaken by the Father God, when he cried out alound: "Why have you, O God, forsaken me!" It was a very profoundly tragic cry to God whom Christ served and committed himself to all the way through. It was incredibly inconceivable from human perspective that God would allow His precious Son to have suffered such an extent of "torture", being cut off from himself for a time with divine purpose in view.
By my own suffering for a long, long period of time, I can identify with Christ's suffering for me in this regard. For this very reason I can say with confidence, I know of you, my dear Saviour, of your suffering for me (of course not for me alone). Let all lonely souls hear this message have high hope and comfort in the Lord for he who promises is faithful: "Never will I leave you, nor forsake you, says the Lord." and "I will be with you even to the end of the ages." All who know the truth will surely say: Amen.
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To link to this blog (bienne) use [blog bienne] in your messages.
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